Honestly, I hate them because half the customers in the chain look like they feel obligated to continue them. There's a regular who orders a black americano, thats it, every day and everytime she ends up in a pay it forward train she just looks so upset, but keeps it going. It's not a kindness anymore, it's become an obligation to continue it.

I think it's that it is often thought of as an ultimate random kindness, but it just seems really misplaced when you stop to think about it. Obviously we'd all appreciate it if people tipped instead (or in addition). But I'd also rather see these people donate $5 or $10 to any charity instead of to the person behind them who already signed themselves up for a luxury fast food expense.

It also makes the person who received it feel obligated to do the same, and may just cause them to pay more than they had planned on. Even if they decline, they're likely to feel at least a little bad about it.

I'm not, like, mad about it. But I think the effort could be much better directed to an actual cause.

because i’m extremely forgetful and pay it forward chains are annoying when i’m soloing (which is majority of the time). if someone pays for the car behind them, there is a very good chance i’ll forget about it after stepping away to take orders and charge the person behind for the wrong thing/or hand out the wrong order. that’s how it is for me personally, i can’t speak for others

It all changed when someone pointed out to really pay it forward would be to tip 100% instead of rewarding someone for ordering. Some partners can’t afford Starbucks without benefit discounts but every single person in line made the choice to get in line.

That reason and the fact the team fucks up handing out all the right items about 10000 times more when it’s pay it forward. Someone gets screwed lol

Genuinely, I believe it’s because the people that are there have money to be there and it would be nice to get a tip sometimes. I think it is kind to do that for other people, but maybe we aren’t making the best an hour. I work at a very very high volume store that sees a lot of pay of forwards and not a lot going on in the tip jar.

EDIT: I do like seeing the joy on people’s faces when someone pays it forward for them. I’m not the devil.

I think it gets hard and confusing to match the drinks you’re handing out with what you’re actually ringing up.

I’ve never liked it because I think of it as a huge circle-jerk for everyone to feel better about themselves, when only one person at the end of the chain receives an actual benefit. It would be great if people would just take the nice gesture and move on, because then at least the gesture means something. Someone got something for free, and they don’t feel obligated to pass it on. That’s ideal.

I used to have a coworker really push the next cars to “pay it forward” and some seemed reluctant. They think they’ll be viewed as selfish for not continuing the chain.

In practice, it’s easier to lose track of who has what when everyone’s paying for someone else. It slows down the line because people who have picked out their exact change and are ready to pay, are now reaching back into the purse so they can pay a different total. They might want to split it up, like, “Can I pay for just one of their drinks?” Slow slow slow. And then they don’t tip because they’ve already satiated their desire to do something good and charitable for the day.

I love charitable actions. I hate creating a chain of obligation in which only one brave person at the end of the chain takes the freebie. It makes the action of the giver meaningless if no one will take it.

i think my biggest irk with them is seeing someone completely just not give a fuck about someone being kind and buying their order so they just say “oh :)” and nothing else. no offer to pay it forward, no thank you. at this point if someone leaves me cash to pay it forward, i dunk that shit in the tip jar as soon as they drive away.

Don’t hate it but really I’m pretty good with a rhythm I have on window/DTO but when this happens it does make it a lil harder. I mainly think it’s dumb just cause it’s a chain. So basically only the last person in the chain will get anything free. And it’s usually a big order that’ll stop it to lol. Even though the person paid $20+ instead of their $2-$3 drink

Because I’m already taking orders, cashing out window, and getting my own food, and finishing Frappuccinos and keeping the line moving and I can only focus on so many things at the same time and keep it all straight lmao. I’ve made peace with this though, it’s just funny now. It’s been 3 years; I know what to expect. All I can do is my best.

Pay it forward chains are vapid circle jerks designed to make a bunch of people feel good about their day for 5 minutes. In my opinion you should take that 10$ you were going to use to pay for someone’s random order and tip the baristas who are busting their ass everyday for you drink.

One time, a customer started crying when I told her someone paid for her drink (she was obviously having a rough day). You never know who needs a little boost in their morning.

it's awkward at times and it's a lot of extra words to be saying to \~10 cars. i don't necessarily hate it but i would rather not deal with that bs. i never ask if they wanna keep the pay train going but they still insist on doing it half the time. plus one comment i got during the holidays felt very backhanded: "it's the season of giving" >PAYS FOR THE PERSON BEHIND THEM INSTEAD OF TIPPING THE BUSIEST STORE IN THE DISTRICT...

one time there was a pay it forward chain while I was solo DTO/DTR and someone decided to pay for two cars behind her and it just got really confusing about which drinks I was ringing up and handing out, especially when I was also trying to take orders and grab food at the same time

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Most often it's not for selfless reasons. They do it for the stars.

i hate that no one appreciates it. they're like "uhhh okay?" and leave. why spend ur time and money on someone who does not care and did not care for your act of kindness. maybe it's just me but more than half of the ppl literally don't care it's kinda sad tbh, i try to break it bc of that.

I feel like the chain takes away the “random act of kindness” part of it.

If someone wants to pay for the order behind them, that’s great. But turning it into a chain is just pointless.

I get that it’s kind but if you’re in the sbux drive thru then you can afford your own coffee. Use that pay it forward money to tip your baristas

I agree with the recurring point that all they’re doing is giving money to other people who don’t really need it and offloading the logistics of that (misguided) altruism onto someone who ironically really could use the extra cash. It’s tone-deaf and feels like a slap in the face.

If you can afford $20 worth of coffee and treats every morning, you don't need any help subsidizing that. Those that start the chains are doing a weird sort of performative, lazy, uneccessary charity. Buy and deliver some poor chilly homeless guy a coffee and some banana bread, instead.

It's a kindness from the first person and a gift to the last. Everyone in-between is just paying for a different order.

Mostly, it's difficult to keep the orders and bump screen organised and we end up handing out the wrong items. With COVID, we can't take them back either so we end up remaking more than usual.

i’ve never had a chain. only one car pays for the one behind them. 320 btw

I’m a 299**** and I love it so much it always makes my day reminds me of the kindness within humanity

honestly like it would be fine but mostly because it was much easier to mix up orders (for me!). also after a few cars it just seemed pointless because customers felt obligated and if it’s just continuing so no ones even getting a free drink anymore. they just end up paying and that goes on for like 10 cars. in the end it’s just 1 person getting a free drink even tho 10 cars just payed it forward.

I always hated telling customers about the pay it forwards when their drink was only a couple bucks but the one behind is like 20. I would just explain that the person in front paid but the person behind them has a big order and that if you didn’t want to pay for them i totally get it and it stays between us. Usually they take that option, they get their drink and no one knows. Basically customers don’t feel bad about not doing a pay it forward no ones gonna be like “so actually there was a pay it forwards but the bitch in front of you was cheap”.

I think I have less of a problem with people paying for others (you never know what small things can help someone out) and more of a problem with so many thinking that baristas should be at the receiving end of the “good dead” it feels like so many only want the good dead if it’s for themselves. Which is also kind of selfish. Idk. I’d rather people donate to a local non profit.

The best version of a pay it forward alternative should be to get a little gift card with like $5 on it and hand it to a stranger. Happened to me when I was in high school prior to being a barista.