Starbucks Customer Service Issues

My husband and I have been loyal Starbucks customers for 13 years, enjoying our daily mochas. Despite spending over $[redacted] annually, we are disappointed with the service at many Starbucks locations. I order a tall white mocha with one pump and no foam, while my husband prefers a tall mocha without foam. Unfortunately, we often receive incorrect orders and encounter rude behavior when asking for corrections. Our usual Starbucks locations include those at Kroger Store on Mall Street and Route 42 in Florence, KY, and Ft Wright, KY. Even the drive-thru Starbucks at Mall Street informed my husband that a tall mocha only includes two pumps of mocha syrup, rejecting his request for a third pump. Regrettably, due to these recurring issues and disrespectful treatment from certain baristas, we have decided to cease our patronage of Starbucks. While we appreciated the delicious mochas, we can no longer tolerate feeling mistreated at our age. Warm regards, John and Leatitia Bachuis [redacted] Wedgewood Lane Hebron, KY [redacted]

On October 20th, I visited Starbucks between 10:30am-10:53am to order a venti vanilla blond roast. They informed me it had to be a pour over, which I agreed to. However, after waiting for 23 minutes without receiving my coffee, and with the line growing longer, I had to leave as I had a prior commitment at 11. I contacted the Starbucks to speak with a store manager, but instead of a solution, I received a series of excuses that did not address the situation. It was frustrating to hear that the espresso machine was not working when others were being served before me. Despite expressing my disappointment, no resolution was offered, leaving me dissatisfied with the experience.

I purchased a coffee cup from the New Orleans Starbucks located below the Westin Hotel where I was staying about 8 weeks ago. The bottom of the cup is starting to come off, and it seems potentially dangerous if I were to accidentally sip from it. It also left a stain on my white porcelain sink. I have a video showcasing the issue that I can provide. The substance coming off appears to be copper or some other chemical. It looks copper-colored but drips dark purple/black ink. The cup is still in my possession and is pink and green, costing around $30. While I adore the cup's design, I am disappointed by the safety concerns. Thank you.

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the Starbucks store at the Harris Teeter Grocery Store in Aldie, VA. As a loyal customer of over 20 years, I have observed that this store has been consistently understaffed and staffed with unreliable young baristas. The store has been closed on multiple occasions when I visited recently, leading to frustration and inconvenience for loyal customers like myself. I have personally witnessed the challenges faced at this location and feel compelled to bring this to your attention. There have been instances of a barista named Anil from a nearby store assisting at this location due to staffing issues. However, due to complaints from other employees, Anil was temporarily removed from the Stone Ridge store but has since returned, trying to manage the workload alone. As a dedicated customer, I believe that Starbucks, as an outstanding corporation, should address these issues promptly. The inconsistencies in staffing and service levels at this location are affecting the customer experience and need to be rectified to uphold the company's reputation. I am willing to provide more details if necessary. Sincerely, Rick Stakel

This morning, I visited my local Starbucks in Manorville, New York. I placed a mobile order for a Venti Traditional Misto with soy milk due to my allergy to regular milk. Unfortunately, upon taking a sip in my car, I suspected it wasn't soy milk as requested. The store was busy, and they have made similar mistakes in the past during peak times. After a few more sips, I experienced severe stomach pain confirming my suspicion. I had to dispose of the drink, feeling disappointed to have spent nearly $5 on it and now dealing with an allergic reaction. As a loyal Gold card customer, these recurring errors at this particular store are disheartening.

I frequent the same Starbucks, the only one in my city, but my usual order is never consistent, causing frustration. Despite choosing Starbucks to avoid other coffee shops' polar powder in frappes, my recent experiences have been disappointing. The lack of attention to detail led to mistakes like using dairy instead of a dairy alternative and missing ingredients in my orders. Today, my espresso frappe was made with only ice and almond milk, even though I requested an extra shot. Luckily, it was a reward day; otherwise, it would have been a waste of $6.95. I wish I had access to the frappe ingredients to make them at home since my orders are often incorrect. Despite giving detailed instructions and multiple chances, the service at the Springfield Ohio location remains subpar, leading many, including myself, to reconsider returning.

