Internal hires would have empathy for baristas, we cant have that now.

It’s much easier to take advantage of an external hire, as they don’t know the culture/rules of the company.

I love the other replies, but the actual truth is more about change in corporate ideology pertaining to hiring methods and concerns of reiterating bad practices. Starbucks hasn't had the best history with diversity, and in some cases, partners were pasted for promotion due to discrimination of protected categories. In reaction to this and lost lawsuits, Starbucks has shifted to hiring outside of the ranks more than it previously had. It isn't impossible but harder and counterintuitive. My DM has a list of situations that he highly advises developing partners experience before applying as he interviews off of the experience of those situations instead then based solely on the strength of recommendations. It can prevent toxic store managers from obstructing deserving partners from promoting, but it can frustrate partners in your situations.

The premise is to allow external hires to change or prevent harmful internal practices from continuing as status quo. While you most likely deserve a promotion, corporate preferences have leaned towards this practice for the last decade. And, behind the humble beginnings and community first PR marketing, Starbucks has become a very corporate companies.

Overall, do what's best for you as Starbucks will always hold their self-interests above yours as well. If you can't afford to live, a career change may be justifiable. It sounds like a significant loss to the company. I'd talk with your SM and see if you are missing some qualifications or need to adjust your interviewing practices. In any case, only work where you feel appreciated and valued.

Because you don't know the flaws of a shiny new toy. They love external hires. They pay them more too.

Because you’ve shown them you’ll do all the shit for shift supervisor pay. Plus, it’s easier to court people to be SM who haven’t seen what a shit show everything is, and use them until they burn out, and then hire another.

If your SM doesn’t have your back and talk you up to your dm…well that can make it difficult. Talk to them about your development plan get your dm involved let them know you want to move up.

There are some good internal highers (getting a DM who's worked their way up from barista) but it does seem like they're quicker to hire people who have never set foot on bar than to promote someone who understands the ins and outs of store life from all the way down at a barista level