My daughter's birthday was almost ruined - the bakeshop forgot to make her cake!
By ctv101103
@ctv101103 (859)
Philippines
May 28, 2007 1:25am CST
It's my daughter's 2nd birthday tomorrow but we decided to have an advanced birthday party for her yesterday. It was just had family and some relatives over for some spaghetti, chicken, cake and ice cream.
Anyway, we wanted a Dora the Explorer birthday cake for our daughter's party. So as early as 3 days before party day, my hubby and I went to the bakeshop to order one. We paid in full and told the manager (who assisted us with our order) that we will pick up the cake on Sunday (yesterday) at 10 in the morning.
Sunday came and we were at the bakeshop at around 10:30am. The manager was not there; only 2 crew members were there. When I gave them the receipt, they looked at each other and went in the office. I sensed right then that something was wrong.
After a few minutes, 1 of them came out and asked me what time the party was. I suspected that they weren't able to make the cake; I sarcastically replied, "What do you think? There must be a reason why I said that I'm picking up the cake at 10am! Is there something wrong?". That's when she told me that they weren't able to make the cake.
I was starting to lose my temper at this time. Several minutes passed before they asked me if I was willing to wait for around 30 minutes for the cake. They said they'll have it rushed.
Not wanting to ruin my daughter's birthday party, we decided to wait. True to their word, they were able to produce the cake in 30 minutes.
I was really angry but I didn't want to ruin my daughter's birthday party.
If you were in my place, what would you have done? Do you think, the bakeshop making the cake (even rushed) in time is enough to compensate for the inconvenience they caused me? Or should I have demanded for something else (like freebies, discounts, rebates, etc)?
6 people like this
21 responses
@ctv101103 (859)
• Philippines
28 May 07
you know what, i almost asked for a refund and go somewhere else for the cake. even if that means just having a plain looking cake for the party.
1 person likes this
@jbelle (912)
• Philippines
28 May 07
really? how disgusting... well its better to write a complain letter adress to the manager that if thats always the case they treat their customer then many clients were walk out and they must act as professional for if you are a mean person you can actually sue them... Ü
2 people like this
@camar_lyn (1028)
• Singapore
28 May 07
To wait 30 mins when you are in a hurry really feels like ages. But the most important thing is that your girl had a birthday cake.
However, it is still no excuse for them to not make the cake because they did accept your order in the first place. They should however, get the cake done earlier - no doubt. I would demand a compensation and demand to speak to the manager directly on the phone because he is the decision maker and the staff really has no say to compensate you.
2 people like this
@ctv101103 (859)
• Philippines
28 May 07
it really felt like ages!
i looked like a guard watching them while they worked on my daughter's cake in their kitchen. lol!
anyway, although a day has passed, i am still thinking of talking with the shop's manager or filing a formal complaint. what do you think?
2 people like this
@camar_lyn (1028)
• Singapore
28 May 07
I would say yes! Go to have a talk or complain to the manager because he IS suppose to manage the bakery anyway.
You have to make him see your point of view and the stress they put you through, the time wasted while waiting for them to do the cake, as well as highlighting the fact that should the store had more orders, your daughter would not even have a cake for her birthday! Demand to be compensated. Take what is offered after negotiations.
You could even give them suggestions on how to keep track of their orders and when to stop taking orders for the day. - Lyn
2 people like this
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
28 May 07
I would of been upset, I know mistakes happen, but they should of gave you a free cake. and 30 minutes isn't a long wait, but still, they messed up. At least they were able to get it to you within 30 minutes and not hours later. I would of still demanded the cake to be free or something free.
I'm glad it all worked out in the end though. I would also make a complaint to the manager.
