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

They probably should have replaced it, was their fault it wasn't pressed down into the cone.
We had one replaced before without even asking. Really appreciated it!

I can’t believe some of these comments. These sort of places have been shut down losing money for nearly a year and you think they can afford to give away free ice cream.

As an ex food retail worker, we had customers who dropped their shopping at their car or break something inside their car (eggs being the main one) and they would always expect it replaced for free. We always capitulated but my argument was at what point does the shopping become yours? We had a few who dropped expensive bottles of wine and wanted us to clean it up so they didn't drive over the broken glass and replace the bottle.

If it wasn't expected, I would put another scoop on for free.
If it was demanded then I would dig my heels in and say no, too.

I had a friend who worked for the head office of Disney Parks in Florida. He told me about how in his corporate orientation he learned about how they "create the Disney magic". One example he gave was that not only do they replace a dropped ice cream for free but staff are watching people all the time and if they see a child drop their ice cream then they should ensure that a new one is handed to them before they even have a chance to ask. I guess I'd expect it in America but judging by the comments here I'd not expect it from surly ice cream sellers in the UK.

Scarborough?

My father owned his own ice cream van and he would always replace it for free! Even if an adult had an accident, he would always replace the ice cream free of charge! Even now when we see this happen we always say "my dad would have gave them another for nothing" lol x

Disney have a bit more money to burn on free replacement ice creams than Gerald’s Gelato in Weston Super Mare or wherever...

Totally agree with you Sherrystrull!! That’s the problem nowadays kids have no life skills everything is virtual, and they have no clue about the cost of things either if they break or loose something they automatically expect a replacement, I’m afraid modern parents have a far to liberal way of bring up children.
A few old fashioned values wouldn’t go amiss!

@PurpleRainDancer

Scarborough?

Nope, further North

No it’s like the people who knock their popcorn over at the cinema and then demand a replacement - yes it’s annoying but 100% your own fault

I would do it, if I owned an ice-cream shop. I know of none who don't charge a fortune, so most of them make a killing anyway. And a bit of goodwill goes a long way. Chances are they won't get repeat custom from that parent.

This happened to my DD, she tried to take her first lick and the ice cream just rolled off. We were right next to the ice cream stand and as I turned around I was beckoned straight over for a new one. I would have paid for another but I think this was shop error…especially as the same thing happened to the other 2 children in our group about 1 min later (didn’t even try and get a replacement for those 2) and ours was not the only ice cream on the ground!

I wouldn’t expect the shop to replace for free but equally a shop that takes responsibility for their service is more likely to get my custom again.

A seaside kiosk selling ice cream isnt the same as a supermarket chain. Honestly. Some folk.

@Viviennemary

No. Especially if a child is eight.

If you send the crying child back to the counter I’d bet they’d replace it for free. Bad tempered dad not so likely.

Lol … Italian shop…. V England top wearer… say no more

I wouldn't expect it and would go and pay for a second ice cream for my DD. But it would be a nice gesture if they offered, and I'd certainly offer a free replacement to a child if it were my ice cream shop, in those circumstances.

I think i would call that racial stereo-typing. Not on these days.

Expect - absolutely not - great when they do.

I recently saw a family from hell ask for a replacement meal for their child as he had decided "he didn't like it". The restaurant brought a replacement and the family decided that they wouldn't pay for the replacement as it "wasn't their fault he didn't like their food"

I despair.

If it's something very cheap for the shop, it would be nice if they offered a free replacement, but it might not be cheap for them, especially if it happens frequently. It's really not the shop's "fault" if a child drops something, and I wouldn't expect the shop to cover the cost, though they'd win my loyalty if they offered! Presumably no-one suggests that a shop should provide a free replacement if an adult drops their ice cream.

Surely the dad could top the child's empty cone with some of his own ice cream? That's what I'd do anyway. A lot of memories of my own dad dipping his half eaten cone into my ice cream to make 'mini' ice creams

No they shouldn’t do it for free. Imagine how many they’d have to give away!

I don’t think I’ve cream vendor was unreasonable. I work for a supermarket and the amount of people who drop items such as eggs and quite often whole boxes of beer and we replace them for free..it always irks me considering it’s the customers fault and never once has a customer offered to pay,society is so entitled !

the dad was saying but I’ve just bought it

Hehe. So funny - as if he's returning an item he's just bought in perfect condition XD and saying, but I've just bought it!