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: | Miffed Manager 02484 |
| Date: | May 23 2004 02:19 AM |
| To Current ASM : As a manager in a Chicago store the barista payrate is only $7.00 per hour unless your in a "gold Coast" store (ritzy neighborhood) then its $7.50.. In this area the retail stores pay at least $10.00 but no beinfits As to the BOH manuals they change so quickly I dont know of another Mgr in my area (except me) who updates them......... And irregardless of what the books say. If someone doesnt like you they can find something to get rid of you with....... I know its crap but until someone stands up to the corporate monster theres not much you can do except lugie latte's |
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| Name: | Miffed Manager 02485 |
| Date: | May 23 2004 02:09 AM |
| To Current ASM : As a manager in a Chicago store the barista payrate is only $7.00 per hour unless your in a "gold Coast" store (ritzy neighborhood) then its $7.50.. In this area the retail stores pay at least $10.00 but no beinfits As to the BOH manuals they change so quickly I dont know of another Mgr in my area (except me) who updates them......... And irregardless of what the books say. If someone doesnt like you they can find something to get rid of you with....... I know its crap but until someone stands up to the corporate monster theres not much you can do except lugie latte's |
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| Name: | ShiftKing 02483 |
| Date: | May 23 2004 02:08 AM |
| Loved Howard's e-mail about unionizing. You know, I think we should unionize. All of us!! Maybe if we did we'd get benefits for less money, and guarenteed benefits for p/t employees. I bet we could also get a better wage-scale, including better raises then "13 cents every 6 months." And we could get upper-management and the DM's who don't know squat to respect us and keep their noses out of day-to-day business. Who's with me? WE WANT A UNION!!! WE WANT A UNION!! |
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| Name: | current assistant manager 02481 |
| Date: | May 22 2004 07:52 PM |
| I am a current assistant manager at a high volume store in NYC and I would like to comment (and VENT!) about things that go on in my region and about some of the postings i've read so far: (1)PAY- Baristas start at 7.75/hr. plus tips. While this is not a wage that will pay the bills, it is great for students, a 2nd job, and when compared to other retail chains which start at 5.15/hr, minimum wage in NYC, without tips. Shifts make 9.75/hr plus tips. My salary is 32K/yr. plus quarterly bonuses. I have a BA and other companies wanted to pay me 10/hr w/o benefits! The money is the only reason I remain w/ the company. (2)POLICIES- upper mngmt. are idiots! The company expects us to provide "legendary service" w/ a line out the door every morning, making frapps. until our arms ache, and still do the paperwork, training, etc. The emphasis in my region has been on lowering costs, i.e., cutting partner hours & working with less people on the floor, but our store is comping at 50% over last year! How is this possible? (3)To all current partners- if you are unsure of a policy, don't wait around for someone to direct you- use the BOH (back-of-the-house) books. Every stupid (and relevant) policy is in them. (4)Salaried partners CANNOT touch tips. I have not touched the tip jar since my promotion. (5) If you are willing to kiss a little butt you can move up! (I'm not ashamed, I have student loans to re-pay) P.S. to all the CUSTOMERS reading this- get off your cell phones and make-up your minds, there's a line behind you!!! |
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| Name: | babybat 02482 |
| Date: | May 22 2004 07:51 PM |
| Patrick Forney - do you realise how much of an ass you sound? The baristas behind the counter are PEOPLE! They do not exist merely to serve you! We're entitled to have conversations! Pay attention to the little people - we're the ones who make your coffee, clean your office and care for your kids; and we deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, rather than just have you throw your money at us and treat us like the speaking attatchment of the coffee machine! |
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| Name: | Patrick Forney 02480 |
| Date: | May 22 2004 11:55 AM |
| Although for coffee drinks, Starbucks is my third choice, whenever I am with folks who want to stop at Starbucks it turns into a 15 minute stop because the barter-istas cannot stop talking as if they are on some kind of a stage! As if their opinion on who serves the best Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich in San Diego is important, while people are in line waiting to be served. |
