Starbucks confirms no change to ice policy: Rumored upcharge policy sparks customer fury online

Starbucks finds itself in another alteration with fans as rumors of the chain charging for no ice start to make rounds on the internet. The rumors started with two separate videos that were shared by TikTok users Rayah (@4rayah.sunshine) and Nicolle (@ellocin__). The now-viral videos inform customers that the chain will soon be charging for light ice, no ice, and no water customizations on all Refresher drinks.

As per the claims made by the two TikTokers, the coffeehouse chain will adopt the new policy changes starting May 9, where several popular customizations available with Refresher drinks, like light ice, no ice, and no water, will be priced 'per se'. It is common knowledge that these modifications can greatly affect the amount of drink you get in your cup, and hence can sometimes be less profitable for the store.

With rumors of major policy changes making the rounds on the internet, the TikToker claiming to be a Starbucks Barista, Nicolle (@ellocin__), said in her viral TikTok post on Wednesday, that:

While Starbucks is yet to give an official statement on the matter, instances of such upcharges have long been adopted in select locations from time to time.

Starbucks fans furious with the upcharge on Refresher drinks customizations

From the discontinuation of Raspberry syrup to the recent controversy over using a popular singer's breakup as a marketing gimmick, Starbucks has been facing all the heat from customers across the country. As such, rumors of the chain charging for light ice, no ice, and no water customizations of Refresher drinks is only making things worse.

Several customers on Twitter have reported Barista informing them about the extra charges on such drink customizations, and as said earlier, the customers are not really amused by the rumored policy change. Expected to come into effect starting May 9, the policy change could greatly affect how customers enjoy their drinks. While it may seem sensible in terms of profit for the chain and workers, it may not seem as good to customers across the country.

With the abrupt change rumored to start affecting their Refresher drinks starting next month, fans of the coffeehouse chain seem pretty furious and devastated. As the news starts to reach their ears, several users are taking to social media platforms to share their grievances and disappointments with the coffeehouse and roastery reserves chain.

Some users even took their time to point out the reasoning behind the change in policies that may cause your customized drinks with light or no ice to cost more.

Last year, several users of the Starbucks Subreddit forum hinted that the chain was planning a specific change in policies that could include 'per se' charges on customizations like light ice, no ice, and no water on several drinks. Though nothing has been made clear by the coffeehouse chain so far, the possibility of such changes in policy cannot be completely denied.

About the author

Kaushal holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and has been a fast food and pop culture writer with SK POP since 2022. He has previously worked as a writer for over 2 years, and cites that his interest in food and news stories paved the way for him to work at Sportskeeda.

Kaushal believes that food is a crucial part of world culture that helps break the barriers of language and nationality by allowing multiple people to connect over meals, and believes that fast food represents the raw version of this culture.

He conducts research only from verified sources for his content, sometimes by referring to customer reviews to get a better idea about the products and their cultural significance to ensure accuracy and relevance.

JangandFox, Li Chen, and Pankaj Tripathi are some of the artists Kaushal admires for the simplicity and worldly innocence portrayed through their work. When not writing, Kaushal likes to read fiction books or studying the current trends in the food industry.

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