Couple cancels dream holiday over Starbucks coffee mishap.
You probably wouldn’t expect your morning coffee run to ruin your dream vacation, but that’s exactly what happened to one couple in Oklahoma.
Morning coffee turns into a financial disaster.
Jesse and Deedee O’Dell were just enjoying their usual Starbucks order when they were hit with a mind-blowing charge.
For a couple that normally spends about $10 a day on coffee, they were left in absolute shock when their casual Starbucks stop turned into financial chaos.
Jesse ordered his regular Iced Americano, while Deedee grabbed her go-to Venti Caramel Frappuccino with an extra shot.
On any given day, this would set them back about $10.75, but what they were billed for this time was enough to make anyone spit out their drink.
Declined card leads to a startling discovery.
Hours later, Deedee’s shopping trip was suddenly interrupted when her card was unexpectedly declined.
Confused, she logged into her bank account and immediately realized something was very, very wrong.
Hefty fee exposed.
That “something” was a mind-boggling $4,444 gratuity fee slapped onto their Starbucks order!
Naturally, panic set in. Jesse quickly jumped on the phone to Starbucks, hoping to fix this monumental blunder.
Starbucks responded by sending two checks to refund the absurd amount, but the nightmare was far from over.
When Jesse and Deedee tried to cash the checks, they bounced, leaving the couple more than $4,000 in the hole.
Endless calls to Starbucks’ customer service exposed.
“We contacted customer service maybe 30 or 40 times that day,” Jesse told reporters, recalling the frustration.
They didn’t give up until someone finally called them back from Starbucks’ Seattle headquarters.
Couple forced to cancel holiday.
By that point, the financial damage was already done, forcing the couple to cancel their upcoming trip to Thailand.
“We had to cancel the trip, and the tickets were non-refundable,” Jesse said, clearly disappointed.
The couple had long looked forward to this vacation, a much-needed getaway to reset and recharge.
They had meticulously planned the trip to Thailand, saving up for months for the flights, hotels, and activities.
Thailand, with its tropical beaches, rich culture, and bustling street markets, had always been on their bucket list.
Non-refundable tickets add to the heartbreak.
The O’Dells had secured non-refundable tickets as a way to lock in their plans and make the trip a reality.
But now, thanks to an inexplicable Starbucks slip-up, those long-awaited travel dreams were dashed.
The couple’s frustration mounted as the weeks passed, and they still hadn’t received a resolution from Starbucks.
Couple voice frustration after Starbucks mishap.
“We’re loyal customers, but after this, we may never go back to Starbucks,” Jesse admitted, adding that the ordeal had been nothing short of stressful.
As financial strain piled on, the O’Dells grew increasingly desperate for a fix.
Finally, new checks were sent out by Starbucks, and this time, they were able to cash them successfully.
Starbucks spokesperson comments on situation.
A Starbucks spokesperson called the incident an “unfortunate situation” and said it has since been resolved.
“The tip was entered by the customer in error,” the company explained, though the O’Dells strongly believe it was a system glitch.
According to Starbucks, the original checks bounced due to a typo, but new ones were issued and received by February 6.
Despite finally getting their money back, Jesse and Deedee were still out the cost of their non-refundable Thailand trip.
“It’s been a huge inconvenience. We were really looking forward to that holiday,” Jesse said, adding that the whole ordeal put a huge strain on them financially.
While Starbucks eventually made good on the refund, the O’Dells’ enthusiasm for their daily coffee fix might be gone forever.
With their dream vacation ruined, the O’Dells are left with the bitter taste of what was supposed to be a sweet coffee run.
One thing’s for sure: Starbucks probably won’t be on the O’Dell family’s travel itinerary any time soon.