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Original poster

Birthday cake panic - To wait for a response or should I just request a refund?

20 replies

Bumblerina · 29/11/2023 23:50

I placed an order 7 days ago for a ready to decorate cake from a bakery online. They claimed to have a 3 day turn around and I specified that I needed my order by tomorrow at the latest as it's my daughters birthday on Saturday.

Today came around and I'd not received any delivery details or correspondence at all. I emailed asking if they had any update on when my cake would be delivered. I got a quick response saying that it was out for delivery with DPD and would be with me in about an hour. Great!

An hour went by and the DPD driver pulled up outside and scanned a parcel but then got back in his van. I flagged him down before he drove off and said he assumed id done something on my end as the parcel now had a bar on it and had to be returned to the depot. I told him I hadn't done anything and he tried to scan it to allow me to take it but as the bar was still in place he couldn't let me or he'd get in trouble.

By this point the bakery was closed, and DPDs customer service are non-existent but their automated bot said that it was on its way back to the bakery. The tracking information says that a "return to consignor has been requested' and the latest update from the depot is that it's on its way back.

I've now got to either find the time and money to make a cake from scratch or go and buy one. I highly doubt that they'll be able correct the error (if it is an error) and get me a cake by tomorrow as they aren't local. I've emailed asking what's going on and if it's a possibility to have it sent but would it be too hasty to request a refund now? I'm in a panic trying to figure out what to do now

TLDR; I ordered a cake to decorate for my daughters birthday on Saturday. I specified I needed it by tomorrow at the latest. After chasing up delivery info the order was cancelled minutes before it was meant to arrive. The driver tried to give it to me but wasn't allowed. It is now being returned to the bakery (not local) as a "return to consignor has been requested". Is it too soon to request a refund? Or should I wait for a response?

OP posts:
Notalldogs23 · 30/11/2023 00:13

I think you should request a refund - they didn't deliver when promised - and head to MandS for an undecorated cake.

Shoxfordian · 30/11/2023 06:12

Request.a refund or delivery today, and buy a spare cake

twirlywoop · 30/11/2023 06:15

Yeah request a refund.

Sounds a bit scammy

desperatemum24 · 30/11/2023 06:56

Request a refund and buy a cake from a shop.

DoorPath · 30/11/2023 07:05

Just buy a cake from a shop and then get a refund from the online bakery. This is a minor life inconvenience that you really should be able to cope with.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 30/11/2023 07:08

DPD are absolutely shit IME. I bet it's their error, not the cake company's.

Iwantmyoldnameback · 30/11/2023 07:17

DoorPath · 30/11/2023 07:05

Just buy a cake from a shop and then get a refund from the online bakery. This is a minor life inconvenience that you really should be able to cope with.

So you would be happy with this?

OP Speak to the bakery, if it's their error they need to sort it out, and quickly. Good luck.

Notsurewhatnext · 30/11/2023 07:23

get a refund and get baking :-)

cheeseandketchupsandwich · 30/11/2023 07:26

@Iwantmyoldnameback they didn't say they'd be happy with it. They said it's a minor inconvenience which didn't warrant a post on MN. I agree with @DoorPath

MyLordWizardKing · 30/11/2023 07:27

DoorPath · 30/11/2023 07:05

Just buy a cake from a shop and then get a refund from the online bakery. This is a minor life inconvenience that you really should be able to cope with.

And you really should be able to give advice without feeling the need to make a nasty little dig at the OP.

SutWytTi · 30/11/2023 07:30

DoorPath · 30/11/2023 07:05

Just buy a cake from a shop and then get a refund from the online bakery. This is a minor life inconvenience that you really should be able to cope with.

I don't think you understand MN? It is a general chat forum and people just discuss whatever they like.

If you have nothing nice to say, it is sometimes better to say nothing at all.

DDivaStar · 30/11/2023 07:34

Why order a cake to be delivered via courier at the last minute? It sounds a very stressful way to do it. I have previously used M&s and waitrose for cakes or you're local bakery. Collection also reduces the chance of it being damaged in transit.

Original poster
Bumblerina · 30/11/2023 07:38

DDivaStar · 30/11/2023 07:34

Why order a cake to be delivered via courier at the last minute? It sounds a very stressful way to do it. I have previously used M&s and waitrose for cakes or you're local bakery. Collection also reduces the chance of it being damaged in transit.

I ordered it for last minute as they're freshly baked and I didn't want them to go off. I realised yesterday I should've ordered weeks ago and just frozen them but hindsight is a wonderful thing. The bakery has very good reviews and seemed punctual so I didn't think this would be an issue

OP posts:
ElPulguilla · 30/11/2023 07:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Bumblerina · 30/11/2023 07:50

DoorPath · 30/11/2023 07:05

Just buy a cake from a shop and then get a refund from the online bakery. This is a minor life inconvenience that you really should be able to cope with.

I am aware in the grand scheme of things that yes, it is a minor inconvenience. However I've already bought the stuff to decorate it and I'm down quite a big chunk of money when you add it all up. Which would be fine if the main part had arrived. I think I would feel more confident if it was the candles that hadn't shown up. The cake is kind of the important part lol.

DH has the morning off so is going on a hunt for a plain cake or the supplies to make one. We have a game plan now, just panicked in the moment.

OP posts:
Funkyslippers · 30/11/2023 07:52

DoorPath and she is dealing with it. She just wanted a bit of advice

Raynaudsfeetadvice · 30/11/2023 07:56

Waitrose and M&S do plain, white iced cakes that you can decorate!

Not as lovely as bakery cakes (they’re very sweet) but children won’t know the difference. When I was a child, I loved vanilla cakes with jam icing - I didn’t notice the overly sweetness at all! I probably loved them more than freshly baked bakery cakes tbh!

Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 30/11/2023 08:02

Well you don't want the cake now do you? That cake will be stale and there's no guarantee they will get you a replacement tomorrow. Just ask for a refund.

savoycabbage · 30/11/2023 08:15

It would be a bit of a rubbish internet talk forum if nobody talked.

Original poster
Bumblerina · 30/11/2023 16:04

Update - I called the bakery this morning and they were very apologetic. They didn't know what had happened or why it was being returned as it was not requested by them. They offered to send out a new cake but it wouldn't have arrived in time. They've agreed to fully refund me without any argument which is a relief.

Thanks for the previous suggestion of a plain white cake from Waitrose. DH found one and we're hoping that the decorations will fit and we can make it work. Crisis averted 😅

OP posts:
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