Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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No Medicine Balls During Flu Season (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by bby_bun
Had the absolute pleasure of being present for this interaction 2 days ago.
Lady comes to the drive thru speaker asking for 3 venti medicine balls. We don't have peach or jade right now, and really only have brewed chai in stock, so the partner at the window tells her this. Homegirl actually screams "YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TEAS???" at the top of her lungs, but then adds "*DURING FLU SEASON??!?!*"
This would've been just a funny reaction had she accepted the fact that we just don't have any, but she kept going and asking "are you sure?? like, *at ALL*? you can't check in the back???" and at that point my supervisor took charge, explained to her that no, we apologize, but it looked like we did have a few (like 3 bags) of emperor's clouds and mist in stock if she'd like to try that instead.
She scoffed and said smth along the lines of "I can't f-----g believe this" to her ig boyfriend in the passengers seat, so the hostility began there. With the BIGGEST attitude I'd ever heard she turns back and says "well, what's in it?" to which my supervisor tells her it's a green tea.
"okay but what's in it."
"it's a green tea, ma'am."
"I'm asking what's in it, you need to tell me what's IN IT."
"I don't know what's actually inside ma'am, all I know is that it's a green tea. You're welcome to go into our app to read the description, but-"
"It's *YOUR* job to know what's in it, *NOT MINE* to go looking for it. You don't know what's in it? Are you stupid?"
Everyone on the floor is in shock at how quickly this lady started throwing insults, and my supervisor wasn't having it.
"I don't appreciate the attitude you're getting with me, so I'm going to ask you to leave the drive thru line (there wasn't anyone behind her)" all the while she's still interrupting with "WHAT ATTITUDE?? I DONT HAVE AN ATTITUDE, YOU GUYS ARE JUST *STUPID* AND *USELESS* YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR F-----G INGREDIENTS IN S---?!?? *THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!*" and she drove off INTO the line where there were 2 cars in front of her. My supervisor lets our partner at the window know to lock the window once she finished with the second car, and I was on bar so I just focused on making drinks but this lady absolutely pissed me off. Once the second car had left, the lady drove by SLOWLY, sticking her tongue out, and flipping us off.
First of all, if you were so devastated about us not having tea, you are more than welcome to go to Walmart or Target for your own tea bags to make in the comfort of your own home.
Second of all, the packaging for our teas *quite literally* only have green tea listed as an ingredient.
And third of all, how CHILDISH do you need to be, to be a GROWN ASS ADULT, angry about something out of our control, and be so degrading and insulting to a group of minimum wage workers younger than you just because we don't have the ingredients for your magical flu curing tea.
I've been a partner for a little over a year now, and this was the intro I got for this year's holiday season. Happy holidays everyone 🥴👍🏻
☆edited my censoring!
Lady comes to the drive thru speaker asking for 3 venti medicine balls. We don't have peach or jade right now, and really only have brewed chai in stock, so the partner at the window tells her this. Homegirl actually screams "YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TEAS???" at the top of her lungs, but then adds "*DURING FLU SEASON??!?!*"
This would've been just a funny reaction had she accepted the fact that we just don't have any, but she kept going and asking "are you sure?? like, *at ALL*? you can't check in the back???" and at that point my supervisor took charge, explained to her that no, we apologize, but it looked like we did have a few (like 3 bags) of emperor's clouds and mist in stock if she'd like to try that instead.
She scoffed and said smth along the lines of "I can't f-----g believe this" to her ig boyfriend in the passengers seat, so the hostility began there. With the BIGGEST attitude I'd ever heard she turns back and says "well, what's in it?" to which my supervisor tells her it's a green tea.
"okay but what's in it."
"it's a green tea, ma'am."
"I'm asking what's in it, you need to tell me what's IN IT."
"I don't know what's actually inside ma'am, all I know is that it's a green tea. You're welcome to go into our app to read the description, but-"
"It's *YOUR* job to know what's in it, *NOT MINE* to go looking for it. You don't know what's in it? Are you stupid?"
Everyone on the floor is in shock at how quickly this lady started throwing insults, and my supervisor wasn't having it.
