Just for the record, I want to make it clear that any
reviews in this blog are just my own personal experience and I’m not paid for
any of them. Also, the places I’m going to aren’t aware that they are being
reviewed and while I have been invited to numerous places to review (all of
which are on a list) I will not let these places know prior to going and I will
pay for everything out of my own pocket just so the review is non-biased. Also,
I base my reviews more on customer service than anything, so if I get great customer
service somewhere, then I am loyal to that place and will not go anywhere else
if my life depended on it.
If you want to suggest any places for review, let me know
and I will try to fit it in during the coming weeks/months!
So the three cake shops are:
·
Sugaholic http://sugaholic.com/contact/
·
Brownie Point http://www.browniepointuae.com/contact_us.php
The cake for my wedding party came from Sugaholic
I had some issues:
1. When
my friend and I walked into the store, we were ignored for the good part of 15
minutes. When we were finally seen to and asked questions about the kind of
cake we wanted, it turned out the person we were speaking to was not the right
person. The right person was I presume the lady who owned the store and was
doing something on her laptop still ignoring us.
2. When
the laptop lady was told she would have to deal with us, she left us to our own
devices for a bit to do something else. This was slightly annoying but I needed
to book a cake that day and I was already there.
3. She
came back and went into a detailed discussion about what the cake could look
like and excitingly for me took pictures of my husband and I, so that she could
model the figurines on us – this turned out to be a COMPLETE waste of time
because as you can see neither of figurines look like either of us.
4. There
was zero tasting offered and I bought my own cupcakes to make sure the taste was
good enough. Normally, I wouldn’t mind this, but for a wedding party cake, you
have to agree this is off.
5. The
cake I bought was for 40 people, 2 layers and cost 570 dirhams- it both tasted
and looked great.
The customer service issues were minor in the grand
scheme of things but it is a huge selling point for me. So, based on customer
service, location, design and taste, I’m going to give them 5/10 and will only
go in to book when I have lots of time to spare…sadly this is hardly ever.
Brownie Point
My friends had ordered a cake for me from this store on the day of my bachelorette party and it tasted quite nice. Also, since I didn’t want to go
all the way to Bur Dubai to deal with the Sugaholic lady who would make me
wait, I decided to go to the Barsha branch of Brownie Point. I had been at work
since 5am so I was really hoping to walk in and out since I sort of knew what I wanted, if I could just have a quick discussion with someone who would be able to tell me what was on offer. I also REALLY needed something chocolatey right at that moment. This is part of a letter I sent to
Brownie Point (Which makes a big deal of customer service) shortly after
walking into that store- with the response.
I just walked into your Barsha Store.
There was nobody behind the counter, when I had called out for someone, a man
turned up and asked if I wanted help. He said I needed to wait for 2 minutes-
which was obviously 5.
He came back and asked what I would like,
as I was discussing it, he said he needed a few more minutes and went off again
leaving me with pictures to decide what I needed.
I chose my cake and sat patiently for a
bit. Finally I called out again, he appeared as if it was a shock I was still
there and again asked me to wait a short while.
I did, but my patience was waning, I
wake up at 4am for work, I don't want to hang about doing nothing in my free
time after it.
I called out to the man again, he didn't
appear so I left.
Response from Brownie Point:
Hello Mam
I am extremely sorry and sincere apology
for inconvenience caused
to you at the store. Saw you crossing
the road and could not stop you.
Please provide me your cell number to
book the order.
Once again sorry for this mishap.
Thanks. Anthony
You could not stop me? Really? I don’t really
remember you trying to stop me. Weird. Also, you want my cell number to book
the order- are you joking? I got another email from Brownie point asking me to
book the cake but deleted it as I had already booked one somewhere else. Anyway,
since I have tasted the cakes here before they get points based solely on that taste experience and design 5/10
The same day I was ignored in Brownie Point,
I went into Choco’a down the road from them in Barsha– it took a total of 3
minutes to book my personalised cake, which was ready on time, when I went in 2
days later and tasted AMAZING. I ordered the Chocolate Ganache for 10 people-more
than 20 people ended up having a slice and it cost a grand total of 200
dirhams. This is the bargain of the century, as far as I’m concerned. Also two
days later, it still melted in the mouth- and tasted simply heavenly with a
chunk of ice cream.
Choco’a gets 9/10 for taste, customer service
and price and loses a point on the variation of design, but from now on, this
is where I shop for party cakes.
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