Ok, a new day has dawned on IHateStarbucks.com.
I no longer want to keep hacking the old, tired php on the site, so this is what I propose. These messages will remain up for all eternity. In addition, there is a new Guest book. So if you want to share your opinons, i.e. post to the site, go here. As always, if wish to rant or rave, send me an email:
| Name: | Mocha Lava 03287 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 05:04 PM |
| To fedup: Stop being so damned smug. What armchair warriors like you cannot (or refuse to) understand is that most people can't *afford* to be full time activists against the corporate machine. When you spout platitudes about "getting a real job" and "educating ourselves", you come off sounding no better than the porcine bankers who feel justified in treating baristas like subhumans when their lattes aren't made quickly enough during the morning rush. The majority of the people that I work with are either paying for their education or paying off student loans--oftentimes both at once. Kudos to the 21 year-old undergrad who can find an intellectually challenging, well-paying, full-time job making the world a better place. The rest of us need (ostensibly) affordable health care and tuition money, to say nothing of rent, food, and other such frivolties. Sure, ours isn't the most challenging job, but it really can be "oh so stressful", particularly when there aren't enough people on the floor during peak hours, or if some piece of equipment or another isn't working properly. It doesn't even really have anything to do with custom drinks--most of them are based on lattes anyway and only a new hire or total slacker would feel genuinely put upon to add X pumps of syrup, steam the milk an additional few degrees, hold the foam, etc. All we ask is that our customers (and management) treat us in a dignified and respectful manner--if you haven't noticed, the b*tching on this site is reserved almost exclusively for rude, patronizing a$$hats. Frankly, you can ask for 3 scoops of brownie chips, 2 scoops of white mocha, 1 scoop of mocha, 2 scoops of vanilla bean powder, and 1 pump of vanilla syrup in a cup full of caramel and I won't blink an eye so long as you're patient, calm, and polite about it. In fact, some of the best customers have "complicated" drinks--but unlike their entitled fathead counterparts, they seem to understand that it takes a little longer to make an unusual drink and are appreciative of the extra effort put into their order. Conversely, some guys can't even order a simple cup of joe without acting like ignorant reprobates. Anyhow, if you ask me, the baristas aren't the jaded ones so much as those who can't even be bothered to pretend that we're people for the length of the transaction. STICK THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT! |
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| Name: | Mallory 03286 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 04:02 PM |
| Norma, who do you think you are??? No, they are NOT paying us to have money. You're paying into the pretty little wallet of Schulz, or however the furk you spell his name. "But, it's MY four dollars??" Well, lady, we DON'T WANT IT!!! If you think custom shyt is so much better, take your precious four dollars, buy your own stuff, and make your damn custom drink YOURSELF!!! FEDUPW/URCRAP: Umm...I DID get a better job! I only worked at that hellhole to put myself through school so I could GET that better job! Mommy and Daddy can't necessarily pay my way, you spoiled brat. It's not as simple to just "get a new job"...there are things in life that you have to get together before you can do that. Although I do agree about Starbucks polluting our culture. SB Newbie, rock on!! I couldn't have said it better myself :) |
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| Name: | SB newbie 03285 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 03:00 PM |
| Elasped Time @ SB: 6 weeks
Elapsed Time Working Elsewhere: 6 years
Personal View So Far: It's only coffee.
Gem of psuedo-wisdom:
There are people who work and want to get paid.
There are people who don't work and want to get paid.
There are people who pretend to work and want to get paid.
There are people who watch others work and want to get paid.
This is true for any work situation.
Figure out what category into which your fellow employees place themselves, and go from there.
Figure out who you want to be, and don't take BS from others (co-workers AND customers) personally.
Pretend that this is an acting role. It is not your life. You can control what you think about and how to respond to things emotionally and socially.
You are also getting paid for playing games. If you don't like the rules or find that they change too much, find a different job.
Nothing in business or the world economy is absolute.
To rely on any one job is dangerous and foolish.
Ride the corporate wave as much as you can and keep your head above water. Realize that shallow water is as dangerous as deep water.
Leave the siren at the door and live your own life.
