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New York, NY, USA - June 3, 2022: A Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant.
Anne Czichos/istockphoto

We’re sorry to report that the customer is not always right. And we have hard evidence to support that claim. On Chipotle’s subreddit, employees recently shared customers’ “weirdest” refund requests, many of which are just plain absurd. Read on to find out what retailer workers deal with on a daily basis.

Related: Chipotle Launches 4th New Protein in a Year, and More May Be Coming

A Not-So-Foreign Object

Interior of Chipotle in Denver
Denver – University: Chipotle Mexican Grill by Wally Gobetz ((CC BY-NC-ND))

Finding a leaf tucked under a pile of rice and beans is a tad unappetizing … unless it’s a bay leaf. One Chipotle employee said a customer asked for a refund after finding the aromatic leaf in their food. This happens so often that it’s become a bit of a meme online. People, Chipotle adds bay leaves because they make the food tastier!

Related: Chipotle Employees Hated This Viral Hack So Now You Can’t Order a Taco

The Wrong Question

Chipotle burrito bowl with lettuce and cheese.
Chipotle Burrito Bowl by Michael Saechang ((CC BY-SA))

While vegetarianism and veganism can be a divisive subject, it shouldn’t be a crime to ask a customer what meat they’d like. And yet, a Redditor says that one vegetarian customer complained and asked for a refund simply because they had asked if he wanted meat. “Just absolutely bonkers,” the Redditor wrote of the experience. You don’t need to know the three laws of thermodynamics to know that food gets cold.

Related: We Tried Every Burrito at Taco Bell and This Is the Best

Hot Salsa … For a Toddler

Chipotle worker builds three tacos at restaurant in New Jersey
Chipotle assembly line by Jazz Guy ((CC BY))

Even if you love spicy food, chances are your toddler can’t tolerate anything too high on the Scoville scale. Apparently, that’s not common sense, as one mother gave her 2-year-old the hottest salsa on the menu at Chiptle and then asked for a refund when the baby wasn’t a fan.

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Too Much Sour Cream

chipotle assembly line by osseous ((CC BY))

After eating half a burrito bowl with a standard helping of sour cream, a guest asked for a refund, complaining that the employees had been too liberal with the topping. Our question: Why didn’t you say something before scarfing it down?

Asking for Beans When You’re Allergic

Lunch at Chipotle
Sofritas Salad by Frank Farm ((CC BY-NC-ND))

Another Redditor said that a customer came in and asked for beans in his burrito bowl, only to return and claim that he was allergic to them. The employees gave him a refund anyway, though the workers later learned that he was bluffing just so he could get a free meal.

Finding a Live Worm

Chipotle
Chipotle by Proshob/ Wikimedia Commons ((CC BY-SA))

In what might be the thread’s only legitimate “weird” refund request, a family asked for their money back after finding a worm in their food. Still, the story doesn’t totally add up, as the customers returned three hours after placing their order.

‘Ice Cold’ Food

Chipotle
Chipotle by Missvain ((CC BY))

A customer walked into Chipotle and “demanded” a refund because her food was cold, which doesn’t sound so outlandish. But upon further inspection, the employee discovered that she’d ordered the “ice cold” burrito bowl more than three hours ago and was yelling because her food didn’t stay warm. 

Meet the Writer

Maxwell is a California-based writer who got his start in print journalism, a career that satisfies his love of research. That penchant for learning also fuels his desire to be a discerning consumer — whether he’s looking for his next pair of headphones or rock-climbing shoes. When he’s not hunched over his laptop, you can find Maxwell sending routes at the crag, playing Magic: The Gathering, or hanging out with his buddies at the bar. As a UCSC alumnus, he’s also a proud banana slug. You can reach him at [email protected].