Breakdowns and upside down CMs.

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Breakdowns and upside down CMs.

(23 posts) (17 voices)

Started 1 year ago by VBF
Latest reply from stranger

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VBF

Member
Internets:145

Ugh. I'll try to make this short.

So a few days ago I was having a pretty rough day personally. I was on bar and a customer was irritated that his upside down CM was wrong. I was taught that it's basically an iced vanilla latte with CR on top, but this guy wanted his CR on the bottom. I said I would remake it and suggested he let the register barista know he wanted it on bottom so we could make it right next time. This guy lost it. He said he had worked for Starbucks before and knows that it always goes on the bottom, and then asked for my SM's number because "customer service really isn't that hard." So then I just burst into tears and my shift had to tell me to sit down for a few minutes.

So anyway, two things:
1. Has anyone else ever had a breakdown at work? Mostly I just feel really stupid and embarrassed about it and I want to know I'm not alone, bahaha.
2. Is there an actual recipe for the upside down CM?

Posted 1 year ago #
Dry Sharpie

Moderator
Internets:82

If I were your coworker, I'd be separated for punching that customer in the f-ucking face.

there is no recipe for an upside down CM. The point of having it "upside down" is to have the shots blend with the milk so it doesn't sink to the bottom.

Posted 1 year ago #
ryuness

Member
Internets:496

Nope, you were right. Upside down only refers to the shots and was created because the shots of a caramel macchiato go on top.

1. Yup. I've seen at least two other women have one, too. **** happens. Mine happened because I had two back to back clopen 8 hour shifts with only 4 hours of sleep inbetween. My body couldn't handle it, I was about to pass out, and I had 2 hours left. So it did the only thing it COULD - it cried. I got sent home. I got **** for being a weakling and unreasonable at that location because I need 10 hours to sleep and get ready between shifts. And I transferred.

Even if things go badly, there's always a way out. And we grow from those mistakes, right?

2. Yep. I think I accidentally answered this first. :)

Posted 1 year ago #
JavaChap

Member
Internets:314

guy sounds like a tool. not even just a tool, the whole bag. i hate people who pull the "i used to work at starbucks" card. oh really, you did? for what, a month, before your evil **** was fired? if you truly used to work at starbucks then you'd understand that partners are people too and you'd NEVER treat them the way you are. evil, evil man.

anyway, i think the only time i've ever seen someone break down was when a woman yelled at her because our chairs were too high. ...yeah. i'm serous.

i almost had a breakdown once, there were a few tears and some shaking, just because i was INCREDIBLY exhausted and hadn't slept much the night before, was missing my boyfriend who was gone for a few days, had been working the morning rush for nearly 4 hours without a 10, had watched other coworkers get lunches, and was on bar alone with a line of drinks. i just turned to my shift and was like "I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE" and he saw the look on my face and sent me on a 10.

i'm also curious: did you cry in front of the guy and if so how did he react? all i can say is karma's a **** and someday he'll get his.

Posted 1 year ago #
Allison

Member
Internets:580

I haven't cried, but I've been sent off the floor for spontaneous ten minute breaks when the shift saw my face.

a) one time it was when I had a LINE of Clovers and the new person on till hadn't written the cup correctly - it was supposed to be DECAF Sumatra instead of regular and the customer was (actually justafiably) upset because he had waited for decaf Sumatra. and then I freaked out because I had so many cups in the queue, I didn't know what to do. my shift pretty much made it rain recovery certificates near the Clover, my ASM took over that station and sent me away.

b) the other time was when I was phantoming at a store near Penn Station during morning rush, and this person started straight out insulting me for not taking a 50. it wasn't my store, the line was really long, and he just starts YELLING at me. even the customer behind him was like, "hey, leave her alone! there's a bank down the street!" the shift came over and made him leave and someone came and took over my till while i sat in the back for a few minutes.

Posted 1 year ago #

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crucial_buzz

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I'm pretty sure most of us have almost or have at some point or another.

I was waiting tables at Unos one night and had a 14 top by myself. It was 3 different families and children, the parents were drinking and at one end and the kids were at the other end. They did NOT inform me that they were all seperate orders. (normally not too big of a deal)

So, check comes. "Can we split it?!" "Sure."

Woman 1: "I had xxxx, my son had xxx, my husband had xxxx"
husband 1: "no, I had xxx and 3 coors"
woman 1: "Oh yeah, (husband 2) had xxx! Hahaha! I had 2, or 3 yuenglings"
Me: "You had 3."
Woman 2: "Those two boys had xxxx and xxxx. The first one is on my check. The second one is on her check."
Me: "Let's focus on YOUR check".
Woman 2: "Ok, so those two boys....."

You get the picture.

