Coffee shop problem

Post Reply New Topic

(Originally posted to the "Rants" thread, but I think that wasn't the appropriate place since I actually want an answer.)

OK...this is gonna sound stupid, but my local Starbucks has ticked me off!

(PLEASE, PLEASE do not tell me that my problem is that I'm going to Starbucks. I really don't want to have that debate here, which is why I brought it to the Haven.)

I'd been going to that place for YEARS to the point where I pretty much had my designated chair in the corner. They'd had a wonderful manager and great staff for all that time, and the only time I had a "bad" experience was when little concerts were held in there (I want my own music, not that stuff).

A new manager started this year, and twice the store was closed early with barely any notice. The first time, the new manager did this and frankly I couldn't see a single reason for it. It was only by 10 minutes or so, but it was still a little irritating. The second time was tonight, and this time by a full 30 minutes because of "short staffing," "wage budget," and "getting the employees home on time." I would've understood better if I were the only one in the store, but there was a big group there, AND other people kept trying to come in as the store was closing.

Which kind of ticked me off...I know when I worked in retail, if we had EVER demonstrated that kind of attitude, my boss would've torn us a new one. I get how important making plan was, and I've worked second shift too. I realize it's worse in food service, but still, the customer always came first, and we would have done what we had to to make sure we fulfilled our commitments.

Given this, and the constant turnover that seems to have happened ever since the old manager left, I'm not sure I want to go back to that store, at LEAST not until evening. And I want to send a comment card in about that...yet I feel like if I do, it's going to hurt feelings and that if I do go back in there after sending off a comment, I'm not going to be welcome should I go during earlier hours. And what if corporate is making managers do that, and this guy couldn't control it? (Though I doubt it since this NEVER happened before the other guy was let go.)

Should I find a way to communicate this to corporate? Maybe on the phone instead, where I can maybe ask what the policy is first, and ask that it be handled delicately? Should I just stop going to the other store at night? But if I do that and don't say anything, how will they know what the problem was? (Yet if I say something and someone figures out it was me, will I have burned my bridges forever?...ad nauseum.)

Sorry if this sound stupid. But maybe it doesn't...it's weird, but I can be flexible at work, but once I get OFF work, it's like DON'T screw with my hangouts or things I like to do.

Anyone know what the right thing to do is here? Should I just deal with it quietly without saying anything, or no?

_________________
Official diagnosis: ADHD, synesthesia. Aspie quiz result (unofficial test): Like Frodo--I'm a halfling? 110/200 NT, 109/200 Aspie.

First up, I can understand why you'd be annoyed.

From what you're saying it's possible the new manager just doesn't really care. I'm guessing that by turnover you mean staff change, please correct me if I'm wrong.

If I'm correct, due to (possibly) bad management, everything is changing in this place. If the staff isn't there for long, they may not know or care about regular clients. I can't advise about if to complain or not. I know that if they don't care, it won't matter to them.

I don't see this manager around in the store as often as I saw the other one, so I am not 100% sure what his attitude is and I'm worried about condemning him unfairly.

Yep, turnover is staff change. Sorry...that's what we always call it at my job and I didn't think to clarify.

I'm not sure the staff doesn't care...they're always friendly when I come in. But the manager--honestly, I'm not sure, and I'm not sure what the correct way is to handle it.

_________________
Official diagnosis: ADHD, synesthesia. Aspie quiz result (unofficial test): Like Frodo--I'm a halfling? 110/200 NT, 109/200 Aspie.

Send a letter to corporate and indicate strongly that you would like a reply!

Hm...how does that usually work? I know at my store whenever something like that happened, our manager got it and it had all that person's information. Not an address, necessarily, but still. It's so weird...on one hand I am very displeased by what happened, but on the other--EEEK!

Maybe I'll do it on the phone, so I can actually speak to someone and ask first what company policy actually IS, and then see if there's a way feedback could be delivered without my actual comments being shared with the manager.

_________________
Official diagnosis: ADHD, synesthesia. Aspie quiz result (unofficial test): Like Frodo--I'm a halfling? 110/200 NT, 109/200 Aspie.

a) Find a proper coffee shop.
b) Mine's a double espresso. Please.

I take it you are a customer and not an employee? If you are a customer you should write a nice email to corporate HQ. You could bring this lapse in quality to their attention and get some cool coupons in return (maybe they might send one for a free beverage).

I've just gone to a crappy coffee shop, two nights ago. The waiter wouldn't give me Internet, and he gave my best friend a hard time, for accidentaly breaking a chair outside.

Yep...I am a customer.

I tried another Starbucks today...but I missed my chair in the corner with a convenient outlet, just secluded enough that I don't have people in my face, but that I can comfortably observe, and at a distance enough from the speakers that with my noise-cancelling headphones there's not a hint of their music or noise from the counter, only mine.

Whine.

I think I might call this week.

_________________
Official diagnosis: ADHD, synesthesia. Aspie quiz result (unofficial test): Like Frodo--I'm a halfling? 110/200 NT, 109/200 Aspie.

From Starbuck's website:

Retail Customer Relations
(800) 235-2883
Mon – Fri 5 AM – 6 PM (PST)

HQ may not know what's going on at your favorite hang out. My advice would be to let them know. I agree that it would be ok to close a little early if there were no one there but you. However, to run a whole lot of people out along with discourage other patrons from making purchases by closing early seems counter productive. Sounds like this particular manager is not good for business. I'm sure HQ is there to make money, not lose it.

Good luck!

I called...I'm sure I looked like a goof pacing and fidgeting with a toy in my hand the whole time, but as far as they were aware that's not the usual corporate policy. There could be something we don't know on the district manager's end, but I didn't see a need to push it that far. I was able to request that my name and so on not be included in any information sent to the store manager...so that makes me feel a little better.

I think I'm going to wait a while before I go back in there, give it time to let it blow over and not be in people's minds, just in case anyone still figures out who said something. But the whole situation just seemed...not right to me.

Thanks for the advice, guys.

(Oh...and I do get a couple of coupons.)

_________________
Official diagnosis: ADHD, synesthesia. Aspie quiz result (unofficial test): Like Frodo--I'm a halfling? 110/200 NT, 109/200 Aspie.