Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Dear Corporate.... (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by cringeqween13
If you want drive times to be better, require customers have their payment ready when they get to the window. (I had a customer spend over 60 seconds looking for their card)
Limit the number of items people can order at the window.
Don't allow customers to add things at the window.
If you want to lower employee turnover, pay us a livable wage. 10$ an hour - taxes & insurance is not a livable wage even in smaller towns. When you add in the cost of rent, utilities, car notes and car insurance and groceries.
What else should I put in my letter to corporate? Maybe if we compiled a list of what we want and all copy and pasted the same thing they'd listen. The squeaky wheel gets the oil right?
Limit the number of items people can order at the window.
Don't allow customers to add things at the window.
If you want to lower employee turnover, pay us a livable wage. 10$ an hour - taxes & insurance is not a livable wage even in smaller towns. When you add in the cost of rent, utilities, car notes and car insurance and groceries.
What else should I put in my letter to corporate? Maybe if we compiled a list of what we want and all copy and pasted the same thing they'd listen. The squeaky wheel gets the oil right?
BrsgrOtMlkShknENoIce 144 points 2y ago
Limit the amount of mods on mobile, I would say no more than 10 (even that’s being generous)
Allow tips in DT I’ve had so many customers ask me at the window if I can put a tip on their card
Allow tips in DT I’ve had so many customers ask me at the window if I can put a tip on their card
bryceofswadia 24 points 2y ago
Honestly, I’d rather people order their annoying ass drink ahead of time instead of us having to make it during a rush with 800 cars in the drive through.
LatterRooster 20 points 2y ago
But they mobile order it in the line as they come up to the box
[deleted] -13 points 2y ago
[removed]
haifonly 6 points 2y ago
Annoying bot
roem529 89 points 2y ago
Create a better system for customer connection scores!! Offer bonus stars or something to customers who complete the survey. If there’s no incentive, the majority of people who fill it out are doing it out of anger. Maybe make it a yes/no question so that it’s not only the percentage of highest scores. Also the question is worded so poorly considering how much emphasis is put into DT times. I feel like something along the lines of “did the barista make me feel welcomed” would be a more logical way of asking.
jml7791 34 points 2y ago
Customer here ... They used to offer bonus stars for taking the survey. I miss that. I still always do them but I miss having that reason to look forward to getting a survey.
AMarie-MCMXCI 4 points 2y ago
In Canada you have a chance to win a gift card for completing the survey.
jml7791 5 points 2y ago
Yeah, there’s that, but I’m not convinced anyone really wins them. But that’s just me being cynical. :)
LatterRooster 31 points 2y ago
Yes, I don’t understand why they ask did your barista try to get to know you?! Ummm if they are in the window for 30 sec and have payment ready how the hell am I supposed to know them
badatlife15 43 points 2y ago
I 100% agree, this post brought up a question, for anyone who has worked at a different fast food place (especially if you’ve worked at both Starbucks and another fast food with a drive thru place) is adding on items at the window a common thing outside of Starbucks? I’m in my 30’s and literally have never thought oh wait I’m at the window let me add on one more thing. If I text someone if they want something and they reply after I placed my order I’ll go back around or tell them sorry it was too late. Like I don’t get it?
Swan97 13 points 2y ago
I feel like certain things are ok to add at the window, like stuff that's easy and fast to make (water, a brewed coffee, etc.) but if it's something that takes a lot of time then nah
badatlife15 5 points 2y ago
Yeah I mean I get that, but if it’s happening every car/every other car it definitely stops the flow. It also depends on who’s working. If the SM is on the floor and I feel like I have to stay planted it’s frustrating to have to keep yelling for someone to get me something, otherwise I don’t mind running to grab something quickly, but it seems like this is an odd phenomena that happens more at Starbucks? But maybe it’s more common than I realize?
Swan97 1 points 2y ago
I do feel like it's more a starbucks thing which is definitely weird. Like maybe because other fast food places have like meals with drinks and everything included
laneylane88 9 points 2y ago
hey i do not work at starbucks, i have worked at MANY different fast food places although & i can confirm people do this EVERYWHERE. I’ll never forget it making me so confused at my first job (McDonalds lmao.) Like “oh god i’m so sorry, can i please add on 2 big macs?” girl how did u-
elbean749 19 points 2y ago
Honestly!! Or like when people make 5 separate orders with 3-4 drinks each in ONE CAR. Idk how we're supposed to do that with a good time
Flimsy_Opportunity87 6 points 2y ago
I think the limit is two orders in drive, I’m not 100% this is standard but it’s what we were told at my old store.
sideofnutmeg 1 points 2y ago
i second that ^
Kitten_Monger127 12 points 2y ago
I used to work there and ended making $11.25/hr. For reference, I'm in Ohio and my rent is $635, it's slums though. I literally couldn't afford insurance. Had to get Medicaid. Before covid I was only getting $13 a month in food stamps. I had to use my tips to buy food because I barely had any money leftover after rent and bills. Luckily my plant based diet is hella cheap but still. Starbucks was the most stressful job I've ever had. Not worth it at all.
Caramel_Muchacho 12 points 2y ago
Not trying to be a naysayer, but how would things like requiring payment be ready at the window get enforced? Also, not allowing people to add on at the window will only create angry customers.
There are definitely things that could be improved, and I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I just don’t see those as realistic.
There are definitely things that could be improved, and I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I just don’t see those as realistic.
KaleSalad201 12 points 2y ago
As for not adding at the window, I work at a very busy DT store and when it’s especially busy or during peak we don’t allow orders at the window (unless it’s REALLY simple) and we apologize but make them drive around again 🤷🏼♀️ but my manager is amazing and I know this doesn’t fly at other locations. Some people get annoyed or drive off and don’t come back, but it hasn’t been an issue for us and is major stress relief when it’s busy
NervosaNervous 1 points 2y ago
We have people pull forward into a parking space if they want to add something at the window that’ll take longer than a few seconds to make/grab.
badatlife15 3 points 2y ago
We do this occasionally, but a lot of times we’re not staffed enough to be able to have someone run their food out
v_is_4_violet 8 points 2y ago
Yeah here's one... If you're going to make your people take orders out in the sun will you at least pay them hazard pay. You can try and act like Chick Fil A all you want but even they modified there drive thrus to protect their workers.
kmoonster 6 points 2y ago
"If you think labor is expensive, try turnover"
46patisse 5 points 2y ago
"Oh, one more thing CORPORATE, please stop being a dick."
XxTRUEPINOYxX 5 points 2y ago
Shit I wish we can take payment with the tablet (Starbucks app or card) so it can act as a “mobile order”. As if you notice not many people pay cash.
lexaprolesbin 3 points 2y ago
honestly we should be organizing a strike or a union. that’s how you get things like this done
cringeqween13 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
I seriously feel like we could make things happen if everyone who liked this post emailed the same thing with the same subject line to people in corporate positions. You can ignore a lot of emails but over 200 emails saving something like "PARTNERS OVER PROFIT" or even something to call out the hypocrisy of the mission statement and values is sure to get someone's attention. We can't be ignored forever.
lexaprolesbin 2 points 2y ago
working on a subreddit to try and help baristas take back our power! r/strikingatstarbucks
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