Shit I would have done the same thing.

i absolutely hate it. not only does it make it more confusing for the window person, but the whole concept of giving money to people who clearly have enough money to spend at starbucks instead of tipping US, the people making their shit who barely make enough, makes me feral. that $20 belongs in the tip jar.

Nice try officer 👮‍♀️

When it comes to money at the window I take a very literal approach, If they say I’d like to pay for the car behind me and leave $20 for their order I will put the remainder in the tip jar but if they clarify they want to keep paying til it runs out I try to do that. Personally I hate any sort of thing like pay it forward etc it’s too hard to manage even if it is a nice gesture.

during holiday season someone bought a $100 gift card, handed it to my register partner, and said "use this for customers until it's gone" so we did that. it was way easier than doing a cash situation, just keep swiping till it's empty.

cash though, cash would probably go straight into the tip jar. i don't have time for that.

if it’s cash it goes in the tip jar🤭 our customers have enough money to pay for their drinks that’s why they’re in line and its too confusing for us

never had someone try it with a gift card but we would just use it up i guess