Tomorrow is my child's birthday. I received an email from Nothing Bundt Cake which offered a free bundtlet cake. We both arrived at the location and I waited in the short line to get into the store. A cashier offered to assist. I explained I was buying 4 bundtlet cakes and I had a birthday coupon for 1. They immediately asked for my ID. I said, I'd be happy to show my ID however the cake is for my child, who is waiting in the car with my spouse. I offered to bring in the child, but they won't have an ID card. The cashier said the coupon may only be used by someone who is 13 years or older. I pulled out the coupon and read the terms:
"Print or show this email on your mobile device at your local bakery to redeem your Free Bundtlet. Must be 13 years or older to redeem. Limit one per guest. Print or show on your mobile device to redeem. No cash value. Not valid with any other offer. Valid at participating bakeries. Valid in bakery only through 04/08/2021. Be prepared to show photo ID. Offer code: MEC0302"
I was prepared to show a photo ID when using the coupon and I interpreted the line, "must be 13 years or older to redeem" as children under 13 years of age must be accompanied by an adult to redeem the coupon. Moreover, I was redeeming the coupon on behalf of a child who was present during the transaction. The cashier approved the coupon and handed me off to another cashier for payment.
The owner Donna came out and said, "We are going to take the coupon this time, however, it won't be accepted again." I felt like Donna was accusing me of fraud. It was awful. I tried to show the coupon to Donna and they refused saying they knew what it said and no child under 13 can redeem the coupon. They also said an ID is required. When I explained, that's not how I interpreted the coupon, Donna turned to the cashier and said, we are not going to accept the coupon. I was humiliated, canceled my order, and left the store.
Donna's (owner) behavior today was hypocritical, unprofessional, with poor business acumen, and totally lacking in customer service. I absolutely will never return to this location again and I recommend all others reconsider when selecting the Nothing Bundt Cakes on 27746-A Santa Margarita Pkwy.
I have never had this issue with any other location of Nothing Bundt Cakes and I still plan to visit other locations. See my previous 5-Star review of a different location back in 2018.
I have attached a screenshot of the coupon to this review.
On the Nothing Bundt Cake website, here's what the FAQ says about the Birthday Club, "How do I receive my Free Birthday Bundtlet coupon? Everyone deserves a Bundtlet on their birthday! eClub members are emailed their Free Birthday Bundtlet coupon one week prior to their birthday provided during eClub signup. If you don't see the email in your inbox, check your junk and SPAM folders. Otherwise, please send us an email for further assistance." See attached screenshot.
Update==== This afternoon, the Guest Services Manager for Nothing Bundt Cakes reaffirmed their policy. Here's my response:
Thank you for your email. When the Nothing Bundt Cake FAQ includes the phrase, "Everyone deserves a Bundtlet on their birthday!" to advertise the Free Birthday Buntdlet coupon, they are clearly misleading consumers into believing that "Everyone" qualifies for a free birthday bundlet.
As a person over 13, I signed up on behalf of my children.
There is nothing on this page or any Nothing Bundt Cakes page (that I could find) which says a parent cannot sign up on behalf of a child to receive a free birthday bundtlet for the child.
If Nothing Bundt Cakes would like to permanently exclude children under 13 from getting a free birthday cake, it should clearly state this in the FAQ, on the sign-up page, and on the coupon itself.
Until then, Nothing Bundt Cakes is blatantly misleading its customers, humiliating them at the store in front of other customers, and hypocritically saying they will honor the coupon, then less than 1 minute later, refusing to honor the coupon (yes, the...
Read moreDecided to stop in for a cake for my husbands birthday, we walked in at 6:45pm, 15 minutes before closing.This was my first time in a Nothing Bundt Cakes Shop, I thought I would give them a try. Conciencious of the time, I went directly to the counter and asked what the options were for a cake to go. One of the girls abruptly said, "Only these are available and we can't decorate one!" I didnt argue, she made it so clear there was no decorating. We purchased a Lemon Cake from the refrigerator and some candles and were on our way. Wasn't until my drive home I really though about how unreasonable that was. Having a business myself, I would never want a customer cut off and rushed out that way. What would it have taken to ask what we would like or offer something quick and simple to top the cake. I had noticed the pre made decorations right behind the register, How much time would it really have taken to put one of the birthday decorations on the darn cake. Hopefully the owner will address this sort of attitude. This is often a problem when owners aren't present and it sadly hurts the business. I will say the cake was good, but we will not be back. This type of service is unacceptable. No matter how good a product may be, no one wants...
Read moreThis location's employees are very disrespectful and go out of their way to be difficult. I called regarding an uber eats order that i submitted. When an item was accidentally added to my order, they refused to help me and were very rude to me when i asked for help. I know for a fact that when an item your odrder is unavailable or not wanted, you can call the business to have them remove the item before the order is no longer "being prepared". I have done it in the past and i know other people have also done it as well. This location's employees were extremely rude to me from the start of the call after i nicely pleaded to them to help me and their response was "yeah nothing we can do". I understand that the mistake was on my end. But these arent $5 items. These are over priced cakes. My order had not even been started yet. My questions would be: Why do they need to be so blatantly rude to someone who needs help and just spent over $100 on an order. Also, why not help someone when it is within your power and will cause little to no...
Read more