"I don't appreciate the attitude you're getting with me, so I'm going to ask you to leave the drive thru line (there wasn't anyone behind her)" all the while she's still interrupting with "WHAT ATTITUDE?? I DONT HAVE AN ATTITUDE, YOU GUYS ARE JUST *STUPID* AND *USELESS* YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR F-----G INGREDIENTS IN S---?!?? *THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!*" and she drove off INTO the line where there were 2 cars in front of her. My supervisor lets our partner at the window know to lock the window once she finished with the second car, and I was on bar so I just focused on making drinks but this lady absolutely pissed me off. Once the second car had left, the lady drove by SLOWLY, sticking her tongue out, and flipping us off.
First of all, if you were so devastated about us not having tea, you are more than welcome to go to Walmart or Target for your own tea bags to make in the comfort of your own home.
Second of all, the packaging for our teas *quite literally* only have green tea listed as an ingredient.
And third of all, how CHILDISH do you need to be, to be a GROWN ASS ADULT, angry about something out of our control, and be so degrading and insulting to a group of minimum wage workers younger than you just because we don't have the ingredients for your magical flu curing tea.
I've been a partner for a little over a year now, and this was the intro I got for this year's holiday season. Happy holidays everyone 🥴👍🏻
☆edited my censoring!
raycinematic 175 points 8m ago
i find satisfaction when someone orders a “medicine ball” in saying “I’m sorry that unfortunately isn’t a drink we carry. We don’t have anything that substitutes as a cold buster/medicine. We do have a honey citrus mint tea, did you want to get that instead?”
bby_bun [OP] 77 points 8m ago
stealing this, much pettier than my original response
JohnWilkesBooty 20 points 8m ago
“Why don’t we call it the *Medicine Ball*? Well, it contains no actual medicinal qualities. It’s just a sugar and plant water. You wouldn’t want us to mislead you.”
philosopher_cat_lady 44 points 8m ago
I take their order but I don't use that name and if they get confused I say that the name of the drink is Honey Citrus Mint Tea and that we're not allowed to call it the other name because we're not allowed to call our drinks medicine
linseeded 31 points 8m ago
I just act stupid, like I’ll be really pleasant but say “I’m sorry but we don’t have anything by that name on our menu. Can you describe it?” One time some lady said “UGH the honey citrus mint tea”
I_like_to_know 30 points 8m ago
I usually just say "You mean a honey citrus mint tea?" and most customers agree or ignore it. Had one who argued with me about it, "no, I don't want that I asked for a medicine ball" So I say, "I'm sorry, we don't have a medicine ball on our menu, we do have a honey citrus mint tea that some people refer to as a medicine ball but we don't sell medicine so none of our drinks can be named such. Would you like the honey citrus mint tea?" "Yes, but I'll show you it's a medicine ball" and spends 2 minutes going through her app before walking off without saying anything else.
SNES182 12 points 8m ago
You are actually supposed to act clueless when people ask for a “medicine ball” because there is nothing medicinal about anything sbux sells, and “claiming” otherwise could get you in trouble i.e. sued.
CLEf11 108 points 8m ago
These people do realize a "medicine ball" isn't actually medicine...it might temporarily make you feel a little bit better but it's gonna do jack shit for flu and covid
bby_bun [OP] 77 points 8m ago
the amount of people hacking up a lung that come through the drive thru asking for it...for gods sake just go to a pharmacy 😭😭😭
BlacksmithOwn908 12 points 8m ago
You’re lucky they come through drive thru we don’t have one so they are coughing in my face ordering it
catpants243 9 points 8m ago
My favorite is when they're in front of me at the register no mask coughing in my face. And even better when they clarify "don't worry, it's just a cold"
cats_with_tentacles 42 points 8m ago
I had someone call it a "throat coat tea" the other day... which IS a real, medicinal tea.... and not what we carry smh they really think we are serving medicine
Responsible_Snow7109 26 points 8m ago
Lol another barista on one of the starbucks subs recently said that a customer went to there store and ordered a "mEdIcInE bAlL wItH eXtRa MeDiCiNe". I died at that comment. I lost faith in humanity at that comment lol
arkhamsprincess 24 points 8m ago
Yeah, that’s literally all it does. The sugar coats your throat and gives a temporary feeling of relief for sore throat and cough. You get the same effect with cough drops lmao people are dumb
roundfarm1 13 points 8m ago
Throat Coat Tea is the shit and 100% more effective than a honey citrus mint tea when you have a sore throat
cats_with_tentacles 7 points 8m ago
Oh yeah, had a coworker bring some in and it makes your throat feel like silk lol tastes good too!
