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Chocolate Company Refuses Bathroom to Girl with Diarrhea

consumerist.com — The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Company wouldn't let a 5 year old girl with a bathroom emergency use their bathroom, so she had diarrhea in front of them.

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  • mradultman, on 06/23/2008, -73/+23mmmm Fudge
    • bdfariello, on 06/24/2008, -0/+23Only I didn't say "Fudge." I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the "F-dash-dash-dash" word!
      • t0x2c, on 06/24/2008, -7/+4THE word? What are you, playing GAMES with me?

        By the way you just lost it.
      • androo002345, on 06/24/2008, -2/+8lol @ the Christmas Story reference!
        • drachemorder, on 06/24/2008, -2/+4Thank you, Captain Obvious!
        • Melodik, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1Epic debate topic: Christmas Story or Summer Story - The Toys of a Generation
  • brunswickian, on 06/23/2008, -82/+18"Diarrhea," heh, heh.
    • mercurialsaliva, on 06/24/2008, -16/+4Diarrhea clap clap Diarrhea clap clap, When you think you're gonna spew and ur crack shoots out fondue... diarrhea diarrhea!
      • nycmac247, on 06/24/2008, -6/+6some people think its gross...
        but I loves it on toast!!!
        Diarrhea clap clap
        Diarrhea clap clap
      • Syphon8, on 06/24/2008, -5/+6When you're drivin' in a Chevy and you feel somethin' heavy...
        Diarrhea clap clap
        Diarrhea clap clap
      • damn_bug, on 06/24/2008, -3/+4When you are soming into third
        and you feel a little turd
        Diarrhea clap clap
        Diarrhea clap clap

        When you are sliding into home
        and you feel a little foam
        Diarrhea clap clap
        Diarrhea clap clap
    • dezholling, on 06/24/2008, -2/+9"Hey Lois... duty."
    • danedrmr, on 06/24/2008, -1/+8i think you mean "cha cha cha"
  • JaxSean, on 06/23/2008, -15/+608*adds Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory to the boycott list*

    Their stuff is too expensive anyway.
    • matthewaaron, on 06/23/2008, -0/+28Google Map link to the store...
      http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&q=R ...
      • MarkusGarvey, on 06/24/2008, -0/+33here is the feedback page...
        http://rmcf5.com/contact/feedback/feedback.lasso
        lets teach them a lesson...
        • UtopiaInTheSky, on 06/24/2008, -0/+22Submitted a complaint. The power of the internet shall not be ignored!
        • tropicflite, on 06/24/2008, -1/+13I used the feedback page to send them this letter.

          I'm sure you'll get enough hate mail over the bathroom incident, so rather than add to that, I'm here to offer you some useful advice. You can call it damage control if you like, but really, it's just the right thing to do.

          First of all, make a sincere and public apology. Then announce that your new company policy is to allow anyone to use your bathroom upon request. Then, buy the girl a new outfit (or give her a cash allowance to buy one) and also give her a nice bouquet of chocolate.

          You guys screwed up, but your reaction while under the public gaze will be what people remember about this.

          Oh, and by sincere, I don't mean some BS corporate-speak non-apology like "we're sorry if our policy caused you any inconvenience", I mean a real, human apology that recognizes the injury you caused, like "we are deeply sorry that our lack of compassion for you child during her medical emergency, and for the pain and humiliation she suffered as a result. Be assured that we have spoken to all of our employees clarifying our bathroom policy, and that this will never happen again to you or any other of our customers. Please accept our apology, as well as this check to pay for a new outfit for your daughter, as well as this basket of our finest chocolate. Sincerely, The President of RMCF"
        • matthewaaron, on 06/24/2008, -1/+7I am greatly disturbed by the inconsideration of the employees at the RMCF store in Huntington Beach CA in at Bella Terra. In case of a medical emergency, a person should be allowed access to the RMCF restroom. Especially a 5 year old girl! You should be ashamed of the way this situation has been handled and every employee and manager at that store that was involved should be dealt with severely. In the past, I have enjoyed your products on several occasions. I have even recommended your goodies to many people over the years. That will no longer be the case. The behavior of the inconsiderate, incompetent, heartless individuals at the Huntington Beach store have left a bitter taste in my mouth that no amount of chocolate can remove. I will be sure to tell this story to anyone and everyone I meet who purchases your products until I see reason to believe you have properly restored the dignity of the 5 year old girl that had to poop all over herself in the store because she wasn't allowed to use the restroom there.

          I hope the tears of that little girl haunt your dreams.
        • FAHQ2, on 06/24/2008, -0/+26congratulations!
          now millions of people around the world will associate your company name with diarrhea.
          That is quite an impressive advertising campaign strategy which is sure to increase your revenue!

          I know that there is no better image for a chocolate store then to have people think of diarrhea, when they look at your products.

          Well done!
        • douggmc, on 06/24/2008, -0/+7I ... for one ... choose not to boycott this fine establishment. I will, however, be sure to make a special visit the next time I'm in that area to ***** on their floor while yelling 'Viva La Diarrhea'!!

          Peace.
        • H4n90fThur5D4y5, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1"I am appalled by the treatment of the five year old girl at your Bella Terra/Huntington Beach establishment. That little girl was sick with diarrhea and she was refused access to the bathroom. That is completely unacceptable. That is a shameful, sickening way to treat a human being, especially a child. Can you imagine how humiliating that situation would be for any person; how much more traumatic for a child!? My heart goes out to that little girl and her mother. Neither I, nor any of my friends and family will ever purchase your products again, the thought of rocky mountain chocolate factory now sickens me. I sincerely hope that if any of your employees are ever in a similar situation they are shown more compassion than they showed that little girl and her mother. "

          Thanks for posting the link, MarkusGarvey!
        • praetoriansword, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1I just read about the poor girl who was refused bathroom access and had to defecate on herself because of your heartless company's rules. Are you joking me? Is this what it's come to? Have businesses lost all sense of human decency so that now these disgustingly inhumane acts can hide behind the veil of policy? Well I hope you chose well when you picked policy over customers, because after this I guarantee that you'll get to keep the former at the likely sacrifice of the later. Enjoy.
        • matthewaaron, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2We've been heard! RMCF just issued a statement on the feedback page!

          "
          An Apology to Our Customers :

          Re: Incident at Bella Terra shopping center, Huntington Beach, California

          The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Store in the Bella Terra shopping center in Huntington Beach, CA is an individually owned and operated franchised store.

          The Company has personally called the individual involved in this incident and apologized on behalf of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. In this instance, the actions of one franchised store's employees do not represent the values of the Company or our entire system of franchised stores.

          We are a very family friendly company and would never encourage any policy that does not take individual facts and circumstances into account. We encourage all our franchisees to adopt policies that are in accordance with local laws and regulations and that are reasonable and compassionate. However, individual policies of this nature are ultimately adopted by each franchisee.

          We truly regret this situation occurred and hope we can continue to serve your chocolate needs.

          Bryan Merryman
          Chief Operating Officer
          Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc."
      • ligyron, on 06/24/2008, -3/+1Here's one of their products...
        http://www.rmcf.com/cp/shop/sf/pops/sf-gift-reg-po ...
      • Charlie230, on 06/24/2008, -2/+12Feel free to let them know on the phone:
        714-901-3107
        714-901-3207 - fax
      • timj11dude, on 06/26/2008, -0/+0Funny how you cant see it in street view...
    • LavaWarrior, on 06/23/2008, -2/+50Yup, definitely added to my boycott list, and I'm going to tell all my friends/relatives to boycott it too.

      No one deserves to be treated like that, especially a 5 year old girl.
    • saltinekracka20, on 06/23/2008, -27/+13From what it looks like by reading the comments on the webpage, this is a little candy store in the mall with no public bathroom. It was dumb to even ask them to use their employee bathroom. Funny, they left that little tidbit out of their dramatic story.
      • alcimedes, on 06/23/2008, -2/+29No one is saying they were obligated to let them use their restroom, rather they're saying it would have been the human thing to do.

        • dclowd9901, on 06/24/2008, -5/+17Have you ever worked in a mall? Most stores there do not *have* restrooms, period. I used to work at a Sunglass Hut. It made those days without any cover a bitch if you had to use the restroom. If you were lucky, you could find someone from a nearby store to cover you for a few before you ***** your own pants.

