Emerald Pellot graduated summa cum laude from New York University with a degree in Writing & Popular Culture. She worked as Senior Editor of College Candy for 2 years, covering feminism, popular culture, and college life before joining LittleThings in 2015. Based in New York City, Emerald covers a wide range of topics from human interest pieces to celebrity news.

Austin Simms of Roanoke, Virginia, thought some of his customers could use a little help with their manners.


The CUPS Coffee & Tea worker put up a sign indicating that the more impolite you are, the more you’re going to have to pay.

The shop’s sandwich board reads:

“One small coffee”

$5.00

“One small coffee, please”

$3.00

“Hello, I’d like one small coffee please.”

$1.75

Each phrase indicates what a customer should say to receive the most inexpensive price. The less rude the better. Sometimes we’re so busy — or barely awake — when we order our morning coffee, we forget that the person serving us is in fact another human being.


There’s no need for being short with someone during a transaction, and the sign is a firm reminder of that.

“I decided, because I need to solve all the injustices of the world, to start charging more for people who didn’t take the time to say hello and connect and realize we’re all people behind the counter,” Austin told WDBJ7.

He wrote the sign one day. By the very next day, a photo of it appeared in a newspaper in England, then went viral on the internet. Eventually, a swarm of news cameras showed up at the store.

One thing is for sure: At CUPS, there will definitely be service with a smile.

Please SHARE if you think this is a great way to encourage politeness!

Video provided courtesy of WDBJ7. For more stories like this, follow them on Facebook / Youtube