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40 Times A Brand Made A Small Mistake, And It Annoyed People So Much They Boycotted Them
How willing are you to give people second chances? If a friend hurts your feelings, you probably don’t want to cut off the relationship then and there. And if a restaurant delivers you the wrong order, you might forgive their mistake. But if a business makes a grave error or creates a pattern of messing up, it might be time to write them off completely.
Redditors have recently been discussing petty grudges they hold against various companies that have inspired them to boycott. From overcharging hungry guests to refusing to let desperate parents use their bathroom, enjoy reading through these mistakes that caused brands to lose customers. And be sure to upvote the ones that inspire you to join in on the boycotting!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Dell. I bought a computer for my wife, 2 days later it went in sale. They still hadn’t built it yet. I called and asked them to match the sale price or cancel the order they refused. The person told me they had my money and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. I told them I would make them lose 100 times what they screwed me for, and I worked in IT so I would.
A few years later I was in a senior position with a company of over 850 staff. After I dropped Dell from an approved vendor the Dell rep reached out to me to have lunch. At lunch I told them why. They then told my boss and tried to have me fired. My boss called them a s*****g and said he would never buy another Dell as well.
Later I became a part of a company that did computers for over 5,000 employees in several companies. And Dell once again stopped being a choice.
Over my career I’m sure I cost them many times more than I said I would. It may seem petty to some but I think they deserved it for having terrible customer service.
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#2
In 1966 a chevron station in Wichita Kansas refused to let my dad use the restroom to change my diaper because he didn’t need gas.
Nobody in my family has used chevron gas since the mid 1960s.
#3
SUBWAY. I was 9 months pregnant, ordered a sub on their app, the order went through and I was charged. I went to pick it up and the store was closed all day (it was a holiday, I didn't realize, pregnancy brain fog). I went back the next day and was told they had no way of checking and I had to come back when a manager was there 10-11 on Tuesdays and Thursdays only (??). Despite showing my receipt and assuming they should have had a record on their end? Anyway I went back during the ONE hour period I was given, and the manager wasn't there. The employee said they had no record of it.
I called and emailed corporate and was given the run around/no response.
They've lost me as a customer for life because that's the only power I have in the situation.
#4
I don't eat a Chick-fil-A because they hate gay people. And apparently seasoning.
#5
Sony Corporation. Because they wouldn’t stop going after a woman named “Sony” who lived in Baltimore because she named her little sandwich shop “Sony’s”. She eventually ran out of money defending her name because Sony Corp kept appealing when they lost.
#6
HP. What do you mean I need a subscription to use my ink? I’m never buying HP again.
#7
I don't eat Chick-fil-A because of the hate.
I don't eat Jimmy Johns because the owner trophy hunts.
I don't eat Papa Johns, because the owner is a Qunt.
#9
Honda.
Went in to buy a Honda Element and the sales guy wouldn’t let me take a test drive without taking about financing first. Talked to me like I walked into a Ferrari dealership asking about an Enzo, instead of a $24,000 utility vehicle.
So I went across the street and bought a new Scion xB from the Toyota dealership. Who never once asked me about money until I said I wanted to take it home. Wrote a check, signed some papers, and drove over to the Honda dealership to wave. (But he was already gone, so it wasn’t as cool as I wanted it to be. But in my head, it was totally bad a*s and he was really sad about it and cried and stuff.)
I have since purchased 7 new Toyotas from the same salesman at the same dealership, and will never own a Honda. And I will die on this tiny hill of pettiness.
#10
Hello Fresh, the food delivery company.
Around 7:30 in the evening I was trying to settle my baby to sleep. She was just nodding off when someone started knocking really loudly on the front door which jolted her awake.
Went to answer the door and two sales reps for Hello Fresh were stood there, one male, one female, both around 20ish years of age.
They asked how I was doing and I replied that I wasn't very happy as I was trying to settle my daughter and they'd just woken her back up by banging so loudly on the door at 7:30. Said I wasn't interested in anything they were selling and as I went to close the door I heard the female call me a d**k.
Lost my temper and told them both in fairly stern manner that if they didn't leave my property immediately that I'd drag them off and that they wouldn't be in a position to be bothering anybody else that night. .
#12
FedEx once claimed I was not home 3 times in a row. 2 of those times I purposely stayed home and worked near the front door.
Looked at cameras and saw that they never even pulled up in front of my house when they’d mark my not home.
I now drive a farther distance to Office Depot or Staples if I ever need to print stuff for work.
I also will pay more for USPS or UPS when given the option.
F**k FedEx forever. .
BrownEyedPanda 2 days ago
That's odd, I have the same problem with United Parcel Screwup. Too lazy to deliver my packages to my door. I had to go to a liquor store in a questionable area to collect the last one.
#13
I once ordered from a small local shop for the kids. They both wanted grilled cheese. I ordered a salad. Placed the order and waited for the text to pick it up. And waited. And waited. About 45 minutes after the time it was supposed to be due, I called them.
Manager came on the phone and said: oh, we don't make grilled cheese anymore (!), so we canceled your order.
