'Un-Australian!': Gelato shop slammed for infuriating move

There is nothing more quintessentially Aussie than coming off the beach and heading to the closest gelato store. Except when they do this.

Eleanor Katelaris

5 min read

September 2, 2024 - 2:17PM

Lifestyle

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Whether it’s MAPO in Bondi Beach, Gelatissimo in Surfers Paradise or Gelato Bar Cottesloe, cooling down with a delicious combination of milk, cream and sugar is a weekend ritual down here.

Obviously not to the extent that it is in Italy, but there’s definitely a ~cultural~ element to it.

Take our national institution, Messina, for example. It’s so popular they sell merch like t-shirts, lip balms, and posters to hang on your wall like a frozen dessert groupie. And they’ve even released a deliciously-scented sunscreen, in case you needed more proof that the beach and gelato go hand in hand.

So what is it that makes gelato so integral to our post-swim routines or our after-dinner walks? Well, I believe that it’s one of those experiences that feels *just* the right amount of special - it's luxurious and indulgent, while not being grossly expensive.

And one of the essential parts of this experience, in my opinion, is trying samples.

You don’t just walk in there, knowing exactly what you want, pay and then leave (well, some might, and good for you for being so self-assured.)

For others, we like to go inside, prepped and ready to exercise our rights as a potential gelato purchaser and try before we buy.

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Image: Supplied

The un-Australian gelato shop move

Now, I’m not saying go crazy. I have a self-imposed rule that I’ll never ask for more than two.

Still, I like to think of it as an important part of the process.

Call me a commitment-phobe, but I hate the thought of choosing a flavour only to be stuck eating something I don’t really like for five-10 minutes.

That’s where samples come in, that’s why they were invented, to take away any decision anxiety, and that’s why I was MORTIFIED when I went to a gelato shop recently and they. didn’t. offer. any. free samples.

Cue the comments: “You’reeeee not entitled to aNyThINgggg!!”

Well yes, Susan, I think I am.

If I am going to purchase a gelato, then I believe I am entitled to a minuscule scoop of one to two flavour options before making a selection.

Why? Because every shop does it!

You can’t have this long-standing precedent in gelato stores across the world that everyone will get a little taster and then all of a sudden make your own random rules, so that I’m left standing in a gelato shop on Dee Why beach on a Sunday night with my heart racing at the thought of having to just blindly choose a flavour that I think might taste good because you’ve decided that it’s either costing you too much to give out samples or it’s too risky because some people might taste and run or because you think it’s unhygienic, but how is it even unhygienic because we all have our own little plastic tasting shovels and then we put them in those little bin things when we’re done and don’t even hand the slobbered-on ones back to you!?

Like, can’t you just stick to the unofficial rule book of operating a gelato shop?

Why deprive me of one of the small joys in life? Who hurt you? Who came in and sampled every single gelato flavour and left?

Or did you change the rules during COVID and then just never go back because you were like, this is our chance! This is our chance to stop giving out free samples, mwuahahaha!

Anyway, I'll never know the answer to why they made this rule, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to ask the minimum-wage teenage boy who was serving me.

I had to guess what I wanted instead

Without any samples to go off, I was left with no choice but to rawdog my gelato choice.

Now you might be thinking, how hard can it be? Just go with vanilla or chocolate. But do you think someone so passionate about not getting free samples is a vanilla or chocolate kinda gal?

But I did have to play it safe, so I chose some kind of caramel and cookie number.

Boring, but hard to get wrong.

...

They got it wrong.

I swear I’m not just saying that for the plot, it was seriously meh.

Safe to say I left with a bad taste in my mouth and not just because of the crappy flavour.

My suggestion to this shop: give out the damn free samples.

Is it seriously that much of a money drain?

I reckon a free sample is roughly 1/100th the size of a scoop and single scoops were going for $6.50 at this shop, so one sample would probably cost $0.0655.

I’m not a mathematician or a business owner but that doesn’t seem like a lot, especially if that’s the price of getting happy return customers.

Just add the $0.0655 to the price of your $6.50 gelato if that’s what it takes to give me a little licki-lick!

Image: Supplied

Free samples: to give or not to give?

To find out if I was alone in my outrage, I messaged the friend who was with me on this fateful gelato visit.

She told me that basically I’m overreacting and it’s such a first-world problem and I’m being petty and “I can’t believe you’re still thinking about this.”

I am still thinking about this, so obviously I had to message other friends to find someone who supported me.

Thankfully, Leah had some common sense and said, “I remember when places stopped offering samples around COVID peak times for obvious reasons. I was so bummed but understood. But still going now? They should relax on the rules a bit.”

And Jordanna was also on the right side of #gelatogate and told me: “If a gelato store offers a variety of flavours to choose from then a sample is a must. I don’t think it should be a free-for-all, just have a couple then pick!”

Hear, hear!

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But amongst my allies, another naysayer emerged.

Joel gave me his opinion, which was wrong, and said: “Gelato shops shouldn't be under any obligation to give out any of their products for free. You wouldn't walk into a cafe and ask to sample a corner of the sandwich before buying it. Just choose your gelato based on what it sounds like, like a responsible adult.”

And then another...“I couldn’t care less, most gelato flavours are easy to grasp. If you can’t figure them out, maybe ice cream isn’t for you.” said Caitlin.

How rude! I just want to make an informed choice!

Is that too much to ask for?

Kidspot has not reached out to this poor little gelato shop for comment as they are likely just doing their best and don’t deserve a pile-on.

Please be nice in the comments but also please agree with me.