I actually preferred the Target Starbucks experience day to day. The customers and the management was way more chill in my store and we spent more time laughing and chatting. We also didn't have to babysit eachother and work just got done because everyone worked alone so frequently. I went back to corporate because I decided I wanted to promote within Starbucks. If you want to promote at target you have to leave the Starbucks and go elsewhere in the store. I hated going back to corporate after the target experience honestly. I felt like I was a babysitter and a workhorse instead of someone providing a fun and convenient customer experience. Plus target breaks are unwaveringly mandatory. They will shut the Starbucks down if they have to to make sure you take your ten and lunch on time. I think I only sometimes got to have a lunch where I could just be on lunch at corporate Starbucks which is just part of being a partner. I hear safeway and krogers are a total nightmare including from my DM when I was at licence.

Every experience is different though! Working at Target there were no tips and the health insurance was worse but they pay was significantly better as a barista and the workload was lighter as a manager or a "team leader". If you're a team leader they'll pay for your college wherever you want, not just ASU. Plus if you're from a corporate store with any kind of volume, moving to a license store will be like a cakewalk every day which is pretty rewarding. I remember I made the switch about a month before the unicorn frap came out and baristas were crying at Target because they were overwhelmed and I was like is this not a regular Thursday??? Haha!

I’ve worked at both, now at a corporate store. Tarbucks was wayyy less stressful and the pay was better, but I struggled to get hours.

Corporate has way better benefits but it’s hectic and not very lax. Day goes by quick though.

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I am a shift supervisor at a licensed store, and while I have not worked in a corporate store, I know some of the main differences. The main thing for me is that, I get no benefits, free drinks/food, tips, or anything. The trade off for me is that I get paid about the same as a corporate store, yet I am guaranteed 40 hours a week or more for the most part. I think all in all, while in college licensed would be the go to because at least for my store, they are very flexible with my schedule.

I’m a college student. I currently work at a corporate store, but spent about six months in a Tarbucks. I preferred the easy-breezy style of the Tarbucks bc we were rarely busy so I actually got to know my coworkers, but it’s a lot easier to get hours at a corporate store, not to mention the benefits are better at a corporate store. I got paid better at Tarbucks, but given that my availability changes often due to being in college, I like the corporate store better bc they always need more baristas, so there are always hours for me