They never bothered to tell me this, so I ended up with two very hungry kids in the backseat. Never went there again, and was gratified to see they went out of business a few months later.
#14
VW.
I went to one of their showrooms when I was shopping for my first car (F, at the time I was 22). The sales guy wouldn't help me unless he knew how much my dad was willing to spend. I informed him that my dad had nothing to do with it, I was buying a car with my own money. He didn't believe me and told me to come back with my Dad.
I will never buy a VW.
Emilu 2 days ago
I had a bad experience at a VW dealership as well. The salesperson assumed I couldn’t afford the car I wanted because I didn’t feel comfortable telling him directly how much I was comfortable spending, and so proceeded to tell me to “bring my (current) car in for valuation” and then ignored me. Drove off and spent double than that stupid VW elsewhere. F**k you, Edgar.
#15
There is a Potato Chip company here in New Zealand called Bluebird. There was a superior chip company called Krispa that did the best Salt & Vinegar as well as Chicken flavoured chips.
Krispa were god tier. Like, Bluebird couldn't even compete. Kripsa was in every kids lunch box, at every BBQ etc. Bluebird was the crude, yet overpriced, alternative that people would get if Krispa wasn't available (I'm sure there are Bluebird fanbois who disagree with me, but their opinions are wrong).
In 2005, Bluebird made the bold move of buying out Krispa from their parent company. And what did they do? THEY JUST SHUT THEM DOWN. No replacements, no rebranding under the Bluebird wing, they just bought the competition and closed them down.
For 20 years, I have never bought a Bluebird product just in spite. F**k you, Bluebird.
#16
Subway because the guy taking my order made fun of me for wanting a 6 inch instead of a footlong. He made a d**k joke, I was already tired and hungover so I said fine keep the sandwich and went to the Golden Arches instead.
#17
Before they went under I boycotted Body Shop (UK high street store), purely because I went into one of their stores, tried to buy a lip balm and was told there was a minimum THREE ITEM purchase?!?
But I didn't want anything else, I just wanted the lip balm.
I know I could have just bought three lip balms BUT I Didn't WANT TO.
This was a few years ago and I'm still annoyed about it.
EDIT: The stupid rule might have only existed because it was an outlet store, not one of the normal ones. Still annoyed nonetheless.
Offbeat Quinoa 2 days ago
That’s just pure greed on behalf of the store lmao there’s no real need for that rule.
#18
Sears. Way back in the day, 1988 to be exact, my husband and I tried to buy a dryer from Sears. We were young and poor, and applied for the Discover card to finance said dryer. They scheduled us for delivery and, lo and behold, the dryer was not delivered. I called the salesman who sold us the dryer and he told me we were not approved for the card, so no dryer for us. He was extremely rude and dismissive. We never bought another thing from sears, and I feel we are personally responsible for their demise. F**k you Sears.
#19
Lush.
I just wanted to look at soap but now 8 different employees have come up to me and asked if I need help or tried to make conversation. F*****g GO AWAY.
Offbeat Quinoa 2 days ago
No for real. I know it’s their job but I often hope the management notices that it drives customers away too.
#20
Santander. They charged me £28 in overdraft fees when thye f****d up and misplaced a cheque I'd paid in.
I made appointments at 5 different branches, and made sure I had a leaky pot of hopusepaint in my bag every time. Must have cost them at least a grand in carpets.
#21
Best Buy
I tried to return a brand new fitbit that wouldn't turn on 2 days after I bought it with the receipt and the box was "bent" so the manager refused it.
When i was like, you can't refuse it. It fits all the qualifications and more for a return, he dragged a pregnant teen out onto the floor, grabbed her by the arm and said, See this girl, you return that I can't pay her. You're taking food out of her mouth.
BEST BUY. Not some mom and pop store where, sure it's going to hurt, but you'll get reimbursed in 60 days from fitbit when you send it back. Best freaking buy.
We were in the middle of redoing a house. I went in four weeks later and asked to speak to him and showed him the receipt for a washer, a dryer, a dishwasher, a fridge, two tvs, and a sterosystem. It was my "big mistake, huge" moment. And that was the last time I stepped into a best buy.
#22
I won’t buy Charmin toilet tissue for the simple fact those bears piss me off.
#23
I boycott any gas station that charges to use the air pump. .
Offbeat Quinoa 2 days ago
Haha at the dealership I work at, if someone pulls up and asks for help with topping up their tires, we’ll just do it for free because it only takes a minute or two 😅 honestly if you were really struggling you could probably do that almost anywhere and they’d be happy to help
#24
Once (back in 2013) Barilla said they refuse to have ads featuring LGBT families because it is their product and they have a right to market it as they will. So I decided I have a right to buy the pasta that I will so even though we used to like Barilla we've been boycotting it. For me it doesn't feel petty but people tend to find it petty and stupid.
#25
Domino Sugar will never get a dime from me cause they f****d with the Sugar Cane plantations here in Puerto Rico when the first governor was appointed to the island. Destroyed the existing sugar cane mills and exploited our land and people.
E Menendez 2 days ago
This is not petty. And similar reason why Nestle should also be boycotted - they still to this day exploit people.
