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Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind

r/starbucksbaristas

Full History - 2020 - 10 - 23 - ID#jh11ts

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367

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PLEASE tell me how a deaf man managed to do a better job at ordering than someone who can hear (self.starbucksbaristas)

submitted by canidieyet_

a man walks in today and my manager immediately pulls me to the side when she sees me about to take his order and tells me he’s deaf. i panic because i don’t sign language and obviously he can’t read lips bc masks. all he does is point to the sign at what he wants, and points to his debit card and phone and hold up two fingers, then five. he wants to reload $25 on his card and wanted a nitro pumpkin cold brew with a blueberry muffin. we didn’t have to write or anything. yet, the lady behind him with hearing goes “i can’t hear u over this MASK” bro, if a deaf man can order with no problem so can you

prillykai 126 points 2y ago

I really like this. My boyfriend is deaf and we both used to work at Starbucks.

There are people that CANNOT HEAR AT ALL EVERY DAY yet don't complain about masks. Oi.

Thanks for helping him. I've seen a lot of people not want to help deaf people because they get too panicked and scared to try to communicate.

canidieyet_ [OP] 38 points 2y ago

i was scared but at the end of the day i know it probably would have hurt his feelings if he saw me actively turn him away because he can’t hear :( i’ll always try to help the deaf community to the best of my ability!!

ih8yogurt 2 points 2y ago

I have a see through mask for when I encounter a deaf customer

Avuneon 2 points 2y ago

I have two regulars who are deaf, and I always love to help them. I know only a few signs, but I use what I can, and they always seem very appreciative.

different_as_can_be 54 points 2y ago

we have a semi-regular who is deaf, and i endlessly adore her. she always has her order written on her phone and ready to go for us. i’m trying to learn more conversational ASL, and every time i’ve got something new down her face lights up. i’m the only one in my store who knows any ASL, so she’s always happy to see my (masked) face.

canidieyet_ [OP] 15 points 2y ago

someone mentioned he was a regular but i’ve never seen him! maybe he just hasn’t been out much but he was the sweetest old man!

MariasGalactic 2 points 2y ago

I work at a Starbucks in Target. One of the Target employees is deaf, so she’s been teaching me small things so we can communicate a bit more intimately instead of just our phones. She recently taught me “pink drink” and gets so happy when I sign it to her (:
I’ve been trying to learn a little so I can ask her how her day is, etc, instead of just the order.

ih8yogurt 2 points 2y ago

There’s also see through masks that help with lip reading! I have two of them for when I get deaf customers

DirigibleUme 29 points 2y ago

I only know the alphabet and a few random other words in ASL but one of my first weeks at Starbucks (before covid) a couple came who were both deaf. This other partner (16 yr old) literally like ran away from the register. I helped them as best I could without pulling out my real bad asl skills, but after repeating "your name?" 2 times I used the sign for name and the man's face lit up so much. I finger spelled the rest, and tried to sign "have a great day" and he smiled and taught me the sign for it! I only saw him a few times after that but I tried really hard to remember that sign.

canidieyet_ [OP] 10 points 2y ago

i used to be able to have full conversation in asl but over the years i’ve forgotten it :( i really want to start learning it again in any case that i encounter a deaf/hard of hearing person or anyone who uses asl to communicate for any reason!

KatsyM 1 points 2y ago

Me too! I took ASL in jr high and million years ago, and now only really remember the alphabet and the signs for “spell it?” And “repeat?” Lol. I had an amazing deaf colleague a few years back that was teaching me but I ended up leaving the company. I remember telling her that I was sorry she had to educate those around her and that it shouldn’t be her responsibility but I was grateful - and I’ll never forget what she said... she said she was just so happy that I cared and wanted to learn that she’d teach me whatever I wanted. That hit me. I realized that I was only one of maybe 2 or 3 coworkers in a department of 50+ who was making ANY effort, and most actively avoided communicating with her. That broke my heart.

harleyhoudini 10 points 2y ago

Because a lot of hearing people feel we deaf people inconvenience them so we try our best to ensure it’s easy, smooth, and fast when we order. We try to predict all questions ahead of time to avoid frustration

Notsotaciturn 6 points 2y ago

I honestly feel that patience is the most important skill a human being can have, and I have been trying to be more patient in my own life. . It makes me sad that hearing people (myself included) who have no excuse when it comes to their senses yet (we) can ignore someone's situation out of selfishness.

HwoodTres 9 points 2y ago

I’ve been studying ASL for a few years and one day I was on Front and a woman signed to her son to ask what he wanted. I noticed and asked her if he was Deaf and she said yes, so I got to take his order myself. He seemed nonplussed but I could tell it meant a lot to the mom that I was able to communicate with her son. It meant a lot to me too and I hope they come back some day.

meloscav 8 points 2y ago

My deaf customer is always super kind. She’s the only one I don’t mind tugging her mask down for like two seconds to mouth something if I’m having a hard time. I also have a guy who is mute & wheelchair bound, he usually types on his phone. They’re infinitely kinder customers than abled folks most of the time.

whatismineisyours 7 points 2y ago

I’m trying to learn some sign language just because of our one deaf customer.

mtgoddard 2 points 2y ago

Check out dr bill vicars online if you haven’t already! AFAIK he’s pretty recognized as the best resource for teaching yourself

Mayachees 5 points 2y ago

We have a regular that is deaf. He has a usual drink order but will write in his phone if it changes.
He will point to items in the pastry case when he wants a brownie or a sausage sandwich.
He is great and I always like it when he comes in.

jaywoods123 2 points 2y ago

I learned how to say I appreciate you in sign language to a deaf regular of mine. Little things like nice to see you and thank you for coming to see me are very simple gestures I encourage everyone to learn if able. Little gestures go such a long way

charlenebean 1 points 2y ago

This is so sweet! There’s a regular at my store who’s deaf and I always try to help her when she comes in because she’s a sweetheart! She usually mobile orders and now since I know her I always get it ready for her 🥺

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