Don't get sucked in by the undertow. |
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| Name: | Sherl's Crow 03284 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 02:11 PM |
| oops...lots of typos and grammar...that's was 445am starts do to you :p |
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| Name: | Quitting tomorrow 03283 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 02:10 PM |
| I worked for a licensed Starbucks for a year, but moved to about an hour away. So when I applied as a Barista at a *REAL* Starbucks here in town, I thought great... Well, my first day was hell. This girl, my "partner", thought it would be funny to unscrew the caramel bottle. So when I made my first Frappuccino, yeah, all over the place. So I start remaking it and she yells at me "CLEAN THAT UP! Oh then go spin so you are out of the way." Very welcoming. And it seems no one likes to communicate with each other. They just get pissed when I was supposed to be paying attention to the drive thru when there are customers at the register!! (Keep in mind this is my 1st day, never worked with a drive thru, never worked with this computer system...) Also, this store has got to be the grossiest. (At least I hope.) Today is Tuesday and everything in the fridge today had Sunday stickers on it. The milk wand wasn't wiped once from 6am to 9am. I started to wash the whip cream containers, taking out the white ring and unscrewing the tips and etc..."NOOOOO WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? We don't do that." Well, that explains the black crud lining on each of the dispensers... I won't go on with everything but as of today I HATE STARBUCKS!!!!!!!!!! |
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| Name: | fedupw/urcrap 03282 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 02:10 PM |
| I think it's hillarious that you Starbucks workers are whining about your "oh so stressful" jobs making coffee. Try getting a real job, one that requires use of your brain & then you won't need to whine and complain about your petty, worthless existence working for corporation that is polluting the world with capitalism. If your biggest worries at work are customers ordering complicated drinks than there really isn't much hope for you. I urge the masses of baristas & Joe Schmo managers who think they have a good job to quit telling this site creator that he needs to get a life & go find one of your own. I am from Seattle & find Starbucks to be a globally disastrous pop culture load of crap. Get educated & present a case on how Starbucks could possibly be positive. "They give me benefits" and "I like my job" are not viable arguments as the rest of the world that Starbucks is polluting does not revolve around nor give a crap about you. |
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| Name: | shery's crow 03281 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 12:15 PM |
| What really annoys me about my job (yes I am a depressed, fed up barista)? The grey people. The people who come in as soon as the doors open at 7am (actually...who queue up for 20 mins - no ten minute rule for you miserable saddos). In they walk seeking their caffiene - gripping their black Lucys. They order the same thing day after day like clockwork. Yet they still insist on telling you what they order and refuse to smile or thank you. They seem to forget that you seem them practically everyday yet they can't even manage eye contact or any hint of friendlyness in their voice. That's despite me being slapping my face for 20 mins in the bathroom trying to wake up and get motiveated. My jobs sucks...I can't wait to graduate and actually escape this social nightmare that is just so degrading. Thoughts please... |
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| Name: | ExManager 03280 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 12:14 PM |
| Someone: How tenured was the partner who made your drinks? Where they a brand new barista who was still having trouble getting the standard recipes down? Or were there 20 drinks already up on the bar?
Almost everyone of my 20 partners, especuially those that had been there for a while, took great pride in making the custom drinks exactly as ordered. As someone who has spent coutless hours on the bar, I have to tell you it was a relief to make something other than the normal drink. |
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| Name: | Bob 03279 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 10:11 AM |
| RE: Someone. It is really alarming that nobody can tell that you are being ironic. |
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| Name: | :::::Shakes Head:::: 03278 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 10:07 AM |
| To Someone: Don't you dare say that we are lazy workers! Why don't you get off your lazy A$$ and make your own 3 scoops of brownie chips, 2 scoops of white mocha, 1 scoop of mocha, 2 scoops of vanilla bean powder, and 1 pump of vanilla syrup in a cup full of caramel. I'd like to see you make that drink and have another 13 drinks to make after that. You'd wouldn't like it either. |
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| Name: | no more lattes 03277 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 12:39 AM |
| It really depends on the customer's attitude and if they bark orders at you when you make their own unique drinks. Some could be a real pain in the a$$ and come at bad times when the line is out the door and they want to tell their life story to the person making their drink and slow them down. Some people can't multi-task and instead of doing work they'll just talk their mouths off. And there are some customers who once had a drink made with different syrups (by someone else who no longer worked there), didn't know what was in it, and want it created again. So you have to play investigator to make it. Baristas also give that look because of the amount of calories and fat these people are about to drink. It's their money, but they claim to be on diets but clog their arteries w/these drinks. I wonder if people have taste buds too because their combinations are sickening. Strawberries and creme with espresso?! Are you serious?! It's the people like who PUCK used as an example that make things frustrating. I made my own drinks my own way because they tasted better so I know all about special-ordering a drink. But if you're going to do it, have some common sense when the barista asks you questions. I also had a customer who came in with a Milky Way recipe sheet for us to make. How many of you have had people do something like that? It tasted like pure sugar. |
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| Name: | starwhat? 03276 |
| Date: | Aug 17 2004 12:38 AM |
| re : mike
no you cannot use your discount on giftcards.
a lady came in asking about atkins drink. i told her we could make a 0 carb drink using sugar free syrup and heavy whipping cream. so she ordered a iced venti sugar free vanilla heavy whipping cream latte. yum. just say yes! |
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| Name: | Franny 03275 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 08:56 PM |
| You know, the wands that baristas use to steam milk--guess what? We wipe those wands with those towels--soaked in water and sanitizer powder. Which means that part of that sanitizer solution goes into that latte or mocha that you drink. Ewwww, gross! |
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| Name: | Norma 03274 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 07:04 PM |
| Puck, I disagree wholeheartedly with that.
