Starbucked……
Right up front, i have to say that I’m just venting and at this point, I’ve actually calmed down a bit since the whole thing happened. So basically as the story goes, I’m out and about and decided, as i so often do, to stop at the nearby Starbucks for a tasty, refreshing Pumpkin Spice Latte. Lights are on but the front door is locked. A sign on the door tells me that although I would not be able to go in, the drive through was still available. At the drive through, there are two cars ahead of me and more cars beginning to line up behind me as I wait for my turn. i notice at this time that it seems to take forever for orders to be taken before each car ahead of me finally pulls ahead and disappears around the corner, obviously headed to the drive up window. i pull up, wait…….and wait and no one is coming on the speaker to take my order. When my patience is finally starting to wear thin and no one has spoken to me, I pull away from that spot and around to the window……and wait. I continue to wait and no one comes to the window. Eventually, I step out of my car, and knock gently on the glass…..and wait. No one comes. Then, I just happen to notice someone peaking around the corner, then disappearing from sight. Still, no comes to the window with any kind of explanation about what the H—- is going on. This time my knocking on the glass is measurably more aggressive and after a few minutes, I see another head peak around the corner. Understand that while this is going on, the line at the drive through is growing. Still no one ever comes to the window with some kind of, or any kind of explanation.. They are content to let the line and frustations grow while they hide out of sight. So, I ask you, is this any way for a business to treat their customers? I think not.
Fast forword twenty minutes or more and I’m at a different Starbucks, placing my order and informing them (manager was not available) of what happened earlier. Walking out with my drink and a business card with the district manager’s contact number, I give him a call. It’s then that he informs me that they had some kind of medical emergency at the other store and were forced to close ahead of the usual time. Cool. I can understand that but I expressed my anger and frustration on how the store personnel failed to let their customers in any way, what the situation was and that no orders were being taken. Nothing on the door, nothing at the drive through where orders are normally taken. The district manager assured me that he would send someone from another store to that location to take care of the situation. About forty five minutes later, as I drive by on my way home, it looked like nothing had been done. Tomorrow, I’ll call the corporate office (in Seattle) and let them know. Am I being petty? Perhaps. Should I just get over it? I have. I’m still going to make that call.