Starbucks Customer Service Issues

Dear Community Members, As a dedicated Starbucks (SB) customer since [redacted], I have been a Gold Card member since [redacted] and frequent the wonderful SB store on Fruitville Road in Sarasota, Florida for 14 years. Over the years, I have witnessed various managers and baristas come and go, all of whom have been hardworking and exceptional. However, I feel compelled to address a concerning situation regarding a specific customer who has been mistreating the staff for quite some time. This individual exhibits demanding behavior, expecting excessive accommodations such as using napkins to cover the entire table and handle each item ordered. Despite the staff's kindness and patience, this customer's disrespectful attitude towards the baristas is unacceptable. Their rude and demeaning behavior not only affects the staff but also creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for everyone present. I believe it is crucial for us, as a community, to address this issue and find a peaceful resolution. As fellow patrons of this welcoming space, we should strive to maintain a respectful and inclusive environment for all. Please join me in dealing with this matter appropriately. Best regards, Tammy Z. Sarasota, FL

I am experiencing consistent issues with the quality and service of the drinks I order at my local Starbucks. This has happened multiple times, with my recent order being 5 Venti drinks for around $28. Upon receiving the drinks, I noticed that they were only 3/4 full, missing whipped cream, and not made as ordered. The kids' drinks were unsatisfactory as well, with them stating it tasted like warm milk. When I reached out to Starbucks, they directed me to speak with a manager in the morning to file a complaint, with no apologies or offers to remake the drinks. As a frequent customer spending between $25-$35 each visit, I would like to be compensated for the unfinished and incorrect orders I consistently receive. I have photos of the recent 5 Venti drinks displaying the poor quality and quantity.

Address: 9 Kinder Close Glossop Derbyshire SK13 6UW Date: 28/1/19 Dear Customer Services, On Sunday, January 27th, at approximately 17:10, I visited Starbucks at Piccadilly Station in Manchester. Although I don't usually purchase your coffee, I decided to treat myself and my husband as we were waiting for a train to Glossop scheduled for 17:29. Sadly, I was very disappointed with the experience. I bought 2 small filter coffees priced at £1.90 each, added a bit of milk, and took them onto the train. Upon boarding at around 17:20 and attempting to drink them, we discovered they were only lukewarm. Regrettably, we had to discard both coffees upon arrival at our destination as they were undrinkable. Ideally, I would have returned the coffee for a replacement or refund, but due to the imminent departure of our train and a lengthy queue, I was unable to do so. A friend who bought tea experienced a similar issue - her tea was lukewarm and not the type she ordered. She had the opportunity to return to Starbucks, as she was on a different train, and receive a replacement. She later mentioned that the replacement was much better, with the water being steaming hot. I am genuinely dissatisfied with the £3.80 wasted on these drinks and am hesitant to purchase Starbucks coffee again after this incident. Could you kindly reassure me that this is not the typical standard of your beverages? I request, at the very least, a prompt full refund along with an explanation for this oversight. Given that this franchise is located in the main station in Manchester, I am hopeful that you will address these concerns to prevent other customers from encountering similar disappointments that could potentially result in lost business. Sincerely, Ruth Groves

During my recent visits to the Sebastopol Starbucks, I've noticed some areas that need enhancement. On February 3rd, a barista struggled to make a mocha drink correctly. Additionally, I often observe too many staff members in the drive-thru area and an unattended order area, causing delays. Despite the numerous employees behind the counter, customer service feels lacking. The new bathroom design with shared sinks results in messy hand towel disposal and consistently full, tiny trash cans. Comparing this experience to other Starbucks locations, there is room for improvement in customer service, cleanliness, and overall ambiance. I hope these observations are helpful for the management to address. Thank you for your attention. - Pam

I am incredibly disappointed with the service at my local Starbucks in Thomas Cooper Library at USC in Columbia, SC. Before noon, they consistently run out of items, the staff is unfriendly, and I have even been served cold sandwiches multiple times. When I inquired about available food items after paying, an employee named Iyesha responded rudely. Another staff member then contradicted the previous statement, causing confusion. Despite reaching out to Starbucks in the past, the issues persist. My main goal is for these ongoing problems to be addressed. The level of disrespect and rudeness displayed by the staff is unacceptable and is driving customers away. I hope that Starbucks can rectify this situation promptly.

I would like to address an issue I encountered with one of your promotions in India. I believe your promotions are unclear and unjust. I recently received an email stating that if I spent over 2k using my card, I would qualify for a free month of coffee. Being a loyal gold member for several years, I consistently spend more than 2k a month. I eagerly participated, spending the required amount and submitting the necessary details. However, I was later informed that the offer was limited to only [redacted] customers, a detail not mentioned in the initial communication. I find this practice unfair and disappointing. Although I generally enjoy Starbucks India's coffee, this experience has left me feeling deceived. I am now considering exploring other options for my coffee fix, hoping to find a brand that values its customers more transparently and fairly.

Today marks the third occasion I visited the Richmond Road location in Lexington, Kentucky, only to find they were out of cold brew. Not only did they lack the ingredients, but they were completely out of cold brew. The alternative location for me involves backtracking to the other side of town, taking an extra 15 minutes to get to work. I am now consistently late by 15 minutes due to this inconvenience. What should have been a quick stop at Starbucks for a cup of cold brew has turned into a time-consuming ordeal. While I refrained from complaining the first two times, this recurring issue has become unacceptable. It is crucial that this location ensures they have the products listed on their menu available for customers like me.

