Guy Ended A 23 Car Pay It Forward Train Because The Starbucks Order He Was Expected To Pay Was $46

Some people are happy to keep a pay it forward chain going, but one Starbucks customer decided the streak had gone far enough. What started as a simple coffee run turned into a 23-car line of strangers paying for the person behind them, until the bill behind him suddenly jumped to $46.

He shared the moment on TikTok after the baristas explained the situation at the window. His own drink was a Venti frappuccino for $6, but the order he was expected to cover was far more expensive, and he chose not to continue the chain.

That decision sparked plenty of reactions, because not everyone thinks a pay it forward train should come with a price tag that high. Read on.

Pay it forward is a unique way to brighten someone's day.

He went to TikTok to share his story, and this is where it starts.

im_blessed55

"They tried to set me up"

im_blessed55

He shared his story.

This is the only thing that he did at Starbucks.im_blessed55

He ended the 23-car streak.

He said that his order was only $6, while the person behind him had an order that was $46. He wasn't willing to pay for that.

im_blessed55

Here's the TikTok if you want to watch the whole thing.

That choice did not sit well with everyone watching.

The comments came in, and they were controversial.

damien6347

Be a Wendy.

sierraselene3

That's the spirit.

cuzimbawsey

People seem to have no problem ending a pay it forward train.

jamesseabowl

And if you are wondering where the line is, this split-bill dinner argument over paying exactly what everyone ordered got heated fast.

A great way to avoid them.

gemini.jglow

Mobile orders for the win.

sunshinebear0247

Exactly, if they are there, then they can pay for it.

bunsdivided

This is good advice.

lydddmarie

Dunkin' discourages it.

heyhunnybunny82

As an ex-Starbucks barista, yes, it is very complicated.

nicollewith2lls

This has been said a lot.

roblaxian75

This is very true.

kerraha

Starbucks is not the place to do a pay it forward.

cstets2

Just tip the workers instead.

lady_thamien

This is the way to do it.

usplusabus

Another one.

angel.maloo

This is also true, but tips do help.

alexwaters3

In reality, they aren't helping, though, and if they really want to, then they can donate to people who need it, not Starbucks customers.

kim_from_omaha

This story is fair in some people's opinions, but others had a lot to say about it. Reddit and TikTok users definitely had some intense and interesting comments, but ultimately they mostly agreed that he can end the train whenever he wants to.

$46 and $6 is a major price difference, and you're not obligated to continue the train. What would you do in this situation?

He was never signing up for a $46 coffee run.

Wait, should he have paid for the friends’ expensive meals during that split bill standoff? Read whether he was wrong for paying only his order.