Shop owner sent customer a free gift with their order – but it brutally backfired

A shop owner has tearfully spoken out on TikTok after she received a brutal (and pretty baffling) complaint from a customer.

Carissa Collins, who runs the small beauty business tlc Body, explained in a video post to the platform that she had sent the client a lollipop along with their order.

Rather than view it as a (literally) sweet gesture of goodwill, Collins said the customer – who is apparently vegan – fired back with an angry email.

“How this email was worded, it was almost as if I’d stabbed them or something,” the TikToker said in the clip.

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She then shared a snapshot of the message from the alleged package recipient, which read: “So once again I’m in a position where I will not be buying from you again because I no longer trust your word.”

They continued: “I don’t even eat lollies – vegan or not – what do you think you are gaining by sending someone a bit of sugary junk in the first place?

“I’d rather pay less for my product than get something I never asked for or wanted. But if they were vegan I could have at least appreciated the thought. Honestly I don’t even know what to say.

“Darn you, I liked your products. Please put more thought into things like this in the future. I won’t be buying from you again.”

Addressing viewers, Collins then asked: “When did it become OK to speak to people like this? I am trying to do a nice thing by giving free gifts with orders. If you don’t like a lolly, don’t eat it.”

In a caption to the video, she then asked: “Should I not be giving lollies with my orders?”

Collins wept as she gave details of her ordeal @tlcbody/TikTok

The emotional TikTok racked up more than 530,000 views and 72,000 likes in just six days, as fellow users of the platform flooded Collins with support.

One wrote: “People are vicious online. It’s a reflection of them not you. It’s embarrassing she feels it’s OK to speak to [you] like this. She’s not worth your energy.”

Another agreed, saying: “They must have a really sad life.”

A third reassured the business owner: “You did nothing wrong, she clearly has issues and it’s not a reflection of you. I personally love when I get lollies in any order. You got this!”

And a fourth rejected the complainant’s suggestion that their veganism gave them grounds to be upset. “I am vegan and get sent extra things that aren’t vegan all the time. I just give them to friends, it’s the thought that counts.”

Scores of commentators shared their love of receiving freebies and encouraged Collins to keep sending special treats.

This prompted her to issue a defiant follow-up video alongside a message of thanks.

She wrote in an accompanying caption: “I just want to say a massive thank you for all your supportive comments on my last video. THE LOLLIES STAY.”

The video then showed her with a box of mixed Haribo and other goodies, placing individual packets into packages ready to be shipped.

“Yasssss girlfriend. Take that power back,” one delighted viewer replied.

Another added: “You may have lost that Karen’s businesses but you’ve GAINED MINE.”

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