Imagine this... A young man, maybe 16 stands in line and when he gets up to the counter he asks for a sip of water to take a pill. The devil pig acting as a Starbucks employee tells him that he will have to pay for a sip of water. The kid says "Really, I just need this much of water" ... She sent him walking. For my good deed of the day I bought the kid a bottle of water and gave it to the devil good. My next mission is calling Starbucks corporate and making their day too.
Screw THEM! Good for you Dave, I'd have done the same. Starbucks is the worst coffee a person can buy. They burn the shit out of it and then sugar and artificially over caffeinate it to addict you to the elevated buzz you can then only get from them. Go Stumptown or Boyds. Both much better choices.
Posted by: Dan | May 20, 2011 at 09:42 AM
DEFINATLY A "GOOD GUY" MOVE DAVE! GIVE ME A DUTCH BROS KALUHA KICKER ANY DAY OVER A STARBUCKS AND THE SERVERS ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING NICE TO SAY!
Posted by: JOE COOK | May 20, 2011 at 09:48 AM
This is appalling. Any good community based coffee slinger keeps a pitcher/cooler full of ice water and cups out where people can get to it when they need it. World Cup Coffee does. In fact, they go a step further and keep a collection of dog bowls so the canine companions can get hydrated as well. Some of these bowls are even labeled with the names of the regular four-legged friends. Starbucks just continues to take the person out of personal service. What do you expect when even their espresso machines are automated. Oh well, at least they are consistent... consistently bad... but consistent none the less.
Posted by: Lenny | May 20, 2011 at 09:49 AM
Interesting, everyone hates Starbucks, yet they manage to have a store on every corner. There are three Starbucks stores at Washington Square, just in cast you can't manage to get from one end of the mall to the other without a cuppa.
Personally, I kind of like the slightly over-roasted taste of Starbucks coffee.
Posted by: Joel in PDX | May 20, 2011 at 10:00 AM
I, too, cannot support the Starbucks machine. I would much prefer to put my hard earned $ back in the pockets of the local coffee shops, owned by those who live in our community. Hyper-Local baby!
Posted by: TMann | May 20, 2011 at 10:04 AM
yes, Dave, go get 'em!
Posted by: Carol | May 20, 2011 at 10:12 AM
oh and I also hate Starbucks coffee. Tastes burnt.
Posted by: Carol | May 20, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Sorry Dave what a horrible thing to witness. You did a good thing and will be rewarded...Please do call their corporate office I am sure you will get a better response...
Posted by: tombrooks | May 20, 2011 at 10:33 AM
I think the issue is the cost of cups, multiplied by the number of requests across the chain. Not defending someone's lack of common sense or compassion...all staff should realize that each person represents a current and future customer, not matter what the request.
A pitcher of water and some plastic washable cups would solve it.
Like Starbucks or not, it boils down to the individual behind the counter in any retail business. I have had many good transactions with staff at 'Bucks as have my kids. In fact, I have asked for and gotten water without trouble at many locations.
Shows that one clueless staffer can damage an entire organization.
Posted by: Bob with a capital B | May 20, 2011 at 11:48 AM
My daughter has worked for Starbucks for ten years and I can tell you that it is all about the person behind the counter. When you have a company as big as Starbucks you will have some individuals that get hired that should never have made the cut. My daughter has made complaints against several baristas who have failed to live up to the standards of the company. Whether or not you like Starbucks coffee is a personal preference thing (not really a reason to hate a company)if you don't like it, don't drink it! I know that the majority of employees at Starbucks do an excellent job. Was the employee who did not give this kid a cup of water wrong? You bet he was. But again, it was one person, NOT the company, that was responsible.
Posted by: Bill Cooper | May 20, 2011 at 01:22 PM
Way to go, Dave! Thanks for being a REAL "KISN Good Guy!"
BTW, a friend once me he thought that Starbucks coffee always tasted like it had a cigarette ground out in it somewhere along the line. I couldn't agree more.
Posted by: Stevie | May 20, 2011 at 01:46 PM
I would rather drink Sanka than Starsucks coffee that tastes like it has been filtered thru a jockstrap.....
Posted by: Buck Naked | May 20, 2011 at 05:24 PM
Yet another reason I avoid Starbucks.
Posted by: Russ | May 21, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Dude you're beginning to sound like me! Not quite as venomous, but you're workin' up to it. Good post.
Posted by: Muttley Macclad | May 23, 2011 at 02:54 PM
But, I gotta be honest. For the record, my local is staffed with very, very kind people who have, indeed done "the right thing" over and over and over again. I gotta be fair on that one..
Posted by: Muttley Macclad | May 23, 2011 at 02:56 PM
I feel so much happier now I unrdetsnad all this. Thanks!
Posted by: Cannon | May 31, 2011 at 07:21 AM