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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£40 for a cake and two jars of jam

133 replies

Fredmitten · 22/10/2016 10:20

End of a lovely holiday, staying in a little bungalow. On arrival a week ago we were offered a homemade cake by the owner (to be made after asking us what we liked) and asked whether we wanted jam. Said yes please to cake, and that we'd come back to them on jam. Cake arrived, was delicious and big, have eaten about half of it as just two of us. Two jars of jam also turn up in kitchen when we're out. Can't open the jars so just pop in fridge and forget about them.
This morning owners have popped in to say we owe them 44 euro for the cake and the jam Shock
I know we should have asked how much at the time, I know I'm
going to have to pay them. But AIBU to say well bank transfer tomorrow, firstly because I've only got 35 euros on me as trying to run them down, and also so they'll need to email with the amount for each thing. I will pay, btw, as it's my own stupid fault - but I would be flagging the price when offered if in the £20 for a cake range. And they insist we take the unopened jam home - I may just leave in the fridge and ask for that to be deducted.

OP posts:
NataliaOsipova · 22/10/2016 10:59

Come Brexit and the ever falling pound, £40 for a cake and two jars of jam will seem like a foreign holiday bargain....

....but I digress. Horribly. OP that is awful - in your shoes, I would feel scammed. I would have assumed it was a welcome gift of the type that are pretty common in holiday rentals and they were only asking to save themselves the hassle of making a cake that you didn't like or want. I would pay for the cake, but tell them they should have told you it was to be charged for. I wouldn't pay for the jam as you hadn't asked for it.

user1476140278 · 22/10/2016 11:01

Shocking! We hired a cottage in Cornwall and when we arrived the owners had left us a basket of fruit (large and nice) and a bottle of lovely wine with their compliments.

These people know what they are doing.

Spadequeen · 22/10/2016 11:11

I wouldn't pay for either. You've not used or opened the jam and I'm assuming there was no mention anywhere of a cost re the cake. Their error. Next time they should let people know.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 22/10/2016 11:14

Last place we stayed in on Norfolk was gorgeous and included was- home made bread, lemon drizzle ( massive!) scones and jam. Local beer in the fridge plus milk, butter and lemonade for our ds plus tea and coffee.

All included.

BravoPanda · 22/10/2016 11:15

Don't suppose you'd send the link? Looking for a lovely cottage tht's quite close for our 13yr anniversary!

Sovain · 22/10/2016 11:15

Wow. If it wasn't stated that there would be a charge for these items, and what that charge would be- then it's a very cheeky upsell.

I would pay for the cake, but not the jam (as you hadn't opened it). But you should tell them that you aren't happy with it- and assumed that it was a welcome 'gift' to the cottage.

I have stayed in many holiday cottages and never been charged separately for any welcome package.

user1475440127 · 22/10/2016 11:19

This is in France ,am I right. ? My friend had a similar thing happen to her in Brittany last year.

ohtheholidays · 22/10/2016 11:21

Tell them you don't like Jam and never ordered any!
Give them back the jam and refuse to pay for it!

If they have a guest book I'd make sure I wrote a warning about the cost of the gold plated Cake and Jam made from fairy dust Wink

deathandtaxes123 · 22/10/2016 11:33

Brass neck springs to mind!

Go forth and be let loose on Trip Advisor

RepentAtLeisure · 22/10/2016 11:56

Hmm, most people would assume they were a gift, definitely mention it on TripAdvisor when you're home.

daisypond · 22/10/2016 11:59

Gosh, if I was offered a cake and jam, I'd assume they were gifts and there'd be no charge at all. They should have made it clear they were charging for it at the offset. I assume they don't do that in order to catch people out, which is very cheeky.