Affectionate_Fart 6 points 8m ago
You could tell them to swallow some jizz as an “au naturale” throat coat lmao
FemboiTomboy 2 points 8m ago
they some throat goat
rudebii 3 points 8m ago
Is that you Nancy?
lilmissambersue 8 points 8m ago
It's so funny how much sugar is in it lol that's not gonna help whatever the fuck is wrong with you
linseeded 3 points 8m ago
My mom’s home remedy for a sore throat is green or mint tea with honey and half a lemon squeezed into it… I think people think it’s something like that, not realizing it’s just sugar water 💀
turtleben248 4 points 8m ago
It's literally still tea? Yall honestly sound kinda ridiculous lol, like yeah it has sugar but it also has the same mint tea your mom is drinking.
Maybe ppl think it's bad bc it has the sugar, but i don't think it's that bad. The sugar isn't ideal but the tea is still good for you
Maybe ppl think it's bad bc it has the sugar, but i don't think it's that bad. The sugar isn't ideal but the tea is still good for you
Ordinary-Theory-8289 2 points 8m ago
My guy literally described a honey citrus mint tea and was like “this is what these fools think they’re getting”
Ordinary-Theory-8289 1 points 8m ago
Lol what what you just described is exactly what a honey citrus mint tea is? The only difference is we use lemonade instead of a fresh lemon lmao
majik_rose 7 points 8m ago
Fr like it’s really only gonna be good for a sore throat or something. I always get mighty suspicious when ppl come asking for it, especially with Covid and shi 😭
rudebii 5 points 8m ago
Never underestimate the stupidity of the average American consumer.
hotcheetomamii 63 points 8m ago
starbucks really needs to put out a statement if they haven’t already stating that “medicine balls” are not medicine. i’ve literally had customers ask me what kind of cough syrup is in it. this is ridiculous
bby_bun [OP] 44 points 8m ago
that's the thing tho, it's official name ISNT "medicine ball", that's the nickname given by customers!! for that specific reason I've always said it's official name when people ask for it, and more often than not people are like "no I asked for a medicine ball" and I clarify that the honey citrus mint tea is the starbucks official name for it.
I just wanna have a chat with whoever decided to call it a medicine ball first.
I just wanna have a chat with whoever decided to call it a medicine ball first.
laura4584 23 points 8m ago
I never understood why it was called a medicine ball, cause an actual medicine ball is workout equipment.
bby_bun [OP] 10 points 8m ago
even more hilarious for you to mention that bc the first time I told my dad about this kind of interaction w the honey citrus tea I called it a medicine ball and he stared at me asking why we had gym equipment at starbucks so, again, I just wanna have a CHAT w the person to nickname it that <3
ScroogeMcDust 8 points 8m ago
I maintain that we should have one of those massive weighted balls behind the counter.
"Heeeeeere you go, would you like that hot or iced?"
"Heeeeeere you go, would you like that hot or iced?"
foxygrandma101 1 points 8m ago
When I worked at a target Starbucks, we weren’t allowed to call it a “medicine ball” and we would get scolded whenever we did
MaintenanceEasy744 22 points 8m ago
My favorite interaction from someone ordering a honey citrus mint tea is actually from some old dude. He goes “do y’all have the ball buster?” And I’m taking Os like 🤨😳 “I’m sorry sir,,, and what?” He said “you know a ball buster” Me: “you know unfortunately sir I do not, no” him “you know to help with sickness” me “…. A honey citrus mint tea..?” Him “sure” I said ok 🫡😂
linseeded 10 points 8m ago
THE BALL BUSTER PLEASE
MaintenanceEasy744 2 points 8m ago
NO FR I HAD TO RESTRAIN MYSELF WHILE TAKING THIS MANS ORDER
Azurelexi 1 points 8m ago
I know other than medicine ball the other nickname for it is cold buster but I don’t get that one too often I think on the recipe card for the honey citrus mint tea it even refers to both those nicknames idk if it still says that but we used to have old recipe cards in the store so homie probably just combined the two nicknames 😂
Swimming-Fee-2445 14 points 8m ago
Thing is, the actual drink is so full of sugary juice and sugary syrup which really doesn’t help with bacteria, but people have convinced themselves it works I guess.
