YES 100%

It's like they sense it. We're dead for ages, then suddenly we have a line on dt and 6 mobile orders, I swear they can sense when we're about to get busy and order then

It is not just you-- this is very common across retail & service as industries. Convergence is the most bizarre part of the job and often as not it feels like you are in The Truman Show (or whatever the current remake is).

Because a large group of these people will see a slow Starbucks and think, “Ooooo! Now’s my chance to get in line with no wait”. Then 12 more cars have the same stupid idea and now one of them ordered for their entire extended family. Now we have a wrap-around line.

Customers can sense when it’s slow and they know when we’re trying to get work done like restocking.

One of my biggest irks as an SSV is when there’s a line of people in the cafe because it’s really just a waste of my time. During peak I have so much to do plus whatever I didn’t get done before peak. Cafe Customers are really a massive hinderance to getting work done.

Update: Since this comment, my SM has gotten permission to close cafe until further notice after next week. All hail the bean gods.

The moment I bend down to clean a fridge *brrrt* there’s a mobile order. Oh, 1 of 14? Perf 👌

Same at my store. I’ll be fine with a lobby order and mobile order then bam. There’s 5 people in line in lobby and 6 mobile orders pop out. Ugh 😩
(And customers that order mobile are already in the drive thru)

It’s so odd because before I was a barista, I would place mobile orders and (unless it was before my class) it’d never be busy and my drink would be ready. I’m assuming mobile orders have gotten an influx since the pandemic? But I’m still a green bean, I didn’t work here pre covid

Mob mentality