Customer service is vital for a store's success, leading to repeat business. Lately, I've visited your store at [redacted] Buchanan St., San Francisco, CA for green ice tea. Last week, my order was forgotten, and upon inquiry, the response was lacking empathy. When mistakes occur, acknowledging them with sincerity and offering prompt resolution is crucial. Customers value feeling appreciated and respected. Improving employees' communication skills can enhance the customer experience and cultivate loyalty. In a competitive market with many choices for beverages, attention to customer service is key to retaining business. Fostering a positive interaction can make all the difference in customer satisfaction and ensuring continued patronage.

I recently tried a pink drink suggested to me. I wanted to add coconut milk to it quickly between jobs. The staff member at the register, thankfully, helped me customize my drink politely. She relayed my order to the barista, who seemed unhappy. Despite this, I received my drink. I realized it looked smaller than expected. Comparing it to a coworker's coffee, it was clear it was not the grande size I paid for. The drink was tasty, but the incorrect size was disappointing. It would be great if the barista was more attentive to orders and customer service. I always make an effort to be considerate, and I appreciate when employees do the same. Thank you.

Today, locations were supposed to have free reusable red cups with a purchase of a holiday beverage. I visited my Kroger store in Portsmouth, Ohio, but they didn't have any cups. The barista mentioned Starbucks didn't send them any, leading to disappointed customers leaving without making a purchase, including me. I contacted customer service, but they weren't helpful. It's disheartening that no customers received the deal, and now no one in our area will get the January discount. Many customers were let down, and Starbucks missed out on selling many drinks.

I am disappointed with Starbucks and their "free" red cup promotion. As a loyal gold card holder for many years, it feels misleading to be offered a cup for sale instead of receiving it as advertised. The fine print stating "as supplies last" was not prominently displayed, and it seems unfair that the cups may have been given to less frequent customers. After spending thousands of dollars on Starbucks products, this experience is making me reconsider my loyalty. It's not about the money, but rather the principle of taking care of loyal customers who have supported the company through price increases. This situation has left me feeling upset and undervalued as a patron.

This morning, I visited my local Starbucks at 5:30 a.m. hoping to get one of the reusable Red cups. Sadly, I was informed that they hadn't received a shipment. I tried another store at 8:10 a.m., but to my dismay, they also didn't have any in stock. When I asked to speak to a manager, I was informed there wasn't one available. Frustrated, I contacted customer service and spoke with a lady named Lorice, who was incredibly rude and unhelpful. She refused to let me speak to a manager and eventually hung up on me. I am hoping for a resolution to this disappointing experience. Thank you, Michelle.

Dear Starbucks Customer Service, I would like to express my gratitude for the promotion involving free refill cups today. Unfortunately, despite my anticipation, when I visited my local Starbucks in Rye, NY at 6:30 am to purchase peppermint mochas for my coworkers, I was disappointed to find out they were not served in the expected festive cups. Upon inquiring, I was informed that peppermint mochas did not qualify for the promotion, contrary to the information provided in the email notification we received the previous night. As educators facing financial challenges, the cost savings on the refills would have been significant for us. I hope that in the future, there will be clearer communication to prevent such disappointments. Despite feeling let down this time, I have always been a loyal customer of Starbucks. Sincerely, T.P.

I am a dedicated Starbucks fan and a frequent customer. I was thrilled to hear about the free cup promotion on November 2nd. I live in Yuma, AZ, and went to store number [redacted] with my mom and daughter to get our free cups. Sadly, upon arrival, there was no signage indicating the cups were out of stock. We were excited to get our holiday cups but were disappointed to learn they had run out of paper cups just five minutes before we arrived, even though it was over an hour and a half after the promotion started. Later, I discovered that some employees had taken cups for themselves, which seems unfair to us customers. I am dissatisfied that we missed out on this opportunity and hope for a resolution. Thank you.

