Customer yelled at a 16-year-old over a 25-cent sundae mix-up. The owner's Facebook response is going viral
'They are going to make mistakes. Take a breath'
Having a supportive boss by your side is a blessing — and the employees at Coldstuff Ice Cream, Massachusetts, are lucky to have Dave Forgit and Kevin Miller leading the way. On October 7, 2026, Boston 25 News reported that the two brothers stood up for their 16-year-old employee after a rude customer yelled at them over a sundae mix-up. The compassionate owners took their frustration to Facebook on October 5, urging customers to be a little more patient with their workers. "Grow up and act your age," they wrote. The post has since received over 290,000 likes.
The owners had enough
Dave Forgit, visibly frustrated, spoke to the outlet to explain how he expected customers to behave at an ice cream shop. "It's supposed to be laid-back. It's ice cream. It's supposed to be a happy place and a happy time. Settle down. Take a breath. Touch grass." Forgit added, "We're not afraid to drop a couple of colorful words on Facebook," referring to the post where he blasted customers who were rude to their staff. The main reason behind Forgit's post was a 25-cent discrepancy. A customer yelled at a 16-year-old employee over an incorrect sundae price, and Miller and Forgit didn't let it slide. In the explosive post, the owners asked customers not to yell at their employees. They explained some of their workers are kids who've just started their first job.
"They are going to make mistakes. They aren't in charge of anything. This can all be fixed with a smile and a polite attitude," the post added. The owners, who were clearly annoyed, took a firm stand and said, "And nobody gives a sh*t if you don't come back. We'd prefer it that way." Later, Coldstuff Ice Cream clarified that the post was not meant as an attack on all older customers. It was specifically aimed at those who treated their employees unkindly.
Support poured in
Forgit and Miller hadn't anticipated that their post would become so viral. "I didn't expect it to go so big. And I went to bed, and I woke up yesterday morning to a whirlwind," Forgit recounted. The owners also thanked other customers who appreciated them for taking care of their employees. A mother added that "We will continue to come here because who knows, maybe my girls will want to work here one day." Locals poured into the shop to support the brothers, and those who lived far away even planned road trips.
Reliable bosses
Rude customers are an unavoidable part of many frontline jobs. A 2025 Perceptyx survey found that 53% of employees who dealt directly with the public said they've encountered rude customers. Some were verbally abusive and even threatening. The sad part is that 40% of the employees admitted their manager rarely did anything. They never checked in on them regarding their mental or emotional health. Thankfully, Forgit and Miller did not fall into the same category. When they saw an employee being berated, they stepped in to support them.
'Well done, owners'
More than 20,000 netizens applauded Forgit and Miller. For example, Armani Harris wrote, "This is exactly how I'd want my boss to ride for me. Love the post!" Juliet Jos added, "Let me apply real quick; I need my manager defending me like this." Jim Pressman commented, "This is fabulous! We own a coffee shop in Massachusetts and most of the crew are teens. I get irritated when I see customers busting their chops over nonsense. Now we need to find your shop, and buy ice cream plus leave a generous tip for the kids!"
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