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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To return a opened (and tasted) bottle of M&S fake baileys?

93 replies

littleannennt · 17/12/2023 22:30

Cos it absolutely tastes of dirt?
I'm not a big boozer at all, but my Dec treat is a quaff of nice tipple most evenings.
I'm a lone parent of a toddler so don't go out at night anymore :-(
It's usually dessert wine or a baileys.

Was in M&S and grabbed their version (it's a small food hall and they don't seem to sell baileys) and my goodness it's horrible!
As it's the same price as Baileys and M&S is pretty reliable quality wise I thought it would be better than the original, otherwise why bother?
Actually undrinkable.
The booze seems to taste more like vodka than whiskey and there's a horrible aftertaste.

I want to return it for a refund it's so bad, but will I look like a dodgy fucker if I do?

OP posts:
whynotwhatknot · 17/12/2023 23:52

if it tastes off yes take it back

Stressedafff · 18/12/2023 00:19

You could send things back early 2000’s time. Does anyone remember asdas sticker “try me, love me or get your money back”

My old neighbour used to buy legs of lamb every year from different supermarkets and take the packaging in for refund

Chloe84 · 18/12/2023 00:33

ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 17/12/2023 23:24

Just because she finds it "disgusting"doesn't actually mean there is anything wrong with it. I often buy food I don't particularly enjoy - wouldn't dream of asking for a refund.

Show quote history

Well, you should.

M&S
If you're not happy with the quality of the product, you can return it in-store

Tesco
If you need to return your purchase or you're not happy with the quality of the product, you can return it in-store

furtivetussling · 18/12/2023 00:36

DH once took back a jar of supermarket own brand coffee we'd opened, tried, and decided that it was less than adequate. He just returned it, told them it was horrid and asked for his money back. He got his refund.

I can't see any reason why you shouldn't take something back if it tastes unpleasant.

Original poster
littleannennt · 18/12/2023 00:53

I'm asking on here for opinions rather than 'I've decided I'm right and I'm going to go and get a full refund' as I wouldn't dream of doing that if it was just I didn't like something.
It's more than that, it's genuinely really unpleasant. And this is a product I should really like.
It's not like I'm trying my first cigarette and surprise surprise it's not pleasant!

I've got a bottle of baileys on the go too and they taste completely different. My first assumption was that the M&S drink was made with cheap Vodka because it's very harsh tasting.
I wouldn't buy the 'special flavours' versions of baileys cos I've fallen for that too many times. But even the Vegan one I could drink, despite it not being as nice or that similar to the original.

OP posts:
Stressedafff · 18/12/2023 00:55

littleannennt · 18/12/2023 00:53

I'm asking on here for opinions rather than 'I've decided I'm right and I'm going to go and get a full refund' as I wouldn't dream of doing that if it was just I didn't like something.
It's more than that, it's genuinely really unpleasant. And this is a product I should really like.
It's not like I'm trying my first cigarette and surprise surprise it's not pleasant!

I've got a bottle of baileys on the go too and they taste completely different. My first assumption was that the M&S drink was made with cheap Vodka because it's very harsh tasting.
I wouldn't buy the 'special flavours' versions of baileys cos I've fallen for that too many times. But even the Vegan one I could drink, despite it not being as nice or that similar to the original.

Do you think it could be spoilt or something? I’d take it back anyway

Original poster
littleannennt · 18/12/2023 00:57

BTW I did go on to be a social smoker for a decade or so in my youth, so can totally convince my taste buds to tolerate nastiness Smile
Still love walking past a smokers huddle to get a waft of fresh smoke even if I would never dream of taking another drag ever again.

OP posts:
Circumferences · 18/12/2023 01:01

Take it back!
It's Christmas after all. Get something nice.

ChateauDuMont · 18/12/2023 01:03

Of course you can return it!

I return anything and everything if I don't like it and I have never been refused a refund or exchange from any retailer.

Mudflaps · 18/12/2023 01:07

NoTouch · 17/12/2023 22:49

I thought it would be better than the original

I havent had one yet that is better than original Baileys so stick with what I know now, my mum bought a few of the pretenders and imo none were close. She never got the M&S one so at least I know to avoid it too!

I dont think I would return unless I believed it was off.

Try Coole Swan, I liked Baileys u til I had this, its Irish and delicious, smoother than Baileys, just perfect.

Ariela · 18/12/2023 01:08

I'm not a Baileys drinker by any means, but have had b oth Baileys and M&S Baileys. I would say both were drinkable but not my favourite drink, I'd not be able to tell them apart if not drunk on the same night. .