I finally just tried talking to the men because the women were being... flighty and talking too damn much.

The women kept interjecting and I finally said "I need to get my manager". I went into the food alley and just broke down. My manager came, husband # whatever followed and just gave me a $50 to cover his family while I'm red faced and bawling because I'm so mad I want to stab them. The manager ended up sorting it out because I think she just put whatever on whoever's tab just to get rid of them.

I went and smoked two cigarettes. And I will never wait tables again.

Posted 1 year ago #
Anonymous

Unregistered
Internets:457

Haven't broken down at sbux but I have at other jobs. Starbucks has never pressured me as much as the other d!ckheads I've worked for.

I used to live in a really touristy area. When I was 17 I worked as a busser at a popular restaurant in town and one day the owner came to me and offered me a waitress position. I accepted because hey, more cash and waitressing hadn't seemed that hard in the off season but boy was I wrong. I was given no formal training, just a couple slow nights to wet my feet and then, two weeks after my new position, it was memorial day. Aside from independence day weekend and an event that would blow my cover of anyone at my sore were reading this, memorial day I the busiest day of the year. On my shift I was obviously struggling but the host kept giving me tables. The house was packed. I didn't have a break, my salads and soups weren't coming out on time, it was just a disaster. This one lady informed me after her entree came out that I didn't bring her soup and I just lost it. I apologized and locked myself in the bathroom and just cried. I came out and the lady was standing there, she said she understood that it was my first big night and then handed me a 20 dollar bill to encourage me to relax and just get better. I quit 2 months later after an altercation with the kitchen manager.

As crucial_buzz said, I will never wait tables again.

Posted 1 year ago #
Hot ice cream

Member
Internets:189

I just got finished working 13 out of the past 14 days. All 8hours+ shifts. I'm at a breaking point. Not crying but very bitter. I have two days off and not even looking at my phone. In fact Im going to turn it off right now.

Posted 1 year ago #
VBF

Member
Internets:145

I did cry in front of the guy which is all the more embarrassing. I don't really know how he reacted as my awesome shift took control of that situation pretty quickly and told me to go sit in the back if I needed. But thank you everyone for making me feel better about it, haha. <3

Posted 1 year ago #
VBF

Member
Internets:145

Also, Hot ice cream, I just finished working my eleventh straight day. I feel you. I'm not getting out of bed tomorrow for anything.

Posted 1 year ago #
lavieboheme1619

Member
Internets:40

There have been times where I've come REALLY close. The only time I ever voluntarily pulled a double. I covered an opening shift for a friend at one store, had an hour between, and I was closing at my store. Unfortunately for me, it was Idiots Come To My Store Day... and I was on register. I had a woman who was the world's biggest Rhymes-with-witch and she was irate that our store didn't have ceramic cups in which we could serve coffee. We had way too many get stolen, so my SM pulled them entirely. She called me an idiot and asked what was so freaking hard about my job that I couldn't just give her a ceramic cup. By that point, I was done. I looked at my Shift with the customer standing right there and said, "Send me on my break. If I have to continue dealing with this woman, I'm going to be either arrested or fired."

I personally ensured she got the WORST beverage ever served at my store and I got a sick glee sitting there watching her drink it.

Posted 1 year ago #
AZpartner

Member
Internets:100

Ha, my "I will never wait tables again" moment came when I dropped a tray of cokes on a family and myself and my paycheck that was in my apron. The cooks started giving me ****, and I just lost it.

Posted 1 year ago #
onward

Member
Internets:113

It happens all the time as you can tell. But there is a way to avoid them.

Just be honest with people when they disrespect you like that. It's the only way to maintain your sanity and self respect.

People think you have to take abuse at Starbucks. Actually, you don't. Give it back to them (professionally). You will feel better, and most of those people will shut up.

Once in my store, a customer starting yelling at a girl who'd been working there 3 days. I walked over, asked him what was going on. He said this wasn't "that hard" (sound familiar?) and she was stupid. I removed his drink from the bar and told him to leave the store. You know what happened to me? Nothing. 1) I was the hero of the store 2) He got scared of me and walked out without saying a word.

Good luck!

Posted 1 year ago #
VBF

Member
Internets:145

I agree with you, onward. This is the first time in the year I've worked here that I've done anything like that. Usually when people are being ridiculous I just don't say much and give them what they want so that they leave me and our store alone. I haven't summoned the balls to give it back to them yet. Mostly because we apparently got 12 calls to corporate last month and all the shifts and managers are s-hitting their pants about it. Eyeroll.

Posted 1 year ago #
onward

Member
Internets:113

Cool. And don't get me wrong, I understand it's your job, there's always a chance it could come back to you, but if you do right, it probably won't.