          I get "having a heart" but if you don't have a restroom, you don't have a restroom.
        • ashfish, on 06/24/2008, -1/+25Um, if they didn't have a restroom someone should/would have said "we don't have a bathroom" instead of "you can't use the bathroom."
      • punx, on 06/23/2008, -7/+14Jesus, it doesn't take more than just the tiniest bit of compassion shown to a sick child. These people are scum, and I personally hope they get what's coming to them. Quit being an *****, if you are capable of it.
        • dynelol, on 06/24/2008, -6/+4Being an ***** is funny, though.
        • twistymcgee, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2Well then maybe we should put you and that situation and see how things look from the other side of the perspective. I bet being an ***** wouldn't be so funny then.
      • smacksaw, on 06/23/2008, -3/+23Yeah...you call out the whole "leaving out tidbits of information" there, champ. And yet you missed that they DID have a bathroom and it's the law.

        I'm from California. I didn't even need to read this article to know it's illegal to refuse. Any place that serves food that you can go into has to let you use the washroom. The only exception are like roach coaches and hot dog carts.

        So why do you think you can leave out the info FROM THE ARTICLE and ignore it to point out unsubstantiated crap from the comments?
        • saltinekracka20, on 06/24/2008, -7/+3Show me the law that states that this hole in the wall store has to have a public restroom. You're probably confused, and the law probably refers to restaurants.

          Also, I didnt say that DID NOT have a bathroom. I said they didnt have a public bathroom. This lady needs common sense, end of story.
        • pr0carbine, on 06/24/2008, -1/+5http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/bsc/title_24/docum ...
        • Seaton, on 06/24/2008, -9/+2This place DOESN'T SERVE FOOD. It's a ***** candy store. The family in question were eating food outside, they went in to a CANDY STORE to ask to use the restroom. It's like going to Hallmark to buy a drink. It's idiotic.
      • rotundo, on 06/24/2008, -0/+9A long time ago I was the manager of a mall establishment with a employee only bathroom behind a locked office door. We didn't let people use the bathroom under normal circumstances.

        But during my time there, at least a few times, we had someone with an emergency of some sort, and of course we allowed them to use the employee bathroom. I can't imagine what kind of idiot inhuman robot would refuse to let someone use a restroom in an emergency.


        • mathcreative, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1The people in the store probably just freaked, at this sudden urgency, which caused them to stay under the defensive.
      • TripMoon, on 06/24/2008, -1/+2I was reading this thinking, "Some ***** corporate monkey conservative has got to say something to defend that company!" Thanks for being a predictable sheep, moron!
    • JohnP, on 06/23/2008, -0/+19Expensive? The stuff on their site looks nasty. More 'chocolate making kit' than 'master chocolatier'.
    • kohrt, on 06/23/2008, -0/+16They are a public company - wall street - share holders - get the word out and then listen to them explain to wall street and shareholders why their sales are down and the stock is sliding.

      Oh - we have a image problem in our stores - no restrooms!!
      • Niightwitch, on 06/24/2008, -12/+4Don't overreact. I'm sorry they didn't let the little girl use the bathroom too, but don't you think wanting to ruin the company because of it is a little much?
        • WNW3, on 06/24/2008, -0/+6Hell hath no fury like the interwebs scorned
        • matthewdolman, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1It's comments like that, that makes big companies think they can tread all over average Joe and get away with it.
        • mathcreative, on 06/24/2008, -1/+1It's comments like kohrt, that people lose respect for the internet.
      • Ravatar, on 06/24/2008, -4/+1And look how many completely innocent investors you're ***** with actions like that. Your retirement plan might even have this company in its portfolio.
    • luseton, on 06/23/2008, -18/+7Here is the store website. - Let see if we can crash their site - http://rmcf.com/CA/HuntingtonBeach50710




      • lense, on 06/23/2008, -5/+19Grow up.
        • skyroket, on 06/24/2008, -2/+1Wow. You guys are digging the ***** out of people who want to boycott and "crash" this store and/or company, but some little jackass kid says we should crash their website and you bury him? Not that I agree with him, but y'all need to knock this hypocritical ***** off.

          Use the Digg and Bury buttons based on your OWN convictions, not whether they've already been Dugg or Buried.
    • WilliamAdama, on 06/23/2008, -4/+31I would bring a group of people in after that and ask if we could all use the washroom, if they said no, drop pants and *****/piss on the spot.

      Then repeat if necessary.
      • Sil369, on 06/24/2008, -4/+4Thanks for the visual (not)
      • passedoutghost, on 06/24/2008, -1/+7If I needed to use a bathroom and they refused I would have just dropped my pants and told them to stay the ***** away.
      • gnarlee, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1the repeat is definitely necessary
      • RussellDovey, on 06/24/2008, -0/+3That's what the kid did, but she didn't have a choice.

        You guys will just be making these corporate douchebags look good in comparison.
        • mathcreative, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2agree. If you all act like idiots, they'll treat you like idiots.
    • dugon666, on 06/23/2008, -2/+44we should all organize the nations first *****-in...it's sort of like a sit-in, but more like a squat-in.......poop.
    • ptsuk, on 06/23/2008, -26/+12This article shows the ineptitude's of parents and consumers....

      1) Insurance Policy. If there was an accident (slip and fall) thievery, etc. the policy wouldn't cover it. (many of "con artists work in teams and YES with children because who would suspect a child!)

      2) This outdoor mall has many shops and RMCF is located within a food court which provides restrooms for patrons!

      3)Moving to the employee only bathroom would have taken them into the direct path/contact with storage of inventory for the stores product. Any kind of "accident" would render that product not available for consumption and would need to be destroyed. If not and someone got sick over that product sold much severe consequences from the heath department would have been enacted.

      3) Law everyone is touting that is "California law must have a bathroom if it serves food" is ***** as its county by county law not a STATE LAW.

      4) From personal past experience people are disgusting and treat "mall" employees as sub human. From previous jobs (as many others have listed here in the comments) people will actually ***** on the floors, smear it on the walls, toss whole rolls of toilet paper in the toilets cause them to overflow, etc. This is the sheer reason I would have not let this so called "mother" take her kid back to the bathroom.

      5) This "mother" should have been aware of the bathrooms location (i know i make sure i know where they are when i have my nieces and nephews in tow) and running into a small "outlet" like this is lacking common sense.

      6) telling the manager of her "vast contacts" is just idiocy.

      7) harassing the store by posting their phone and address is also idiocy and likely constitutes (if you repeatedly call to harass) likely a misdimeanor, just a fyi.
      • smacksaw, on 06/24/2008, -4/+10You fail at both reading comprehension and critical thought. I can't believe you wrote such a lengthy post and still didn't understand what you are talking about.
        • ptsuk, on 06/24/2008, -12/+3way to make a great point about absolutely nothing. You should write for a sitcom!
      • smpx, on 06/24/2008, -2/+6fail reply has 7 instances of fail.
        • ptsuk, on 06/24/2008, -10/+3i see you've discovered the use of the word fail. Let me expand your vocab and internet vernacular but compounding on your favorite word with the term "epic fail!"

          ftw.
      • wolfboy2883, on 06/24/2008, -1/+2Well that may be true, but it does not excuse the store manager from telling the mother "go out the door and it is in the food court".
    • smpx, on 06/24/2008, -1/+27I have pretty much permanently associated Rocky Mountain to Diarrhea. Ew.
      • cheaptricks, on 06/24/2008, -0/+3That John Denver's full of *****
    • jhirsch4, on 06/24/2008, -11/+13you have a boycott list?

      does anyone else think that's weird?
      • mordea, on 06/24/2008, -0/+18I am officially boycotting the list.
        • kingfoot, on 06/24/2008, -0/+6im boycotting... boycotting.

