After Seeing How Much Their Two Coffees Cost At Starbucks, Couple Forced To Abandon Holiday

Starbucks is one of the largest coffee distributors in the world. With more than 32,000 international locations, the coffee supplier has become largely popular for morning or afternoon pick-me-ups. However, due to a system error, one couple was forced to cancel their vacation and went into massive debt after purchasing 2 beverages.

An Ordinary Stop to the Drive-Thru

Jesse and Deedee O’Dell are parents from Oklahoma. The couple, who typically spend around $10 a day on Starbucks coffee or other beverages, were overcharged in January 2023 and it took a massive toll on their finances. They went to their local Starbucks drive-thru and ordered their usual drinks. “I ordered the Iced Americano and my wife, she always gets the Venti Caramel frappuccino with the extra shot, and it’s usually around nine to 10 bucks. An extra shot might raise it up to like $10.75,” Jesse explained.

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Unexpected Charges from Starbucks

However, things took a bizarre turn a few hours later. Deedee was out shopping when her card was declined. As a result, she looked into the matter, discovering her receipt from Starbucks was inappropriately marked. The coffee giant had charged her a $4,444 gratuity fee. Consequently, Jesse called Starbucks “30 or 40 times” to resolve the matter. Soon after, the coffee giant sent the couple 2 checks, equaling the amount taken from Deedee’s account.

Canceling Their Trip

Sadly, the checks bounced, causing the pair’s finances to spiral out of control. As a result, the family was forced to cancel a trip they had booked to Thailand. Moreover, the tickets were non-refundable, causing even more hassle for the pair. “This was an unfortunate situation that took place nearly two years ago and has long been resolved,” a spokesperson for Starbucks told LADbible. “There was an error made regarding a customer tip at a Starbucks drive-thru, and we worked to address the situation as quickly as possible. Checks were issued and cashed by the customer on Monday, February 6, 2023.”

Starbucks Eventually Corrects the Error

Fortunately, new checks were issued and cashed successfully, helping the O’Dells repair their financial state. The family likely has a way to go before they’re caught up and may reconsider buying from Starbucks again. However, people on the internet have pointed out a simple “moral of the story.“

“Always check your receipts,” they advise.

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Brief Backstory of Starbucks

Starbucks Coffee was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1971. The first shop opened in Pike’s Peak Market and sold whole beans, tea, and spices. By 1984, Starbucks experimented with its first “coffeehouse concept.” Since then, the company has become one of the largest coffee producers and distributors worldwide. Furthermore, Starbucks sources its coffee from over 30 countries including Kenya, Mexico, and Indonesia, and has over 85,000 drink combinations, according to Urban Bean Coffee. Each country produces coffee with a unique flavor profile. While some are spicy and robust, others are crisp, and all play an important role in helping Starbucks develop its well-known brand.

Starbucks is “Sustainable”

While the corporation has faced backlash from the public for its unethical methods, it’s taken part in going green since 2005 and maintains a mission: “To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles as we grow.” The company has made strides in fulfilling sustainability, from offering a discount on reusable cups to partnering with the Environmental Defense Fund, according to the official website.

Starbucks Faces Other Controversies

However, Starbucks has faced multiple lawsuits for “deceptive marketing” and other discrepancies. Unsurprisingly, it’s not the only large company facing possible legal consequences as a result of its business practices. “In general, companies can say great things about their product and make any kind of opinion claims they want to make about it. They can even say it’s the best in the world,” explained Louis Tompros, an intellectual property attorney at WilmerHale in Boston. As such, “false advertising” is common and companies are often required to provide a payout For instance, A&W Concentrate Co. agreed to pay $15 million because its products aren’t made with “aged-vanilla” as the labels suggest.

Overcharging Isn’t Uncommon

“Opinion claims about a product are called puffery, and they’re perfectly fine under false advertising law. What false advertising law does not allow is a false factual claim,” Tompros added. While Jesse and Deedee’s story doesn’t fall into the category of falling victim to false advertisement, they did suffer immense stress as a result of the coffee giant’s system error. Purportedly, the pair are the only customers to face such an unfortunate accident. However, many people feel that Starbucks prices are outrageously high and continue to rise. As such, the company faced more backlash in 2023 for “unfairly overcharging” for non-dairy milk. Starbucks, like many corporations, is often the subject of controversy. Fortunately, this story had a happy ending as the coffee giant took responsibility for the mistake, and the O’Dells were able to move past the mishap.

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