If a child drops their ice cream, should the shop replace it free of charge?

[LittleRa]

I witnessed this today. At the seaside, at a popular Italian ice cream/gelato store, takeaway window. The family in front of me- mum, dad and two kids. They got their ice creams and as they turned, the dad said to the eldest child about 8yo “don’t spill ice cream on your England shirt” She put her tongue out to lick and licked too hard and the whole scoop fell off onto the ground. Cue tears from the girl and the dad huffing and puffing. He came back to the counter and seemed to be expecting it to be replaced for free. The person behind the til said so sorry she dropped it but we don’t do that, the dad was saying but I’ve just bought it, but she’s literally just dropped it and sighing loudly. In the end he did get his wallet out and pay for a new one though.

YANBU- it’s the parents’ responsibility to monitor the child’s ice cream and if the inevitable should happen, they need to pay to replace it.
YABU- the shop should replace it for free.

As an aside, I got my DD’s hers in a tub with a spoon

No. Especially if a child is eight.

Most places I know would shove another scoop on the cone for free, but probably not if the parent expected it.

Why on earth would it be the shop's responsibility? However, I have sometimes wondered whether they have the ice cream extra hard so it rolls off and they get more custom from accidents!

It would be a nice gesture but obviously the shop has no obligation. If I worked there and somebody was rude and demanding over something that was their own fault they could take a running jump.

No. The shop is right.

Hmm. Sound like ice cream may have been too hard and not placed well enough, secure enough in the cone if the child of eight’s tongue could push it off. In this case I’d be wondering about server error. But good choice by you for your child’s ice cream OP!

I don't think they should but it would be a nice thing to do.

No. Entitled AF of the father.

Not really the responsibility of the shop, OTOH they should squish the ice cream down onto the cone firmly, not just balance it on the top.
I would usually buy a tub with a spoon for small children. Much less messy and more manageable.

No, of course the shop shouldn't replace it! What a strange idea.

I mean, if they did replace it free of charge, that would be extremely nice of them, but no, they're in no way obliged to. They have profit margins to think of.

when you have paid for something,it is your property,how you treat it is your responsibility

Of course the shop shouldn’t have to replace it free of charge. He’s taking the piss.

In St Ives last year there were signs in food places telling people that if seagulls stole the food, they wouldn’t replace it free so clearly people are trying it on.

Clearly they are under no obligation.

Nice if they did though, however if a customer automatically expected it the shop should automatically say no.

I think it would be kind to do it half price given that you don’t need another cone.

Nope people shouldn't have to compensate others accidents.

Once it's sold, it's neither here nor there whether the child ate it, dropped it or fed it to a seagull.
One ice cream was paid for and one was provided. That's it.

If I was the parent I wouldn't expect a free replacement, but I wouldn't be too surprised if they did give one as a kind gesture to an upset child. It would have been the decent thing to do, the family had bought a lot of ice creams.

Generally when this happens it is because the ice cream has not been secured on the cone properly. It was the shop's fault. They should have replaced it.

Why on earth should the shop replace it ?

I do sometimes wish they would squash the ice cream into the cone a bit harder but there is only so much pressure they can put on a cone .

Cross Post with about a billion others!

@Reallybadidea

I don't think they should but it would be a nice thing to do.

Can't pay the bills with nice, they have to do that with profits they get from selling product.

No. It's a business and everything needs to go through the till. I know it sounds mean but it must happen a lot, especially with young children. Imagine if they replaced every one of those ice creams for free. Their profits would be on the floor with it. With things being as tough as they are at the moment for businesses, I really wouldn't have any issue at all with paying out for another ice cream if my child dropped theirs. It's the same if they dropped a bag of chips everywhere. I know I'd have to get back in that queue. Annoying but at least the seagulls would be having a feast, so someone's happy!

I run a beach cafe and we normally do for people who try to buy a new one for people who expect it I’m a bit less inclined! If they are stroppy with you it is normally a no.

I was taught as a child to push the ice cream scoop firmly down with my tongue before licking! I would have ended up with just eating the cone and never been bought a replacement scoop!

Take personal responsibility for your and your child's actions. Isn't it what all people in England are supposed to do from July 19th?