Is It Okay To Return A Bad Coffee?
- Replies 6
There are tens of thousands of cafes in Australia that are known for their quality beans and high standards, which is why good coffee is not hard to find.
However, not every trip to a coffee shop is a good one. Sometimes, mistakes happen and we get served with a cuppa that isn’t up to scratch. This is all the more disappointing when it happens at a cafe we frequent on a regular basis.
Such is the case of one coffee aficionado who shared his experience online. This prompted him to ask a question that has left hundreds of regular cafe goers completely divided.
Posting on the popular forum site Reddit, the user shared that since there was a nice new cafe in town, he decided to give it a go and try a cuppa. Many places around his area closed down due to the pandemic so it was nice to see a new store come to life.
However, the coffee seemed to be below average and was not to his liking. In fact, for its expensive price point, it was just downright ‘bad’.
So he asked other people: “Is it acceptable to return a bad overpriced coffee from a small local shop that I really want to do well?”
A cafe goer asked if it’s acceptable to return a bad coffee and people are divided. Credit: Reddit.
The user’s question elicited the opinions of hundreds of regular cafe goers, and most of them think that it’s perfectly fine to request a new, fresh cup.
The top comment suggests the patron could simply just ask for a remake and explain why he didn’t like the coffee. “Mistakes are made and accidents happen. A business would rather have you satisfied than at risk of not returning,” it says.
“Also, it may not seem like it sometimes, but hospitality folk actually do want you to have a good time and enjoy what they’ve made for you and that you have chosen to spend your hard-earned money on.”
And it seems like even baristas and coffee shop owners agree! A second user commented and shared a similar experience.
“My family used to have a franchise coffee shop 20 years ago. During training, the guy from the head office said: You have one happy customer, he may tell 5 people about it. You have one unhappy customer, he will tell 50 people about it.”
He told fellow business owners the importance of addressing the customer’s problem before they leave the shop, or they might spread “bad news” to other potential customers.
“As a business owner, honest and kind feedback is one of the most valuable things a customer can give,” wrote another user.
Meanwhile, some users take a different approach, especially in cases when they had never frequented the coffee shop before.
“If I've never been there and get a bad coffee, I just assume that's their standard and I don't say anything but never go back,” one user wrote. Another agreed and added: “Whether I ever return to a place is often based on how good it was the first time.”
One user, a former cafe staff member, also suggested that he could just ask for a refund instead. The user recalled their experience as a barista and how the owners were constantly “breathing on their neck” and how they were ordered to make several cups of coffee in such a short time.
“Don’t curse the poor barista, instead ask for your refund and go to some specialty coffee shop where they care about customers,” they said.
What are your thoughts, members? Would you return a bad coffee? Or do you prefer asking for a replacement or a refund?
Let us know in the comments!
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