Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Karen’s daughter can’t have liquids unless they’re frozen water in a trenta cup (and only a trenta cup). (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Tamakid345
This is my third week as a barista, and this is my first time experiencing a Karen in the flesh.
I’m not sure if your stores are doing the same, but we are now giving out 20 ounce non-labeled cups for water/ice instead of tall/grande/venti cups due to our low stock of branded cups.
When Karen approached the drive thru I took her order - two drinks and four trenta cups of ice. I told her that due to the shortage we couldn’t give her the trenta cups. She asked if she could purchase the cups, and I explained that we, unfortunately, could not sell her the cups. Karen was quite upset by this statement and told me that what we were doing was “illegal” and that she would “see me at the window.”
My coworker found all of this super funny (so did I), and he decided he would take care of it. He put on his best customer service voice, calmly explained the situation, and gave her our manager’s card. She received her two drinks and four cups of ice in the water cups. Still fuming, Karen explained that what we were doing “violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.” Because her “daughter can’t have liquids.” Unless said liquids are coming from a cup that is ten fluid ounces larger than the cup she was complaining about?
This was all quite believable, and she totally didn’t want to split her two drinks between four branded trenta cups to make it seem like she actually purchased said drinks.
Karen also ordered two slices of lemon loaf. When I was putting them in the paper bags, one of them split in half. Oops :)
I’m not sure if your stores are doing the same, but we are now giving out 20 ounce non-labeled cups for water/ice instead of tall/grande/venti cups due to our low stock of branded cups.
When Karen approached the drive thru I took her order - two drinks and four trenta cups of ice. I told her that due to the shortage we couldn’t give her the trenta cups. She asked if she could purchase the cups, and I explained that we, unfortunately, could not sell her the cups. Karen was quite upset by this statement and told me that what we were doing was “illegal” and that she would “see me at the window.”
My coworker found all of this super funny (so did I), and he decided he would take care of it. He put on his best customer service voice, calmly explained the situation, and gave her our manager’s card. She received her two drinks and four cups of ice in the water cups. Still fuming, Karen explained that what we were doing “violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.” Because her “daughter can’t have liquids.” Unless said liquids are coming from a cup that is ten fluid ounces larger than the cup she was complaining about?
This was all quite believable, and she totally didn’t want to split her two drinks between four branded trenta cups to make it seem like she actually purchased said drinks.
Karen also ordered two slices of lemon loaf. When I was putting them in the paper bags, one of them split in half. Oops :)
MayhemBiker94 54 points 2y ago
Ah yes.
"Illegal" and "a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act".
I wonder how this woman (and others like her) will react when Starbucks starts charging for no ice and no water. And then will charge for a cup of ice on the side. It would be both hilarious AND horrible to see...
"Illegal" and "a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act".
I wonder how this woman (and others like her) will react when Starbucks starts charging for no ice and no water. And then will charge for a cup of ice on the side. It would be both hilarious AND horrible to see...
Tamakid345 [OP] 18 points 2y ago
This time she said would have been more than happy to pay for the ice. I’m sure she’ll feel the same when it’s the norm :)
With that being said, I’ve been to Starbucks where I’ve had to pay maybe 25 cents for water larger than a grande. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a disabled daughter upon whom I can pin my disdain for this insubordination.
With that being said, I’ve been to Starbucks where I’ve had to pay maybe 25 cents for water larger than a grande. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a disabled daughter upon whom I can pin my disdain for this insubordination.
UnusualCanary 13 points 2y ago
I'm surprised she didn't say it was a HIPPA violation. Poorly informed people love throwing that one out there.
HIPPAbot 6 points 2y ago
It's HIPAA!
sammieduck69420 5 points 2y ago
i̶ t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ m̶o̶t̶o̶ m̶o̶t̶o̶ l̶i̶k̶e̶s̶ y̶o̶u̶
mattwillwake 6 points 2y ago
Are we going to start doing that? I would love to see Starbucks do away with the alternative milks up-charge and instead start charging for no ice, no water, and cups of ice.
MayhemBiker94 3 points 2y ago
I've heard a rumor that it's gonna happen. I'm not sure if it's true though.
Tbh that is what needs to happen. And start paying more money after a reasonable amount of modifications are done. So then we can decrease the size of the stickers when people don't want to pay for the benefit of more modifications. Like after 4 modifications (alternative milks shouldnt be counted in that I feel like) there would be an additional fee for additional labor. Then people stop pressing an absurd amount of buttons for mobile orders, which would help partners actually create delicious beverages in a reasonable amount of time AND stop playing the "scavenger hunt" game on reading the sticker. Starbucks would never do it of course (customers would be outraged) but it'd be nice.
Tbh that is what needs to happen. And start paying more money after a reasonable amount of modifications are done. So then we can decrease the size of the stickers when people don't want to pay for the benefit of more modifications. Like after 4 modifications (alternative milks shouldnt be counted in that I feel like) there would be an additional fee for additional labor. Then people stop pressing an absurd amount of buttons for mobile orders, which would help partners actually create delicious beverages in a reasonable amount of time AND stop playing the "scavenger hunt" game on reading the sticker. Starbucks would never do it of course (customers would be outraged) but it'd be nice.
Kind_Fox_951 12 points 2y ago
And on this episode of how delicate will this Lemon Loaf be! Stay tuned! 🤠
_Pulltab_ 2 points 2y ago
Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought the policy was to use the unbranded cups only if they didn’t specify a size?
Tamakid345 [OP] 9 points 2y ago
You’re probably right. I was never properly briefed on it other than being told to “only use the water cups,” so I never saw anything in writing. Can’t say that what I did was illegal or of any ill-intent on her or her presumed daughter, I was just doing as I was told.
Still, a cup of ice is a cup of ice. Siren or no.
Still, a cup of ice is a cup of ice. Siren or no.
_Pulltab_ 3 points 2y ago
Yeah, I’m just looking at it from a “is it worth it waste energy on an entitled customer” standpoint.
Tamakid345 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Gotcha, at this point she was our only customer. If she came during a rush, I would probably give her the cups without much thought. Albeit still quite curious as to how not paying for four cups of ice is illegal.
lil_lizardwizard 3 points 2y ago
If they demand a different size, we’re supposed to “make the moment right” and give them what they asked for. I do think the Karen was a bit ridiculous though lmao
TrueCrime101 4 points 2y ago
Unfortunately, there is a fine line between “making the moment right” and allowing a customer to take advantage of the rules. That line is usually set by your SM.
lil_lizardwizard 2 points 2y ago
lol it’s a cup of ice dude
TrueCrime101 3 points 2y ago
It’s not just a cup of ice when they’re ordering drinks without water or ice and getting a cup of ice on the side.
For the record, I’m in favor of siding with the customer in most scenarios. But I’m also in favor of doing what my SM says to do too.
For the record, I’m in favor of siding with the customer in most scenarios. But I’m also in favor of doing what my SM says to do too.
_Pulltab_ 3 points 2y ago
For sure.
hannah_nj 2 points 2y ago
i think it’s up to sm? we keep running out of (or getting really close to) venti and trenta cups the last month or so, so we’re supposed to just say that we can’t serve water in any size other than a grande (our unbranded cups are 16oz lol). if someone got super pissed, we probably wouldn’t fight back that much though (esp in drive bc we just want them out of there 😭)
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