Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Ok, are your stores keeping straws behind the counter too? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by kidneybean1475
At my store, our shifts and manager are making us keep straws behind the counter, so customers in the lobby have to ask us to give them straws. I myself am already personally against straws for environmental reasons, but constantly having to put down what I am doing so Becky can get separate straws for her cold brew and water every thirty seconds is infuriating to me. I am confused as to why we cannot keep straws out for customers to take themselves. I get sanitary reasons, but they are individually packaged, and we already keep napkins and such out there anyways, so what gives? Also, apparently the other stores in our area are all keeping their straws out for the lobby, but we are told by our manager that it is an enforced rule to keep them behind the bar. Anyone else?
icedmatchachai 15 points 1y ago
so, my store for the longest was dealing with this. It was explained to me as a reason for customer connections. the customer has to come and ask us for a straw and we can engage in more convo its just a way for managers to annoy and bother customers more just like the cream and sugar :/
Responsible_Snow7109 6 points 1y ago
Jeez they literally want us to be on top of these customers' asses. Like oh well they're waiting at the drive-thru you have to talk to them and ask them if they have any plans or what their day is like so far or if they're going to work. When they're waiting at the handoff area, you have to hand them and talk to them and try to get to know them. Then they send out surveys to certain customers with the question on there that says did your barista get to know you? Now handing out straws and stuff we got to talk to them even more and strike up a conversation and get into their life? Like what can I possibly say to a customer that forgot to ask for a straw or sugar packets and I'm going to hand it to them and then they're going to want to be on their way and not get asked a million things. It's just crazy how they are literally trying to shove us up other people's asses and its really annoying
kidneybean1475 [OP] 4 points 1y ago
Interesting. I haven't heard anything about it being related to customer relations at my store, only that it is "protocol." And yeah, I don't get how that is going to raise customer relations. Most of the time there aren't more than one or two words exchanged when someone askes for a straw, usually a "sure" and then maybe a "thanks"
icedmatchachai 1 points 1y ago
we joke around and look at google reviews and someone gave us 1 star for being overly talkative, intrusive, and bothersome 😭 my supervisor just asked how his day was and (since he responded well to that) if he had any plans for the day (we open) like we instantly back off customers that are rushing orders, on the phone, talking to the other passengers; simply just not interested in the short banter with us.
aee78 5 points 1y ago
Are you somewhere that's going single use item laws will becoming in effect soon? Cause that's the only reason I can see why they would do that.
Pretty sure it's up to the district at this point in time if straws are out or not.
Pretty sure it's up to the district at this point in time if straws are out or not.
wavvyhag 3 points 1y ago
Welcome to my world! my store’s been doing it for monthssssss. say goodbye to getting into any sort of flow on bar 👋
kidneybean1475 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Too true. Glad we aren't alone
Tvdrone16 3 points 1y ago
They say it's for customer connection - which it can be - but every barista knows it's because the average customer cannot clean up after themselves and it saves time on the customer support end of every half hour cleaning up the condiment bar. This really is the customers fault on this one.
kidneybean1475 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
This is true. When we do try to put them out (when we have less strict shifts or no manager that day) we put them right by the moble area, so it's all within reach
drinkliquidclocks 2 points 1y ago
I work at a licensed store, the company I work for makes us keep them behind the counter, but customers see them and reach over the bar 😐 makes me lose my mind
andersonm499 2 points 1y ago
We have a new state law in California where we don’t have anything plastic out for customers to grab (straws, stoppers and forks ect…) they have to ask for everything and we can’t ask if they want them either.
59625962 2 points 1y ago
As pur target starbucks we only them keep them behind the bar when the starbucks DM is coming. Otherwise, they're out for guests to take.
kidneybean1475 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Yeah, I get that, sadly our manager is the kind to not bend any small rules, no matter how inconsequential
lee_templeton 1 points 1y ago
we started doing this today and oh my god it is the worst. it’s bad for us and the customers. before they could just grab it and go but now they have to wait to get our attention in the middle of a rush just so they can have a straw. my store claimed it was about waste but the people that want the straw will take it (and therefore ask for it) and the people that don’t, won’t. basically meaning that it will be the same either way. it was messing up my flow a lot and i really hope this is temporary. one of my shifts even said that we can’t put sleeves on hot drinks?? like if it’s burning my hand it’s going to burn theirs??? it just doesn’t make sense
MamaDeeVee 1 points 1y ago
It’s the way SB saves money. Same got the cream and sugar. Sad really that they take advantage of post covid to save money.
Fantastic1357 1 points 1y ago
Why they say we do it:
- customer connections!
- saving the environment!
- more sanitary!
Why we actually do it:
- money
- customer connections!
- saving the environment!
- more sanitary!
Why we actually do it:
- money
MrHumperBumper 1 points 1y ago
We have had straws behind the counter since covid. Also we haven't had venti straws in a month : /
Beg1nAga1n 1 points 1y ago
Our DM just finally let us put them out this week. She said there was no literature saying we couldn’t. It’s been so much nicer
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