Starbucks sends customers into a froth by charging for once-free dog puppuccinos
A family have slammed Starbucks after they were charged 60p each for the once-free puppuccinos for dogs.
Keith Perry, 60, said his wife Jenny and daughter Eloise were left shocked when they noticed an additional £1.20 added to their bill at their local branch in Broadwater Street. The pair were charged £7.75 in total for a cinnamon pastry, a flat white coffee and two puppuccinos, for their dogs Teddy and Buci.
They said the popular drink, which consists of whipped cream in a "tiny paper cup", is usually free of charge. Although it isn't on the official menu, dog owners can often get one if they request for it at the till. Keith says they have all previously been able to access the offer with no issue, and said their dogs have grown to "really love the whipped cream."
Keith Perry takes Teddy to redeem a free puppuccino around once a month (Keith Perry)
Teddy having his puppuccino in Sidcup Starbucks two weeks ago (Keith Perry)Jenny questioned staff about the charge and said they told her that things had changed two months ago. However, the family said they had managed to get a free puppuccino a few weeks ago when they were still living in Sidcup, South East London.
The family are asking the chain to ensure that the treat can be accessed for free in every store. Student Eloise, 18, told The Mirror: “We spend quite a lot of money in Starbucks and their coffee isn’t cheap. But we do like their dog-friendly policy so it seems very mean to suddenly charge 60p for a small dog treat. Starbucks are a huge multinational company who make billions in profits - they should do a u-turn.”
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Teddy and his mum Rosie enjoying a trip to Starbucks in Sidcup (Keith Perry)
The family claimed Starbucks charged them £1.20 for the free treats (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)Keith went on to say that staff at their regular branch in Sidcup, had recently told him that they continue not to charge because it "brings in business". He added: "I've been going in for a few years to the one in Sidcup, I was delighted to see that when I moved to Worthing there was one down the road."
Speaking about the treat, he said: "I thought it was a nice gesture, it makes you feel appreciated. The customers seem to like the dogs as well. The dogs are so used to it now that they won't let you go past because they recognise the sign. We take them about once a month."
Keith added: "I think Starbucks has been short-sighted really. To charge 60p for a bit of whipped cream for a dog. It is in a tiny paper cup and it takes about ten seconds to make. Dogs are really expensive and vet fees have rocketed. My friend said they even do it in the drive-through. It would be an amazing victory if we could get a U-turn."
However the coffee chain explained that because the treat isn't on the main menu there are no official rules linked to it. A Starbucks spokesperson told The Mirror: "‘Puppuccinos’ are not an official item on the Starbucks UK menu. This has always been the case at Starbucks UK."
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