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| Name: | Barista in New Zealand 02478 |
| Date: | May 22 2004 11:51 AM |
| Oh my God, the rudeness of people talking on their cell-phones while ordering makes me want to ask: "did you want that latte in a cup or on your head?" It also annoys me when people have been waiting in line for 5 minutes, get to the front and still have no idea what they want - I have to smile apologtecially at the irritated customers behind them. As for the stupid questions... Well... The one that took the cake was the lady was asked me, "Are the ice-blended drinks cold?'... I mean, WTF? I've been at Starbucks for 2 years now and can no longer speak properly because I've been biting my tongue for so long... |
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| Name: | jon 02479 |
| Date: | May 22 2004 11:51 AM |
| i like to add how starbuck took away historical coffee house in kent, ohio called Brady's Cafe in which it been around for many decades. please somebody out there bring back Brady's cafe. starbuck has tarnish this hurderd year old bulding in kent, ohio. brady's was privatily own. |
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| Name: | Coffeegirl 02476 |
| Date: | May 22 2004 12:09 AM |
| Starbucker- Most other coffee shops usually start pay from $7.00 depending on experience. Leave Starsux. They underpay know matter how much experience you have.. |
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| Name: | Coffeegirl 02477 |
| Date: | May 22 2004 12:09 AM |
| I once worked for a Stasux at a grocery store, which is owned by the grocery store. Later I applied at a "regular" Starsucks store I was not hired because i had too much experience for them. I refused to start out @ $6.75 an hour. I love the philosophy of them, we call our employee's "PARTNERS" well if they treat their "Real" partners, I hope they do not screw them over the way they screw their employee partners. They use them then fire them when they no longer need their halp and other things unimaginable....... What sucky business partners |
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| Name: | ex shift supervisor 02475 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 07:14 PM |
| To babycat: Come on, Shultz is spending the partners money on the SuperSonics basketball team. The kid from Carnarsie has forgotten where he came from. He has a huge masion in Madison Park section of Seattle. The wealiest section in the city- mucho $$$$$$$. The busiest partners get a bonus- they get broom stick up their backside and get fired later. For being to good of an serf(employee). |
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| Name: | Nicholas Megalis 02472 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 04:29 PM |
| I am doing a new experiment in art at my local Starbucks. My new piece \\\"Oblation\\\", which is a short performance done on the floor of a Starbucks coffee shop, studies human reaction to chaos and also protests the monopoly we know as STARBUCKS.
On May 21, 2004, which is today...I will walk into my local starbucks. I will then proceed to ducttape my entire face, (My mouth included). I will then handcuff myself, and I will drop to the floor where I will then struggle for a while. This is my \\\"oblation\\\", my sacrifice of personal freedom to spend money where I please. I will do this piece in outrage at the giant.
If you are interested to see the piece, you can view the photographs which will be added to my personal website as soon I do the piece. The website is WWW.MEGALIS.TK
Thank you! |
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| Name: | New Shift Supervisor 02473 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 04:28 PM |
| I'm fairly new to Starbucks....have been a Barista since Feb & am being "promoted" to shift supervisor...I just have to say that I literally laughed so hard at some of these posts that I spit out my Cabernet (I MUST have a glass of wine after getting off work....I'm sure you all understand why!) So far, I haven't had any horrible experiences, but all the things I've read here ring SO TRUE! This site is a riot. |
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| Name: | greenplanet 02474 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 04:27 PM |
| Hey!! Anyone here looking for a job?? I'm looking for experienced Barista's to work as a "Real" Partner for my new Coffee House in Manasquan, Jersey Shore. My Coffee Co. is called Green Planet Coffee Co. Hopefully it's the first of more to come. My dream is to be to Stinkbucks what Burger King is to McDonalds. We have a really Cool / Artsy house with no corporate / capitalistic tude. Here's a good chance to get in on the ground floor of something with big possibilities.
Reach out if you want to.