If the M&S one tastes horrid, it could well be off/something wrong with it. SO definitely return it

CrapGoat · 18/12/2023 01:18

NBU.
There's a 'naice' pub in the town I used to live with that's pretty pretentious IMO and prides itself on its food and wine-I returned a bottle of wine there recently. It cost £29, fair price nowadays I guess but it tasted like something you'd get for £4 in a cheap off-license. I wasn't having it, I hadn't heard of the particular brand but it was meant to be sauv, and dry/crisp-it was sweet and gloopy. I will never claim to 'know my wines' but I know enough to know I wasn't being fobbed off with that!

MrsQTip · 18/12/2023 01:22

@littleannennt
thats a shame as the real baileys is on offer for £10 in the co op
hope you manage to get a refund OP

gnarlynarwhal · 18/12/2023 01:24

Sounds like it could be off?

wanttokickoffbutcant · 18/12/2023 01:41

I actually like the M&S one but the Lidl one is even better....

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 18/12/2023 01:44

Mudflaps · 18/12/2023 01:07

Try Coole Swan, I liked Baileys u til I had this, its Irish and delicious, smoother than Baileys, just perfect.

Show quote history

Agreed - Coole Swan is much nicer than Baileys.

EmmaEmerald · 18/12/2023 01:44

littleannennt · 18/12/2023 00:53

I'm asking on here for opinions rather than 'I've decided I'm right and I'm going to go and get a full refund' as I wouldn't dream of doing that if it was just I didn't like something.
It's more than that, it's genuinely really unpleasant. And this is a product I should really like.
It's not like I'm trying my first cigarette and surprise surprise it's not pleasant!

I've got a bottle of baileys on the go too and they taste completely different. My first assumption was that the M&S drink was made with cheap Vodka because it's very harsh tasting.
I wouldn't buy the 'special flavours' versions of baileys cos I've fallen for that too many times. But even the Vegan one I could drink, despite it not being as nice or that similar to the original.

Irish cream and Baileys aren't the same thing at all though?

It sounds like you bought Irish cream.

And your description of the taste is....Irish cream.

I just looked it up and M&S are clear about the ingredients and don't seem to be marketing it as a Baileys knock off.

Unless I've totally misunderstood Irish cream, but I'm reasonably sure I haven't.

felttippenguin · 18/12/2023 01:55

@EmmaEmerald baileys absolutely is Irish cream. The full name of the product is baileys Irish cream and it's considered the original Irish cream liqueur

sixthvestibule · 18/12/2023 02:02

I used to work in customer services for a major supermarket. We used to get a lot of complaints about our own label Islay malt whisky. Customers said it tasted of TCP.

Well,it would. It's the iodine in the peat used in making it. It may be disgusting to the customer but it's not a fault and not a refundable matter.

I know the one you mean, and it is actually vile. I am a big whisky drinker, including peaty ones, but this one is the only one I’ve ever poured down the sink.

NumberTheory · 18/12/2023 03:51

You can always ask, OP. M&S used to be very much about customer satisfaction. Unless it’s actually off (and it may be) you don’t have a legal right to a refund, but shops aren’t required to limit their refunds to just those they are obliged to provide. So take it back and see if they’ll refund you, but don’t rely on them doing so.

Gunpowder · 18/12/2023 04:23

Definitely ok to request a refund! One of the reasons to pay more for M&S/Waitrose etc is the better customer service.

Missingmyusername · 18/12/2023 04:29

I wouldn’t dream of returning something because I didn’t like the taste. Take the hit. If it’s off that’s another matter.

Natsku · 18/12/2023 04:53

I think you should try returning it, perhaps it is off.
Not that I would return it, I never return anything because it makes me feel too awkward! Not even when I opened a packet of cheddar I had just bought the day before and it was covered in mould.

Bernieee · 18/12/2023 04:59

Gosh I used to work in m&s. Customers like this…very annoying.

EmmaEmerald · 18/12/2023 05:00

felttippenguin · 18/12/2023 01:55

@EmmaEmerald baileys absolutely is Irish cream. The full name of the product is baileys Irish cream and it's considered the original Irish cream liqueur

but Irish cream is not Baileys IYSWIM

https://www.alcoholprofessor.com/blog-posts/best-irish-creams#:~:text=At%20its%20simplest%2C%20Irish%20cream,flavorings%20like%20chocolate%20and%20vanilla.

even if it was the same flavouring, returning something because you don't the taste is mad.

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