Happy Thanksgiving all! I hope everyone is having good food and some friends and/or family around them. I just want to say a big thank you to all the Starbucks partners who have to work today. I realize that some partners may want to work today for whatever reason, but nonetheless, customers appreciate that you are open. If you are here in Seattle, every year without fail, a large number of Starbucks stores are open including: Fourth and Seneca Starbucks; 7th and Pike Starbucks; Olive Way; Pier 55; First and Pike; Westlake Center (at 4th and Pine); Phinney Ridge (67th and Phinney); 12th and Columbia; University Village, and many more in many cities across the country.
Hope everyone is having a fabulous day, and thank you to all the partners working today. For some people, it’s going to take a little extra caffeine to get through the day! 😉
30 Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Socialize
Happy Thanksgiving to all!! Thanks for all the great conversation over the years! 🙂
It is my pleasure to work today so my partners can be with their families and get ready for a big day tomorrow!
A very happy Thanksgiving to you Melody for taking up your valuable time to write this blog which everyone, including me, really enjoys and happy Thanksgiving to all the rest of you floating around in cyber space.
@Hayley, ETippin, and Steve – Happy Thanksgiving! @ETippin, Your name came up in conversation just yesterday!! I was visiting with a Seattle DM who has the core of stores near Columbia Tower and that area. We talked about Thanksgiving plans. Turns out she has a sister that lives in your area and that she’ll be your state over Thanksgiving. I told her that you are an amazing partner and that the DM should come visit your store! I doubt she really will, but I raved about you and your store to this DM.
Happy Thanksgiving! My store has the pleasure of opening today at 10pm for Black Friday and we are even open Christmas Day. I know if I visit a place that serves me food and/or beverages I make sure to tip extra as they are missing their families to serve us coffee.
Happy thanksgiving, now brack yourselves for black friday!
Ahhhh thanks Melody!
My local SB was open yesterday and all the partners behind the counter were of amazing good cheer which was so nice. We then went into the city and to a SB and there all the partners were happy and chatty. Thank you.
had to get this info out there. Today, when buying a # of beans and ordering (with them) my 4shot tall cinn dolce, I happened to say yes, I would like the receipt. Luckily, because I HAD been charged for the drink. totally. only minus .70cents syrup. Luckily the manager was there BUT no one had any idea why this happened. He did comp me and told me to call Sbux, which I did. (plus, of course!!!! I ran into, thru this conversation, 2 newer partners who were rather insistent it was for just a tall COFFEE!!!!! ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. PLUS, we pay 10.5%tax for Cook county and an additional 2.25% for our village. (that’s alot of tax!)
anyway, I did call Sbux when I got home (since my NEW phone is useless, nearly..soon to be returned) and Sbux said: NO. no chnage in rewards, don’t know why this happened…took down the check # from receipt and store #…added a little $ to my card (which I appreciate BUT I DON’T APPRECIATE THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND INCONSISTENCY! (am I virtually yelling? intended)
I just want people (if they care) to be aware of this nonsense and check it out. Sbux has made THREE $$$$ mistakes on me this week totally over $25….eventually comped…but not how I want to spend my time! (I need to be at Best Buy checking on my computer or returning this phone! joke…kind of)
really sorry the rant. but do think customers should KNOW.
and , btw, they opened our (normally 5A) store today at 3:30A POOR PARTNERS!!!!! and then it ended up not even being busy. bummer. I think close them all on holidays, it’s not as essential…same with the stores. Leave open a few pharmacies and have a HOLIDAY!
@Denise – I read this kind of comment, and some of the comments on MSI (oh the people who have Starbucks that refuse to bag up for grounds for their garden??) and I am in disbelief. I hit two Starbucks today while doing some black friday shopping (7th & Pike, and Pacific Place) and both were perfect. I can’t believe that so many partners don’t know it is a tall ANY drink. Starbucks has created a set of perks, and they should make a priority to educate ALL partners (not just King County!) so that everyone is have informed and accurate conversations! I don’t know how that happened with the syrup and the drink.
A while ago I was ordering a frappuccino with banana for a sweet 16 card beverage, and the partner at the register said that I would have to pay the $1.00 for the banana, but that the frappuccino was complimentary. It struck me as odd because I’ve ordered that now and then (not too often) and never encountered that before. I asked, “are you sure?” because I knew the register barista was new, and that I’ve never had this happen before. I would’ve paid it but I was super surprised. I was in a store where every partner is really amazing, and one partner immediately came up behind him and told him “no” that the banana should be a ‘modifier’ – I guess it makes a difference in charging. And what was really odd, is that some guy at the register next to me, also piped up saying the same thing and saying that he was a former partner who had just recently left the company – He also said, “the banana is included” – I had no idea who he was. It took only a minute and everything was perfect – but I think there is some big difference in how the free drinks get charged depending on whether something is an add in, or it is a modifier. I don’t know! I have never seen those buttons!