          that's right... i went there.
    • InsaneOni, on 06/24/2008, -0/+17Meh, we should all go there, ask to use their bathroom and then ***** ourselves. That'll show em.
    • matthewaaron, on 06/24/2008, -1/+5Here is a link to the actual website for the Huntington Beach store...
      http://rmcf.com/CA/HuntingtonBeach50710/
    • matthewaaron, on 06/24/2008, -1/+3Here is the owner on MySpace...
      http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=us ...
      • WNW3, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2Way to put that Geological Sciences degree to work Todd
      • Mothh, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1Damn, his wife is 99 years old. If I was making $250,000+ a year I could a least get someone in their 60's.
    • zalery, on 06/24/2008, -2/+1store link: http://rmcf.com/CA/HuntingtonBeach50710/

      and I'm guessing that's the devil herself on the left
    • caborobo, on 06/24/2008, -3/+5Come on guys. Let's at least try to make their lives a living hell for the way they treated that little girl. Believe me, the way that the parent in the story was far more rational than I would have been. Sometimes you need to scare the ***** out of people to get them to do the right thing.
      • se1zure, on 06/24/2008, -1/+2so your promoting that the person should have tried to intimidate someone because that person would not do them a favor which they are not and should not due for the sake of other customers and to protect themselves?

        nice logic there chief.
        • caborobo, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1What I am saying is that people should not be pussies like you. Pussy.
    • se1zure, on 06/24/2008, -10/+6Oh please, you buy too far into the consumerist ***** without even reading the article. The company for insurance reasons had agreed not to let customers use the employee restroom. Which likely means it is not up to some sort of customer codes or otherwise a room which incidents are only insured for employees. So basically, they made a reasonable agreement with he insurance company, and you are boycotting them because of a policy that has always been in place and is in place at many establishments?

      There people who know enough about these laws and policies that if the girl had gotten injured in the bathroom then they would have been liable, and victem of some sort of scam. Not to say that is true in this case, but it is a possibility. Also, I as a customer would not be comfortable knowing little children with Diarrhea were alowed to run around through the kitchen (which probably had to be walked through in order to get to the resteroom).

      It's all about liability and cleanliness. Would you allow any random person to come in to your home and evacuate their Diarrhea in your bathroom? I would hope not.
      • WNW3, on 06/24/2008, -1/+5Did you read the rest of the comments on consumerist? In California most places that serve food are required to have public bathrooms. Also, WTF kind of insurance has a bathroom code?
        • se1zure, on 06/24/2008, -5/+4It does not serve food. It sells candy. There is a difference. And you obviously dont' know anything about insurance and liability (having non employees in designated employee only areas, especially in a place that deals with food, is a major liability)
      • sfelton, on 06/24/2008, -1/+6Yes, If a guest of my house had diarrhea I would allow them to use my restroom. Since the people in the article were costumers, that brings them to a guest type level. Even so, you would have to be one rude individual not to let a 5 year old girl use your restroom in an Emergency.

        As for the insurance policy, state law (as stated in the update) is above a policy set by a company. But in the end we know that America is capitalistic so if the consumer chooses not to buy their product, as a result of this boycott or otherwise, they will have to make changes or close.
      • crossmr, on 06/24/2008, -3/+1Don't try to confuse them with your logic and facts.
        The fact is some places have health restrictions against customers using employee only bathrooms, and there may be other reasons people aren't allowed to use employee only bathrooms.

      • matthewdolman, on 06/24/2008, -0/+3Sod the insurance policy

        How about a bit of common sense or simple kind heartedness
      • slodojo, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2It's true - the people to blame here are lawyers and sue-happy people who ruin things for the rest of society.
      • timj11dude, on 06/26/2008, -0/+0Where is your sense of human decency? Yeh sure insurance policies, blah blah blah... but if someone of 5 YEARS old is in trouble and the company wont help them, then we are truly going to hell...
    • 36CrzyFsts, on 06/24/2008, -2/+1I would have just took her to a quite place in the store and let her ***** there. Been like have fun cleaning that up losers.
    • hollyminkowski, on 06/24/2008, -1/+2I feel that if a child is in distress, and you are there, it is your responsibility to help and protect the child using any means at your disposal! No excuses, just do your duty. Children are the most precious things in this world.
    • KhanneaNL, on 06/24/2008, -2/+1Let them know what YOU think:

      http://rmcf5.com/contact/feedback/feedback.lasso?
    • mostfynest, on 06/24/2008, -0/+0Wow with this much publicity looks like they're headed down the same track Ribena is. Good Riddance to bad rubbish.
  • hitmanjc103, on 06/23/2008, -12/+330Enjoy cleaning up that mess...jerks.
    • sparsely, on 06/23/2008, -2/+160POOP FREEZE TO THE RESCUE
    • Klowner, on 06/23/2008, -2/+14"Oh no, catch it in one of the cartons! Good, good, now put the top on it.. now.. put it over there on the conveyor belt while we find a trash can to put it in"
    • Jared80KA, on 06/23/2008, -1/+25When you're sliding into first
      and you feel a sudden burst...
      • Junpei, on 06/23/2008, -1/+12Diarrhea! Diarrhea!
      • Sucka27, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1I always though it was ...

        When you're running off to first and your ***** could quench your thirst ... Diarrhea - cha-cha-cha! Diarrhea - cha-cha-cha!

    • devinmurphy, on 06/23/2008, -0/+68Chocolate Rainnnnnnnn
      • fcukthisgame, on 06/24/2008, -5/+3Congratulations! Here is one internet.

        Well played, sir.
      • nationalist, on 06/24/2008, -0/+14some stay dry and others feel the pain
    • WilliamAdama, on 06/23/2008, -10/+2I would bring a group of people in after that and ask if we could all use the washroom, if they said no, drop pants and *****/piss on the spot.

      Then repeat if necessary.
    • Razster, on 06/23/2008, -13/+5Well that is better than being sued for allowing her to use the restroom.
      American companies cannot be to lenient anymore because of assholes who try to sue for the lamest things.
      What if the mother decided to sue after her daughter used the restroom because it wasnt ADA certified? Well they're ***** them. Dugg you down.
      • Blandyman, on 06/24/2008, -0/+10Why would the bathroom have to be certified by the American Dental Association?
      • smpx, on 06/24/2008, -2/+3Why would they be sued for letting her use the bathroom? You fail at common sense.
        • mathcreative, on 06/24/2008, -1/+1No it's not Razster that fails at common sense, because he is using his common sense to anticipat that others will fail at using their own. Have you guys forgot what country your living in?(notice: I know a lot of diggers don't live in America)
    • Sucka27, on 06/24/2008, -2/+8http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-u ...

      Feel free to write a "*****" review for this craphole establishment. I did and I feel better, almost like I gave the RMCF a big old *****.
      • Ravatar, on 06/24/2008, -4/+1What a ***** crock of *****, quit ruining the quality of the google reviews because you have some stupid axe to grind.

        Come to New York City sometime and try to find a place to ***** anywhere.

        Policies are policies. QQ
        • Sucka27, on 06/24/2008, -0/+3"quit ruining the quality of the google reviews because you have some stupid axe to grind."

          It's improving the quality of the google reviews. There are a lot of people that would like to know this kind of information. So the gist of my post here is go to hell.
    • jfreeman, on 06/24/2008, -0/+6It would have been a poor janitor, not one of the jerks, unfortunately.
    • kellan6, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1I dont think the author of the digg should of chosen that picture for this title, eww.
  • tntitansfan, on 06/23/2008, -16/+274Insurance reasons . . . please.
    • plarp, on 06/23/2008, -7/+46they should have just told her she's just ***** outta luck
    • EASwanson, on 06/23/2008, -6/+102My parents company basically refuses to allow outside people to use the restroom due to the lawyers in California. In California we have been sued by a handicap person because he requested to use the bathroom and being nice we said yes of course. We got sued because the mirror in the bathroom was 6 inches too high which was somehow detrimental to his health. If this was a chain that didn't sell food I'd say they have the right to refuse but if you sell food or drink you have to allow use of your bathroom.

