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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you give me the replacement chips?

543 replies

Houseofdrums · 15/05/2026 18:22

Im with a group of mum friends at a food court. We all go off to different kiosks. Order our food. We find an available table.

I order from a Thai cuisine, a noodle dish and some chips for the little one.

I pick up the food, put toddler in highchair, put the chips infront of her. I’m about to take my first serving of noodles and baby kicks the chips all over the floor.

The chips cost £5. One of the mums says that it’s been less than 5 mins and they didn’t touch the chips, I should be able to ask for a replacement.

So I go to the kiosk, politely explain that I was just here and the baby annoyingly dropped all the chips. I show them the picture (we are sitting on the other end of the food court).

They say no. But I plead a little bit - I do have a soft voice so I’m being nice. Then they go on and on about how every mum will be asking for freebies. I should pay for another one. And I should go to another one of their stores who would provide me free chips.

Turns out she was also the manager.

I worked in waitressing many years ago, and honestly, we would have just given a portion of chips. Id be hesitant if it was the whole meal - but a couple of chips for a baby?

Was I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
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6
UtterlyUseless · 16/05/2026 09:12

A good will gesture and leaving a paying customer feeling good is sometimes worth more than the chips.
You will have said how kind they were and nice

Leavesandthings · 16/05/2026 09:08

I would love to know how the convo with HQ went.

"So I was demanding a free replacement for my chips...."

Aleopardneverchangesitssocks · 16/05/2026 09:05

Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 04:48

No because it’s worth so much more.

I would t have asked if my £18 noodles dropped. As I’m an adult.

I guess I was driven by the thought of a hungry baby. So I accept fault. And I know it’s my responsibility to feed my child.

I guess the consensus is that I shouldn’t have asked - I get it, some people can’t stand boldness. The LO always gets freebies when we go to certain restaurants - but the difference is I never ask. So I get why everyone is on the “you are unreasonable” side.

Show quote history

I guess the consensus is that I shouldn’t have asked - I get it, some people can’t stand boldness.

I love that total CF OP has rebranded CFery as boldness.

Leavesandthings · 16/05/2026 09:04

youalright · 16/05/2026 09:03

It actually unbelievable that head office read your email and replied and refunded you in the early hours of the morning. Literally unbelievable.

Ah good point!

youalright · 16/05/2026 09:03

It actually unbelievable that head office read your email and replied and refunded you in the early hours of the morning. Literally unbelievable.

Tshirtking · 16/05/2026 09:02

Maybe give your baby/toddler one chip at a time. It's not the company's fault you couldn't plan ahead.

PenelopePinkerton · 16/05/2026 09:02

You were a CF for asking.

Leavesandthings · 16/05/2026 09:01

Complaining about the woman to HQ just to shit her over even more.

Because retail staff aren't real people who might lose their jobs from complaints.

GenialHarrietGrouty · 16/05/2026 08:58

If you don’t ask you don’t get.

Absolutely. If that was all you had done, and if you had accepted "No" for an answer, I think every post would be on your side. The problem is that you didn't, you went on and pleaded, and you clearly think that should have resulted in you getting your freebie. In fact, you didn't just plead, you actually took the trouble to go away and complain. If they really did refund you, it was plainly just to shut you up. Something tells me you wouldn't be welcomed if you went back there.

SwatTheTwit · 16/05/2026 08:56

While I don’t think some cheap chips are a big issue, it’s also not the worker’s problem that your child launched them away.

It really depends on the workplace. DD has worked a couple hospitality jobs where the managers were absolutely anal about stock, so I’d imagine there you’d get a “no” too.

CancellingAgain · 16/05/2026 08:55

Unicorntearsofgin · 16/05/2026 08:38

What’s the relevance of the soft voice OP? Out of nosiness?

The soft voice and getting IDd are crucial to this story. As is the meal of brown rice and spinach ;-)

CancellingAgain · 16/05/2026 08:52

Sartre · 16/05/2026 07:36

Can you imagine asking an ice cream man for a new one because your child dropped it? Why would you have the cheek to do this?

My child once dropped an ice-cream in Regent’s Park as soon as we bought it. I tried to pay for a new one but the nice man didn’t let me. I expected to pay though. And spoke in a normal voice with no hint of softness.

Delici · 16/05/2026 08:49

Maybe if it was 4 minutes and 21 seconds they would have replaced the chips.

FlyingApple · 16/05/2026 08:46

Why because it's been less than 5 minutes do you get a replacement for free? This just wouldn't enter my head. I mean maybe they'd be kind enough to replace but I wouldn't expect them to do it as standard.

darksideofthetoon · 16/05/2026 08:44

I think it was a reasonable request but sadly reading many replies here, it goes to show how cold society has become and secondly how insane the COL is that we’re talking about a bag of chips.

Additionally, the owner missed the opportunity for repeat business and a nice word of mouth story. They sell for £5 but even with today’s prices, won’t have cost them more than a quid.

And I don’t buy the nonsense that every parent would start trying to extort free chips.

shhblackbag · 16/05/2026 08:43

The fact that you got your own way actually annoys me. It keeps people feeling incredibly entitled.

Ewock · 16/05/2026 08:42

Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 04:53

Fair enough.

I would have never spoken to a customer the way she did.

We can’t all be silent.

Show quote history

You were taking the piss by asking and pleading. She was fed up of entitled people, dont blame her. Your kid spilt the food and somehow they owe you more chips. Unbelievable.

shhblackbag · 16/05/2026 08:40

They say no. But I plead a little bit - I do have a soft voice so I’m being nice.

This makes you double unreasonable!

FedUpOfThisGCSEmalarkey · 16/05/2026 08:39

@Houseofdrumsit wasn’t a case of “don’t ask don’t get” though was it? As you pleaded - with your soft voice (vomit)

Unicorntearsofgin · 16/05/2026 08:38

What’s the relevance of the soft voice OP? Out of nosiness?

LadyHexham · 16/05/2026 08:38

I worked in a customer service role.
I would say in 95% of complaints the staff member was accused of being rude, in addition to the actual complaint.

It usually meant the customer didn't get their own way.

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 16/05/2026 08:36

LaburnumAnagyroides · 16/05/2026 07:18

Don't forget, got a refund, completed via email within a few hours of posting.

Of all the things that didn't happen today, this is among the didn't happen the most.

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I propose we all plead with a soft voice this weekend and see what we get. See you back here tomorrow night with our tall tales.
I reckon I'll easily get a Ferrari, a holiday and a bowl of silken tofu (to add to my rice and spinach stew. (Brown rice, obvs.)

Busybeemumm · 16/05/2026 08:35

When the chips are down...just ask for more🤗

LadyVioletBridgerton · 16/05/2026 08:32

YABU, it’s very annoying but it’s not their fault. There’s a fish and chip restaurant not far from us on the sea front. It’s actually got s sign outside with words to the effect of, meals will not be replaced if seagulls take your food (paraphrasing) They obviously had lots of people suffer seagulls attacks and demand replacements. One actually shat on my burger once, very annoying. Good aim though as it was about 10 above me.

ButterYellowFlowers · 16/05/2026 08:30

Also why do you stick with chips? Advice for under 2 year olds is to avoid foods high in salt and fat. Chips have both.

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