Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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If customer is a few cents short can I pay out of pocket? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by yep_its_just_me
Had a really sweet woman come through today, and order a drink. She was about 75 cents short, and did not understand what that meant when I said she didnt have enough, and just said it's all she has. I said dont worry about it I'll cover the rest. So I took her order, and put it in a saved order. When I got off shift I told the shift suprivisor to ring up the order explaining what happened. I of course wasnt gonna use my discount or anything.. basically just put the 75 cents I owed in the till. The shift got frusterated and told me that it's not allowed.
Anyone know what to do in those situations? Was I going against policy?
Anyone know what to do in those situations? Was I going against policy?
MangoyWoman 5 points 4y ago
Sometimes I'll mark off a small amount from the price just to cover the change. You're making the moment right, just communicate with your supervisors.
LovePugs924 4 points 4y ago
The shift is probably frustrated because that's not the only person that does that at your store. Everyone wants to make the moment right but we can't afford to pay for every person that comes up short. Pay for it once they may come in often with the same issue or asking for favors because your the nice one.
Sdavis2911 2 points 4y ago
We can absolutely afford to pay for every person that comes up short. Not saying we should but we can.
LovePugs924 2 points 4y ago
Sorry I should edit. Combined as a team and as a company we could surely pay for every person. Me personally on Starbucks hourly cannot pay for every person that comes up short. I'm broke and I know it. I don't even bother buying drinks from Starbucks when I don't work because I can't afford it even with my discount. Occasional act of kindness yes. Daily hmm I might as well take out a loan.
GhostRecon1845 1 points 4y ago
I think most stores don’t have that issue... In my 4 years at 5 stores, I’ve only seen 3 people come in with short change.
LovePugs924 5 points 4y ago
Go work in the Baltimore area I'm sure that number will change. Also the number of times you have to call the cops in one week will change too.
LuckyWaters4 2 points 4y ago
I find it weird that the shift was cranky about it... it's definitely a judgment call-- When I worked in downtown Seattle, there were plenty of homeless people that came in that were trying to "scam" the system in different ways because they couldn't afford it. Sometimes we'd take pity on them, sometimes we wouldn't.
But in my personal opinion, when we bend over backwards ourselves to remake a drink for people who 1) ordered wrong 2) took the wrong drink 3) are being picky 4) etc etc and do the "right now discount," it seems just a justifiable to do the right now discount for someone who is short a few cents. They are usually more appreciative anyway. It seems particularly in line with Starbucks new policy after baltimore to view everyone as a customer, and to treat them with the same compassion as we treat people who can afford a 7 dollar quad mocha every day.
Ways to actually ring it up: do the right now discount, delete modifers like syrup to make it cheaper and then just write it in, cash it out and just keep in mind that the cash drawer will be off. If it's just a few cents, I do sometimes take from the tips, but obvi this is undesirable because you're hurting all your coworkers tips as well.
But in my personal opinion, when we bend over backwards ourselves to remake a drink for people who 1) ordered wrong 2) took the wrong drink 3) are being picky 4) etc etc and do the "right now discount," it seems just a justifiable to do the right now discount for someone who is short a few cents. They are usually more appreciative anyway. It seems particularly in line with Starbucks new policy after baltimore to view everyone as a customer, and to treat them with the same compassion as we treat people who can afford a 7 dollar quad mocha every day.
Ways to actually ring it up: do the right now discount, delete modifers like syrup to make it cheaper and then just write it in, cash it out and just keep in mind that the cash drawer will be off. If it's just a few cents, I do sometimes take from the tips, but obvi this is undesirable because you're hurting all your coworkers tips as well.
LuckyWaters4 2 points 4y ago
Sorry so wordy I have feelings about this
yep_its_just_me [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response, I totally agree with you! Sometimes it just doesnt seem right to turn someone away for a couple cents..
crafty_0ne 2 points 4y ago
For anything under a quarter, just cash out the transaction and let your shift know that your drawer will be short a few cents and the reason why. Anything over that let your shift know first and get their input
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