I'm so sorry you had to experience that. Some people are just stuck in their own little world and forget that they shouldn't treat people so poorly. Don't worry, there are also some really nice customers that should be remembered for their gentleness and kindness!

I totally understand this. I’ve never been sure if I am autistic or incredibly sheltered, but my social skills have been some of the hardest lessons of my life. I could definitely see myself doing this at some time in my life. But let me tell ya, through my first job being a customer service desk and then this job, I have learned so many things. It’s a heartbreaking process because you mean so well but customers can really shut you down so hard.

I use a lot of psychology stuff. Like things therapists do to listen to their clients. People like to feel heard and mirrored so like I might have been like “you definitely shouldn’t have to wait, I’m sorry about that” to like echo their concern back to them because subliminally it calms them down because they register you’re on the same page. And emphatic words like “definitely” or “absolutely” are also like low key effective that they understand you feel urgency for their needs. I’m a broken record for responding to requests with “absolutely.”

I think I’d emphasize the apology part with like minimal explanation moving quickly into the solution part. It’s hard because in retail we have to sacrifice our dignity when being criticized unfairly so I typically gauge it as explaining as briefly as my brain will accept. I cant stand being generic but regular people just don’t care about details as often as I do for some reason, and it’s very easy for me to overstep into being too precise or the appearance of being argumentative. As much as I like to make sure people are clear on my real intentions, it’s just not something many people have received well from me. I don’t know why people can’t just be more transparent with one another.

It’s also hard in retail because they are allowed to speak to us informally while we are expected to remain formal, yet I just don’t thing anyone’s brain is made for that. It takes time to learn like, the degree of formality that’s expected of you at each job too. I could talk to my piercing shop clients differently than my coffee shop customers. It’s disorienting at Starbucks also because of the range of people that come for coffee. You have “triple ristretto cappuccino extra dry” guy that scoffs at your cheery demeanor while later you meet a few nurses from the local hospital that thinks you and your jokes just being yourself made their day. It’s like every customer is another puzzle that you have to solve on the fly!

Sorry, I think your trenta rant just spurred one of my own. But jeez. I’m sorry that people don’t understand that people are new employees or are human. You don’t deserve to be treated like that for anything.

I just want you to know that she’s incredibly rude and you don’t deserve to be treated that way. It sounds like you’re a very kind individual and I genuinely hope you have a better day ♥️

If I had asked you that and you then proceeded to list off multiple reasons as you did with her, I'd have found it utterly charming and funny. I would have tipped. And if you remembered one additional reason and sought me out to tell me after, I'd have cracked up and it would have become a story I tell on the myriad reasons I was not told to wait for my drink elsewhere. It really would be one of those things that would tickle me and I'd just get a big kick out of it. I love that sort of raw, blatant honesty- when it comes from a pure place, as is clear in your story. Keep being as "you" as you can be. I think you are wonderful. She's just a beast.

If I had overheard that, I would have turned to her and said, “Starbucks has a third place policy, which you just violated by being rude to my fellow partner. So here’s a refund, we will no longer be serving you today, so you can leave now.”

I’ve reached a point where I no longer tolerate rudeness of any kind. If you’re gonna be rude, you’re not gonna get service. We don’t get paid enough to be people’s punching bags. And frankly the “customer is always right” attitude is exactly why people act this way and think they can get away with it. Because they have for so long.

She really should experience consequences for talking to you like that. At least let your store leadership know it happened. You were doing your job well

"Why didn't you help me?"

Lady, Why are you standing in a random area of the store expecting to be helped? Where do you usually go to check out... maybe where there's a cash register perhaps? Why weren't you standing there to indicate you needed to be helped? Why'd you ask a question if you clearly don't want to have a conversation?

OP you did not misread this situation in the slightest. She's a moron and bitch. An awful combination, the poor thing.

Wow, the audacity. that’s awful. I’m sorry you had to have an interaction like that. You handled her attitude/responses very well. I hope your next shifts are much better. :)

That’s awful!! I know it may be hard but are you able to go to your SM or at least a shift about it?

Ugh, I’m so sorry. Of course you didn’t deserve that! Like, who looks at someone who is *clearly* trying their best and chooses to treat them that way? A monster, that’s who.

At that point if I’d overheard it, I’d be telling her to leave. That was completely uncalled for and you don’t deserve to be treated that way by an entitled customer.

You deserve better and you did nothing wrong. She was just being a jerk.