      Plus when the mom mentioned her 5 year old was about to go nuts on their toilet I'm pretty sure their chances of being able to use it went from like 20% to 0%
      • blackinthmiddle, on 06/23/2008, -0/+4From my understanding, once a restaurant has at least 14 seats, they're required to have a working bathroom. At least that's what I remember for New York. Don't know about other states.
        • Extrix, on 06/23/2008, -3/+5I'm sure they had a working bathroom, the whole problem is they wouldn't let her use it.
        • Rotzooi, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1Tell that to the junkfood places in downtown LA.
          Man, I've had to hold it in until it hurt.
      • 42Vindictive, on 06/23/2008, -3/+46I work at a Safeway Gas Bar and we don't allow anyone to use our bathroom for that reason as well. We used to, but someone tried to sue us because we wouldn't let a bum he would sit outside use it every ten minutes. So we created a no-one at anytime policy (except for employees obviously). I empathize with the girl, really, but rotten apples ruin it for the whole bunch.
        • WNW3, on 06/24/2008, -0/+6Ummm...normally in that kind of situation you have the guy cited for trespassing, you don't shut down the bathroom. Also, what is a gas bar? Is it a gas station or something?
        • icurl, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1That may be the case, but I am sure that a 5 year old girl is not a "bum", and would not abuse the "privilege" that should have been given to her. The USA's litigation culture is so desperate, and I think it's sad that this suing undermines the basic principles of the human need to use the bathroom. The United Kingdom seems to be slowly following the same rout as well, with injury lawyers cropping up everywhere.
      • charmaniac, on 06/23/2008, -3/+7They won't have to worry about their insurance payments for much longer...my guess is that recessionary consumers who are pinching every penny will have little sympathy for an overpriced chocolate store that won't let a 5 year old use the bathroom.
        • saranagati, on 06/24/2008, -0/+4unfortunately this was in huntington beach so its just a bunch of stuck up upper middle class soccer moms and spoiled teenage kids who go to this place. Therefor this store won't notice any change in business.
      • DaDrake, on 06/23/2008, -0/+24Yea... lawsuits get out of control. Home Depot fired someone for stopping a shop-lifter (someone who was observed stealing) and detaining him until the police arive; in that state, it was legal. But, Home Depot had to fire them because if they didn't... their insurance premiums would go higher. It is odd because the manager of the store said he was the best employee, but still had to fire him.

        Doctors today can't take but so many high-risk patients because of insurance premiums. Therefore, who a doctor can work on often depends on the risk factors of the patients; if a MD takes on many high risk patients, more will die... showing a higher rate of failure and a need for increase insurance coverage.

        This "ambulance chaser" nation is disgusting .... what ever happen to common sense?
        • jserio, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1This makes no sense. Do you have a link to this story? If so, then the employee has a good case for unfair termination - unless this is stated somewhere in the HD employee packet that he agreed to read.
        • caramba420, on 06/24/2008, -0/+0Common sense is an oxymoron.
      • yacks, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2I'm going to guess the guy who sued your parents was named... David Gunther. This guy was running around and suing everyone over that same thing.. These were not even legitimate complaints, he will only visit a place to check out there bathrooms and leave without saying a word. John and Ken on KFI640am talked about it extensively and once had him on the phone. He was trying to claim he was trying to get owners to fix their bathrooms to meet disability act codes which is a lie.. He was in it for the easy money because time after time businesses would settle and hand HIM over money. But the good thing is that precedent should fix this flaw in the system.. Gunther vs Lin was the case.. :)
        http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/blindlaw/2006-Nove ...

        on a side note.. I wonder if I can sue Carl's Jr.. because there is no mirror in their bathrooms.. ;) but then I really don't see the need for one to begin with.. I mean is it to check to see if your diarrhea didn't hit your face? But that would solve the mirror problem.. just remove them :)
        • mathcreative, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1Tell that to the insurance company, not to the Chocolate Company. Plus how is employee expected to memorize under which conditions previous bathroom law suites were carried out?
      • timj11dude, on 06/26/2008, -0/+0if your parents bathroom was the employees bathroom then that is annoying to have people ask to use it and then sue you for it and they shouldn't be allowed to sue for that (...) . But if on the other hand it was the customers bathroom as well then it should be suitable for disabled people as well.
    • clarionhaze, on 06/23/2008, -0/+17When I worked at a pick-up/delivery pizza store a customer was once allowed to use the restroom and when he got out he said he should report us for storing cleaning chemicals in the bathroom. It only takes one ***** to ruin it for the rest of us. That being said, it's not like a 5 year old is going to call OSHA after using the restroom. More than likely she didn't want anyone using the restroom and discovering any health violations.
      • yacks, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2well I would say that customer did you guys a service by informing you about it rather than not saying a word and then reporting it. He was giving you a chance to rectify the problem. Unlike some other people aka ADA lawsuit mills who sue companies because their mirrors were 6 inches too high in regards to disabled people.
    • Modizzle, on 06/24/2008, -1/+6Rocky Mountain Chocolate *****'d the poor lady. They could have helped her.

      http://www.enotes.com/wests-law-encyclopedia/emerg ...
      • samthurston, on 06/24/2008, -1/+2doesn't the peril doctrine only apply to situations where one can reasonably assume that death or serious physical injury will result? diarrhea, not so much.
        • Modizzle, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1Think about whether what you said is a jury question or a matter of law. If it's a matter of law, tell me why. If not, think about how a jury would rule in that case. Then tell me how they would rule.
        • molochi, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2Well what about good Samaritan laws. They have those in California, don't they? If the girl has diarrhea she's sick, I doubt you need an OSHA/Insurer approved space to render assistance to someone who is ill.
        • samthurston, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1@modizzle

          Since peril doctrine would only come into play if a) some employee of the store allowed the girl to use the bathroom and b) either the insurer or employer was pressing what would likely be civil charges against that employee for some type of loss, i'd say matter of law.

          you don't need something like peril doctrine in jury trials because juries won't normally convict someone who appears to be acting in good faith.
    • vikki77, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2I worked for a small retail store inside a mall. Our employee restroom was located in our storage room with boxes and bottles on shelves. We were told by management not to allow customers in the restroom because it wasn't "safe" for them. Regardless of what they said, we would still let people with emergencies use the restroom even though the food court was right upstairs.
    • redsox34, on 06/24/2008, -1/+2Ha! insurance problem how about a 5 year olds gonna explode ***** on your floor it might cost less to have insurance bills raised than lose all of the people there their familys and everyone whos read this article as customers and how does germ infestation sound? assholes
    • utahnkid, on 06/24/2008, -2/+2So who's side would you be on if they let a self proclaimed sick little girl into the back-room of an establishment that makes food and got sued by the other customer in the room who overheard the request and shortly after came down with the exact same sickness so he sued.
      • caramba420, on 06/24/2008, -2/+1It seems nobody ever told you...

        Generally, it's accepted practice in the developed world for people to wash their hands after going to the bathroom, and before preparing food. This minimizes the risk of cross-contamination. You can find out more about hand washing from the Mayo clinic. They'll tell you everything you need to know.

        http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hand-washing/HQ00 ...
  • chooter, on 06/23/2008, -23/+136That is so cruel... DIGG! so that they won't do that to anyone else.
    • matthewaaron, on 06/23/2008, -1/+6Or you can call/visit them...
      http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&q=R ...
    • jadrian, on 06/23/2008, -1/+5Well, I hope some of those with good photoshop skills start making fake diarrhea themed adverts for the company ;)
    • amfort, on 06/24/2008, -2/+9Yes, because the world bows to the anger of diggers!
      • dynelol, on 06/24/2008, -1/+8It's pretty funny when people consider diggs to be significant.
        • Spudster, on 06/24/2008, -2/+6Actually you would be surprised how much the mainstream media keeps a track of Digg. It's a given nowadays to expect news websites to link to Digg.
        • Shaman760, on 06/24/2008, -3/+2Why not call the Orange County Register (the local newspaper) and give a tip to the newsroom?
          Hey maybe they'll fly someone from corporate down to do damage control. Better yet, give it to John & Ken.
          http://johnandkenshow.com
        • noelsusman, on 06/24/2008, -2/+4"It's a given nowadays to expect news websites to link to Digg."
          Have you... been to digg? Digg is just a bunch of links to other news sites, and you're saying that news sites now link to digg? What kind of wormhole are you trying to create here?
    • biotch, on 06/24/2008, -1/+4and/or email them :)
      CA.HuntingtonBeach50710@rmcf.com
    • caborobo, on 06/24/2008, -3/+3I think this is the first time that I have dugg over 95% of the comments here.

