FYI about Chantel's Cakes

Wanted to share an FYI about Chantel's cakes for those looking for custom
cakes. After hearing they were one of the only places in the area that did custom
order cakes (so few bakeries here!), I placed an order with them for a
Christening cake for my son back in early March. Even after confirming with two
separate people each detail down to the exact pickup time the week before and 2
days before, the head baker that was supposed to give us our cake that Sunday
did not show up. We called and called and no one ever showed up to open Sunday.

He left us a message later that night apologizing and asking us to call him for
a refund. After several WEEKS of phone tag and trying to call him and email him
and ask for our refund, the refund never came, nor did any explanation. (He said
on the machine he just got in late and there was no excuse.) We eventually had
to go through our credit card dispute process to get refunded the amount.

I cannot tell you the confusion, stress and inconvenience this caused on the
morning before having a 40 person party in my house and I would never trust to
use this bakery again.

Eventually, we got a delicious and beautiful last second cake made by Wegmans in
Sterling that was just wonderful. Our flowers from that Wegmans were also divine
and lasted for weeks, fresh as can be, so I will rave for Wegmans, and wanted to
share my experience to warn you about Chantels. I had a bad feeling about the
place all along and they were very disorganized and always sounded confused and
frazzled on the phone. Should have followed my instinct. Good luck with your
cakes!

 

Wow, that sounds terrible. Sorry that happened to you. I have used Chantel's for many occasions and have never had a problem.

 

Same here, they've always come through for us. been using them for years.

 

I didn't have this bad experience.....But after some Broadlands folks recommended, I tried to order a cake through Chantel few months ago, but coulnd't get anyone on the phone, no one replied to my call after leaving several voicemails. Since I was loosing time, I decided to go with Wegmans......Wegmans cake had fruit filling, whip cream frosting etc. And it became a big hit in our party. Everybody liked the cake.

And BTW, I did get a call from Chantel just a day before our party and by the time I had already ordered the cake from Wegmans.

 

Wow. That's awful. We've used them for every one of Tatertot's birthday cakes for 6 years. They've always done a good job and the cakes have been great. Last year, though, they did screw up and told us ahead of time and the owner had to fix it and got it to the house for the party about 10 minutes ahead of time. That really sucks. Something must be going on.

Had a sample of Wegman's cake last weekend and it was GOOD. Glad that the backup plan worked out.

 

Donna Sateri's cakes are really the best around. Yummy and beautiful! She is extremely reliable and a better baker than my MIL and that is truly saying a lot!!!! Er, but don't tell my MIL I said that. (Donna is great!!!)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lansdowne-VA/Cake-Bliss-by-Donna-Sateri/395343160855?ref=mf
http://cakebliss.shutterfly.com/
Donna Sateri
703-346-3480

 

look at these cute techie cupcakes!!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...pid=5759514&id=395343160855&fbid=420135960855

 

OP - that's a real shame you had that horrid first experience. I would ask you to give them a second shot if it were not for the pain you had to go thru for your refund - NO excuse there for that tragedy!

 

I highly recommend Stephanie the Baker in Sterling. She does amazing custom cakes and once a month has an open house cupcake tasting where they also do some adventuresome flavors and savories.
Check her flickr page for the photos, better than the food shows on tv: http://www.stephaniethebaker.com/