Green Planet |
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| Name: | brooke 02470 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 01:43 PM |
| Interested,
There are some good managers and good stores but there are not a lot. The honeymoon phase is great but the harsh reality is extreme. Keep your search open for a company that tells you like it is. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. |
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| Name: | starbucker 02471 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 01:42 PM |
| I'm wondering what other local coffee shops pay their baristas in comparison. I've worked at starbucks for a while now and have a great manager and DM, and all the baristas get along great. Of course, corporate sets the pay, and im wondering if i should be looking elsewhere as far as money goes. |
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| Name: | ex shift supervisor 02469 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 12:55 PM |
| To all: maybe we should start up a contest to see who got fired for the dumbest reason. Or, who had or has the dumbest DM/SM. I would love to read some of the responses to these two questions.
Note: dear old Howard is not really involved with the company on a day to day basis anymore. He is more concerned with his Seattle Supersonics than SB. Maybe, that is why this company is going down the sewer lines. Just a thought. |
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| Name: | SBUX Girl Gone Mad 02468 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 12:00 PM |
| Jeff, Sounds like my days at Starsucks! I quit 3 weeks ago but still have a bitter taste in my mouth and that's not only because of the coffee! |
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| Name: | Stu Pidcustomer 02466 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 09:20 AM |
| What I have learned from reading entries on this site:
Coffee is overpriced.
Baristas are underpaid.
Baristas are undertipped.
Tipping is a major issue. Period.
Schultz is over-everthinged.
Management is inconsistent at best.
Don't even think about using a cell phone while trying to place an order.
FAT GRAMS.
Patronize local coffee shops whenever possible. |
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| Name: | me 02467 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 09:20 AM |
| Check this link out.....another disturbing reason to hate starbucks:
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/ps/020716coffee/launch.asp?b=hi |
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| Name: | Jeff 02465 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 09:19 AM |
| Today we had a visit from our regional Starbucks District Manager. Our DM is a short, obese woman that travels from one Starbuks to another making employee and manager's lives hell between sucking down Hot Chocolates, Carmel Frappacinnos and Sugar Cookies. Our visit today was prompted by some special circumstances: the resignation of our manager. And at the end of the DM's visit, I understood why our manager told Starbucks to f*uck itself. Now you need to understand, John is one of the best managers I've ever worked for in my whole career. If God could have created the perfect manager of a coffee shop, John is it. What I am trying to convey is that his departure is a huge loss for Starbucks.
Now to put today into context you need to understand that most of the employees at Starbucks are recovering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. For the last eight months we've been on the receiving end of the most grotesque display of rabid American Consumerism imaginable: sorority girls chirping for frappacinos that cost more than 5 billion people earn in a day; overworked university staff sucking down obsequious loads of coffee; idiots deriving a sense of identity because they carry a cup with the Starbucks logo on it; egoistic maniacs ordering ice, decaf, grande, double, tall, soy, one sweet and low, no whip mochas. We're talking thousands and thousands of customer visits. I mean during finals week alone we made over one thousand four hundred and fifty frapaccinos with one blender. We are fried. At $7 dollars an hour, this is truly the American version of sweat shop labor or human slavery.
So here comes the DM of Starbucks. She loves to poke around the store and find little things that are wrong. Today I was the target of her poking. I was sitting in the break room and when I got up to return to the floor, she asked me to make her a Tall Latte, Tall Mocha and Tall White Mocha. Judging by her size, I assumed she wanted to drink them before lunch. So I make the Latte, Mocha and White Mocha, put them in a tray and left them in the office. She was no where to be found because she was out back puffing on a cigarette. When she returned from her smoke break, to my surprise she starts weighing the drinks I made her on our store scale. Now I am in deep shit. The Latte is slightly under weight. The Mocha is just within range. The White Mocha is also slightly under weight. She gets out here store evaluation sheet and marks furiously and then walks over to me and explains that the drinks were not within weight standard.
I honestly didn't care. Maybe if she'd said, "Thank you for working like a slave for eight months making thousands of Lattes, Mochas and White Mochas and increasing Starbucks coffers by thousands of dollars making this the store with the highest revenues in the district," I would care. Or if she had said, "Thank you for not getting one customer complaint about your drinks in eight months", I would care. But the weight of the drink was more important. I mean, no customer alive would notice or care if there was one tenth of an ounce more foam on a Latte.