      Kinda restores my faith in digg.
  • DuggDowner, on 06/23/2008, -42/+7The fudge gets packed in, not out.
  • ghettoshark, on 06/23/2008, -8/+94She should of just let her kid take the dump in front of all their employees and customers. What a dick move by the RMCF.
    • dafragsta, on 06/23/2008, -1/+52I feel bad for the little girl, but in a way, I'm kinda glad this happened. I love it when foolish cold-hearted bureaucracy falls on it's face into a steaming puddle of fecal sauce.
    • VoxRatio, on 06/23/2008, -3/+27Not just Dickish, illegal, according to California statutes. Any establishment serving food must adhere to uniform plumbing regulations, and provide bathrooms for customers. She should sue, sue, sue.. Normally, I'm against frivolous law suits but this would change their behavior, and provide some justice for that poor child, and maybe some college money to boot.
    • lisaawesome, on 06/23/2008, -2/+6Seriously I would've let the kid do it right in the middle of the store and then I would've left if I were the mom. Let the employees clean it up. I can't believe any low level employee caring enough to enforce a ridiculous bathroom policy in what is clearly a bathroom emergency (especially when it involves a kid). I did inventory for a while for different retail places and I could not believe how many rules every store had for which bathrooms we could use and when. At JC Penny's one of the girls watching us to make sure no one stole any stretch pants had to escort me to the bathroom and stand outside the door until I was done so she could escort me back. I asked her at one point if she wanted to just come into make sure I was actually peeing and not just stealing their toilet paper. The whole situation was weird.
      • RSterkenburg, on 06/24/2008, -0/+3What the *****? You just said would let your child ***** all over themselves. If this is true, I hope you're never a parent. Ever. A reasonable parent would take their child to find a washroom somewhere else, like the mother in this article did.
    • tian2992, on 06/24/2008, -8/+3Royal Mounted Canadian Force?
      (yes, I know…)
  • weebmac, on 06/23/2008, -10/+741Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is a useless company to begin with. Mediocre product sold at premium prices in inconvenient locations. They can at least justify their existence by being a good neighbor in circumstances like these.

    "She laughed at me when I told her I would be using my extensive contacts to begin a viral campaign to boycott her store and the entire chain and told me that she was 'sure that would make my daughter very proud.'"

    Let's wipe that laugh right off the manager's face. Dugg.
    • borninda818, on 06/23/2008, -1/+71"Let's wipe that laugh"
      I chuckled
    • Shaman760, on 06/23/2008, -1/+49Tell them how you feel:
      http://rmcf5.com/contact/feedback/feedback.lasso?% ...
      • blackinthmiddle, on 06/23/2008, -0/+9Just did!
      • glasnostic, on 06/23/2008, -0/+9me too
      • Jfave, on 06/23/2008, -0/+7done.
      • Olivaise, on 06/24/2008, -0/+7Me as well, and gave them two links: to this page and the actual article.
      • darkwing81, on 06/24/2008, -0/+15just told them i am going to go to their store and ***** on the floor. yes, i feel good about that.
        • caborobo, on 06/24/2008, -0/+4God damn right!
          You should.
          ***** A.
          This story has got me fired up!
      • RunnyBabbit, on 06/24/2008, -1/+5Name: Dougg
        Email: Lols@digg.com
        Feedback: Your product is terrible and you should feel terrible. Also, hello from digg.com!
      • desertDenizen, on 06/24/2008, -0/+4Just did. This feedback warranted expletives.
      • verevi, on 06/24/2008, -0/+15Man, if I ever own a business I hope I never piss off the internet.
      • t3rmv3locity, on 06/24/2008, -0/+4My feedback:

        To whom it may concern,
        I was recently at one of your locations, and I saw a very disturbing scene. A mother and her young daughter (she couldn't have been more then 5) came into the store and requested to use the restroom. The daughter appeared to have a fever, and the mother explained that the daughter had diarrhea. The employees in the store stated that allowing non-customers to use the restroom was against company policy, but they clearly enjoyed the situation and were intentionally antagonizing the mother.

        But what made this situation so extreme was that the daughter really was sick, and she could not hold herself much longer. She needed to use the restroom and the employees were snickering out of view of most of the customers. The daughter eventually gave in and exploded all over the mother and the floor of the store. The whole situation was very graphic.

        I, personally, was shocked at the behaviour of the employees, and thought their conduct and mannerisms were entirely inappropriate. I hope that you might either change your general policies, or allow exceptions in extreme situations such as this one.

        Sincerely,
        Bill McNeal
        WNYX, NewsRadio
        New York, New York
      • statsman1982, on 06/24/2008, -0/+0Why leave feedback that is vague or signed by an obviously fake name (I know NewsRadio isn't *that* well known, but someone at RMCF might just be into Phil Hartman)? Wouldn't writing about the specific incident in question and how you found out about it, and leaving out the expletives, be more effective? I don't expect this to get Dugg because it seems that people would rather leave hateful messages than polite, but direct, comments about the situation. I think just letting the company know that we know what is going on might be enough. But, alas, maybe I'm very naive...
      • charlesnorbert, on 06/25/2008, -0/+4OFFICIAL APOLOGY FROM THE WEBSITE:

        An Apology to Our Customers :

        Re: Incident at Bella Terra shopping center, Huntington Beach, California

        The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Store in the Bella Terra shopping center in Huntington Beach, CA is an individually owned and operated franchised store.

        The Company has personally called the individual involved in this incident and apologized on behalf of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. In this instance, the actions of one franchised store's employees do not represent the values of the Company or our entire system of franchised stores.

        We are a very family friendly company and would never encourage any policy that does not take individual facts and circumstances into account. We encourage all our franchisees to adopt policies that are in accordance with local laws and regulations and that are reasonable and compassionate. However, individual policies of this nature are ultimately adopted by each franchisee.

        We truly regret this situation occurred and hope we can continue to serve your chocolate needs.

        Bryan Merryman
        Chief Operating Officer
        Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc.
    • glasnostic, on 06/23/2008, -3/+45CA.HuntingtonBeach50710@rmcf.com

      tell the bitch who laughed over the phone how you feel.

      her name is Bonnie Overturf

      at least i think thats her name.
      • desertDenizen, on 06/24/2008, -1/+5Done. Just unleashed a bit of written fury.

        That felt good.

    • charmaniac, on 06/23/2008, -0/+21Wow, that will build brand loyalty. Now, instead of people associating awful chocolate with Rocky Mountain, they will associate diarrhea with Rocky Mountain. At least they won't have to worry about making those insurance payments for much longer - they will be out of business within 2 years.

      Whats the over/under on the apology? I give it 1 day.
    • TonyTheTerrible, on 06/23/2008, -18/+3i bet you've never even bought on of their products
      you kids need to realize just because the internet says BOYCOTT NAO doesnt mean you have to go out of your way to slander them
      • bluecc, on 06/23/2008, -1/+10It's hardly out of our way.
      • Kohaxx, on 06/23/2008, -0/+6Oh hi, Bonnie Overturf!
      • jparkinson, on 06/24/2008, -0/+6Come on, people who act more mature than everyone else are douchebags. Please stop it.
      • Rodalli, on 06/24/2008, -1/+4NO ONE LAUGHS AT THE INTERNET! Prepare to be owned, RMCF!
    • Dominatus7, on 06/24/2008, -5/+10"She laughed at me when I told her I would be using my extensive contacts to begin a viral campaign to boycott her store and the entire chain and told me that she was 'sure that would make my daughter very proud.'"

      Really? How utterly unprofessional. Its so unfortunate that a large corporate company has to act like that, and currently is getting away with it. Charges should definitly be pressed but the real issue here is common human decency and even more sickening is the only way to change that is when their sales revenue starts to fall.

      Either way, currently 1887 diggs and countless boycotts (including myself). Why don't you laugh at that you smug bitch?
      • RunnyBabbit, on 06/24/2008, -1/+7You had me until "charges should be presed."
    • jho406, on 06/24/2008, -1/+11I just sent submitted feedback for the first time in my life after hearing this sick *****. Someone needs to pay.
    • upslifer, on 06/24/2008, -6/+1Just don't get the poopie smoothie, no matter what they charge.
    • azpat, on 06/24/2008, -0/+3I've never heard of them, but I'll never go there now. For me, it's no loss. For them, on the other hand, I'm a customer they'll never get.
    • fuzzybeard, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2Apologies, but this movie scene just popped into my head:

      Otter: We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part.
      Bluto: We're just the guys to do it.
      D-Day: Let's do it.
      Bluto: LET'S DO IT!
    • Ravensdream, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1I saw this clip on the news today, http://cbs2.com/video/ titled Threaten Over Bathroom Backlash. She began to cry and said she is a mom and would have acted different if she was there. I guess her story changed being on TV. She also forgot to mention her cold ass bitch conversation with the mother.
      "She laughed at me when I told her I would be using my extensive contacts to begin a viral campaign to boycott her store and the entire chain and told me that she was 'sure that would make my daughter very proud.'" I hope she is still laughing!
      Well I will never buy from them again. Times are tough and they will feel it.
      Weird how a food place does not have a bathroom for their guest.