I just wish Starbucks could get every single partner on the same page about buying a pound of beans and that the perk is not just a tall “COFFEE.” I know plenty of partners who think it is a Gold only perk! (Not green!). I can think of one Starbucks in north Seattle that even has a chalk sign up calling it a Gold perk! Ugh!
I’m sorry this happened to you Denise!
I did drop by the Olive Way Starbucks yesterday on Thanksgiving, and saw a number of friendly faces. It is wonderful that Starbucks has enough partners willing to work Thanksgiving. Since there are SO many Starbucks around, and a large number closed on Thanksgiving, I don’t think it is so hard to find volunteers – at least that is my impression.
Melody, I wonder if Starbucks has recently made some software “upgrades” in the POS system.
Last week I bought a pound of coffee and the new barista started to ring it up and one of the few remaining ol’ timer Baristas called out “he gets a free tall beverage with that” and then he came over to show the “newbie” how to ring it up, seems the “oldie” had to do something extra. Got a receipt (have since thrown it away) but the “free” triple tall caramel brûlée did not show up as the free beverages have before. Can’t remember exactly, it was not a “manager” override or comp but something else. Wish I still had that receipt.
Interesting conversation about the free tall with beans because I am just about to head out to pick up a pound of coffee. I hardly ever ask for a receipt and never really pay attention to the price on the register. I will this time.
On a related note, I was charged for the extra shot with my free beverage a couple of weeks ago and I thought that was odd (but not worth the effort to point it out). I think I was using a postcard for that drink. I also just checked my card transactions and it looks like I’ve been charged for a grande drip instead of a tall drip on several occasions (and it’s not the recent price increase). That one is a barista error (hitting grande instead of tall) but the tall with pound one is a bit more interesting. Makes me wonder if a change is coming, or as DadCooks says, just an “upgrade” was made to the pos system.
And thank you to everyone who worked at Starbucks yesterday – your third place provided a very nice refuge in between family visits, travel stops and a great place to catch up with friends (I actually saw someone who like me, lives in Chicago but I have not seen in years but actually ran into them yesterday in a Starbucks 400 miles from Chicago).
So thankful for those partners, too! Especially @etippin who I visited and who made my family some delish bevs! And then @usorthem3 who made me and my sister some delicious bevs at another Starbucks.
I went out to my local Starbucks tonight, picked up a pound of beans and decided to try a tall skinny peppermint mocha (way better than the old sugar free mocha).
The register did NOT take off the free tall beverage. Strangely, it did take $.40 off for “MSR FREE INCL MODIFIERS.” I asked the register barista and he said it doesn’t take it off I needed to bring the empty bag back for the free beverage. I told him that didn’t seem right and he said that’s how it’s always been.
His manager came up and said, no, I’ll show you (he has only been at Starbucks for 3 months). She tried three times and could not get the register to not charge for the drink.
Interestingly, she saw the removal of the drink on her screen (she saw the removal of the $3.75 drink), but the total and what printed out on the receipt was the full amount: beans + drink – $.40 modifier + tax.
As I said above, she tried three times to remove the beverage but it wouldn’t work so she simply credited my card back for the beverage.
PS the manager was clear that it was “any” tall beverage but she thought it was a Gold perk not a Green level perk. She was very nice and helpful. It’s a tough enough program to understand (unless Melody explains it to you) let alone have register problems to-boot.
@CamSpi – You sounds like you had a perfect day off! All my Starbucks visits have been perfect too. I got a for-here Guatemala Santa Catalina today after doing some shopping and it was great. The partner who made my drink (oh I should know his name!!!!!!! I have no memory for names) was showing other customers how the Clover works, and dead-pan joked that Starbucks sells the coffee puck as a coffee brownie – sliced off and cut into pieces! It was funny.
Thank you to all the partners working so hard!
@CD and Denise – You two know how to push my every single button. Is there a big memo that has all wrong info about rewards on it that is distributed everywhere other than Seattle? Obviously I’m not serious, but I am baffled why the partners in your area have nothing in common with their partners in Seattle. Or even the registers.
