A couple was mistakenly charged nearly $4,500 for two Starbucks coffees after selecting the ‘no tip’ option. Starbucks later resolved the issue and refunded the couple after a series of mishaps.
Couple Shocked After $4,500 Starbucks Bill Due to Gratuity Mistake
A coffee-loving couple was left stunned when they were charged nearly $4,500 for two Starbucks beverages, despite choosing the “no tip” option during their February 2023 order. Jesse and Deedee O’Dell, who had been loyal Starbucks customers for 16 years, usually spent about $10 on their daily iced Americano and cappuccino. But on this particular day, the total cost of their order came to a jaw-dropping $4,456.27.
The Bizarre Billing Mistake
At first, Jesse and Deedee thought nothing of it. They had selected the “No Tip” option on the card machine, or so they thought. However, to their shock, they later discovered that they had been charged an additional gratuity fee of $4,444.44, making the total sum of their two drinks nearly $4,500.
Days later, Deedee’s card was declined while she was out shopping with her four children. This is when she realized the serious error. The couple immediately contacted Starbucks, and after investigating, they were told by the district manager that a network error had caused the mix-up. They were assured that the full amount would be refunded.
The Refund Issue and Frustration
Although the couple was promised a refund, things didn’t go as smoothly as they hoped. They were sent two checks to cover the gratuity charges, but when they tried to cash them, the checks bounced. The O’Dells then spent hours on the phone with Starbucks customer service, calling “probably 30 or 40 times in one day,” Jesse said, until they were promised new checks.
Despite the assurances, the couple’s refund still hadn’t arrived when they gave an interview about the incident. This delay seriously impacted their plans, including a long-awaited family trip to Thailand to visit Deedee’s sister.
Starbucks Resolves the Situation
After an intense and frustrating period of waiting, Starbucks issued new checks with the correct information, which were received and cashed by the O’Dells on February 6, 2023. A Starbucks spokesperson later explained, “This was an unfortunate situation that has since been resolved. The tip was entered by the customer in error. While the original refund checks had a typo and therefore did not go through, we issued new ones on January 31, which were received and cashed by the customer on Monday, February 6.”
The O’Dells’ ordeal was eventually resolved, but not without leaving them feeling frustrated and disappointed by the experience.
