I feel unclean talking this much about work when I'm off.

[caithream]

The end of September marks my three year "anniversary" of working at Starbucks. I was never a customer before I starting working there, and even now I don't really drink anything while I'm on or off work. I can tell you this: behind the counter, we gossip about customers a LOT. If you're a regular, you tip often, and are generally really nice, we'll bend over backwards to do pretty much anything for you. If you treat us like coffee robots, don't acknowledge us when we greet you, talk down to us, or are just plain rude, you're more than likely getting decaf'ed.

But because I've been behind the counter for three years now, and never really a customer, I want to know what it's like, for you, being a customer. What's your drink of choice? How often do you visit? When you walk in, do baristas say hey and start your drink for you automatically or already have it ready to go? Do you want to punch the register person in the face when they try to up-sell (asking to add an extra shot of espresso, buy a pound of coffee, etc)? Have you had any really bad experiences at Starbucks? Any really good ones that stand out in your mind? Is there anything that really bugs you about some baristas? What do you absolutely LOVE about certain baristas? Or anything else you'd like to add. (Keep in mind that Starbucks in Targets, airports, grocery stores, or anyplace else aren't really "ours," as they're franchised out.) I'm just honestly curious because I never really get any feedback from anyone who isn't my boss, heh.

SPEAKING of work, I was told this morning that I pretty much gonna be promoted to a shift manager. Heh. Raise = good, acting like I think this company is the end all, be all = ungood. Oh well. I'll make it work. I've even had managers from OTHER stores recommend me to be a shift manager, so it was high time for the jump up, I guess.

Also, pumpkin spice came out two days ago, UNGGHH. If you like your drinks pretty sweet, try a pumpkin spice soy chai. So UNFalicious.

Comments

[berreh.livejournal.com]

My Starbucks is our school coffee shop, so it's a franchise. I think the baristas there are a little different than in regular stores. I love those crazy kids, though!

I don't often go to Starbucks around town; I can't afford it. But when I do, I go to the one by my house where the baristas are nice and friendly and un-pretentious, as opposed to the one near my hair salon where a bunch of malcontent art kids stand around pouting and gossiping and then sneer at you when you don't speak Starbuckease.

Since I spent so long in customer service, I guess I expect people to treat me the way I treated my customers: friendly, helpful, and chipper, but not fake, aggressive, or condescending. I'm a pretty easy going customer, because I know the crap they have to put up with.

mm coffee.

[caithream.livejournal.com]

You DEFINITELY have to go to a Starbucks where the baristas aren't pretentious, UGH, I HATE THAT. I myself have been a customer at other stores, told them I was a partner, and they STILL give me the stink-eye. So uncool.

Omg you would be my favorite kind of customer. And some coworkers (my manager, for one) are so overly chipper and gratingly annoying it's a wonder some people haven't reached over the counter to punch her. And yeah, exactly, I can't stand it when I'm treated like that at other places, so why would I treat my customers that way? (It's probably why I'm one of our customer's favorites. Shh, tell no one. ;D)