I was in the same boat, kinda. My cake was ready, but they messed up the design on the cake and spelled my sons name wrong, but I didn't even bothER because they gave me attitude for their mistake and then had the nerve to tell me that I didn't spell my sons name correctly anyway. My son's name is Gavyn, and I even told them the correct spelling when I put the order in. But they said I didn't. So I guess it was their word against mine. Anyway, they didn't even spell the original name right, they spelled it like Gevean. I would of been happy if they would of at least got it close, they could of used GAVIN. I don't get them. I know I spelled it out for them. But oh well. LOL! I left with nothing free and a messed up cake. And it was my sons first birthday. So it was a little upsetting, but I managed.
2 people like this
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
28 May 07
I would of been upset, I know mistakes happen, but they should of gave you a free cake. and 30 minutes isn't a long wait, but still, they messed up. At least they were able to get it to you within 30 minutes and not hours later. I would of still demanded the cake to be free or something free.
I'm glad it all worked out in the end though. I would also make a complaint to the manager.
I was in the same boat, kinda. My cake was ready, but they messed up the design on the cake and spelled my sons name wrong, but I didn't even bothER because they gave me attitude for their mistake and then had the nerve to tell me that I didn't spell my sons name correctly anyway. My son's name is Gavyn, and I even told them the correct spelling when I put the order in. But they said I didn't. So I guess it was their word against mine. Anyway, they didn't even spell the original name right, they spelled it like Gevean. I would of been happy if they would of at least got it close, they could of used GAVIN. I don't get them. I know I spelled it out for them. But oh well. LOL! I left with nothing free and a messed up cake. And it was my sons first birthday. So it was a little upsetting, but I managed.
2 people like this
@ctv101103 (859)
• Philippines
28 May 07
what the nerve! you're the mother and they tell you that you misspelled your son's name?! i would have really gotten angry if i was given that remark.
just look at it this way... your son wouldn't remember his messed up birthday cake. unless, of course, he sees the pictures!
:P
1 person likes this
@ctv101103 (859)
• Philippines
28 May 07
it was really irresponsible. it's a good thing they were able to deliver in 30 minutes as they said they would. if they didn't, i don't know what i would have done!
1 person likes this
@KissThis (3003)
• United States
28 May 07
Ctv, I worked in a bakery. I know how frustrating that situation can be for both you and the employees that were trying to fix the screw up. I have seen this happen a few times when someone has dropped the ball when completeing an order given by the customer. The employees couldn't authorize a refund of the money you had already paid. If you were to go in today to speak to a member of management they should refund atleast half of what you paid. I would ask them what kind of compensation were they going to give me for this inconvience. I would also point out that I was very unhappy with how all of this was handled and that I am considering taking my buisness some where else.
Happy Birthday to your daughter and I know that I am sorry that you had to go through something like this.
2 people like this
@Jshean20 (14348)
• Canada
28 May 07
I would think that the bakers should've been able to sense that you were feeling stressed out by this inconvenience and given you some sort of a discount, this probably would've been better for business too because you might've been more likely to recommend them to other people had they done this. I must say that the cake looks amazing though!
1 person likes this
@jhartana (1084)
• Australia
28 May 07
I would've disappointed if they did not make the cake on time. Luckily in your case that they were able to make it on time. Well if they don't unfortunately in my case I would like the order to still proceed through but would like the cake to be charged at no cost. In addition I would not come to that store again.
2 people like this
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
29 May 07
i know exactly where your coming from, the cake shop actually did this to me for my 16th birthday. my partner lost his temper real bad, and he even took the manager out the back of the shop and said this is so unacceptable.
anyways they gave us free milkshakes while waiting, because we lived 1 hour from the town so we had no where else to go, and we even just bought a live fish so its sitting in the car, in the hot summer.
1 person likes this
@babystar1 (4233)
• United States
28 May 07
First of all you should of got your cake free. I would of been very mad if this happened to me also. But I probably would of waited for the 30 minutes like you did.
My daughter went to pick up a birthday cake for her daughter last year and the cake that she ordered was all wrong. They used all the wrong colors on the cake. When she told them they just took the cake in back and took off the frosting and put on the right color. I think some of the help that they have dont no how to read.
