Green Tea Latte from Starbucks

failedpersephone

SO I was drinking a green tea latte from starbucks (I usually go to coffee bean and tea leaf - so don't yell at me)

and it tasted like dishwater.

so i had to go back and I told the dude and he was like "SIGH...we can give you a new one." and I said I didn't want a new one, I just wanted them to know that their machine or something was broken.

and he rolls his surly little emo eyes at me and is very rude about it.

"you don't want a new one - you just wanted to complain? well...thanks, lady" TOTALLY sarcastic.

So...I asked to talk to his manager - and I am not one of those types of people...anyhow, she started to yell at him and they got into this huge argument and he told her to go "F" her self and left...like left his job...

of course the entire staff and all of the customers were staring at me...like I got this punk ass fired.

and the manager gave me 20 vouchers. and I dont even want them!

so - here is the thing...I didn't want a new latte since, it wouldn't be possible for me to drink it after drinking DISHWATER...but, I just wanted them to know that there was a problem with their equipment...

ugh...what the hell happened??? that is what i was left thinking.

should I have just not said anything? because normally I wouldn't have said anything...

ugh, anyhow it was embarrassing and horrible.

red_ledbetter

that was pointless, and you seem like an idiot

Indifference

red_ledbetter wrote:

that was pointless, and you seem like an idiot

Agreed.

bryn_cmbs

failedpersephone wrote:

SO I was drinking a green tea latte from starbucks (I usually go to coffee bean and tea leaf - so don't yell at me)

and it tasted like dishwater.

so i had to go back and I told the dude and he was like "SIGH...we can give you a new one." and I said I didn't want a new one, I just wanted them to know that their machine or something was broken.

and he rolls his surly little emo eyes at me and is very rude about it.

"you don't want a new one - you just wanted to complain? well...thanks, lady" TOTALLY sarcastic.

So...I asked to talk to his manager - and I am not one of those types of people...anyhow, she started to yell at him and they got into this huge argument and he told her to go "F" her self and left...like left his job...

of course the entire staff and all of the customers were staring at me...like I got this punk ass fired.

and the manager gave me 20 vouchers. and I dont even want them!

so - here is the thing...I didn't want a new latte since, it wouldn't be possible for me to drink it after drinking DISHWATER...but, I just wanted them to know that there was a problem with their equipment...

ugh...what the hell happened??? that is what i was left thinking.

should I have just not said anything? because normally I wouldn't have said anything...

ugh, anyhow it was embarrassing and horrible.

I use to manage a restaurant. You shouldn’t have complained to the manger, you should have just took a new drink and let it go. It’s rough working in the food business. Have mercy on the poor souls who do.

polaris

hindsight is 20/20 ... i'm sure you wouldn't have made that big a deal of it had you known the outcome but you can't so shit like this happens all the time ...

only person you gotta answer to in this world is yourself

norm

bryn_cmbs wrote:

I use to manage a restaurant. You shouldn’t have complained to the manger, you should have just took a new drink and let it go. It’s rough working in the food business. Have mercy on the poor souls who do.

you're right....a customer should never complain about a shitty product :rolleyes:

kcherub

I worked at Starbucks FOREVER, and the big thing with them is that if you aren't happy with your product, you either get a new one or get a refund. I think FP did the right thing--hell, those things aren't cheap. It's not FP's fault that the manager and the employee got into a shouting match. It seems like FP didn't create the scene, the Starbucks' employees did. Lighten up a bit on FP.

Although I don't follow the "customer is always right" philosophy at my store, I do appreciate it when a customer lets me know that something isn't right or they aren't happy. The Starbucks employee should have read his manual, and gotten the manager when he realized he couldn't help FP.

BTW, a green tea latte sounds nasty in the first place. Some of the things they come up with are just sad. Poor Starbucks...

Take care.

SammyK14

failedpersephone wrote:

and the manager gave me 20 vouchers. and I dont even want them!

i'll take them!

blueeyedevil

Although I can't figure out why you posted this on "The Porch", I don't see any problem in what you did. You paid for something, it was poorly made, and you wanted to make the staff aware that they were serving something that wasn't right.

The fact that the snotty emo kid behind the counter was unable to handle such a small situtation without sarcasm isn't your problem. The inability of the store to provide adequate service isn't your problem. Most importantly, the sensitive nature of those working in the food service industry isn't your problem. Food service IS a demanding, and often frustrating business to work in . I haven't dealt with it since about 10 years ago, and have since moved on to bigger and brighter things, but I spent my teen years and early 20's working in a similar atmosphere. It's a hectic job with little in the way of pay, but the fact remains:

If it was fun, you wouldn't get paid. You take a job in full understanding of what the posistion entails, and the money you will be paid to provide that service. If it's too much for you, then go work somewhere less "demanding".

Damn emo kids. LOL!

bryn_cmbs

cutback wrote:

you're right....a customer should never complain about a shitty product :rolleyes:

I didn't say that, I said she sould have took the replacement drink that was offered and left it at that. She complained to the manger and it ended up with the kid losing his job and making a scene.

jeffbr

Fuck the kid who got fired. He deserved it. You did nothing wrong. His attitude toward his job, the customer, and his manager, is what got that self-important kid fired. Think of what you did as community service.

norm

bryn_cmbs wrote:

I didn't say that, I said she sould have took the replacement drink that was offered and left it at that. She complained to the manger and it ended up with the kid losing his job and making a scene.

the kid made the scene...she wanted to let them know that the drink wasn't good and it may have something to do with whatever it was made in....in what universe can an employee call tell their boss to fuck off and still have said job? i'd love to work there

manhattan

I'm totally on your side. What you did was exactly right. Maybe these problems are the reason Starbucks is closing so many of its stores.

lowlight10

jeffbr wrote:

His attitude toward his job, the customer, and his manager, is what got that self-important kid fired.

