"are you new?" the most ANNOYING question a customer can ask

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"are you new?" the most ANNOYING question a customer can ask

(47 posts) (27 voices)

Started 3 years ago by pap3rf1sh
Latest reply from youloose

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Just_Say_No

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pap3rf1sh

Member
Internets:332

"are you new?" basically translates to "you're **** up. why are you **** up?"

everyone has their off days where some a**hole customer smiles and says "are you new?" trying to be understanding and you want to jump across the counter and scream in their face "NO I'VE BEEN AT THIS SH*THOLE FOR 2 YEARS I KNOW HOW TO DO MY JOB!!!"

so I have a story...

when me and my little brother were younger we were wrestling and he accidentally scratched my right eye with his nail pretty hard. The resulting damage has made the vision in my eye less than perfect. Subsequently, this has affected my perception quite a bit.

One time a customer was handing me a credit card to pay for his drinks and I reached out to grab it and missed. And he asked me "Are you new?"

WHAT?!?!?!

I should have asked him "Are you stupid?!" what does being "new" have to do with not being able to take a credit card out of someone's hand?! I'm pretty sure that if I was NEW and had perfect depth perception, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT.

what an idiot.

now tell your "are you new?" stories!

Posted 3 years ago #
Jett

Member
Internets:226

YES SIR! Lol.

Being a former customer I once made the mistake of asking that question, not becuase I was trying to be an a hole, but just to get to know the person. Anyways, the resulting glare was not worth it.

Posted 3 years ago #
dolce-vendetta

Member
Internets:1

Hahaha, that is so funny that you say that, because that is the exact same situation that happened to me the other day. I almost dropped some guy's credit card and he asked if I was new. I was like what the hell? Yeah, first day swiping cards. ****.

Posted 3 years ago #
dragonfly123

Member
Internets:404

I'd love to place any of our disgustomers behind that counter and force them to deal with people such as themselves. See how long they last.

Posted 3 years ago #
Sbrean

Member
Internets:115

But you can't deny that you used that as an excuse when you first started working, h*ll even 6 months in. Its an easy way to say I f**cked up without actually having to own up to it. People seem to be more forgiving when you pull the newbie card.

Posted 3 years ago #
dragonfly123

Member
Internets:404

I still get some ****holes who come in, and ask for someone else to make their drinks as if I'm not even in the same room because maybe 5 months ago I made a tiny mistake when I made their drinks, like put *gasp* extra foam in it! I just ring them up, charge them as much as possible for every little thing that they get, then make sure that the person who makes their drink makes sure it DECAF. They deserve a whole lot worse and I hope that someday the tables are turned, and they have to work in a fast food restaurant serving someone like THEMSELVES!

Posted 3 years ago #
seashellez

Member
Internets:300

And if you are newbie you also need to be careful of customers who pull the "I gave you a 20" scam!

Posted 3 years ago #
bootsonbarelegs

Member
Internets:59

Its not just when you do something wrong though, I find that entitled regulars feel the need to point out that I must be new, because everyone else knows them by name and drink, when really, I have other concerns, such as school, and a social life. I'm sorry that I'm not here to serve you every day! Just because I work part time and don't have time to meet ALL the so-called regulars does not mean I'm new. Surprise! My life doesn't actually revolve around making your stupid cappuccino!

Posted 3 years ago #
toffeecoffee

Member
Internets:111

oh we have this wretched B that pulls up and says "yeah this is so & so"... like were supposed to know here drink.. she threw such a fit and was so rude when i didnt know it.

we do have a regular that comes thru at night..hes so sweet.. if all the customers were like him i wouldnt mind so much.

Posted 3 years ago #
becca001

Member
Internets:610

Honestly the regulars that are **** when their drink isn't waiting for them by the time the pass the threshold can suck it. Get over yourselves.

Posted 3 years ago #
OmgWtfCoffeez

Member
Internets:103

Take the ball and run with it, it's been my first day for 5 years lol

Posted 3 years ago #
decaff4u

Member
Internets:159

If a barista screws up at making drinks, the customer asks "are you new?"
Disgustomers don't know how to f*ing order drinks after years...Should the barista say "ARE YOU NEW AT ORDERING DRINKS? IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME HERE? IS IT? IS IT? IS IT?!"

Come on, you know you thought about screaming back at a customer before, or jumping over the counter. lol

Posted 3 years ago #
Caitlliinn2482

Member
Internets:17

seashellez its true. a few months back someone tried to pull that on me. but starbucks being starbucks i had no tens in my till at the time, and he handed me a ten and tried to convince me other wise.

i gave him his change and with my boss right next to me he start ranting that he gave me a 20. i said "no sir, you gave me a ten. I had no tens in my till until you gave me yours." and he told me i was a liar and that i was trying to pocket money and that i should be fired.

my boss knows im not a crappy employee. she simply took the name and number of the guy and said if we were 10 dollars over we'd call him..

