I don't even work for Starbucks anymore, but does anyone agree that customers who are on their cell phones and not even really acknowledging you should be ignored and won't be served until they get off the phone? I would love that policy, but there's no way Starbucks would ever do that because they totally kiss the customers' **** more than any other company.
Cell Phones
(19 posts) (17 voices)-
Posted 4 years ago #
-
Yes I usually would say Oh I can help the next customer in line if they walked up still talking on the phone. They would get irritated at first and then usually hang up the phone as to not lose their turn. But there are more oblivious customers on the phone than not, so most phone people just walk up and blurt out something not even checking if you heard them "Grande latte". Then they pay and get their drink and claim that it was not what they ordered "I ordered a grande vanilla nonfat latte". Its like you may have wanted that but you were too busy on the phone to actually order that so you only ordered half that you pretentious annoying human being grrrr! But you know I just love those phone customers jk not really.
Posted 4 years ago # -
here's a freaky story. I'm on reg, and a dude walks up to the counter. I'm thinking it's gonna be the same thing as always, just blurt out what you want, then give me money and walk away.
he actually says on the phone "hang on a second, i'm putting the phone down"
he puts the phone down, orders his grande black coffee and actually asks me "Do you mind if I continue my phone conversation?"
i'm so damn shocked that i just nod, hand him his change, and say Have a great day.
it was crazy, because he actually acknowledged me!...freaky.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I do not care what Starbucks policy is, if someone is on their cell phone in line, I politely pass them and get the next person's order. If it comes back on me, I say "Oh sir or ma'am, I did not want to interrupt you" and then that customer feels like the idiot and they should. You guys should try it. :)
Posted 4 years ago # -
Hahaha, When I go to Starbucks I always hang up my phone, my parents taught me better than that. :0
Posted 4 years ago # -
I remember when an licensed store (at sdsu) had the best sign that read: "talking on your phone will cause barista self combustion" with a sketch of two stick-figure baristas on fire. they were able to get away with it for a month.. it was awesome. I wanted to take a picture but I didn't have a camera phone at the time.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Yea I ignore them. Sorry you're a ****. Go to the back of the line.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I enjoy ignoring cell phone talkers to the point where they say, "Umm, I'd like to order..." And I simply say, "What would you like?" as if nothing happened. They silently realize that I ignored them for a reason, and I get the satisfaction of having averted a confrontation, but nonetheless, won the victory! Cell phone talkers get nothing from me, if I'm in a bad mood. If I'm in a good mood, I talk them to death and ask them all kinds of questions. In either case, they pay. It's always a good practice to repeat their drink order just to make sure you heard them correctly, and also to interrupt their oh-so-important conversation.
Posted 4 years ago # -
finish up your damn call BEFORE you stand online [or ANYwhere someone might be in the position to serve you]. stand to the side, take a seat, stand outside, stay in your car..whatever.
the line is for people who are ready to be served.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Its like they are just trying to say Im more important than anyone else here so you will all wait and bow as I leave. Hahaha, thats what it seems like to me or maybe they are truly ignorant and dont know its rude jk they know.
Posted 4 years ago # -
coffee247 is probably right. they know what they are doing is wrong...what they are less sure of is whether I am being relaliative. another thing they don't know is whether or not they got the caffeine they paid for. Tee Hee!
Posted 4 years ago # -
I hate cell phones. This is how I get back at arrogant **** customers who talk on their cell phone while ordering... talk *REALLY* loud so the person they're talking to can hear you and know they are at Starbucks.
Try it, it works! The customers don't care about being rude to YOU, b/c you're just a lowly pee-on Starbucks barista who they are "allowed" to treat bad, but they don't want to be rude to their friend on the phone. When they come up to your counter on their phone, greet them really loudly, and make sure the person they're talking to can hear you. Be as nice as you can be, just be LOUD. Watch your customer squirm as they reluctantly admit to their friend that they aren't fully paying attention to them and are ordering their drink.
How about THIS for the epitome of rudeness -- A month ago, I had someone actually bring their LAPTOP with them up to the counter and TYPE AN EMAIL while ordering their "venti nonfat, no-whip, xtra hot, 2 pump Mocha". What normal person does that??!!
God, I hate my job.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I usually ignore cell-phoners, but I'm normally rather polite about it. Sometimes I just wait for them to get off the phone - sometimes I tell them I'll help them whenever they're "done with their conversation." Smile. As in, "I see that you're on your phone - just let me know whenever you're done, and I'll be happy to help you!" So sweet.
Truthfully, I'm rarely that articulate about it. But, whenever possible, I ignore them until they hang up.
Posted 4 years ago # -
As someone mentioned in this thread, they don't mind being rude as hell to you, but they don't want the person on the other end to realize they aren't paying full attention to them. So, the trick is to bug them as much as possible so that the cell phone talker will be forced to keep dividing their attention, miss what the person they are talking to is saying, and annoy the person on the other line. This way that person on the other line, will **** out the annoying cell phone talker, something you are not allowed to do. Even if you don't get the person they are talking to **** off, it can really make the cell phone talker mad if you keep asking them questions, but you are being polite and asking relevant questions so you can't get in trouble for it.
Here is a typical exchange between me and a cell phone talker:
Me: Hi! How are you?
Them: *half whisper" Grande skim vanilla lattte NO FOAM!"
Me: Was that a grande?
Them: *whisper" Yes.
Me: vanilla, nonfat?
Them: Yes
Me: And you wanted extra foam?
Them: *in a frantic whisper* No! No foam!
Me: Oh, no foam... I thought you said extra, that is no foam right?
Them: *esasperated" Yes!
*if they put an rtde item up on the counter I have a few more questions"
WOuld you like a bag?
Do you need a fork?
A knife?
A spoon?
And if they didn't put an item on the counter.
Would you like a breakfast sandwich?
Would you like a pasry?
Do you want your receipt?
Etc. Etc.
Usually I manage to ask them somewhere in the area of 20 questions, drives them up the wall.
Posted 4 years ago # -
That's really a great approach to use on those annoying toads.
Posted 4 years ago # -
There's a restaurant where I live that has a sign posted saying, "Please get off your cell phone before ordering." I love it!
Posted 4 years ago # -
I ask a million and one questions to people on their phones also.
By ignoring them and moving on to the next customer I risk looking rude, but by being overly-attentive to the **** customer not smart enough to tell the person they're on the phone with to hold on for a minute while they order makes me a good barista.
:)Posted 4 years ago # -
I agree with all of you. It's ridiculously rude to order from a barista who is SERVING YOU while talking on a cell phone. Even though were payed to, were giving our attention to the customer. Can't they at least have the decency to reciprocate for like, 8 seconds?
Oh yeah, I forgot. They're Starbucks customers.
We get shitted all **** day, so as soon as I see a cell phone a foot away from the reg that particular customer is getting dead decaf shots.
8 of them.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I agree as well. I guess it's best to fight fire with fire: if a disgustomer is rude enough to continue their banal cell phone conversation at the POS, then we can look right past them and help the guy/gal who's actually ready to order.
Posted 4 years ago #
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.