Birthday cake ordered online - disastrous experience

[Frenchsalesadministrator]

I ordered a Birthday cake online for my wife from an online cake store. The website and the cakes looked very professional and with very genuine reviews. They use a third party company to deliver their cakes everywhere in the UK and they recommend to order for delivery the day before the event because the delivery time window is anytime all day.

The birthday was yesterday (Wednesday 7th April) and I ordered the cake on the 28th March.
Because of the bank holiday weekend a delivery for Tuesday 6th April wasn't possible, only a delivery for Wednesday 7th. It didn't bother me and I accepted the risk of a late arrival in the day which would have been still another nice surprise late in the day.

Anyway, I received a confirmation yesterdayon Tuesday (6th April) from the delivery company that they had the item and it was scheduled for delivery the following day so all looked fine.

The cake was a surprise for my wife and she didn't know anything about it.
We waited for the cake all day and at 5pm it still had not arrived. I called the cake company for an update and they put me on hold while they check with the delivery company.
Apparently the cake had not yet left the depot and delivery should be done anytime up to the following day 12pm. I explained that the birthday was today and the cake couldn't arrive tomorrow. The lady on the phone told me that I should have ordered the delivery for yesterday, I told her that the website wouldn't let me select that date because of the bank holiday weekend. She then tried to diffuse responsibility and she told me that I should have added a note with the order that the birthday was on the same date as the earliest possible delivery date, and she would have ordered a free special delivery to be done in the morning.
That wasn't an option so how would have I known it was possible???

Anyway, I think that the cake company has done nothing wrong but the delivery company has let them down.
I have checked again online on the delivery company's website and delivery is now expected today (8th) before 12pm.

I was wondering if I have a case for compensation here and for how much?

Before today, I was considering buying another cake for my daughter's birthday next month if the case was good but now I have to reconsider it.
Now, I am wondering about asking them a gesture a good will and to ask them for their best offer on this second cake.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Newchodge]

4 working days for an order for a bespoke item? Lucky it arrived at all.

 

[The Byre]

Baking a cake is hardly rocket science. It would only be a real present for someone you love if you baked it yourself.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

1) The contract is with the courier and the sender , Not you .
2) The terms and conditions that the carrier will have with the sender will cover for any unforeseen delays this can be for almost anything including the bank holiday that has just gone by and this will be the most likely reason they use
3) where compensation is paid it does not cover consequential loss and will be an insurance at a very low rate to replace the item at normally £1 per kilo so less than the cake
The parcel company insurance rates are well documented here on UKBF !

It is disappointing that you are a UKBF regular and you are surprised that an online company uses a delivery company to deliver and not do it themselves.
Do you expect the cake maker to jump in their Fiat Panda and dog leg it across the country delivering the cakes that he or she has just made ?

I want to be a nice person but you do get tested

 

[Darren_Ssc]

What are your thoughts?

Honestly, you don't want to know...

 

[Mark T Jones]

What are your thoughts?

My main thought is how sad it is that you've turned your wife's misfortune into a tawdry money grab.

Had it been me - well, actually I'd have made her a lemon roulade, which she'd have appreciated far more than a bought cake , but I appreciate that isn't everyone's situation - failing that, I'd have found a way of getting a cake to her by any means - upto & including send an Uber to collect one. Then you could have some justification in presenting the Uber bill as concequential loss.

In truth, I'd probably just move on.

 

[WaveJumper]

It's a shame it did not turn out well and as above it's probably time to move on. I would say it's interesting reading several threads over the last few days people trying to do things over the Bank Holiday from cakes to big bank transfers I think personally added to the mix of COVID-19 and lockdown thrown in, the disruption the later has caused to so many services (the perfect storm) more forward planning perhaps is required

 

[Paul Norman]

I have a few thoughts here.

1. Buying a cake on line comes with some obvious risks. In the village here there are two people I know of who would have baked a very professional cake and I could collect it

2. It is the responsibility of the cake company to get the cake to you. Late delivery is a breach of contract, but only if the contract (terms and conditions) promised it clearly on the date quoted.

3. Compensation would amount only to the cost of the cake if 2 proved effective. I suspect that would be enough.

4. See 1.

 

[fisicx]

Why is this a disastrous experience? It seems like you left it to the last minute to place the order just before a bank holiday. The fault seems to be more yours than the cake company. As always, what does it say in their T&C for delivery?

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Should have had it delivered for the last working day before the bank holiday