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AIBU?

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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:
ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 18/12/2023 05:02

Chloe84 · 18/12/2023 00:33

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

Show quote history

I don't live in the UK, so whatever M&S or Tesco say doesn't affect me. I just can't be bothered returning something in the food/drink line I don't like the taste of. Anyway, unless OP's drink is off, she can't just return it because she doesn't like the taste - that has nothing to do with the "quality of the product". If it is off then that of course is a different matter, although I wouldn't have thought something which is off would taste of dirt.

Lamelie · 18/12/2023 05:25

2dogsandabudgie · 17/12/2023 22:37

Not sure that you can return something just because you don't like the taste. If a product had actually gone off before the use by date you can, but not sure you would get a refund on alcohol. Someone else might love the taste. Does it say anything on the actual product itself?

Marks are pretty good at refunding. Most supermarkets are.

OpheliaPlum · 18/12/2023 05:37

Take it back. I bought wine that tasted revolting, took the bottle back, spoke to customer service, they offered me a refund or a replacement bottle.

dizzydizzydizzy · 18/12/2023 05:55

Take it back to talk to them nicely. It sounds like there could be something wrong with it .

jemenfous37 · 18/12/2023 06:23

@Chloe84 Quality is key word
Not because you don't sodding well like something.
I mean, I could buy a 'fake brand' side of salmon fresh from the river, caught by special salmon fairies after it's been raised on champagne and truffles, but I hate fucking salmon, so no, I wouldn't try and return it
Some people are top CFers but wrap it up in the 'it's my right' bollocks

shearwater2 · 18/12/2023 06:31

VeniVidiWeeWee · 17/12/2023 23:03

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.

Show quote history

No, but surely they ought to be listening to feedback if it doesn't take off as a product.

Mind you, Laphroaig tastes like TCP to me, whereas I like all other peaty malts. And I like just about every single other malt whisky I've tasted! Not that fussy.

isthismylifenow · 18/12/2023 06:35

If it tastes awful then take it back. Seemingly it's a dupe for Baileys so should taste similar you would think.

Could I suggest you try our SA version which I see is available in UK, called Amarula. I like the dupe of this a bit more, called Wild Africa (just in case you are able to get that one),but this is our African Baileys 😊

I also don't drink alcohol much but do enjoy this some of this at Christmas time.

Yousay55 · 18/12/2023 06:42

I would take it back and say something is wrong with it. No harm in trying.

Cabbagey · 18/12/2023 06:55

I also think it's fine to return a product that is inedible/undrinkable for you.

Several people have compared to OP to people who bring back empty packaging from expensive food after they've eaten the lot to get a refund. She hasn't done that; she's taking back a bottle that's 95% full because she can't drink the rest.

Girlsjustwannahavefundamentalrights · 18/12/2023 06:56

jemenfous37 · 18/12/2023 06:23

@Chloe84 Quality is key word
Not because you don't sodding well like something.
I mean, I could buy a 'fake brand' side of salmon fresh from the river, caught by special salmon fairies after it's been raised on champagne and truffles, but I hate fucking salmon, so no, I wouldn't try and return it
Some people are top CFers but wrap it up in the 'it's my right' bollocks

Edited

Except that's not what happened here, is it? She likes salmon, she's tried other salmon, but this special salmon that says salmon on it, doesn't taste of salmon. Op bought a drink she should have liked. She isn't fussy, can usually eat or drink anything but this is unpalatable. Not the same as your salmon analogy at all.

Take it back op. It may be a bad batch or have gone off. It may not. But why pour it down the drain when the retailer says on their website you can return it if you're not satisfied with it?

TooTender · 18/12/2023 06:57

Yes you can return it, sounds like it was maybe a bad batch but even if just not your thing a big shop like m&s will refund it without querying it.

Seaandsurf · 18/12/2023 07:04

I think they will happily refund. It’s not okay to sell an inferior product when the original product costs the same. They need to look into their quality control. I worked in the food service industry part time years ago, and people do return stuff and they do get refunded. Often businesses appreciate it because they get a chance to rectify it/sort out the problem.

if we, as consumers, just accept inferior products at full price that is what we will increasingly get.

GlitteryUnicornSparkles · 18/12/2023 07:06

I loved Baileys but as far as fake Baileys goes Aldi’s Ballycastle Classic is absolutely the way to go, its actually nicer (imo) as it has a smoother taste and at £4.99 is a fraction of the cost so its win win. I would actually choose this over Baileys now even if the cost were the same.

