If you work at Starbucks, there is a never-ending supply of frustrating customer behaviors. Constant phone calls about the most recent holiday merchandise drop and the most bizarre questions are a few examples. This Starbucks barista has a message for impatient customers who order iced water at the pickup counter. Not only does this grind her gears, but it could also be violating a new policy.
NYC-based Starbucks barista @karma_queen7 starts her video with a question for more than 177,000 viewers. “Why is it, y’all have the nerve and audacity to wait [in line] for 10-15 minutes for you to see that we’re working, you wait to get all the way to the handoff, to then ask for a water?” she asks. “And then look at us like you expect us to just stop what we’re going and give you the ice water?”
However, requesting a water cup doesn’t mean a customer gets a free pass. Instead, she will gladly redirect you to the register. “Nah, baby. That’s a whole new ticket. You gotta wait,” the content creator remarks.
Starbucks baristas weigh in
Many of them unanimously agreed that this was the number one customer pet peeve that boils their blood.
“My biggest pet peeve ever!!!!! 12 year partner,” one viewer commented.
“I HATE IT SMMMMMMMMM. My eye will start twitching,” a second said.
Another concurred, “I crash out every day on this. Like how you gonna stand there and wait and then ask for water and get MAD when I tell YOU to wait longer.”
“I hate when they do this. And they’re so rude too. Like they see me super busy and struggling with drinks and they ask for water,” a fourth stated.
But according to a fifth, baristas have an excuse to boot these customers back to the line. “Technically, policy now says to tell them to return to the line and wait for it and that’s what I’ll tell them if I’m on front bar,” they explained.
Is this a new policy?
Indeed, it is. Before, anyone could walk into a location and request free water. However, customers must make a purchase, according to Business Insider. The company reversed the complimentary water policy at the beginning of the year in response to customers asking for water at the end of the counter. As a result, it kept disrupting baristas’ workflow. Now, customers must order their iced water at the register.
“You receive water once you’ve ordered at the counter or as you sit in a café with table service, which requires a purchase,” a Starbucks spokesperson told Tasting Table regarding the new water policy. “Our baristas are always empowered to assess each situation and make the moment right for our customers. We’re simply asking that water is handled like other orders — at the point of sale.”
@karma_queen7 #water #starbucks #annoying #fyp ♬ original sound – Diice
The Mary Sue reached out to @karma_queen7 via TikTok comment and direct message as well as Starbucks via press email.
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