I agree with this. unless you demanded that the manager fire the substandard employee, it's not your fault. it sounds like you mainly wanted him to take notice that their machine might not be working properly, but he wasn't too concerned.

customer service in this country sucks. apparently minimum wage means its ok to suck at your job and not give a shit if the customer is satisfied. it's a sad situation.

edit: from what I've read, starbucks does a great job of advancing its employees and giving them stock options, etc., some incentive to do well, but some people in this country just dont give a shit, and those people dont deserve to have a job.

Indifference

manhattan wrote:

Maybe these problems are the reason Starbucks is closing so many of its stores.

Not sure many is a term I would use for less then 4%.

Rjonesrm20

failedpersephone wrote:

SO I was drinking a green tea latte from starbucks (I usually go to coffee bean and tea leaf - so don't yell at me)

and it tasted like dishwater.

so i had to go back and I told the dude and he was like "SIGH...we can give you a new one." and I said I didn't want a new one, I just wanted them to know that their machine or something was broken.

and he rolls his surly little emo eyes at me and is very rude about it.

"you don't want a new one - you just wanted to complain? well...thanks, lady" TOTALLY sarcastic.

So...I asked to talk to his manager - and I am not one of those types of people...anyhow, she started to yell at him and they got into this huge argument and he told her to go "F" her self and left...like left his job...

of course the entire staff and all of the customers were staring at me...like I got this punk ass fired.

and the manager gave me 20 vouchers. and I dont even want them!

so - here is the thing...I didn't want a new latte since, it wouldn't be possible for me to drink it after drinking DISHWATER...but, I just wanted them to know that there was a problem with their equipment...

ugh...what the hell happened??? that is what i was left thinking.

should I have just not said anything? because normally I wouldn't have said anything...

ugh, anyhow it was embarrassing and horrible.

you must live in L.A.

jeffbr

lowlight10 wrote:

.

customer service in this country sucks. apparently minimum wage means its ok to suck at your job and not give a shit if the customer is satisfied. it's a sad situation.

Exactly. The entire situation could have gone in a comletely different direction if the stupid kid had an ounce of common sense.

failedpersonphone: This latte tastes like dishwater. There might be something wrong with the machine.

barista: I'm sorry, can I make you another one?

failedpersonphone: No thanks, I just wanted you to know that there might be a problem with the machine.

barista: Thanks for letting me know. I'll see if we can figure out what is wrong.

failedpersonphone: Great. Have a nice day.

barista: Thanks. You, too.


That scenario would have taken less than 20 seconds, and everyone would have been back to their day. Instead the kid acted put upon, and completely disrespected the customer and his manager. He turned a non-event into a firing. In the end, everyone wins. The stupid kid gets to find something he's happier with, Starbucks sheds some dead wood, and the customers at that store don't have to put up with that little shit.

Lostdoggie

That kid sounds like a jerk off.

LineOneMightyFine

jeffbr wrote:

Exactly. The entire situation could have gone in a comletely different direction if the stupid kid had an ounce of common sense.

failedpersonphone: This latte tastes like dishwater. There might be something wrong with the machine.

barista: I'm sorry, can I make you another one?

failedpersonphone: No thanks, I just wanted you to know that there might be a problem with the machine.

barista: Thanks for letting me know. I'll see if we can figure out what is wrong.

failedpersonphone: Great. Have a nice day.

barista: Thanks. You, too.


That scenario would have taken less than 20 seconds, and everyone would have been back to their day. Instead the kid acted put upon, and completely disrespected the customer and his manager. He turned a non-event into a firing. In the end, everyone wins. The stupid kid gets to find something he's happier with, Starbucks sheds some dead wood, and the customers at that store don't have to put up with that little shit.

I agree with you. You captured it perfectly. I would also guess that the kid was probably like that with other customers and the manager before this episode.

EquallyWorthless

this is related to pearl jam how ??

12345AGNST1

I can understand how the kid would get mad, but I would never take it that far. If I knew I made something wrong, and then they complained, then I understand. If for instance a customer tells me they want everything, and then they see the sandwich and decide they didnt want tomatoes, then they can go fuck themselves. (and that has heppened before. I work at a quiznos) I never/ never will believe in the "customer is always right" BS. I just look at any fast food place as a cheap disgusting place to get food. If someone makes a mistake, then big deal. Is it going to ruin your day that there are tomatoes on your sandwich when you didn't want them?

I dont think you over-reacted, and as long as you were nice about it, then thats totally fine. but some people get reeaaal pissy about their FAST food. Just deal with it. The only way I can see someone getting upset is if they are either A)allergic to something in the food (in which case, just tell me) or got a completely different sandwich that they ordered. There are more important things in life to worry about then a stupid piece of food you ordered at a fast food chain.

Anytime I order fast food and people mess up on whatever I rodered I just let it slide. I understand how minimum wage can make you not really give a shit about your job. And yes I am going to quit very soon.