Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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How do you keep your cool with rude, bossy customers? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by MajinBoobey
I like a lot about starbs and it's a good job for me atm, but I feel like I've been losing my patience on cafe bar so easily lately. Our store has a lot of really nit picky customers that stand at hand off watching every move when you're making their drinks and bark commands the entire time. The kind of customer who might as well just clock in themselves lmfao. We have a few aggravating hot bar weirdos but worst is cold bar, we get a heinous amount of heavily customized iced matchas who love to pull the "uhm I actually ordered a venti" on top of everything else. I don't want to be losing my cool as often as I am in front of these people, I know it doesn't matter as soon as I clock out and it's just immature people with nothing better to do, but I just get set off soooo easily these days when someone starts bossing me around on how to make their venti iced matcha with 3 different syrups added 😩 What are y'alls best coping mechanisms for when a customer is getting way too involved with how you make their drink?
lilmissambersue 16 points 11m ago
I talk to them like they are children and ignore them. Or if they are just standing there staring at me I will ask them what they are up to today. Especially the ones who don't want to have an actual convo cuz we aren't humans. I loooooooove asking them dumb small talk because they haaaaaaaate it. I plaster a big fake smile on my face. You ain't getting to meeeeeee.
I was a hairstylist for 15 years before the bux so I have alot of practice with a customer micromanaging how you do your job lol
I was a hairstylist for 15 years before the bux so I have alot of practice with a customer micromanaging how you do your job lol
jazzysoranio 4 points 11m ago
Omg I was gonna comment but you already said everything I was gonna say 😂
MajinBoobey [OP] 3 points 11m ago
I think the small talk idea is so genius! Thank you so much for sharing your expertise, I can only imagine the micromanaging you dealt with as a stylist!! I'll definitely try this out :)
greener-bean 5 points 11m ago
I usually defer to the other side of the store.
Oh? you ordered a venti? well you paid for a grande, I can remake it for you no problem but you'll have to go the the register to pay for the difference.
Oh? you ordered a venti? well you paid for a grande, I can remake it for you no problem but you'll have to go the the register to pay for the difference.
MajinBoobey [OP] 1 points 11m ago
ugh I try to send them back to the register too sometimes, I think the common opinion at my store is that it's easiest if the barista on bar just deals with it :/ I'll keep trying because that one is soooo aggravating!
Alternative_Exam3723 5 points 11m ago
I usually just stare back at them with a blank face. Or talk to them like they are a 5 year old having a melt down😂
MajinBoobey [OP] 1 points 11m ago
Yes omg I've whipped out the daycare employee/preschool teacher voice so many times on these people!
Alternative_Exam3723 1 points 11m ago
It makes me happy to see the look on their face😂
Necessary_Low939 3 points 11m ago
Common replies:
“It’s not yours.”
“You have to wait.”
“Is your name (blank)?”
“I only have two hands.”
“Ok.”
“You’re welcome.”
“It’s over there”
“Read the cup”
“Did you tell the register that alrdy? Ok don’t repeat urself.”
“Next time pay for (the customization)”
*look at them, look away*
*Just ignoring*
“It’s not yours.”
“You have to wait.”
“Is your name (blank)?”
“I only have two hands.”
“Ok.”
“You’re welcome.”
“It’s over there”
“Read the cup”
“Did you tell the register that alrdy? Ok don’t repeat urself.”
“Next time pay for (the customization)”
*look at them, look away*
*Just ignoring*
broookeee_ 1 points 11m ago
Responding with a question is always great cus then they realize how dumb they sound
Necessary_Low939 2 points 11m ago
No they’re too dumb to realize
Aware-Vehicle1926 1 points 11m ago
I like to say I only have two hands, met with awkward stares back like what? You don’t have two extra?!?!
Necessary_Low939 1 points 11m ago
“No, I’m not Goro from mortal kombat.”
Today a lady was upset she had to wait for her iced water like 🤨 it’s free maam. The least u can do is wait.
Today a lady was upset she had to wait for her iced water like 🤨 it’s free maam. The least u can do is wait.
Momisnotmyname 3 points 11m ago
I am such a weirdo myself on bar, that I must just drive them off. I sing and dance, call out drinks in funny voices, and call out to customers as I make their drinks to clarify orders. I love to chat them up, tell them jokes, and keep them on their toes. If they try to pull the old "I ordered a venti" switcheroo, I just politely inform them, they only paid for a tall/grande, and can have that fixed at the register, and a new drink made. It really tickles me to be overnice.
LY-_- 3 points 11m ago
I think of them like a child throwing a tantrum. And that I need to find out a way to say what I want with out making them more upset and trying to get them to listen to reason. Thinking of them like a child throwing a tantrum keeps me sane for the duration of the conversation, then I usually vent which allows me to laugh it off.
MajinBoobey [OP] 1 points 11m ago
Thats good advice, I try to keep myself in an objective mindset where I can just look at them like the toddlers they are, I just get bothered and knocked out of that headspace so easily😔 Thank you for the comment, I'll try to keep it up and hold on!
Feeling-Umpire9053 3 points 11m ago
I would give all my rude customers decaf espresso on hot bar but for cold bar, I would just cuss under my breath with my back to them. Theres only so much we can do to upkeep professionalism :((
MajinBoobey [OP] 2 points 11m ago
I know what you mean, part of the reason I'm still wearing my masks at work is because I can't NOT swear under my breath and mumble at rude customers, having the mask disguise hide half your face is kind of a luxury 😭
HappyJos 2 points 11m ago
Lounder they get less you work with them
Necessary_Low939 1 points 11m ago
Common replies:
“It’s not yours.”
“You have to wait.”
“Is your name (blank)?”
“I only have two hands.”
“Ok.”
*look at them, look away*
*Just ignoring*
“It’s not yours.”
“You have to wait.”
“Is your name (blank)?”
“I only have two hands.”
“Ok.”
*look at them, look away*
*Just ignoring*
LaynaBird03 1 points 11m ago
I slap on a STRONG southern accent (perk of being raised in the deep south), a large smile, and maintain eye contact without blinking (adhd makes that part pretty easy). Then if they want insist on a different size, I just add in the extra stuff for it in the bigger cup. Most of the time they shut up and take the drink as soon as I bust out the accent
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