HA. i just laughed and said "have a great day.."
****.

Posted 3 years ago #
dragonfly123

Member
Internets:404

I never had someone try that on me, but people do nickel and dime me and sometimes require an elaborate explanation and/or a receipt because they can't understand how their purchases add up. You know, because they are fuc^ing stupid.

Posted 3 years ago #
doppio

Member
Internets:64

2 things:

#1: My coworker (a shift who has been with the company for like 7 years) plays this little joke where he tells customers "it's my first day, I'm sorry." or "I'm new." Haha, so now whenever he says that I act really angry and say "Dude! I know it's your first day but you are doing awful! I'm not sure you're gonna last!" Or something along those lines... Sometimes the customer feels really bad for him, and tells me to go easy on him. Haha, it's slightly entertaining for me.

#2: This man has tried the "I gave you a different bill" thing at least 3 times in the past 4 months or so. He buys an apple juice. Hands the ringer $1.30 (or however much it is, in exact change...) And once the barista closes her drawer (it's always been a female). He says "I'd like my change!" And proceeds to tell her that he gave her a ten. Then he says that he knows the beginning serial number on the bill or something. But I guess they all start out the same, and he only knows the beginning, so it's just ridiculous. He gets irate and rude and cusses and is so nasty, I hate him. He came in the third time the other day and I came over to the register after he started and said "Sir, you've tried this before, it's not going to work." And he got soooo ****. Saying he's never been here before, yadda yadda, etc. He called me and my coworkers some of the worst words I know. Ugh! I get so worked up when stuff like that happens. Like shaky... I can't stand people! I hate my job sooo much right now! I am a bitter bean!!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
musis.amica

Member
Internets:74

doppio, that sounds like a funny, awesome shift

we're pretty good at remembering drinks (and names) of regulars, but like most stores, we have our openers mids and closers, without much variance. when a closer works for an opener one day and a customer who considers himself a regular feels put out that he has to place his order for us to ring it up, that peeves me. (that might be one for the DECAF thread)

Posted 2 years ago #
skinnycinnamondolce

Member
Internets:58

i'm not THAT new, i've been there for a couple months or so, but customers still get upset when i dont have their drink ready for them before they walk in the door. there are other important things and people to remember. like historical figures. not starbucks customers

Posted 2 years ago #
Starclux

Member
Internets:50

I normally worked the day shifts during my "are you new?" story. I worked maybe 1 night a week, and this woman whom I was making a drink for said "Hey Newbie!"

Honestly, there was no reason to be upset except for the fact that I delt with disgustomers all day (12pm-close for the win) and I felt.. offended? I've worked there for 2 years at this point and just gave her the nastiest glare without thinking, to which she just quietly retracted and took her disgusting drink.

the end

Posted 2 years ago #
honestly

Member
Internets:32

This scenario played out a couple of weeks ago:

Girl: "Are you new?"
Me: "Nope, been here for over four years."
Girl: "At this same store?"
Me: "Yep."
Girl: "That is so weird! I come in here ALL the time, I've never seen you before."
Me: *faking enthusiasm* "Huh, that IS weird because I've still been here for four years and I've never seen YOU before!" *giggle, giggle, giggle, I pretend to have a "moment" with my new customer friend* ... haven't seen her since.

Posted 2 years ago #
jellyfish

Member
Internets:133

Ugh, this happened to me today and I mentally jumped over the counter and stuck my thumbs into his eyesockets.

He had a super heavy accent and goes: "I vould like eh cahfeee wiv some vater, if please."

Me: "... You want the water IN your coffee? Or are you asking for a separate glass of water?"

Him: "In zee cahfee"

Me: "Ok, so put some water in the coffee."

Him: "NUH! NUH! Vater in zee cahfee sepahrate!"

I guess in = and in his accent, but whatever. So I'm like, "Oh, okay, sorry, coming right up, it'll be $1.62."

Him: "Zid you get zee vater?"

Me: "Yes, got it."

Him: "You new at zee Starbuckz?"

Me: "Nuh, I iz not, I just not understand zee accent you speaking in, Count Dracula"

Later on in the back, I was like "AWEO%!#$*(@#&%OIQWETIWEOHF" and my store manager swivels around his chair and goes "LET IT ALL OUT. YOU CAN SAY I HATE THE **** CUSTOMERS. RIGHT THERE WITH YOU."

Love my manager.

Posted 2 years ago #
paystherent

Member
Internets:6

I had a customer ask me if I was new. It wasn't my fault she didn't know what she was ordering. I worked at a coffee shop for three years before coming to Starbucks. If you mumble part of your order, I am liable to just guess what you want. I don't have all day!