With regards to returning, lots of items do seem to have a satisfaction guarantee so technically I’m sure you could return it but honestly I don’t think I could ever bring myself to try and return something just because I didn’t like it, I find that really cheeky, surely its the risk you take when trying something new.

TooTender · 18/12/2023 07:08

It’s funny how many people are aghast at the idea of asking for a refund for something because you don’t like it, or who think it’s somehow cheeky / inappropriate. You don’t realise your power as consumers! You particularly don’t have to worry that it’s cheeky to ask a company making nearly half a billion pounds in annual profits for a £20 refund because one of their products is revolting. It’s fine. It’s something they offer and something they’re more than happy to do to preserve their reputation for customer satisfaction and service.

Stop tugging your forelocks and insisting it’s more important that M&S keep that money than OP!

MysticalMegx · 18/12/2023 07:09

I drink Bailey's and Aldi's own, the cheaper ones still have that creamy taste. I once had an out of date Bailey's and it stank of paint stripper and like fumes

oakleaffy · 18/12/2023 07:10

Chloe84 · 17/12/2023 22:51

I’m teetotal but I keep seeing Bailey’s is £10 in Tesco, down from £22.

I don't drink either, but I too noticed that as there was a big poster saying so at the entrance!
I do love the taste of Baileys though -{have had the occasional miniature years ago}

oakleaffy · 18/12/2023 07:12

TooTender · 18/12/2023 07:08

It’s funny how many people are aghast at the idea of asking for a refund for something because you don’t like it, or who think it’s somehow cheeky / inappropriate. You don’t realise your power as consumers! You particularly don’t have to worry that it’s cheeky to ask a company making nearly half a billion pounds in annual profits for a £20 refund because one of their products is revolting. It’s fine. It’s something they offer and something they’re more than happy to do to preserve their reputation for customer satisfaction and service.

Stop tugging your forelocks and insisting it’s more important that M&S keep that money than OP!

@littleannennt I agree...if you have most of it left, for sure take it back for a refund.

Laurama91 · 18/12/2023 07:15

I'm sure a lot of asdas own stuff says if you aren't satisfied they would refund or replace. Maybe this is the same

banjocat · 18/12/2023 07:21

It entirely depends if you think it's actually spoilt or damaged, or if you're just unhappy that it doesn't taste the same as Baileys.

Seems unlikely that it's spoilt, from what you're saying it just tastes more synthetic/ harsh than Baileys. But tbh if you wanted Baileys you probably should have bought Baileys.

So in that case I would put it down to experience and just make hot chocolate with it or bake it into something, and don't buy it again.

daffodilandtulip · 18/12/2023 07:27

There's a bit on the website that says if you're not happy with the quality of an item, contact us. Loads of clicky bits to emails and phone numbers.

www.marksandspencer.com/ie/s/contact-us

Jellycats4life · 18/12/2023 07:31

I bought a couple of bottles of M&S vegan fake Baileys last year, and WISH I’d returned them - it was foul. So I recommend that you do! How is it possible to get a sweet creamy liqueur so very wrong?

QueenOfThorns · 18/12/2023 07:39

Which gave the M&S version a good rating this year, although it didn’t quite make Best Buy status, so maybe your one is off? https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/baileys-vs-cheap-supermarket-irish-cream-liqueur-taste-test-aORFP7W8RS8u

That said, I bought what was supposed to be a chocolate peanut liqueur from M&S a few years back, and that was absolutely minging!

Baileys is the best Irish cream liqueur, but a cheap supermarket rival isn't far behind - Which? News

We pitted Baileys against Aldi, Lidl, M&S and more to find the best value Irish cream liqueurs

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/baileys-vs-cheap-supermarket-irish-cream-liqueur-taste-test-aORFP7W8RS8u

ANightingale · 18/12/2023 07:42

The only way to find out is by asking them!

Ourshoddyhouse · 18/12/2023 07:43

I think you've only had a small bit I would take it back and explain it doesn't taste quite right. There could be an issue with that batch and need to be made aware of it.

As a side note I've heard the Aldi version is quite a close match.

Pushkinini · 18/12/2023 08:20

I used to work on a customer service desk in a major supermarket. People would bring back stuff all the time because of spurious reasons including they didn't like it, it was tough (in the case of expensive meat), quality not as expected etc. We would always exchange, or refund if they had a receipt. The only way to find out is to ask. Just say it has an odd flavour and doesn't taste quite right.