Posted 1 year ago #
Dry Sharpie

Moderator
Internets:82

Instead of having nervous breakdowns, I get very irritable working bar. Everything from the never-ending line of cups, empty and crusty syrup bottles, sticky milk steaming pitchers, filthy steam wand rags, frappuccino and iced coffee covered counters, no lids and ALLLL OF THE CUSTOMERS ASKING ME FOR ICED WATER AND THEIR DRINKS.

I start giving attitude to the customers and then to my coworkers. I can churn out drinks 30 seconds each, but I get angrier and angrier as I keep getting interrupted. Shifts have had to take over for me and tell me to slide for a 10.

Posted 1 year ago #
Quackers

Member
Internets:460

I have the same problem, dry sharpie.

It's funny because me and my coworker were just talking about this tonight.

Sometimes I have these moments where I feel like crying but I never do. Instead I get angry, slam things, give customers attitude and such. Every little thing makes me mad and I'm finding it becoming a regular occurance.

Today one of those cheap airport employees came. This particular one orders for two of her other friends (sometimes another comes instead of her) but she condescendingly always orders a venti and a grande tea, both without water or ice. (We all know they'll just add it later themselves.) Well I slammed the cup toward my coworker (playing) but the b_itch probably thought it was cause of her and says something like "I guess the attitude comes with Starbucks." I'll admit I might have been giving attitude...today and yesterday were not my days. If I had any courage, I should have said something like "Yes, with our specialty dish called cheap for dessert."

These customers are getting on my last nerve...idk how some people don't get angry or cry. I wish I wouldn't get so mad and stop giving f_cks. Sometimes it's also my coworkers that make me rage and that could make a bad day worse.

Posted 1 year ago #
lilfish

Member
Internets:44

I've only had one bad one. It was the morning after my boyfriend of almost a year broke up with me. Only one girl I was working with that day knew about it cause she messaged me the night before. I walked in went to DTR where I was supposed to be and began taking orders, then something happened with my SS and I look at him about to cry and said "I'm in no mood for your attitude today" and he kinda backed off and stuck me on bar after I took a 10 and cried a bit more. Not a complete breakdown, but everyone praised me on how good my drinks were that day.

Posted 1 year ago #
SCSHC

Member
Internets:665

I had my first breakdown at work a couple weeks ago, our store is already going through so many changes and its been really **** top of that we were understaffed, busy, I got an awful customer then brought in the back by a shift to have a 'coaching convo' in front of my SM and I was so mad that I just lost it, I got super angry, then started crying which resulted in a long conversation with the SM who made a ton of promises she has yet to keep.

As far as the upside down caramel machiatto there is no real recipe so you make it how you see fit.

Posted 1 year ago #
Like_extraextraextra_CR

Member
Internets:34

@quackers...

Only fill the tea to the first line in the cup, that's all they pay for when they get no water no ice...

It would be like me going to McDonald's and ordering a plain cheeseburger but since I don't want all the condiments I want more beef and more cheese for free.

Posted 1 year ago #
splashofsoy

Member
Internets:559

here's what i did:

i took two weeks paid time off and slept. i slept so effing much. i hiked every single day, even when it was raining, and then slept. i came back looking tanned, gorgeous, and refreshed. people treated me a lot better, i think, because i exuded a relaxed energy.

when the irritated feeling started coming back again, i found out that a shift supervisor walked off at a store a few streets down from me. so i volunteered to work there for three whole weeks, train their new shift, and get the store back on track. i got to work in a new store, with new regulars, and new partners. it refreshed me just like the vacation-- it 1) made me realize what i missed and liked about my store and 2) was just something NEW about work.

now, i work roughly 32 hours a week at my store and an extra 8 hour shift at a different store. i've been even going and working outside of my district, making friends, etc. i've worked in nearly 12 stores in the past year and it's something i'm incredibly proud of, but it also makes me feel like if i ever do get horribly exhausted of the people i'm dealing with at my home store, i have other options to go to to "escape" and still get paid.

Posted 1 year ago #
Quackers

Member
Internets:460

lol @Like_extraextraextra_CR

I've thought about doing it, and as rude as I already am, I'm sure that would make **** worse for me. I can imagine the sh_t storm that would happen but it is a damn good idea.

Posted 1 year ago #
stranger

Member
Internets:418

First off, that customer is a *******. I am so **** sick of people who say it's "not that hard." Sometimes it is.

Second, we were just talking about the upside down CM at my store. Someone who was filling in asked about it, like "is this a real drink or just something people say to make themselves feel cool?"

Usually I'll ask whether they want cr on top or in the bottom of the cup, and they almost always say "both."

Lately I've been getting a lot of CM Frap orders. (I've been making it as VB affogato.)

Posted 1 year ago #

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