Tonight, I decided to pick up a pound of Organic Shade Grown Mexico tonight since it will be gone soon, and I wanted to see if the registers here would have a problem. I went to 7th & Pike near home. The register barista is fairly new, but she seems great. I ordered a tall quad cinn dolce latte on behalf of Denise. No one blinked an eye or questioned for a second that I could just get coffee – Here’s the receipt:
http://starbucksmelody.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Receipt-3944.jpg
Denise, what does your receipt look like?
Didn’t mean to push your buttons Melody, but it really is interesting because it is not just something going on with the registers, it also highlights the lack of knowledge and confusion among partners.
The register barista (3 months old) thought you had to bring the empty bag back to get the free drink (I think that is a CPG grocery store perk) and the manager thought it was a Gold reward instead of Green.
As I mentioned above, I never ask for a receipt so I never really know how often I am mis-rung. Looking at my recent transactions for my card it’s clear I’ve been overcharged on numerous occasions for a Grande drip when I order a Tall.
Considering I never redeem my 15 drink postcards, the free tall with pound is the only perk I ever use so I hope the get this fixed. The amount of time and the hassle to correct the error is a pain and barely worth it. I was almost late to a movie last night because it took so long to rectify.
And drink recovery coupons don’t really work for me because like the 15 drink postcards, I never redeem them. I think I even have some of the old free drink with mug purchase certificates from the ’90s in a box somewhere and probably a couple of the old pre-Starbucks card $3 gift certificates. Paper doesn’t seem to be something I mess with! 😉 I just want seamless and accurate.
Perhaps that’s asking too much. ;-p
first of all, I’m with DadC on this one. seems every time (or, often) when they’re playing around with their POS system..as maybe very recently with the BOGO on holiday drinks??? something gets messed up!
@Melody: this was at my regular store where I have been given the free tall BEVERAGE (when I buy a # of beans) about every 10 days without any mistakes, and generally, unless a total newbie, there’s no discussion of it being a “tall COFFEE”. So, blame Sbux and their lack of maintaining their systems but clearly, the same thing just happened with CD. and I’m glad I brought this up: it needs to be known! Obviously ?? Sbux chooses to keep Seattle totally “correct” sooner than the rest of us. Honestly, this makes me madder and madder! (at Sbux) For over 20yrs, as you know, I have had mostly wonderful experiences at Sbux. But lately, and in their “biggest $$$$$$ quarter ever ?, lots of disappointments. If they want to do away with the Rewards, then do it. But, I hate this half-ass stuff…and I blame Sbux for their lack of communicating (within)…not the partners in my area of the country. (unless they’re at fault, obviously…which is rare)
my receipt says:
Verona Wb 1lb 12.95
Tl Cindl Latte 3.55
MSR FREE INCL MODIF.. -0.70
Quad 2.25
SBUX Card 18.88
XXXXXXXmy card last4
Subtotal 18.05
Tax 10.5% 0.54
Tax 2.25% 0.29
Total 18.88
bla bla bla
Your Savings Today is $0.70
end of that. I have to point out: the manager was there. he’s not dumb, and he couldn’t get the register to ring it correctly either. (so he just comped me)
We’ve all been over the free ‘tall coffee” vs “tall beverage”. That’s incidental to me now…if it ever hapens to me I just correct them and they believe me. My issue is that right now Sbux Rewards is scamming lots of people who are NOT looking at their receipts. I’m not saying it’s intentional, I’m saying it’s aggravating and, imo, unacceptable for this big company.
I also want to say the partners at this store, including the ones from last night, are amazing. Super friendly. Super kind. Super efficient. Super welcoming. Super hard working. And for that matter, super knowledgeable. I do not assign any blame to them or their immediate management. This is indicative of something bigger. After all, why would a partner have to come to a customer’s website to get a clearer understanding of that partner’s employer’s rewards program? (I’ve read numerous posts on this site from partners who have said they came here to get more (and clearer) information than what was provided to them by the SSC).
As Steve said above Melody, thank you for all of your time and energy in putting this blog out there. It is not only a great community, but also a terrific source of accurate information.
I for one was glad that SB was open on thanksgiving and it seemed that the partners that were working at the two SB locations I went to were truly happy to be there and showed their humor and good mood to the customers. I also have to agree that there might be some changes to the software for the registers because I have seen minor errors. I rarely get a receipt so for all I know I have been overcharged more times than I know. BTW I also like when they are open for Xmas.
I have said this before and believe that the stores in Seattle go beyond and above the stores in other parts of the country. I also believe that the partner training has not been consistent and I also continue to see many new partner faces. Some of the newbies are partners transferred from another store but even then they are confused. I think that sometimes relates to how an SM runs their store. I agree Denise that the quality of the service and the drink has not been its usual SB level that it should be. Sad for sure.
