Whatever Happened To Customer Service, to freedom of speech and thinking for yourself ?
Wake up Starbucks, one of the most overblown brands ever, time to smell the coffee. Your customers are going to vote with their feet and go elsewhere.
I have used them myself, when there is nothing else on offer. Usually at international airports, late at night, while waiting to pick up some family member arriving from afar.
So far I have not had a decent cup of coffee.
And just like Lynne Rosenthal I have been annoyed by the rigid adherence, of the Starbucks staff, to the Corporate “marketing” speak that they try to enforce.
A little flexibility would go a long way to make the Starbucks experience a bit smoother. Their staff should be able to accept that their customers are not schooled in “Starbucks Speak” and so will not use the same terminology (freedom of speech). So they should interpret (thinking for themselves) and deliver the product (customer service).
Are Starbucks staff just automatons ?
Starbucks should take a leaf out of the McDonald’s book. They are another fast food chain that I detest but only because of the way in which they serve their burgers. Go visit a Fuddruckers and you will understand what I mean. They, Fuddruckers, have spoiled me forever.
The only reason I ever enter a McDonald’s is when I have a grandchild in tow. On entry I am usually confused by their many combination meal deals. The difference between McDonald’s and Starbucks is that the McDonald’s staff actually try to help me out by interpreting my plain English language request and turning it into a McDonald’s meal.
Apparently Lynne Rosenthal was thrown out of Starbucks for refusing to list the things she didn’t want on her bagel. How ridiculous is that ? That’s like going to a service station to buy fuel but then having to go on to say “but I don’t want any air in my tyres, no oil and no water in my windscreen washer”. A total waste of breath and time.
Starbucks is way down low on my list of favourite experiences. Seems like I’m not the only one who feels this way.
WrAnTz 