The founder of cult drink bottle company Frank Green has taken responsibility for delivery chaos by offering refunds and guaranteeing Christmas delivery.

Frank Green water bottles, which sell for between $40 and $90, are hugely popular with Australian kids and teens and are a top item on many Christmas wishlists.

In a statement sent to news.com.au in response to our story yesterday, Frank Green founder Benjamin Young said: “I am sorry for the delivery delay affecting a very small percentage of our products this week.”

He guaranteed customers that “all products will be with Australia Post today” for “express delivery…before Christmas Day”.

Mr Young also sweetened the deal in what appears to be an attempt to buy back goodwill for the brand, adding: “I will also be refunding 50 per cent of the price of each item that has been subject to this delay for our loyal customers.”

“We are working 24 hours a day and in constant contact with Australia Post to ensure the fastest possible service,” he said.

“In December, we have already delivered close to 250,000 products and 3,000 – 4,000 items have been impacted, but that is too many.”

A spokesperson for Australia Post told news.com.au: “Australia Post is working closely with Frank Green to help ensure dispatched orders are delivered ahead of Christmas.”

“Frank Green is sending orders via Australia Post’s same day delivery service, as well Australia Post Metro and Express Post.”

However, Mr Young’s statement references delivery delays affecting products “this week”, leading to questions about whether customers that have experienced longer delivery delays will also receive the promised 50 per cent refund.

Frank Green’s social media accounts show complaints about delivery delays date back several weeks.

The controversy came to light after a customer contacted news.com.au to detail their experience with the company.

The customer placed an order for monogrammed products on December 8, well within the company’s advertised Christmas orders deadline for personalised products of 12pm (AEDT) on December 12.

But after seeing “hundreds of public posts from other consumers” about delivery delays, and receiving a “copy and paste” response to an email that stated it would take up to five business days for the inquiry to be dealt with, the customer referred the matter to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) and Consumer Affairs Victoria.

After informing Frank Green of the complaint, the customer then cancelled the order.

Along with complaints about outstanding orders and prolonged delivery times, customers have also expressed their rage at the business continuing to post on social media encouraging customers to place new orders, despite the dispatch backlog.

“The audacity! Send out the orders you received weeks ago!” one poster commented.

Another disgruntled customer agreed: “Still posting Instagram posts when you should be posting orders. Ordered since 29th November, still nothing. Not happy :(”