AIBU to expect the birthday cake booking date changed without extra charge?

[JavSurge]

We had to cancel DD's birthday party the day before due to her having S&D. We'd have gone through with it if it was a runny nose but not S&D, as much for our guests as well as her.

Anyway, most of the vendors (hall, entertainment etc) have honoured bookings in changing the date without charge given the circumstances.

As for the cake, she wants to charge us again. Now, for context, she had not finished the cake, had not started icing or decorating it. What's more, once I informed her the party couldn't go ahead, she said she'd pop the sponge in the freezer to be used for another time.

Now we have a new date arranged I have contacted her (2 days later) and asked if the sponge will last (Google says it will) until the party in a couple of weeks and if she's available to decorate it and deliver it on that date.

She's come back saying she didn't freeze it in the end and instead gave it to her neighbour, and now expects us to pay again for a new cake?!
If she'd iced it and it was ready to go then I would completely understand. However, given that it's just a change of date, am I being unreasonable to have expected her to just to use the sponge for us, or even used the sponge for another customer and then made it fresh. Either way to me seems reasonable as she'd not be using extra resources or time.
I can of course understand she might have got an extra customer (money) on the later date but it wouldn't have caused her extra costs.

Am I being being completely unreasonable?
If the cake was decorated I'd have never asked her to redo the whole thing for free but given that she said she was freezing the sponge surely it would be reasonable for her to do it free of charge (or a nominal fee if anything extra is needed)?

You booked her time as well as the ingredients. I think she should be charging you a partial rate. If she's charging you again, you should have been able to have the previous cake. What does the contract say?

It sounds like you're trying to have your cake and eat it.

Completely unreasonable and I'm very surprised your other suppliers have been so obliging.

She didn't provide me with a contract and to be honest if it had been anything else I would have asked for T&C's but these tend to be over social media, local recommendations, type of arrangement.
In theory she wouldn't be using any extra time as she hadn't started the decorating, and the sponge cake didn't need to be wasted, could have been sold on or reused for the new date.

I don't blame her for not wanting to produce a birthday cake that she's had to freeze the sponge, as it will be subpar and she has her reputation to think of.

But she should've given the sponge to you, not her neighbour.

On the face of it though, you were considerably lucky that the other vendors didn't charge, as that's unusual at such short notice.

Ha! Very good

Bravo! 🤣🤣👏👏

I think you do need to pay.

She may not have been able to freeze the cake due to a space issue.

Ultimately, you cancelled last minute so you oew her the money.

I offered to change the day from a Saturday to a Sunday as the other suppliers and hall tend not to get bookings those days, as I appreciate they would otherwise miss out on a Saturday booking.

👏 👏 👏 🎂 🤣🤣

How very generous of you.

I paid the full amount already - and she's saved time and resources in not having to decorate it, should that not count towards something? I'd also paid a delivery fee to her.

This. I would expect to be charged for the ingredients and labour to make the first sponge, but not the full price of the whole cake.

I think you were crazy lucky to get to reschedule everything else so would just let this one go. Genuinely can't believe they didn't charge you to move the date at such short notice! No one around here would do that.

Maybe you should get the new cake at a discounted rate since she did not ice or decorate the old cake. In regards to freezing she may not have the space to freeze or it may not be the same quality.

How much we talking here?

I think the issue is she'd blocked out the time to decorate, possibly turning down an opportunity for different work. I agree it's awkward where there aren't clear Ts&Cs to set expectations.

I think in your place I'd say well we've done pretty well with the other vendors not charging extra so the party as a whole we are doing okay.

Make your own cake?

Thanks. I would be happy to pay half, but the whole shebang seems a bit mean. I recognise she's a business but she's not spent the extra time or resources to make it and could have sold it on or frozen it.

Lol

£200.
It's a big birthday. Normally it would be a supermarket cake at home with a handful of guests, but of course this happens when we go all out for once 😂

But she should've given the sponge to you, not her neighbour.

Good point! You’ve ended up paying £200 for an undecorated sponge cake for the neighbour.

I wouldnt hesitate to pay it s not a charity

She hasn't used extra time but if she had known she wasn't doing your cake she would have booked someone else in to fill that space (and therefore earn money on that day). Instead she'd be losing money from the time she allocated to do your cake if you expect not to pay again.
So yes, you are being unreasonable.
To be honest, this is why deposits should be taken and full balance on receiving the order. I think its very reasonable for her to keep at least 50% of the balance.

What has she said about it when you have raised these points?