The Starbucks store located at Flower Hill in Del Mar, CA (near Whole Foods Market) has consistently had slow service. Today, it took 12 minutes to receive our coffee, which seems to be the usual wait time. We visit every Saturday during our daughter's tennis lesson, allowing for a 10-20 minute wait. The issue does not lie with the staff, as they appear to be working diligently. The slowness seems to be a result of the process in place. Even when Brandon, the former manager, was there, the service remained slow due to this process. During my recent visit, there were 3 people at the register and 1 preparing drinks, all working hard but the wait was still long. I am a long-time Starbucks shareholder and admire the company's values. I hope the store can improve its efficiency and service quality.

Dear Starbucks Customer Service, I wanted to bring to your attention an incident that occurred on Friday, November 2nd. I visited the Starbucks located in Inver Grove, MN, inside the Target store. I received an email on that day stating that Starbucks was offering free reusable holiday cups with the purchase of a drink, but when I asked about it, the employees were unaware of the promotion. I was disappointed to only receive a regular disposable cup and was informed that I would have to pay extra for the holiday cup. I would be grateful if you could please send me a reusable holiday cup to make amends for this discrepancy. My address is [redacted] Olive Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN [redacted]. Thank you for your attention to this matter, P. Thaler

Dear Starbucks, I would like to inform you that I visited the Starbucks in Inver Grove, MN two days ago on November second. I received an email from Starbucks that day stating that a free reusable holiday cup would be given with the purchase of a drink that day. However, your employees at the store mentioned they were unaware of this promotion and provided me with a regular disposable cup. I was disappointed by this discrepancy between the email promotion and the store's response. Thank you for your attention, and I kindly request that you consider sending me a reusable holiday cup to rectify this situation. Sincerely, Paige T.

Dear Starbucks, I wanted to share my experience at the Starbucks in Inver Grove, MN inside the Target on Friday, November second. I received an email that day from Starbucks mentioning that they were giving out free reusable holiday cups with a drink purchase that day. However, when I arrived, your employees were unaware of this promotion. I was given a regular disposable cup and was told I needed to pay extra for the holiday cup. This left me feeling disappointed and frustrated. I kindly request that you consider sending me a reusable holiday cup to compensate for this misunderstanding. Please find my address below: [redacted] Olive Ave. South Minneapolis, MN [redacted] Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, P. Thaler

I am a flight attendant from the UK and on November 7th, [redacted], I visited the Starbucks at LAX Airport International Terminal near Gate [redacted]. I had a concerning experience that I would like to share. When I presented my clean reusable Starbucks cup to the cashier, I was told they do not handle those due to hygiene reasons, and a staff member made an inappropriate comment linking reusable cups to AIDS. This was shocking and offensive. I have used my cup at Starbucks worldwide without any issues before. I urge Starbucks to clarify their policy on reusable cups and ensure all staff are properly trained on hygiene and discrimination. Additionally, I would appreciate information on Starbucks' policy for recycling paper cups.

Hello, I am reaching out to share an exciting opportunity I have identified. I am a resident of Colonia, New Jersey, and I have noticed that there are no Starbucks locations in the area. I believe that [redacted] Inman Ave, Colonia, NJ [redacted] would be an ideal spot for a new Starbucks. Previously, a Bagel Supreme occupied the location but has since closed down, leaving a prime space for a Starbucks. This location offers ample parking, a drive-through, and enough space inside to accommodate a Starbucks store. Introducing a Starbucks here would not only benefit the community but also financially, as it would attract students from the nearby middle and high schools looking for a place to hang out and enjoy their favorite beverages. Please consider this suggestion, as I am sure it would be well-received by the residents, including myself, who love Starbucks! Thank you.

I had an unpleasant experience at the Starbucks in Mt. Lebanon Galleria in Pittsburgh, PA. While waiting in line, the cashier served someone who arrived after me, which I found rude. Despite pointing it out, the cashier did not acknowledge the mistake. The coffee girl making the drinks apologized, but the cashier remained indifferent. The cashier, around 5 foot 8, with brown hair and eyes, appeared to be under 25 years old. It was disheartening that the person the cashier served first's friend apologized, not the cashier. This type of situation reportedly occurs frequently at this location, and I believe more attention should be paid to serving customers in the order they arrive. Thank you for listening.