      This place did this 2 years ago to a lady that was about to give birth any day. She asked where the bathroom was and they wanted her to at least buy a drink before she went in or she could not use the bathroom. The lady peed right there. hehehehe ....
      Philly Pizza & Grill
      (310) 854-7272
      8500 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
  • AlDaTbagsNChina, on 06/23/2008, -7/+245That story's picture is making me a bit sick. Good choice!
    • spoonboy, on 06/23/2008, -0/+15From the comment on the page : "that picture is both right and so very wrong on so many levels for this story "
      • str1fe, on 06/24/2008, -0/+10Dugg for saying it's copypasta instead of just hijacking the comment.
    • thefurball, on 06/23/2008, -0/+6MMMmmm home-made chocolate milk.
  • Spaavel, on 06/23/2008, -16/+6Thank goodness I wasn't the next customer in line. Whewwww. That would be a real choclate turnoff!
    • t0x2c, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1This man empathized. Don't vote him down, he's the guy smart enough to make the changes we need in this world.
  • Mariasha, on 06/23/2008, -19/+530That's pretty ***** of them.
  • Forkboy2, on 06/23/2008, -39/+15Classic case of corporate policy trumping common sense. But, the businesses can't win in this scenario.

    - If person slips and falls guess who gets sued?
    - If the restroom is not compliant with Americans With Disabilities Act, guess who gets sued?
    - If they let a little 5-year old white girl use the restroom and then refuse to let a black woman use the restroom, guess who gets sued?
    - Who gets fired if they ignore corporate policy and use common sense?

    Would you risk losing your job?

    If you want to blame someone, blame the ambulance chasing lawyers and liberal activists judges.
    • Coven, on 06/23/2008, -2/+23liberal activist judges? You do realize that juries decide civil cases? The judge has nothing to do with who wins the case.
      • lukeb1222, on 06/23/2008, -1/+3And even if the judge did decide, you would have the choice not to vote for him, no?
      • smacksaw, on 06/23/2008, -2/+3In all fairness to REALITY, you do realise that a judge has to allow a case to be heard on it's merits BEFORE it goes to a jury trial? You do realise that not all of these are jury cases, right? You do realise that in a courtroom, the temperament of the judge and their political beliefs allow broad interpretations of the law that allow some arguments and evidence to be presented and exculpatory arguments and evidence to be suppressed?

        You fail the logic test. Guilty. I sentence you to jury duty.
        • Coven, on 06/24/2008, -1/+3Paranoia paranoia everybody's comin to get you...

          I just served 3 weeks on jury duty. It was fun and I'd gladly go back and do more.

          But you need to relax and realize that most judges couldn't give a ***** either way and they just want to move their schedule along.
      • Forkboy2, on 06/24/2008, -1/+1Uhh...a liberal activist judge doesn't have to be presiding over a specific case. All they have to do is be sitting on the Circuit Court of Appeals and they get to decide how laws such as ADA are interpreted. They decide exactly what makes a valid civil rights lawsuit and what doesn't. The get to do things like throw out ballot measures that were approved by voters, etc, etc, etc.

        I'm sorry so many people appear to disagree with me. I'm just trying to explain WHY this store and probably every other chain store has this policy. I guess the truth hurts.
    • sk11, on 06/23/2008, -1/+14Judge: what is the jury's verdict?
      Juror: the jury finds the defendant guilty.
      Judge: following the jury's verdict, I sentence you to 9 months of community service. This will entail various activities such as cleaning up faeces from public spaces.
      Forkboy2: damn you liberal activist judge, damn you straight to hell!
    • FrankTheTank17, on 06/23/2008, -4/+3Was there a reason to bring in a racist situation to your list?
      • purzzzell, on 06/23/2008, -0/+4Yes, he had a good one.

        Because the customer demanded an exception to a rule. If another person demanded that exception, and was refused, they could say "well, you let that person" completely disregarding anything about the fact it was a child.
      • xander411, on 06/24/2008, -0/+0Holy crap stop being so politically correct. If it wasn't for hyper-sensitive idiots like you the world would actually work instead of being a sue-happy lawyer theme park where common sense goes out the window because greedy fools want money for nothing.

        His examples were a true reflection of common scenarios in which businesses always lose out.
    • Gojirra, on 06/23/2008, -3/+7If you would let a 5 year old girl ***** on herself just to keep a job like that, then you need to prioritize.
      • Blandyman, on 06/24/2008, -0/+3Times are hard, and if all you can get is a minimum-wage job... trust me, you have to practically fight for it.
    • sparsely, on 06/23/2008, -3/+5Simple solutions, forkboy: Keep your restrooms clean and walkways free of spills & things you could trip over (good for employee safety as well), update your bathroom (lowering mirrors and providing handles & such isn't difficult or costly), don't dole out bathroom privilege in a racist fashion, and don't fire people for having common sense and compassion.
      Then everyone's happy!
      • glasnostic, on 06/23/2008, -1/+7typical liberal solution.. what's next, are you going to start demanding clean water and safe air travel?

        ***** hippies...

        /sarcasm
      • s0nicfreak, on 06/24/2008, -1/+1Ok, so you're going to personally pay for all of this, right?
      • Forkboy2, on 06/24/2008, -1/+1It's potentially very costly. It can easily cost $25,000 to $50,000 to bring restrooms up to current ADA requirements. Employee restrooms are not required to meet ADA requirements. Only public restrooms. So a business has to decide between spending $50,000 to make their restrooms ADA compliant.....or just not allow the public to access them. They are simply not allowed by law to let non-employees use their restrooms. That is no the fault of the business.
        • mathcreative, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1why does it cost 25,000 dollars for restrooms to meet ADA requirements? 25,000 should pay for the entire bathroom it's self.
        • Forkboy2, on 06/24/2008, -0/+0You'll just have to trust me. I know for a fact that it can easily cost $25,000 to upgrade a restroom. Often you have to move walls, make door openings larger, move plumbing, replace cabinets, countertops and mirrors, etc, etc, etc. Of course it can also cost as little as $1,000. It just all depends on what you're starting with.
    • glasnostic, on 06/23/2008, -2/+4forkboy2 and that little girl do have one thing in common. neither of them can control the pure ***** coming out of them. sadly, all the liberal judges in the world can't make his idiotic comment go away.

    • purzzzell, on 06/23/2008, -4/+5Sorry, forkboy's right.

      Let's say the bathroom has an unmarked wet floor. All the employees know of this as a possibility, and exercise caution, no one worrying to mark it as "everyone who uses it knows".

      Now, the girl or her mom slips and hurts themself, let's say getting a minor concussion.

      They decide to sue, at the advice of a money hungry personal injury attorney, NOT EVEN REALIZING THE EMPLOYEES HAD PUT THEMSELVES OUT ON A LIMB (b/c it wouldn't have been a big deal if they complied!), and sue the ***** out of the company.

      Or worse, the family's INSURANCE COMPANY sues (for the money they had to shell out
      as a result of the fall), not even giving the family a choice in the matter

      No insurance to help them, it could be 5-10k of medical bills out of the company's pocket. If it's a single location franchise, that could put them under.
      • Asrrin29, on 06/24/2008, -0/+5California law requires them to not only put up signs regardless if "every knows who uses it" but also requires them to allow the use of the bathroom to anyone for an emergency.
        • Forkboy2, on 06/24/2008, -0/+0I think you are making this up. Cities usually make these kinds of decisions. And even then it would not apply to existing businesses.
      • Blandyman, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2You don't even need a minor concussion. Just say your neck hurts and that's it, you're ***** golden.
    • zeusthemoose, on 06/24/2008, -2/+1Yeah, ***** dem libralies. Liberals is ghey and suffar from teh mental illness. GW 08!!!
    • Schrodinger2, on 06/24/2008, -0/+3these kneejerking diggers have no common sense. Forkboy speaks the truth.
  • HotDogBun, on 06/23/2008, -53/+13I'll counteract her ***** 'viral campaign' by placing a few orders for my store with this particular supplier.

