Many coffee lovers enjoy treating themselves to a delicious cup of Joe at Starbucks from time to time. While aware of the higher prices, they believe the experience is worth it. However, imagine the shock of being charged $4500 for just two cups of coffee at Starbucks. This is precisely what happened to a couple, Jesse and Deedee O’Dell, creating a stressful situation they never expected.
Jesse and Deedee had been loyal customers of Starbucks for over 16 years before this unfortunate incident occurred. Wanting a cappuccino and an iced Americano, they placed a typical order. Little did they know that something would go terribly wrong.
Normally, this order would cost around $10. However, on that fateful day in February 2023, they were charged a staggering $4456.27. To their surprise, they discovered that, in addition to their regular order, they were charged an astonishing tip of $4444.44. That’s quite a tip for two cups of coffee!
Jesse insisted that he had selected the “no tip” option on the card machine when placing the order. This discrepancy only added to the mystery. A few days later, while shopping with her four children, Deedee’s credit card was declined. Concerned, she investigated and uncovered the exorbitant charge for their Starbucks order.
Taking matters into her own hands, Deedee reached out to the district manager for Starbucks. They were informed that there must have been a network error during the transaction with the credit card machine. The couple was promised two refund checks to cover the full gratuity amount.
Unfortunately, when the checks finally arrived, they bounced. Frustrated, Jesse made numerous calls to Starbucks customer service and eventually spoke to a representative who assured him that new checks would be sent promptly. However, due to this mix-up, the couple was forced to cancel their nonrefundable trip to Deedee’s home country of Thailand, where they planned to visit her long-lost sister.
Desperate for a resolution, Jesse and Deedee sought assistance from the Tulsa Police Department to rectify the situation. They also want other Starbucks customers to learn from their experience and to always double-check their receipts when ordering coffee.
Jesse emphasized the impact this ordeal had on their family, saying, “This is something that has caused huge duress in our own family, and hopefully other people don’t have to go through something like this.”
When contacted by a news outlet, a Starbucks spokesman acknowledged the unfortunate incident but assured resolution. They stated, “This was an unfortunate situation that has since been resolved. The tip was entered by the customer in error.” Additionally, they mentioned that although the initial refund checks contained a typo and did not go through, new ones were issued on January 31 and successfully cashed by the couple on Monday, February 6.
It’s important to always verify your receipts and charges, regardless of the establishment. While mistakes can happen, being cautious and attentive can help prevent undue stress and inconvenience.