#26
Mr. Beast anything. Scammer extraordinaire.
David Morgan 2 days ago
He always seemed 'off' to me. I know he is ostensibly helping people, but I can't shake the feeling he's only in it for the personal benefits. Maybe I'm wrong, but he gives me 'danger' signals.
#27
JC Penney. 40 years ago some man with customer service yelled at my mom and basically called her a liar and it made her cry. They’re not getting my pennies!!
#29
KFC. Their "honey sauce" is not honey. It's high fructose corn syrup. Unforgivable.
BrownEyedPanda 2 days ago
Unforgivable is right. It's bad enough that they no longer have the rolls or even real butter. But to cheap out on the HONEY?! If Harland Sanders could see what has become of his beloved Kentucky Fried Chicken, he would go absolutely postal.
#30
Lululemon. I have been fat and thin at different times in my life, but their attitude against larger women means I won’t buy their stuff, even if it fits me.
#31
My grandma boycotted Tropical Smoothie until she died because she hated the woman who owned her local one. 😂.
#32
Target and CVS. If they’re going to lock up my f*****g deodorant, I’m going to shop somewhere else.
#33
Any product that advertises "up to 100%" of anything, protection, stain removal, odour control, hair colour....
So, that could be 1% then?
#34
Sephora - some b****y sales associate followed me around the store - it was so insulting, will never shop again.
Sapna Sarfare 2 days ago
Their Indian stores are notorious for looking down on people who dont look like they can afford. i have heard not seen though. They stock imported stuff that is expensive and not indian brands.. again i have heard.. its a running joke in india regarding this
#35
I switched toilet paper brands because I refuse to “enjoy the go”.
#37
I once opened a can of Del Monte fruit cocktail and IT WAS MISSING THE HALF CHERRY. After several strongly worded letters to corporate and zero satisfaction, I decided a full boycott was in order.
#38
Audi.
Just because my annoying uncle kept talking about it on EVERY family gathering. Didn’t see him in twenty years and still can’t drive an Audi.
Gareth Owen 2 days ago
I refuse to buy an Audi because based on extensive experience, the turn-signals (indicators) don't work.
#39
Burger King, because those singing (if you can call it that) commercials are very annoying.
#40
Twitch. I had streamed for several years and they did not pay me the money based on the contract, and they didn't refund the people who had supported me.
They constantly commit fraud and I've been hating and battling them since 2019. Many people such as myself are hated for being victims of financial abuse by a conglomerate.
The pettiness is because it's small amounts, 50$ here and there (but it's been adding up over time).
Poll Question
Would you boycott a company for refusing a simple request?
Yes, always
Only if it's important
Depends on the company
No, never
What do you think ?
P1 No-Name 2 days ago
Starbucks, ignoring the fact that their coffee is grim, following the 9/11 attacks, a Starbucks branch in New York charged rescue workers for water. Any company that forbids its staff from using common sense & showing care & humanity is irredeemably despicable.
BrownEyedPanda 2 days ago
Also, they don't support veterans or first responders. But let there be a burglary or fire.....
Load More Replies...
G A 2 days ago (edited)
All the charities that have endless TV adverts for hair lips, african wells, old agers, sick pets, endangered wildlife. I willingly support charities but those "feel bad" ones just made me feel guilty then annoyed. There is one that starts "A little kitten, left out to die..." See that on every ad break and it's wearying.
Donna Peluda 2 days ago
Tom cruise movies. Back when I was in my teens I use to go to the movies twice a week..one day I was going with Yoli, my GF and she aske me if Tom Cruise was in it. He wasn't, so she said I'm not going to see a movie till Tom Cruise star in it..so I told her to get foorking Tom Cruise to take her next time. Tom Cruise is not an actor anyway. He's a poser. He doesn't act. He can't act. So fork you Tom
OpheliaPoe 2 days ago
I just assume all of his movies have some hidden scientology recruitment agenda.
P1 No-Name 2 days ago
Starbucks, ignoring the fact that their coffee is grim, following the 9/11 attacks, a Starbucks branch in New York charged rescue workers for water. Any company that forbids its staff from using common sense & showing care & humanity is irredeemably despicable.
BrownEyedPanda 2 days ago
Also, they don't support veterans or first responders. But let there be a burglary or fire.....
Load More Replies... G A 2 days ago (edited)
All the charities that have endless TV adverts for hair lips, african wells, old agers, sick pets, endangered wildlife. I willingly support charities but those "feel bad" ones just made me feel guilty then annoyed. There is one that starts "A little kitten, left out to die..." See that on every ad break and it's wearying.
Donna Peluda 2 days ago
Tom cruise movies. Back when I was in my teens I use to go to the movies twice a week..one day I was going with Yoli, my GF and she aske me if Tom Cruise was in it. He wasn't, so she said I'm not going to see a movie till Tom Cruise star in it..so I told her to get foorking Tom Cruise to take her next time. Tom Cruise is not an actor anyway. He's a poser. He doesn't act. He can't act. So fork you Tom
OpheliaPoe 2 days ago
I just assume all of his movies have some hidden scientology recruitment agenda.
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