noeyoureatowel 5 points 8m ago
The syrup is literally just watered down honey. It’s not any more sugary than packets of honey or honey in any other form.
Ordinary-Theory-8289 3 points 8m ago
As if people haven’t been drinking tea with honey for a sore throat for centuries lmao
Responsible_Snow7109 14 points 8m ago
Idk why there are people like her who expect us to inform them of every detail about a drink. Its FCKIN GREEN TEA LADY. Ur the one consuming things so u should kno what ur consuming. And the ingredient literally says green tea so unless she wants to find a tea maker and ask about exact steps and processes, she can stfu and accept what ur telling her or she can go play in traffic☺️
philosopher_cat_lady 11 points 8m ago
-What's in it?!
-Green tea
-What's in it?!
-Green tea
-What's in it?!
broccoli-duck 10 points 8m ago
"I'm sorry we don't have anything called that"
C- "That's so funny I've ordered it at 3 stores"
"Weird, I don't see a button for it nor carry medicine."
C- "it prints out as medicine ball on the cup"
"🥴 that's strange. Do you know what's in it?"
C- "No"
"Okay well let me know if there's something else I can get you"
C- "That's so funny I've ordered it at 3 stores"
"Weird, I don't see a button for it nor carry medicine."
C- "it prints out as medicine ball on the cup"
"🥴 that's strange. Do you know what's in it?"
C- "No"
"Okay well let me know if there's something else I can get you"
linseeded 10 points 8m ago
“It prints out as medicine ball on the cup” people out here wild af. One time had some lady get mad because we didn’t have a skinny mocha sauce for a skinny mocha. “but I’ve been ordering that for YEARS” sure. So either your baristas been making nonfat mochas or you’re lying
iimanateaii 4 points 8m ago
I haven’t worked at Starbucks for years, but when I did, we did have a skinny mocha sauce separate from the normal mocha sauce. Did corporate get rid of it?
EvilFreddyJ 6 points 8m ago
Yep about 4 years ago now
linseeded 1 points 8m ago
It’s been gone forever lol
idkcassie 9 points 8m ago
I am so excited to be coming back to the company as an SSV so that I get the joy of standing up for my baristas and dealing with those customers tbh. I love the drama, but only if it’s me dealing with it. Talk to my teenage barista that way? You’re leaving. No starbies for you babes.
yungfroggie 8 points 8m ago
my response would have been “well.. it’s going to be hot water combined with green tea leaves, which are leaves of the camelia sinensis that’s just barely oxidized—“ until she either told me to shut the fuck up or left
Intelligent-Cupcake4 2 points 8m ago
I’ve seen both jade citrus mint and peach tranquility teas at target.
bby_bun [OP] 2 points 8m ago
yup, I've personally bought then there before, to make my own honey citrus mint teas. the fast food culture just has an iron grip on everyone and we the fast food workers, pay the price
Torirock10 2 points 8m ago
lmao i would instruct her to go to the walgreens across the street from my store and get a flu shot if she wants to be so healthy
[deleted] 1 points 8m ago
[removed]
No_State3479 1 points 8m ago
I had someone cry in the drive thru the other day because we didn’t have the teas for it lmao
jeonzelink 1 points 8m ago
I saw a video on tiktok saying whenever baristas correct customers saying it’s a honey citrus mint tea and not a medicine ball, they’re immediately being rude
bby_bun [OP] 1 points 8m ago
tiktok is a baristas worst enemy now
jeonzelink 1 points 8m ago
Fr and then everyone just agreed
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