Can a Simple Cafe Americano Coffee Order Avoid the Add-On Trap?

A student in Malaysia ordered a Venti Belgian Chocolate Frappuccino at Starbucks priced at 21.5 ringgit, but could not follow the staff's English and nodded along to every question. Six add-ons followed, including caramel sauce, biscuit crumbs, chocolate chips and vanilla whipped cream, and with a 6% service charge the bill reached 44.1 ringgit.

Because the customer nodded in agreement, no complaint could be filed, and staff behind the counter were seen snickering. Commenters shared similar stories and advised ordering plainly, saying "that's it, thank you," or choosing straightforward drinks such as a cafe americano coffee or a latte to keep the order simple.

A netizen studying in Malaysia recently ordered at Starbucks and, because they couldn't understand the staff's English and didn't want to feel awkward, nodded in response the whole time. As a result, a Belgian Chocolate Frappuccino originally priced at 21.5 ringgit ended up with six add-ons including caramel sauce, biscuit crumbs, chocolate chips, and vanilla whipped cream, bringing the final bill to 44.1 ringgit. Afterwards, the staff and their colleagues were snickering behind the counter, and the netizen only then realized they had been deliberately misled, but because they had nodded in agreement, they couldn't file a complaint. This incident sparked heated discussion among local netizens, many of whom shared similar experiences and reminded others to clearly say "that's it, thank you" when ordering, or simply choose simple drinks like Americano or Latte.

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Recently, a netizen studying at a university in Malaysia shared their painful experience of ordering at Starbucks. Because they couldn't understand the English spoken by the staff and didn't want to look awkward, no matter what the other person asked, they desperately nodded in agreement.

However, when it came time to pay, they were dumbfounded—a Belgian Chocolate Frappuccino that originally cost only 21.5 ringgit (about 33 yuan) ended up becoming 44 ringgit (about 68 yuan)!!!

From the receipt the netizen posted, the Venti Belgian Chocolate Frappuccino was priced at 21.5 ringgit, but after it was a long list of add-on charges. These were all items the staff had asked about in English while the netizen was frantically nodding.

After the staff realized this student didn't understand what they were saying, they took the opportunity to push hard, adding six extra toppings to the drink including caramel sauce, biscuit crumbs, chocolate chips, and vanilla whipped cream (this sweetness level is off the charts).

Plus a 6% service charge, the final total came to 44.1 ringgit.

When this student realized they had been deliberately "played" by the staff, the drink was already made, and the staff who took the order and other colleagues were standing behind the counter watching and snickering. Only then did it dawn on them that the other person knew they didn't understand but still nodded, so they took the chance to add a bunch of extras.

The netizen was very regretful, but since all the add-on operations were "agreed to" by their own nodding, they couldn't file a complaint. So they posted this experience on social media.

Netizens' reactions were both sympathetic and helpless... Many local Malaysian netizens said that 44 ringgit for a cup of coffee is absolutely an astronomical price locally!! Some also thought that for living and studying in Malaysia, English is a basic communication tool, and if this netizen couldn't understand, then what the staff spoke was very likely Malay...

But some netizens also pointed out that the problem may not be whether one can understand, but that when staff ask about adding extras, they simply don't tell you there's an extra charge. Those who know will refuse directly; those who don't are like lambs waiting to be slaughtered, especially first-timers or infrequent visitors.

Some netizens also shared similar experiences of their own. Not only at Starbucks, but in many places they ask whether you want to add this or that, without telling you in advance that there's a charge...

Therefore, many netizens offered advice: if you don't know how to order at Starbucks, just stick to Americano or Latte, and when ordering other drinks, be sure to immediately add "that's it thank you/just like this, thanks." Don't respond to other questions you don't understand, or just say you don't understand, otherwise you can easily get ripped off.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.