Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Confronting creepy customers 🙃 (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by maddcee
I’m an SSV that got promoted about 2 months ago. Today I had a really really rough day. 15mins into my shift I had to call 9 1 1 for an unresponsive person in the restroom. My whole staff got freaked out. A while later, I hear one of my baristas complaining about a regular customer who tends to be super weird and use nicknames like “baby” and other shit like that with them. He makes all the women uncomfortable and has made other inappropriate/weird comments. Before being an SSV I had served this guy many times and he would come in at least 2 times everyday blasting music through the drive and just being unpleasant and creepy. At this point of my shift I was on edge from what happened earlier and exhausted from being understaffed but trying not to let the mood get shitty and make it harder for everyone so I just decide to try and speak up for my baristas and ask this man to stop being inappropriate. He pulls up to the window and I’m being extra super polite but he’s rude and calls me “baby” when demanding I scan his app. I look at him and kindly ask him if he could do us a big favor and refrain from using words like “baby” or “mama” or other wannabe cutesy pet names with female baristas as many of them are underage and makes them uncomfortable. THIS MAN LOSES IT. Claims that’s just how he speaks and tells me that he’s the wrong person to tell that to. I even tell him that we like having him at our store and encourage him to come back but I was simply asking if he could be a bit more respectful to our baristas. Finally he just yells that he’s never coming back and speeds off as I wish him a nice day. I notified my SM and she actually applauded me for speaking up for my crew but I keep playing the situation in my mind wondering if I went about it the wrong way. Mostly I’m nervous about the DMs reaction as he’s known for being an ass and not defending partners.
I’m used to the rude, loud, entitled customers and have handled situations with them many times as an SSV but this was the first time I confront a customer like that. Has anyone had a similar experience? How would you handle a situation like this?
I’m used to the rude, loud, entitled customers and have handled situations with them many times as an SSV but this was the first time I confront a customer like that. Has anyone had a similar experience? How would you handle a situation like this?
Crow-Lord-Supreme 10 points 2y ago
I applaud you. Many times, SSVs are the first line of defense for their baristas. It’s always great to see one stand up for their coworkers.
SNES182 9 points 2y ago
Good luck. I got fired for standing up to a creepy customer. They legit don’t care about you or your safety. We had every female on staff complain about this man, and he still came in every day.
[deleted] 3 points 2y ago
I’m so sorry that that was your experience, and from what I’ve heard from fellow partners that have moved on to other stores it depends entirely upon the leadership of the store. I’m really very fortunate that my SM is very firm about zero tolerance of this type of behaviour and is 100% in our corner, but I know this isn’t always the case and so I’m very sorry that that happened to you.
Apprehensive_Flow219 7 points 2y ago
you followed the “script” for handing customers like this perfectly. if you get fired for this, i will be absolutely outraged. he was actively effecting the third place atmosphere and you respectfully gave him the option to return with modified behavior. maybe take down statements from your baristas and one from yourself to have on hand if things escalate. well done!
FreeInFlight 7 points 2y ago
Thank you for standing up for your team and holding this customer accountable. To me it sounds like you did the right thing even if Starbucks doesn’t back you up. What does ‘I’m the wrong person to tell that to’ even supposed to mean? Sounds like a threat.
colonade17 2 points 2y ago
You did the right thing. You have to confront those situations quickly or else the problems keep going on. And good for your SM for supporting you on that, not all SMs understand the importance of maintaining a safe and supportive work environment.
Sounds like a normal day in my store.... Several SSVs cary narcan because of how often we have unresponsive people in our bathrooms. Just make sure your first priority is your own safety and that of your partners whenever you deal with those situations. And especially some of the older customers in my store don't understand that calling women "babe" isn't appropriate, and was probably questionable back in the 60s.
Sounds like a normal day in my store.... Several SSVs cary narcan because of how often we have unresponsive people in our bathrooms. Just make sure your first priority is your own safety and that of your partners whenever you deal with those situations. And especially some of the older customers in my store don't understand that calling women "babe" isn't appropriate, and was probably questionable back in the 60s.
Immediate-Law-3000 1 points 2y ago
I think the only reason we feel guilty is because Starbucks has wired it into our brains that we should still suck up to creepy, disrespectful customers like this. The fact that we have to say that we’re happy to have them there as long as they refrain from x behavior is disgusting in my opinion, because no, we’re not excited to have you here when you’ve repeatedly done something abhorrent to multiple partners. And we shouldn’t be forced to feel that way. Like it’s our fault when we’re calling them out on it? Yeah right.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
You were respectful but firm and reiterated that while you value his business and would like to continue having him as a customer that kind of behaviour is not appropriate and will not be tolerated. This is exactly what you should have done, and I can’t say it enough that I wish more partners felt that they could stand up to abusive customers! You absolutely did the right thing standing up for your other partners and I’m so happy to hear that your SM was on your corner!
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