Well she was not finished. After she'd make her point about the drink weights, she noticed the container with the sanitizer rags. She asked me where the PH testers were. I pointed out to her where they were. She quickly tested the water and ran in a panic to the back office. John, our manager, came running out to the front humiliated and barked, "The sanitizer water has the incorrect PH balance." Well I have some theories about why that may be...1) First, we'd been busy with customers and had not had a chance to change the water, 2) A coworker had dumped some rags in there with coffee on them and that probably killed the PH balance. In any case, as far as the DM was concerned, we'd been caught with our pants down. Another black mark on the store report.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Quiet had once a gain settled on our world as Baristas. Just when I thought it was safe the DM appeared again and said, I have a little quiz for you... What are the Starbucks STAR principles? We looked at one another bumb-fuzzled. It is not that we didn't do them, it was just that we'd not reviewed them for a year. We plopped out a few half-ass answers and I guess failed phase three of the evaluation. Speaking of STAR principles...here they are (I'm looking in my training manual):
1) Maintain and enhance self esteem. "Self-esteem is the feeling of being okay, of being accepted and acceptable. When people feel valued by themselves and others, they are more likely to work effectively as a team." Our team has worked like human chattel for eight months in the highest volume Starbucks in the region making more money than anyone and we've received no pay incentives and not one thank you from the district. And while being asked about STAR, the DM does not recognize the work and suffering at this location, but nit picks about the weight of drinks and the PH balance of the sanitizer liquid. It has done f*cking wonders for my self-esteem.
2) Listen and Acknowledge: "When we listen to other people, we let them know we care about their point of view". If the district would stop acting like autocrats and start listening, they would notice that our Starbucks is about to go through 100% turnover in one year. Translation: we're all leaving. We're all getting the f*ck out of there. You're going to have to train 20 more Baristas. If the District listen, they would understand that the entire store needs to be reengineered for the kind of volume we experience. They would acknowledge the volume at the store and realize that additional compensation is needed for these kinds of situation. But we're still got the same layout and equipment that turns this job into hard-physical slavery for low pay.
Am I going to transfer to New York with Starbucks. Hell no. My last day is July 25, 2004. Starbucks has got my pound of flesh. Dump your stock now, because what is going on in my little district is just a sign of a company gone bad. |
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| Name: | maureen 02463 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 12:35 AM |
| Anyone out there from San Diego? Would love to hear your stories. I started in San Diego in 1994 when there were like a dozen stores. When I left last year we had about 100. Boy, did growth ruin this compnay! It did used to be a good company to work for. It did have great benefits and you could get them at 20 hours, and if you wanted the 20 hours/benefits, your manager would see to it that you had them. But with growth came greed. It seemed like upper management turned into the "Stepford" managers. What do you guys think? |
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| Name: | Starbucks CT 02464 |
| Date: | May 21 2004 12:34 AM |
| I just started working for Starbucks. The people are very nice but the store is very busy. I will keep this as a message board about my adventure at Starbucks this summer. First, let me say that all the new drinks are really stupid. The creme fraps have to be the most fattening things in the world. Thats all for now. Be brave everyone. |
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| Name: | ex shift supervisor 02461 |
| Date: | May 20 2004 07:24 PM |
| To miffed manager: read shultz's book. It talks about the two previous owners before Schultz letting starbucks get to the point of problems where the employees formed a union. I know that Canadian SBux employee's also had a union. When I was in some union's I was pt and I got benefits.(Maybe that is isolated situation) Nepotisim in the stores- not suprised. |
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| Name: | hadmyfun 02462 |
| Date: | May 20 2004 07:24 PM |
| Tomorrow's my last day. I've been there since November 2003. It's been a lot of fun but the DM never backed our manager on much of anything, especially hiring more shifts. We had been down to two shifts and a manager for the past two months and those guys have been wearing thin. One of the shifts has been getting jerked around with hours for so long it's sick. They had mentioned me to become a shift but seeing how the seniors are treated that was the last thing I wanted to do. The store ran fairly well but that was only because the two shifts had been running ragged for days on end before getting a day off. It was funny, the same day I turned in my notice I was actually feeling bad to do it but the manager turned right around and told me she had just turned in her notice as well due to the conflicts. I will miss some of the customers I had come to know a bit. |
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