Captain Picard Would Be Appalled

(I stop at a chain fast food place with a cafe section to buy a tea before I get on the bus.)

Cafe Counter: “Hi, what can I get for you today?”

Me: “Just a medium Earl Grey, thanks.”

(I pay and wait for my number to be called. When it is, I take my drink and notice a smell that is certainly not Earl Grey. I check the teabag.)

Me: “Excuse me. This is peppermint. I asked for Earl Grey.”

Barista: “We ran out of Earl Grey. They’re pretty much the same flavour, though.”

Me: “Um… No… They’re not?”

Barista: “I’m not sure what you want me to do, honey.”

Me: “Tell me that you ran out, and ask me what I want, instead?”

Barista: “It’s the same thing with different tags. Earl Grey is just a different name for peppermint.”

Me: “It’s not. It’s completely different. And if you don’t have any of what I asked for, I would prefer jasmine over peppermint.”

Barista: “I can make you a jasmine, but you need to pay; there’s nothing wrong with your drink.”

Me: “Is there a manager in?”

Barista: “I’m not bothering a manager for this. You got the drink you ordered, just with a different name.”

(I walk over to the main counter around the corner, ask for the manager there, and explain the situation, and the manager asks me to follow her back to the cafe.)

Manager: “Right.” *goes through cupboards* “New box of Earl Grey…” *puts it in front of the barista* “…which is black tea and bergamot, not peppermint; it’s not even close. New one for the customer, and she gets a free upsize. When you run out of something, get a new box of it out of the cupboard.”