Posted 2 years ago #
becca001

Member
Internets:610

The worst is when you're new and some of the old timers with sticks up their arses refuse to let you make their drink because you're new and that means you don't know sh1t.

Posted 2 years ago #
ScrougeBear

Member
Internets:40

Hi there guys this is my first time posting been with the company for close to four years now. I've only ever had one really bad are you new expierence. One of our regulars who usually gets a tall coffee comes in he's talking on his phone and just walks up to my reg, granted at the time I didn't even have a register I was doing all the cleaning things for close, but our guy on reg looked a little frazzled so I'd figure I'd help him out. He then mummbling to me asks for a large tea, then goes back to ignoring me and talking on his phone, so I calmly ask what kind of tea he'd like and if he'd like one or two bags, he continues to ignore me, I ask him again( and I"m really hard to block out I'm one of the loudest people you'll ever meet) then one of his buddies see him at the head of the reg runs up and asks to tag his order on too with me still trying to get the first guys order. Soon I've got seven guys at the reg I don't even have asking me to all kinds of teas and brewed coffee's. I finally ring everyhting up hand him his stuff and he's says to me you forgot two tea's are you new? (now in my store I'm notorious for having the worst customer service in the destrict) So I said to him no I'm not new been here for three years I rang you up yesterday, but maybe you didn't notice cause you cant take the five seconds away from your phone conversation to tell me what you actually want. HAVE A GOOD DAY. Haven't seen him since.

Posted 2 years ago #
dubs

Member
Internets:105

^^^^
Respect Mon

Posted 2 years ago #
Jett

Member
Internets:226

Sometimes they really don't know ****, becca001.

Posted 2 years ago #
dolly

Member
Internets:619

@cruisy, they are never going to learn though if you don't even let them make drinks. When I was new, I tried really hard to learn all of our regulars' drinks, but it takes time. If you train a new person how to make a drink right though instead of just assuming they'll screw it up, then they can make it right the next time instead of you having to find someone experienced enough to make your ridiculously modified drink.

I don't like it when people assume I'm incompetent just because they've never seen me before. I may not know every morning person's drink because I close all the time, but that doesn't mean I can't make it just as fast as someone else.

Posted 2 years ago #
pseudo

Member
Internets:4

It really is true, some of them don't know how to make the drinks right. Perhaps it's because they weren't trained right to begin with. I worked at Starbucks here in Milton, Ontario, Canada and I was never properly trained. I was properly trained on the POS and how to replace coffee, that's all. In the rare times that I was told to go on bar, usually during a rush of all times, the other baristas would get **** off that I was taking my time trying to do the drinks right, so they'd butt in and just do it for me. Please enlighten me, how am I supposed to learn if I can't try to do it myself, or if the other baristas won't actually HELP me make the drinks, and just roll their eyes when I ask how to make a drink? Get real. What do these people expect? I'm amazed at the arrogance of some Starbucks baristas (and customers), and I can't understand why some of these baristas think they're so special. It's the McDonald's of coffee, probably on or just above minimum wage. It isn't special. Get over yourselves and actually try to HELP new employee's, instead of having this aurora of arrogance about yourself just because you could make those drinks in your sleep.

Now I work at a place where they actually trained me properly, and where the people I work with realize that there's nothing special about a minimum wage food service job. I learned my lesson, and they'll never get another dime from me again.

Posted 2 years ago #
Chicken0rFish

Member
Internets:68

I've had a customer ask me that once. I've been with the company for 3 years now, and I transferred to my current store a little over a year ago.

About a week ago, this smug **** (who is at my store EVERY DAY) was giving me a hard time because I said we don't do bag refills on hot tea. He asked if I'm new, to which I replied no and told him I've been there for a year. He said "Hm, I come in here every day." and I replied "Really? I've never seen you in my life." not quite as biting as I could've made it, but he laughed it off and said we must not notice eachother, which I promptly agreed with.

Posted 2 years ago #
Jett

Member
Internets:226

I was in my store today getting an iced tea, and the new girl was announcing that she was new on register and to the company. I thought ok, how friendly, she is basically telling the customer to be patient with her, which I was. The SM and I had a good laugh about it. The funny part is when I gave her my drink order: V iced 10p cl no H2O BT. She about bugged out "10 pumps she exclaimed, 10 pumps of classic, OMG that is a lot of syrup!" I chuckled at that. Anyway, I never asked her if she was new, she told me, just a funny story. :)

Posted 2 years ago #
youloose

Member
Internets:66

...knowing your depth perception is off, please be sure to look the customer in the eye and be sure to grab the card successfully next time ;-]

Posted 2 years ago #

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