Quote:" someone -- not to get all cranky with you, but they're giving you dirty looks because your drink is a pain in the a$$. you try working eight hours a day with people doing that constantly and see how long you hold out."
They are paying for you to have money buddy. If they want a espresso that way good for them. I special order crap too, because its better. it's my freaking 4 dollars. I bet theres 100 people that would want your job. quit and work at the local Mcdonalds. your name should be ungrateful. |
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| Name: | Franny 03273 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 06:57 PM |
| I say partners (which means Starbucks employees), such as retail store level baristas and shift supervisors, such unionize. Guaranteed minimum hours weekly and guaranteed pay raises and guaranteed health benefits. You know what's funny---some "partners" steal those nitrous oxide filled whip cream chargers and inhale to get high! |
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| Name: | Nicole 03272 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 06:56 PM |
| "Someone" was probably just being sarcastic :P But if he's serious, then I reeeeally feel sorry for him. Hey, Bunny, join the "Starsucks is Over Club!" Let's go to the local coffee shop for a rare cup of real coffee :) Will- I couldn't have said that better myself. I've never been to Italy, but now that you've described how the baristas there do it, I'm tempted to go :) |
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| Name: | puck 03271 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 11:14 AM |
| someone --
not to get all cranky with you, but they're giving you dirty looks because your drink is a pain in the a$$. you try working eight hours a day with people doing that constantly and see how long you hold out. i had a woman come in yesterday and order a triple tall nonfat with lite whip latte... and don't foll it all the way up. so to clarify, i asked how much milk she wanted. oh, just 2/3 of the cup full. and then you want the rest whip cream? no, i want lite whip. okay, so you want some room at the top. no, just don't fill it all the way up. (that means you're gonna have some room there, lady.) then she came back a few minutes later and asked for more whip cream. jeez -- talk about high maintenance. these are the kind of people who should buy their own damn machine and make their drinks at home so they don't make us crazy. i think they all get together and try to outdo each other with difficult if not downright impossible drinks and then have a scoring system based on how many baristas it takes to tell them that that is not, in fact, a drink; how many people they hold up in line; and they get extra bonuses if they manage to make a barista cry, swear at them, or leave. siren olympics. coming soon to a coffee shop near you.
in regards to the for here cups, we used to use them a lot at my first store, and one day i went to wash one and somehow it banged against the counter and cut my hand all up. and they don't get washed -- the sanitizer does its job with heat. we aren't allowed to use the sanitizing solution anymore (at least in my last three stores) because it messes the hobart up somehow... even though we used it for the first four years i worked for the 'bucks.
wow. think i need a vacation -- it's been over a year, and i'm truly ready to scoop someone's eyes out with the java chip scoop... i think it would do a nice, tidy job... >:) |
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| Name: | Someone 03270 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 10:00 AM |
| I hate starbucks because they give me dirty looks when I ask for 3 scoops of brownie chips, 2 scoops of white mocha, 1 scoop of mocha, 2 scoops of vanilla bean powder, and 1 pump of vanilla syrup in a cup full of caramel. Lazy ass workers. |
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| Name: | Alicia 03269 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 10:00 AM |
| YAY JAMES!
my espresso shop is selling Italian espresso. The brands are Illy, Lavazza, and Medaglia D'Oro. Have you heard of them? |
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| Name: | will 03268 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 10:00 AM |
| Well, I just talked to a friend of mine from naples florida today and brought up this sight. He was telling me his frustrations with corperations. As it turns out, a starbucks opened up a couple of months ago across the street from a viennese style coffee house. Guess who's getting all the business? You guessed it, the big bad mermaid. Its really kind of sad when you think about it. Yet as much as I hate starbucks and all mega corps, I think the public is most responsible. People get so caught up in the hype that they become lured into mega-chains. If there wasn't such a demand from our fat, stupid public, starbucks never would have left its seattle home. NO MORE LATTES: I see frustration with using porcelean cups, but it sounds like your either understaffed, have a poor operating system or both. I've been to numerous busy espresso bars that serve drinks in porcelean with absolutly no trouble. They keep track of drinks and I don't see many people dropping the drinks. Remember its supposed to be a bar, so you sit at a bar and the drink is handed to you over the counter. Also the "fast service in paper cups" is a typical american convenience excuse. This country will go out of its way to make things convenient without keeping tabs on waste. I lived in germany for a year and was shocked by how proactive people were about eliminating waste. People would bring their own bags to the grocery store rather than wasting new ones. Not a super novel idea, but practical. And why offer take out coffee? It takes but a couple of minutes to drink a cup of coffee and people can sit and relax and forget the hustle and bustle. Where do you think all these take outs go? Yes straight to the car(sorry, SUV). Should people really be driving with a venti of hot coffee? Plus people have a tendency to just throughout this litter on the road in the name of "convenience". Ever wonder where all that litter on the road comes from? I just hate our 20 oz Ventis, Big Gulps, and drive-through culture. They all seem to emerge from this american "convenience" and is why we have such a fat, littering, SUV drivin' public. |