TroysMammy · 22/10/2016 12:07

We stayed in a self contained apartment adjoined to a house in the Isle of Wight last month. The owner provided a pint of milk, 4 eggs, half a pack of butter, a small loaf of bread. Bottle of soft drink and bottle of water, tea, coffee instant and ground, sugar, porridge sachets and fruit. Also shower gel, bubble bath, shampoo, posh soap and hand cream and cotton wool pads at no extra cost. €40 for a cake and jam is a bit excessive.

Original poster
Fredmitten · 22/10/2016 12:46

Have just lost a long response.
So, in brief, have had long whats app messages explains 30 e for cake 7 each for jam. Said would pay 30 for cake and leave jam, told should pay for jam, have ignored and left 30 euro.
Thanks all for your messages - we're on a Spanish island.
Chalking this one up to experience. Trying not to think they're going to turn up at the airport with the ruddy jam.

OP posts:
NavyandWhite · 22/10/2016 12:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

alltoomuchrightnow · 22/10/2016 12:52

What a cheek. This is probably what they do to all guests..it's how they make money on side.
Rude grabby nasty people. Get to Tripadvisor for sure. I'm about to do same re dodgy place but at least I wasn't offered jam! Was it filled with gold?!!

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 22/10/2016 12:56

We go to a lovely place that always has naice biscuits, wine, bread, milk, butter and sweets for DC.

Never been charged.

€30 for a cake Shock

YouHadMeAtCake · 22/10/2016 13:11

I wouldn't pay for any of it. Sounds like the offer of a cake was intended to sound like a welcoming gift. Definitely do not pay for the jam if you're going to pay for the cake. I'd also leave them a poor review.

hopetobehappy · 22/10/2016 13:11

I've stayed in a cottage where the owner supplied wine, cake and flowers, all free.

Jaxhog · 22/10/2016 13:15

Whatever next - charging for tea bags and sugar!

As Pickitup says. If they didn't ask you to pay for the cake, it's unreasonable to ask you to pay. Having said that, I probably would pay, but reluctantly (to save hassle). But not for the jam. You didn't ask for it, or eat it.

We stayed in a B&B for a couple of nights earlier this year, and they left us a free cake and home made biscuits along with the usual tea, coffee and milk.

Floggingmolly · 22/10/2016 13:18

Did you know there was going to be a charge in the first place?? Extraordinarily cheeky to try to flog your homemade crap to your unsuspecting guests in the first place, but charging at least 4 times the going rate is a complete piss take Shock
Don't even contemplate paying for the jam Hmm

Sparklesilverglitter · 22/10/2016 13:19

It doesn't sound like you were asked if you wanted to buy a cake and it doesn't sound like price of cake was discussed either so on that basic I don't think i would of paid for any of it.

It is very under hand of the owners to ask if you would like a cake? Not mentioning it was at extra cost.
€30 Euro for a cake is overpriced anyway

Make sure you leave a review mentioning the cake business so other people are aware.

Floggingmolly · 22/10/2016 13:21

If you're about to leg it off a Spanish island I'd almost say you shouldn't pay for any of it... Personally I'd leave an amount for the cake that you'd consider paying if you bought it in a shop (so, probably well under ten quid) and you haven't actually bought the jam, so zero for that.

hopetobehappy · 22/10/2016 13:24

Apart from not paying for the jam I think I'd actually refuse to pay £30 for the cake. She obviously knew you'd think it was free and if not you'd have asked the price beforehand. Say you'll pay £10 and that's it.

2kids2dogsnosense · 22/10/2016 13:29

Euphemia

[snigger]

StubblyLegs · 22/10/2016 13:30

If there was no mention of it being anything other than a gift, during the discussion about what kind of flavour you'd like, then I'd pay them precisely fuck all for their sheer gall.

I assume they have no 'legitimate' recourse such as an imprint of your credit card? I'd read any small print in the rental agreement carefully too, just to be certain.

I'd also leave a shitty review on Trip Advisor without waiting for them to explain themselves as they don't deserve that courtesy after the sneaky way they've behaved, the shithouses.