1 person likes this
@tala91285 (1074)
• Philippines
28 May 07
Well it's a good thing you were still able to get the cake. It's okay for you to get mad at them but for you to demand some sort of compensation for their delay...isn't that a bit too harsh? I mean, you were able to get the cake in 30 minutes and all.. Now if they weren't able to deliver what they told you, then that's the time for you to demand compensation..
1 person likes this
@ctv101103 (859)
• Philippines
28 May 07
yes, it's a good thing that they kept their word. but it still was an inconvenience. i didn't demand for anything but it left me wondering if i should have.
thanks for your opinion.
1 person likes this
@victoriacrisostomo (136)
• Philippines
28 May 07
i think you should ask for discounts,freebies.they cannot repay the tensions they have caused.
2 people like this
@singhtaj (6)
•
28 May 07
It's really very difficult to go through such senerios where some incertainity caused which was never expected. However, I would be on a save side, if I would have been at your place bacuse luckily saying - I have my own bakery shop. So no probkems with caked , cookies, pastries etc. I love cake like anything by birth. Whenever I come to know that ther is a birthday of anyone whether he/she is known to me or not, I invite myself in that party and celebrate the birthday and have a cake. I can go anywhere for a cake. It is vary good if you can make someone laugh or can share anyone's happiness or sorrows. What say-
2 people like this
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
28 May 07
I would have been upset - however I also would have understood that they have made a mistake and waited the extra 30 minutes for them to finish the cake.
I ALSO think that they should have given u the cake for the time you had to wait. i am not sure i would have paid for it - atleast not in full =)
1 person likes this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
28 May 07
Awww, ctv. I can imagine how upset you were yesterday. I will practically breathing fire on them when I'm in your situation. I detested bad service and will demand to call on the manager to come over whether he is still in his PJ or not. Its quite obvious that the manager was negligent on his duty to mark down your order. I consider every single second of my time too precious. If I were you, I will ask for 50% refund of my full payment or better yet, let them deliver the cake right to my doorstep. In short, I don't take this kind of thing lightly.
1 person likes this
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
28 May 07
I would have been furious in your place!!
There's no excuse whatsoever for "forgetting" to make a birthday cake, especially when it's been preordered.
I would call into the bakeshop and talk to the manager on duty, tell them what happened and what are they going to do as compensation for the inconvenience, not to mention the wasted time you had to wait for the cake being made.
I would also stress that you're taking your business elsewhere and telling all your friends what the store did so they don't have the same thing happen to them too.
They should either give you your money back for the cake, or offer you some other compensation or incentive. I'm glad that (eventually) your daughters party went off without a hitch.
1 person likes this
@shinjiao (1457)
• China
28 May 07
That's too bad,ctv101103!The birthday cake for little child is important,how can the bakeshop forgot to make it!!
I have never encountered this event,if I may experience this bad event,I will be angry at first.And then I will ask the bakeshop apologize to their carelessness.
1 person likes this
@castleghost (1304)
• United States
28 May 07
My fiancee use to work at a Wal-Mart bakery. She would come home complaining about how someone lost a cake order and how upset the customer would be. She always advised the customers to go to customer service and ask to speak to a manager about the situation because she wasn't allowed to discount or give them the item for free. But the manager could. She hated when this happened to people because there wasn't anything she could do. You should have gotten the cake for free and I would be calling that store to talk to the manager.
1 person likes this
@UDDERONES (887)
• United States
28 May 07
I would have been mad also. If I would have been one of the two workers, I would have given you the cake for free. Just for your trouble. If I were unable to do that, I would have called the manager or told them later and got your info. so we could do something for your trouble and having to wait and the cake not being done when promised. Also I wouldn't want my company (the bakery) to get a bad reputation and I would have compensated you. But who knows what they were thinking.
Thank god you got the cake in 30 minutes.