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| Name: | Bunny 03267 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 09:59 AM |
| Hello Current partners: Do not fall prey to doing jobs you're not entitled to do according to your "position responsabilities". I recently became a "coffee master" and learning coach and the manager at my store wants me to do certain jobs that are meant for Shift Supervisors, like taking care of the sales floor and giving out change to all the rookie partners (most partners there are new) so just say no, or just say yes and be very incompetent or negligent about it since you never received training to do so! ;) Kudos to all the "Quitting Partners" Wait for me! ;) |
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| Name: | Bunny 03266 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 09:59 AM |
| This is an anecdote from a former Shift Supervisor: "I had to quit Starbucks because I was not going anywhere in the company. So I left. If I didn't, chances are they'll would have to take me out of there in a "strecher" and place me under mental care!" Other "veteran partners" have told me stories about people quitting after covering just hours. Also I heard that a Barista (in Sbux for 5 years!) all of the sudden says good-bye to the other partners in the store; hangs up his apron and leaves the store in the middle of a big rush inside a high volume store. Why? He said he couldn't take the pressure anymore. Funny, but all true! The level of stress I get to cover a shift in the Sbux where I work at is so bad, it gives me asthma attacks! Thank goodness 91% of my plans for quitting are completed! The place is made to hurt partners psychologically, mentally, and spiritually! 6 Mission Statements and StarSkills are all Bull Crap! The Store's Manager doesn't even follows them! She's a pure lying hypocrit! I Now could really say I HATE STARBUCKS: THANKS TO THAT STORE MANAGER!!! |
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| Name: | Joel 03265 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 12:29 AM |
| Partner #1106041
I am a former partner well for the second time. I have read this site for a while afraid to add my 2 cents in fear of the *upper mgmt firing me for it*
Well let it rip baby. I dont understand Starbucks double standards and almost *clickish* work environment. Has anyone else noticed how much *non coverage time* mgmt has but the shift supervisors never get the *non coverage time* they need to become coffee experts in stead we are told to do this on OUR break time. I was upset with the manager of our store working MABY 20 hrs a week and being clocked in for 40 and screwing us all over by coming late and leaving early sometimes not even opening the store on time being out of everything possible. we ran out of espresso beans for gods sakes. so i called the DM. well the dm and her were obviouslly tight because the dm called my Mgr and told her what i had told her .. now instead of the mgr getting in trouble i was written up for *not righting the time on one partner drop ? give me a break. So i blew that off and a few weeks later my mgr again had her 6th weekend off in a row understaffing us to make up for her *non coverage hours* and i said something about it to another store manger. I was again confronted and written up for some petty 5 dollars that was found in a drop bag from a partner error. forget that place . .they cut your hours so you cant get benefits. they pay was crap for the stuff you put up with from the customers Extra hot non fat with whipped cream people can kiss my A$$. Starbucks is a joke. I thought it was a great company untill all this nazi BS. |
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| Name: | Not-ExManager 03264 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 12:28 AM |
| Erika, and Ex-Manager. Venti cold drinks not only have more milk in them, but they have one more shot of espresso in them. The extra espresso is what costs the extra money. |
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| Name: | no more lattes 03263 |
| Date: | Aug 16 2004 12:28 AM |
| SANCTUM: My store had sneeze-guards installed around the bar. It looks as if the workers are in prison because it's so weird but it keeps customers from leaning over and talking over the pitchers and other customers' cups and picking syrups up.
MIKE: When the giftcards came out we tried to see if we could purchase them using our discount and it didn't work.
JAMES & any other (ex)managers: How much community service is a store involved in? In the Siren's Note they write about it and AT OTHER STORES, I saw information about charity runs but never heard anything else. *$ boasts about their community work and I would like to know where that work is because it's not in my town. My former manager had shifts do the orders and one interview people. So she just did schedules.
WILL: You can ask for a "for-here" cup granted one is available for use. My store had about 10 total! But it'll be safer to use a paper cup. Trust me! Since it's about providing fast service, the paper cups really help even though they create a lot of waste. They could buy more mugs but they seem to get broken all the time and you wouldn't have time to clean them during rushes. It's also easier to write the drink orders on the cups themselves instead of printing receipts w/the order and placing them under cups and keeping them together. (We never had the sticky-note to put on tumblers or mugs.) A few months ago *$ gave employees tumblers to use at work to save money. I don't know if people still use them instead of paper cups. |
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