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The original was posted on /r/talesfromretail by /u/Expensive-Love-6785 on 2024-10-23 18:45:44+00:00.
So this happened almost 2 years ago but I remembered it when joining this subreddit.
For context, I worked at a well known boba shop in a busy mall. All the employees were either highschool students or college kids, ages ranging from 14-20 and the 2 managers were married. The owner almost abandoned this location to focus on another one.
Our managers were very cheap and never wanted to waste a single drop of product or give a refund unless really needed.
Now the story, my (at the time, 18F) coworker and I (at the time, 15F) were working on a mildly busy day. This woman comes with her three kids, her oldest daughter, middle son, and youngest daughter. They ordered their 3 drinks like normal and some of them got slushes instead of milk tea, whatever pretty normal.
When we hand them their drinks on the other side of the kiosk, they try it right there. Could have moved for other customers, but okay.
A little bit later she comes back in line and starts asking my coworker for a refund because her youngest daughter didn't like the slush. Not an exchange for something she might've liked, but an entire refund.
So, my coworker tells her that since we didn't make her drink incorrectly we cannot give her a refund, as we have a policy to only give refunds when it is a mistake on our part.
She argues with her for way too long before asking to speak to the manager. My coworker tells her that our manager isn't here at this moment, but we can get her on the phone.
At this point, I can't remember if there were other customers behind her or if we had finished the line.
Anyways, my coworker goes in the back and calls our boss to explain the situation. She comes to the front, puts her phone on speaker, and the woman explains her side of the story. My boss then says the same thing, "Since it was no mistake on our part & they did not mess up your drinks, we will not be able to give you a refund.".
She basically storms off after that, with all her kids, to a sitting area right in front of our shop/kiosk, practically vibrating with anger as her kids look sad or maybe embarrassed.
Eventually after some time, they leave and I see she left all of the drinks in a circle around the edge of the garbage bin where they were sitting.
Like, okay? You wasted your own money, not ours.