    Why?

    Because people unwillingly crapping all over themselves and each other is totally awesome. Just like when that woman crapped all over herself in front of a bunch of people in jo-ann fabrics. Magnificent.
    • rhartman, on 06/23/2008, -3/+11I wanted to Digg you down so badly and take the "moral high ground", but then realized I was laughing out loud. I think the behaviour of RMCF was reprehensible, but you Sir, are a Magnificent Bastard.
    • sek52, on 06/24/2008, -1/+3Consider yourself dugg.
  • whiteknives, on 06/23/2008, -9/+172Man, *whew*

    Chocolate milk was NOT the first thing I thought of when I saw that thumbnail.
    • mikec00l, on 06/23/2008, -0/+7lol @ picture of chocolate milk.
    • poiuytrewq44, on 06/23/2008, -0/+15Some stay dry, others feel the pain.
    • alexonix, on 06/23/2008, -3/+15Two Girls One...
    • faizal5k, on 06/23/2008, -4/+10lol imagine you actually ***** out diarrhea like a perfect stream just like in the picture?

      ...ok I'll just STFU now.
    • void, on 06/24/2008, -2/+1Tubgirl!
  • kahakauai, on 06/23/2008, -9/+26Should have just ***** on the floor.... I woulda
    • blackinthmiddle, on 06/23/2008, -1/+8I guess they could have been charged with public defecation if they tried. I'm not sure if that's what it's called. You get the point.
    • bwdd, on 06/24/2008, -0/+5She did.
    • RSterkenburg, on 06/24/2008, -0/+6No you wouldn't. Nobody wants to ***** themselves, and nobody should force their child to ***** themselves. You would hurry off somewhere else to find a washroom, just like everyone else. Ever.
  • maretten, on 06/23/2008, -24/+1Silly Penis
    • sexypeon, on 06/24/2008, -1/+1What? Also, WTF? at the one dude who dugg you up.
  • KaiSe7eN, on 06/23/2008, -8/+132I would've taken a dump in their production fudge batch.
    • hfactor, on 06/23/2008, -1/+14Like they would've cared...
    • Rabbitez, on 06/23/2008, -1/+2I just lol'd.
    • TecK415, on 06/24/2008, -1/+20I work at a fudgery. That's the most popular April fools prank around here..
      • gannondork, on 06/24/2008, -0/+8so several people ***** in your product each april?
        • TecK415, on 06/24/2008, -1/+24Yes, but only the fools. Most of us take this job very seriously. Fudge craft is not a job, it's our life. "If you poo you're off the crew." As we say here.
      • str1fe, on 06/24/2008, -0/+7Which fudgery now? Remind me not to buy your products in April.
        • homanh, on 06/24/2008, -0/+0I love how this is implying if this really happened you would still buy their products all year round except april
      • TheFinaleofSeem, on 06/24/2008, -1/+18Are you the packer?
    • jessenoob, on 06/24/2008, -2/+11You probably wouldn't even notice the taste difference!
    • riseabove, on 06/24/2008, -1/+2HAHA
  • Homermon1, on 06/23/2008, -12/+1So that's how they make their chocolate milk...
  • MonumentMan, on 06/23/2008, -9/+47what a bunch of assholes!
    • computerusr, on 06/24/2008, -3/+1The mom rubs me the wrong way. She seems like a bitch.
    • Owwmykneecap, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1 diarrhea
  • mikem94590, on 06/23/2008, -15/+53They're full of ***** (pun intended). Insurance reasons? If there are that big of "insurance" concerns, why does just about every gas station, resturant, or business have a public bathroom?
    • Thrash16, on 06/23/2008, -5/+28http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=pu ...

      maddox rules all
      • mikem94590, on 06/23/2008, -0/+5Thanks for pointing that out. I'll be sure to remember that.
      • ligyron, on 06/24/2008, -0/+3I thought Maddox was a really cool guy after regularly reading his website. Then I met him and he was just a boring dork and I was highly disappointed. I didn't know what the hell was going on when I was talking to him. I guess you can truly be whatever you want on the Internet. I now have a hard time believing all those articles were written by the dude I met. Maybe he has writers...
      • psycoshot, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2Beat me to it ;P

        Maddox rulez.
    • Ramble, on 06/23/2008, -1/+11Pun intended?
      No *****.
    • icurnvs, on 06/23/2008, -2/+10Because those places pay to have the bathroom areas insured as well. I'm guessing this store's insurance policy covers only employees in their bathroom; nobody else. If that kid would have cracked her head on the floor in that bathroom, the owners of the franchise would be liable without a bit of help from the insurance company. Heartless? Yes.
      • spyd3rweb, on 06/23/2008, -0/+6If someone is worthless enough to fall in a bathroom, it should be their own damn fault.
        • purzzzell, on 06/23/2008, -1/+8not necessarily - what if it's an unmarked "wet floor" that the employees are educated to be cautious of.

          The facility is not maintained for the customer. If they don't pay for insurance, it's not an unreasonable policy.

          It's unreasonable to laugh at the customer - it's an "apologize but stand by your policy" situation.
    • DaDrake, on 06/23/2008, -0/+2It depends on the state... but yea, insurance companies evaluate companies individually and set up the terms. For example, its not uncommon for insurance companies to forbid anyone, including security guards, for stopping shoplifters; the value of what stolen vs the possible million dollar law suit doesn't add up. Other insurance companies mandate that only employees can enter certain areas ... you don't want kids running around in a factory, but the insurance company doesn't want to insurance both employees and kids.

      How the laws are written, insurance companies will always give coverage IF you violate one of the lesser-conditions (such as, employee stopping shop lifter).... but if you do have violations, your premiums will go up.
    • ThaDRD, on 06/24/2008, -0/+6Do they have insurance for all the bacteria sprayed all over the place from her *****?
  • insurgente, on 06/23/2008, -8/+62I bet they tried to sell that diarrhea for profit.
    • MrMineo, on 06/23/2008, -0/+4It probably had more texture than the ***** that they are passing off as chocolate.
    • Hartley1942, on 06/24/2008, -1/+81. Deny use of bathroom
      2. Toddler craps on floor
      3.???????
      4.Profit!
      • Ravatar, on 06/24/2008, -0/+13 is publicity. And there's no such thing as bad #3.
    • igob8a, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1Secret formula?
  • keymanjim2, on 06/23/2008, -9/+37A customer at The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Company gets a bad case of the Hershey squirts.
    • asus2000, on 06/30/2008, -0/+2Quick someone get the POOP FREEZE!!
  • jreinstedler, on 06/23/2008, -16/+6Chocolate served up best, hot and fresh from the kid's ass...

    BTW- The ***** choco place went out of business here in Milford, not even a year into their stay... mwahaha.
  • scabbers, on 06/23/2008, -5/+365Say what you like about mcdonalds, at least they let you take a gargantuan ***** after selling you their garbage.
    • itspuddingtime, on 06/23/2008, -1/+61the *****, as it is widely known.
      • zephyr42, on 06/23/2008, -4/+9not to be confused with McCunt which is a person.
    • SteeleJK, on 06/23/2008, -4/+63Dugg for "gargantuan".
    • MikeSD34, on 06/23/2008, -9/+3monstrous-o-turd
    • Zadernet, on 06/23/2008, -3/+17Hey, McDonald's pays me $7 an hour and supports my community by donating to after school programs so that kids can grow up to live successful lives.
      • niner9, on 06/23/2008, -1/+17Calvin got a job.
      • nickcommie, on 06/23/2008, -4/+2Uh, right.
      • NolanRey, on 06/24/2008, -1/+8but you still sell garbage food.
        • aeoo, on 06/24/2008, -0/+4Not really. Their Angus beef burgers are pretty good. I wouldn't call them junk. It's not something I recommend eating every day, but it's no more junk than say, ice cream, which is neither junk nor a staple.

