A customer berated a teenage ice cream shop worker over 20 cents charge. Then the donations flooded in
Por Erin Keller — – World RSS Feed
A customer berated a teenage ice cream shop worker over 20 cents charge. Then the donations flooded in
The customer allegedly called the teenage employee a ‘scumbag’
Erin Keller In Ohio Thursday 15 October 2026 18:25 BST
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A customer’s 20-cent dispute with a teenage ice cream shop employee in Massachusetts sparked a viral rant defending young workers – and now, the community is opening its wallets to show them support.
Kevin Miller, co-owner of Coldstuff Ice Cream in Blackstone, said a customer berated a 16-year-old employee over the price of a sundae, prompting his brother, Dave Forgit, to publicly call out customers who mistreat their teenage staff. The ice cream was advertised for $9, but the price at the register showed $9.20.
“This person lost their mind on her over 20 cents and called her a ‘scumbag,’ and said that she would never be back, to somebody that was just trying to do their job,” Miller told WHDH. “It was just kind of the straw that broke my brother’s back.”
Since opening in August, the shop has repeatedly dealt with customers losing their tempers with teenage employees, Miller said.
In one of the alleged incidents, a customer ordered a sundae special advertised at $9. But when the employee rang it up, the total was $9.20. That is when the customer lost it. The man paid the extra 20 cents and said he wasn’t coming back.
open image in galleryWhile the shop admitted it was their error and they understand nobody likes being overcharged, Forgit still took to social media to vent about people yelling at teens. On October 4, Forgit took to Facebook with an angry message that has since racked up more than 302,000 likes: “I swear to God. STOP YELLING AT MY F***ING EMPLOYEES.”
“They are children. This job, for most of them is their first. They are going to make mistakes,” Forgit continued. “They aren’t in charge of anything. This can all be fixed with a smile and a polite attitude. It’s ice cream for crying out loud. Grow up and act your age.”
Forgit doubled down in the comments, telling customers who mistreated his employees that “NOBODY gives a s**t if you don’t come back.”
“We’d prefer it that way,” he wrote.
The post struck a chord with people across the country, many of whom asked how they could help the young employees.
On October 7, Forgit launched a GoFundMe campaign called Support Our Young Employees, explaining that he and his brother did not need the money themselves.
“It would be foolish to waste the opportunity. These kids work hard,” he wrote on the fundraiser’s page.
Donations have nearly reached the fundraiser’s $5,000 goal, with Forgit emphasizing that it was launched in response to public demand, not to raise money for the business.
“David created this fundraiser simply because so many people asked for a way to support them. 100 percent of the funds will go directly to the employees to help them as they take those next steps into adulthood and education,” he wrote.
As for his strongly worded warning, Forgit clarified in the comments that his viral post was not intended to “bash Boomers” or generalize about all older customers.
“The vast majority of the elderly folks we encounter are fabulous. And I meant no ill intent towards the age group as a whole,” he wrote. “You know who you are, and you know who we are.”
“But seriously, let’s check ourselves around working kids. It’s one group who feels border line (sic) aggressive when something is wrong. It’s a mistake, not an insult. There’s no need. It’s ice cream,” Forgit concluded.
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