Gads reading all this I really can’t understand why a big corporation like Starbucks can’t maintain continuity (I hope that’s the right word) amoung all their stores reguarding the rewards program and instruct all their employees the same and have it printed in their operating manual. I think it is very unprofessional for different stores to have different rules and they should all be the same. Someone mentioned they never take a receipt. Why? That’s why they print them out to check in case a mistake does happen. That same person says they never redeem their free drink post cands. Why again? You earned them and they are yours and if you want to get technical you paid for them in the hidden mark up of the 15 items you bought so why not take advantage of them?
@Cd , purple1, and Denise – The reason this pushes all my buttons is because it frustrates the hell out of me. It IS an absolute #Fail. Starbucks has a clear perk – Any free tall beverage when you are buying one pound of beans and using a card at the green level or higher to pay. And to see a 13 billion dollar corporation execute that so poorly makes me pull out my hair. By the way, partners here in Seattle usually have no clue that there is also the perk that you get a free tall beverage with the purchase of a bag of Reserve beans.
I was at Pacific Place Starbucks a few days ago buying some beans, and ordered a tall beverage, and said ‘oh that will come off as a registered perk’ – The register partner acted a little surprised, as well as a floating partner right behind him.
When it comes to registered card benefits, what gets me is that so many partners cannot see the forest for the trees. Registered cards are a great way to maintain loyal customers in a recession whern people shop for loyal price points. Registered card give Starbucks a huge database of information to study buying habits, gives them a huge database of email addresses to send promo emails!, and customers load a billion dollars onto those cards which is money that will be spent at Starbucks! And in the big scheme of thing, partners who give away free drinks to their friends (and trust me, we’ve all heard of this happening) cost the business way more money than the few free drinks WITH the purchase of a pound of beans!
And purple1, you are right. You are absolutely right. If every Starbucks was run like Columbia Tower, 7th and Pike, Pacific Place, 1912 Pike Place, Olive Way, or other jewels of stores, Starbucks would trade out of this world, and it would be crazy insane profitable – We’d win customer service awards. But we don’t. I was watching the news the other day of what NW businesses had the highest customer service satisfaction, and amazon.com was mentioned as being one of the top, but Starbucks was never even mentioned in this news piece.
And Denise, CD, and Dadcooks – I believe you that the register messed up, but it still baffles me. How could the registers work fine in Seattle but not elsewhere??
I am sure it makes no sense but is it at all possible that the software in registers is different in different regions of the country? I do notice even in my own region that the registers are not all the same. When stores upgrade, do they sometimes get new registers and software? Therefore the inconsistency?
@Melody: I think I am wishing you had originally said that SBUX “pushes all your buttons”….not CD and me. and, you did experience SOME partners in my area who certainly are as excellent, all around, as any in Seattle, ie: T.J. @2470, who waited on you hand and foot and even used the aroma bag (before you posted about it from another store later), not to mention Streets, where the rdm even came and there were 3 different coffees from Clover… to taste and guess….as you wrote about.
It’s been a a really bad luck week for me so sorry if I seem short. and yet, I DO keep it in perspective in my heart: all this coffee stuff is meaningless if you don’t have your health, etc. 😐
Oh my god – I don’t mean that YOU personally (CD or you) push my buttons. But it does make me crazy that the Starbucks experience is so totally inconsistent!! I guess that I don’t like hearing about that because I want to believe that what I experience here in Seattle is the same as anywhere in the country. I believe that there are great partners and great stores everywjhere, but more inconsistency outside of Seattle.
The Streets Starbucks was amazing. And that was a great coffee tasting they did!! Yes, there are fabulous experiences everywhere. And the coffee tasting at 2470 was wonderful too!!!!!! I hope TJ is well – in med school now?
Denise, it’s always okay if you give me a slap now and then when I come off sounding irreverant or just plain wrong! Hell, I need that.
I was very happy that my local Starbucks was open on Thursday as I had a long drive ahead of me to get to a family dinner. The baristas were friendly even though the store was getting very busy. I hope the extra tip I left in appreciation helped. On Friday my sister took me to her favorite Starbucks and it was a most pleasant visit. The barista chatted with us quite a bit and talked merchandise, which I really appreciated. Bought my annual red cup and the 3 oz. logo cup ornament there. That particular store was like a port in the holiday storm as we headed out for more shopping!
Great to hear BeckyE! I bet a lot of Starbucks were travel stops this past weekend as people were in new places visiting family.