A number of customers who purchased cupcakes through a home based business are frustrated. They say they paid for a product that wasn't delivered, and are now asking for their money back.
Nicole Nicholson is one of those customers. She says she saw a deal offered on Facebook, by the company Once Upon a Cupcake and All Things Sweet, and purchased it.
"The deal was a year of cupcakes. It was $150 and you got 100 cupcakes a month for a year," explained Nicholson.
She said she received her first two months worth of cupcakes without any problems.
"The cupcakes were delicious. They were perfect, everybody loved them."
After receiving her third order, Nicholson said she tried to contact the company but her messages weren't returned.
Laura Pryatel purchased the same deal off the company's Facebook page.
"I was hosting my son's grad party shortly, in a couple weeks, and lets face it, cupcakes are the rage right now," Pryatel said adding, "It was a fantastic deal, obviously."
After receiving two orders of cupcakes without issue, Pryatel placed another order for a charity function she was holding this month, but didn't receive the order.
Both Nicholson and Pryatel are now asking for their money back.
"I was promised a refund and on four different occasions," Nicholson said adding, "The last time I offered to do a payment plan and she said she had to talk to her financial officer."
The owner of Once Upon a Cupcake and All Things Sweet, Corina Hipkin, says she closed the business in August "due to severe harassment and bullying." Hipkin sent the following statement to Global News, via email.
"I closed the business in August due to severe harassment and bullying, and have since been refunding people out of my pocket. The original price of the deal only covered the cost of supplies. I then had a partner who chose to walk away , and I admit everything got to be to much for me. I did not do everything right as I am not perfect but I have been trying my hardest to refund everyone in a timely manner, as over half of the refunds have already been issued, I have attempted to work out plans with people, which were not accepted. I then consulted with a bankruptcy specialist, which is where we are at now. I have asked Mrs Nicholson to wait until the specialist tells me what to do but I see she has chosen to go about this a different way as for Mrs Pryatel. This is even the first I have heard from her since July, I was completely unaware of her issues.This whole situation with bullying and harassment has become out of control and my family has suffered greatly and I am truly sorry that innocent people had to be dragged into it as well."
Hipkin's friend and customer, Lennea Schiffner believes Hipkin is doing as much as she can to get everyone their money back.
"She is working, with help, to get the rest of the funds available to pay everybody back in time," Schiffner said adding, "She's a wonderful person. She made some bad business decisions, hoping that she had some help and when her help fell through she has kind of now suffered."
"It's too bad that it happened because she did a good job with her cupcakes," Nicholson said adding, "It's just upsetting because I gave her money for a service and she never followed through on it."
While they wait for refunds, both Nicholson and Pryatel have warnings for consumers looking into purchasing a product through a home based business.
"Be careful of businesses, especially on Facebook, because there is no way of tracking them," said Nicholson.
"It's buyer beware, always. If the offer sounds too good to be true it probably is," added Pryatel.
*This business- "Once Upon a Cupcake and All Things Sweet" has no affiliation with the shop "Once Upon a Cupcake" which is located in West Edmonton Mall.
With files from Julie Matthews.
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2013.