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Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind

Full History - 2021 - 03 - 29 - ID#mg1tvn
23
Hostile customer (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by HippieinBlack
So there’s this middle aged women who comes in the drive thru in the morning and she’s always extremely aggressive and hostile towards me. I only work mornings on Monday and this has happened the past two Mondays I’ve worked. The first time, she was on the phone with someone clearly not paying attention to me. She got very upset that I automatically didn’t give her any straws with her iced drink. She said, “can I get straws because you know it’s an ice drink with a lid.” She was very mean about it but I was respectful. There was no reason for her to treat me like this. So today, I see her again and this time, she cusses at me. She got extremely upset about the straws, cussed at me and drove off. My shift manager was right next to me and didn’t see anything about the situation at all. All she said was, “that’s mean” and went back to taking orders. I’m so sick and tired of giving all energy to this job and getting this kind of treatment back from customers and coworkers. I’m afraid that if this customer comes in again, she’ll be even more aggressive then the last time. Does anyone have any advice?
OreoBaconFries 22 points 2y ago
if she starts cursing at you, you have the right to be like “i’m sorry but you are using language that is not accepted at our stores, so i’m going to have to ask you to leave”

i would double check with your ssv or sm because even though it is our right, i know some managers respond to customer rudeness differently
HippieinBlack [OP] 6 points 2y ago
Thank you!
OreoBaconFries 12 points 2y ago
also another alternative in case for some reason your higher ups disagree with the asking disruptive customers to leave is asking someone else to take their order and deal with them, if a customer makes you feel uncomfortable in any way shape or form you have the right to ask someone else to take them
AMarie-MCMXCI 7 points 2y ago
Don't forget to fill out an incident report if this happens again. You have a right to feel safe and comfortable at work and if a customer (or anyone) makes you uncomfortable you should have documentation. If they pay with the app you'll have access to their name as well.
OreoBaconFries 1 points 2y ago
no problem! i know how difficult customers can be unfortunately :(, good luck!
toadhugger 4 points 2y ago
Had a customer curse at me once. Was mad the cars in front of her took too long because it was “just two f***ing drinks”, mind you, there was like 6 cars in line including her and the drink in front of her were fraps 20 minutes before we closed and we were breaking stuff down to close. I went to the window and said “excuse me?” (Politely of course) and she was like “nothing, it just took so long to hand them 2 f***ing drinks” and I was like “I’m sorry we weren’t expecting to have a rush right before close since it doesn’t usually happen” and she was complaining more so I just handed her her drink and said “goodnight.” I don’t really give them the time of day or argue back. I justify myself and my team and if they don’t accept that apology then they can walk in and pick up their mobile order instead of waiting in the drive through line that they saw when pulling in. Not my fault they didn’t make a good judgement call knowing they’d get the drink faster by getting out to pick it up instead of waiting in line.
FfierceLaw 0 points 2y ago
I actually think your shift manager patterned the perfect response. Yeah, she’s mean but so what? She’s not your family member or your friend, she just a miserable person spreading misery. Unless, as others point out above, she is cursing or threatening you, don’t reward her by showing distress. I’m not saying you’re not entitled to feel hurt, just that you are are going to see a lot of jerks like this.
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