TS
Tamika Swain
Aug 1, 2026
I had a very disappointing experience at this Dairy Queen.
I ordered the $7 Meal Deal along with the new Caramel Apple Cheesecake Blizzard. While ordering, I noticed the menu board clearly stated that if your Blizzard is not flipped upside down when it's handed to you, you receive your next Blizzard for free.
When I got to the drive-thru window, I paid for my order and was handed my food and Blizzard without the Blizzard being flipped. I politely asked the employee if I would receive my next Blizzard free since it wasn't turned upside down as advertised. She told me they don't do that at this location and went to get a manager.
Two employees then came to the window and gave me several different explanations. First, they said the promotion only applies at participating locations. When I pointed out that the menu board didn't mention that, they changed their explanation and said they were busy, so they didn't have to flip it. However, there were only two cars behind me. Then they said they were short-staffed. The explanations kept changing, which made the situation even more frustrating.
Since I wanted to contact corporate to verify the policy, I began recording the conversation. I remained calm, respectful, and simply wanted documentation of what I was being told. One of the employees became upset that I was recording and threatened to call the police. I never raised my voice, used inappropriate language, or behaved aggressively. I was only asking why the advertised promotion wasn't being honored.
At that point, I decided I no longer wanted the order and politely requested a refund. It took quite a while before they finally refunded my $13.40. Even after agreeing to the refund, one of the employees continued arguing in the background about my recording. They also asked me to delete my videos, which I declined because I had done nothing wrong and was simply documenting the interaction.
What concerned me the most was that as I was leaving, one of the employees appeared to record my license plate. That made me uncomfortable because I have no way of knowing what that information might be used for or whether it could be shared on social media.
My issue was never about getting something for free. It was about a promotion being clearly advertised and then not being honored, followed by inconsistent explanations, an unnecessary threat to call the police, and behavior that left me feeling intimidated. I hope Dairy Queen reviews this incident, ensures promotions are clearly communicated and honored, and provides better customer service training so future customers are treated with respect.