          McD's also offer decent salads and yogurts and so on.
        • KanaT, on 06/24/2008, -1/+0Garbage is garbage.
      • DrLeePhD, on 06/24/2008, -1/+10employees also learn the importance of a college education.... cleaning other people's gargantuan ***** that won't flush.
    • rupturexcore, on 06/23/2008, -0/+16Garbage in, garbage out.
  • gannondork, on 06/23/2008, -13/+4This story is useless without a video of the incident. What is wrong with consumerist?
    • smacksaw, on 06/23/2008, -0/+4I don't think consumerist.com is a paedophile's scat-porn site.
  • nicksource, on 06/23/2008, -6/+80The title and thumbnail gave me 2girls1cup flashbacks... and my last psychiatrist session is on Wednesday too. Dammit.
  • grantmoore3d, on 06/23/2008, -4/+70Dugg for the picture of chocolate milk... hahahaha
    • CrushThemTorg, on 06/23/2008, -1/+5That, and perhaps the best comment ever:
      "There's nothing worse than being out and about and feeling a sudden rumbling down in the old Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.... "
  • Snokage, on 06/23/2008, -17/+1i was gunna digg this, then i saw its from the consumerist.com....what a ***** waste of webspace.
    • btschul, on 06/23/2008, -0/+5How is the consumerist a waste of webspace? Please explain.
      • Ramble, on 06/23/2008, -2/+3They bitch a lot and do nothing about it?
        • btschul, on 06/23/2008, -1/+3Half the time, whatever problem they post gets resolved BECAUSE the company the complaint was with saw it getting lots of publicity on a website, and they would rather resolve the problem that deal with all the bad publicity. They send people undercover to expose scams. They give people info to help fight against companies screwing them over. saying they do nothing about problems is ignorant.
  • shark72, on 06/23/2008, -3/+259How to leave feedback:

    http://rmcf5.com/contact/feedback/feedback.lasso?
    • charlesnorbert, on 06/23/2008, -0/+52Corporate Headquarters:
      265 Turner Drive
      Durango, Colorado 81303
      970-259-0554
      970-259-5895 - Fax
      Customer Service: 1-888-525-2462
      Franchise Information: 1-800-438-7623
      • charlesnorbert, on 06/23/2008, -0/+13Huntington Beach / Bella Terra
        7777 Edinger Avenue, Suite C-178 CA 92648
        714-901-3107
      • Serial0Hacker, on 06/23/2008, -8/+1hey I live a couple town's over.
      • pennvneff, on 06/24/2008, -1/+6Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
        Bella Terra
        7777 Edinger Avenue, Suite C-178
        Huntington Beach, CA 92648


        Contact Information:
        714-901-3107
        714-901-3207 - fax

        email: CA.HuntingtonBeach50710@rmcf.com
        website: http://rmcf.com/CA/HuntingtonBeach50710

        Make sure you ask for Todd or Bonnie Overturf
    • judicar, on 06/23/2008, -5/+14I think having someone crap all over their floor is probably feedback enough.
      • Andrwmorph, on 06/23/2008, -0/+15Obviously not judging by the manager's response.
      • thechr0nic, on 06/23/2008, -2/+2the mother actually left and attempted to find a restroom at the movie theater when the child had the accident.

        she returned, to try to get names of the employees and managers to hold them responsible.
        • judicar, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1No, I'm saying someone should just go over there and take a huge chocolate ice cream-filled ***** right on their floor.
      • DrLeePhD, on 06/24/2008, -3/+2dugg. I almost laughed beer out of my nose!
    • Digitel, on 06/23/2008, -6/+4Here is your chance to leave some funny feedbacks
    • splashx, on 06/23/2008, -1/+38Direct email for this location:

      Todd and Bonnie Overturf
      email: CA.HuntingtonBeach50710@rmcf.com
      website: http://rmcf.com/CA/HuntingtonBeach50710

      "She laughed at me when I told her I would be using my extensive contacts to begin a viral campaign to boycott her store and the entire chain and told me that she was "sure that would make my daughter very proud."
    • Peace25, on 06/23/2008, -0/+7Feedback submitted, gunna hit up their customer service on break.
    • ice1874193, on 06/23/2008, -2/+17I just left some feedback lol

      Name: Pooped N. Pants

      Email: poopedonfloor@crappychocolate.com
    • Peace25, on 06/23/2008, -1/+28Here's the number to the actual store that this happened at.

      Bella Terra 7777 Edinger Avenue, Suite C-178 CA 92648
      714-901-3107
      • DrLeePhD, on 06/24/2008, -1/+3phone pranks anyone? skype + phonelosers.org FTW.
    • unclecaveman, on 06/23/2008, -3/+73Hey Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, guess what? You just lost my business for life. I am a 22 year old fat guy who loves chocolate, so you can only imagine the amount of money I would've spent on delicious fudge throughout my lifetime.
      Unfortunately, as I'm sure you're by now aware, at a store of yours in Huntington Beach your employees acted in a manner beyond comprehension by not allowing a child to use your restroom in an emergency, resulting in the child ***** on herself. Way to go.
      If that is how your company treats customers, I think I'll go spend my fudgemoney at your competitor.

      Please issue a public apology and give this girl free fudge for life. That is the ONLY way I will ever eat your fudge again.

      Sincerely,
      Fat fudge-loving guy
    • TheEarthlings, on 06/24/2008, -2/+7Dear csr-folks,
      i read about the unfortunate denial-of-toilet-incident regarding that little girl and her chocolate pants.

      As i live in germany i currently do not have the opporunity to actively boycott your products but i am very happy being able to announce today, that i will start doing so, the very moment you should try to expand your business to Europe :-)) I will also tell all my friends about it and have already posted the incidence on several consumer and csr-related sites.

      As i am also doing some academic research on the current explosion of political consumerism on the web, i am highly interested 1) in the standardized (non-)answer you will send out right away and 2) in the sincere apology that will follow a couple of days later. Please feel free to use the above anonymous mail account that i will regularly check.

      kind regards,
      ***** Hefloor (*****@trash-mail.com)
    • cgbspender, on 06/24/2008, -0/+9Sent them my job application:

      Hello!

      I would like to apply for a job. My qualifications are:
      - Being a jerk
      - Losing a lot of customers by not letting a child use the bathroom
      - Being a complete ***** afterward

      I believe that fits your company well.

      Knowing that your manager has a scat fetish I might leave a pile of hot steaming fudge at your place, too, if I ever come near it.

      Bye
    • username484767, on 06/24/2008, -0/+3feed back left! ;-)
    • DifferentColors, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2i left my feedback
    • cybrguy, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2Mine was short and to the point.


      Congrats on the PR disaster, maybe you will think that through next time
      (link to article)
    • magnoliasouth, on 06/24/2008, -0/+2Yep, I contacted corporate headquarters as soon as I read the article at The Consumerist. Don't just leave feedback for the local store, corporate is going to faint when they get loaded with complaints.
    • hitokiri808, on 06/27/2008, -0/+2An Apology to Our Customers :

      Re: Incident at Bella Terra shopping center, Huntington Beach, California

      The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Store in the Bella Terra shopping center in Huntington Beach, CA is an individually owned and operated franchised store.

      The Company has personally called the individual involved in this incident and apologized on behalf of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. In this instance, the actions of one franchised store's employees do not represent the values of the Company or our entire system of franchised stores.

      We are a very family friendly company and would never encourage any policy that does not take individual facts and circumstances into account. We encourage all our franchisees to adopt policies that are in accordance with local laws and regulations and that are reasonable and compassionate. However, individual policies of this nature are ultimately adopted by each franchisee.

      We truly regret this situation occurred and hope we can continue to serve your chocolate needs.

      Bryan Merryman
      Chief Operating Officer
      Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc.


      http://rmcf5.com/contact/feedback/feedback.lasso?

      Think that manager got owned.
  • ratsville, on 06/23/2008, -17/+19what a bunch of wankers
  • mattes5, on 06/23/2008, -7/+82Around the corner is where lemonade is made
  • staffell, on 06/23/2008, -5/+22Touché, fudge packers!
  • BrutalN00dle, on 06/23/2008, -18/+2I wouldn't call consumerist.com an "extensive contact".
    • punx, on 06/23/2008, -0/+7Well now it's on Digg, and hopefully will spread even farther, so we can be put them of business for their heartlessness. I would say that would be pretty extensive, wouldn't you? So consumerist.com was a good start.
  • btschul, on 06/23/2008, -11/+5Nice Thumbnail.