I recently purchased an iced matcha latte, a daily treat for me. Unfortunately, the last one I received was bitter and not made with almond milk as I had requested. When I asked for a remake at the store, the cashier was rude and initially refused. After involving the manager, she agreed to redo the drink but later reneged, claiming it wasn't paid for. In the end, they discarded the drink and displayed poor customer service, disrespecting me in front of other customers. This experience was unfair, unkind, and left me feeling disrespected. I frequent this Starbucks location and now feel uncomfortable returning. The whole ordeal was handled unfairly and poorly, and I am disappointed with how I was treated.

I spend $[redacted] a year at Starbucks, which my account flagged as excessive. Standing at the Cranberry location near the Target plaza for 15 minutes, I've witnessed numerous mobile orders being prioritized over in-store customers. This has been a recurring issue during my visits over the past few months. Despite loving the coffee, the rising prices and repeated inconveniences are pushing me to consider ending my patronage. -Craig Allen, Craig Allen Salon

I am disappointed by my recent experience at the Starbucks store located off Walnut in Pearland, TX (Store number [redacted]) on Sunday, March 17th, in the early afternoon. The overflowing condiment trash and messy lobby greeted me, while two baristas, a tall male with reddish hair and a young girl, seemed more interested in chatting than assisting customers. When I was finally served, I observed the same two baristas leaving another staff member to handle the orders. I was appalled to witness the taller male barista purposefully touch the young woman's buttocks, with both of them then displaying unprofessional public displays of affection. Learning he was the manager shocked me even more. Despite feeling uncomfortable, I asked him for corporate's contact information, to which he claimed he didn't have access. This behavior is unacceptable, and I hope such incidents are not common at this store.

I have been enjoying Starbucks cold drinks for over eight years, consuming two four-packs daily. Having spent thousands on your coffee, I recently purchased some from Walmart after my local Walgreens was out of stock. Unfortunately, upon drinking one, I noticed a strange taste and discovered clumpy residue inside. This was consistent across all four-packs I purchased. I refrained from consuming the remaining packs due to this issue. In my many years of being a loyal customer, this is the first time I have encountered such a problem. I hope for some form of compensation or resolution. Thank you. S. Menard

Hello Kristen, I am writing to share an unfortunate incident I experienced at a Starbucks in Dearborn Heights downtown last Wednesday. I frequent this location after school, and on this particular day, I ordered my usual Medium Chai Tea Latte. Despite being a loyal customer who appreciates the Starbucks brand and history, I encountered an issue during my visit. After ordering a Chai Latte with an extra shot of espresso, I was informed by the barista, a woman of Arabic descent whose name I unfortunately do not recall, that they were out of espresso. This seemed unlikely to me, and when I questioned why, she responded with a discriminatory remark implying that they wouldn't serve me because of my race. This interaction left me upset and fearful, prompting me to reconsider my patronage of this Starbucks branch. The lack of action from the manager and staff to address this behavior was disappointing. I believe that customer service should be a priority, especially for returning customers like myself. Regrettably, this experience has led me to question my loyalty to Starbucks. I wanted to bring this issue to your attention to prevent others from facing similar treatment in the future. Thank you, Gabby Randazzo

I find it challenging to admit that I am still learning to navigate the app on my own. This morning at the drive-thru, I asked the barista for help using the app to sign up for the latest bonus stars. She scanned my app, but the offer wasn't activated. I tried to activate it myself now, thinking she had done it earlier. The staff is always kind, but I felt a bit silly asking multiple times if the stars were applied for the new offer. Is there a tutorial available, maybe on YouTube, to help me navigate the app better without always needing assistance? It's uncomfortable always feeling like the older person in the room who should still be using a flip phone! Please provide guidance. I am specifically referring to the offer for [redacted] stars with 5 steps.

I have been a longtime Starbucks fan, even defending the brand over Tim Horton's. However, since moving back to New York three years ago, I've had a consistent negative experience at the Niagara Falls location. Today's order of a Blonde Flat White turned out to be a Grande Blond Flat Roast, among several disappointing lattes I've purchased there. These drinks often taste like mostly milk or even just regular coffee. Many other patrons at that store share this sentiment. The Amhearst or other Niagara Falls locations don't have these issues. After enduring this for too long, I decided to share my dissatisfaction. I hope this feedback can improve the quality at this store because I still prefer Starbucks, but I want value for my money. Though I've tried Tim Horton's, I still miss a proper Starbucks latte.

This is my fifth attempt to get a $20 refund for a purchase I made on February 17th. Despite multiple promises, I have not received the refund. If I do not hear back today, I will report this as fraud. Receipt ID: FISPC_[redacted]04 Purchase Date: 12:49 GMT 2/17/19 Visa ending in [redacted] Please do not redirect me to the automated phone line. If you need to contact me, my number is [redacted]. It has been two months and I am still waiting for the refund. Starbucks has not taken any action. I am considering filing for fraud. Please refund my $20 to my Visa, not as a gift card. This is my final request. Thank you.

This morning at 5:40, I visited my local Starbucks. When I arrived, there was one car at the window ahead of me. After ordering, I waited behind the car for several minutes. Upon reaching the window, I handed the representative my gold card and $10 to add to the balance. Despite several attempts, the money could not be loaded onto the card right away. I had already been waiting for over 10 minutes at the window when I had to inform the staff that I needed to leave due to time constraints. Later, after work, I returned to pick up my gold card. I understand that my schedule was impacted, and I was slightly late for work. My expectation was that the process of getting a coffee and reloading my card with $10 would not have taken longer than it did.

Lately, my experiences at Starbucks have been disappointing. During my last three visits, I encountered rude baristas, incorrect orders, and even a combination of both. As a loyal customer who frequents Starbucks often, this trend is making me contemplate trying Beans & Brew instead. I typically order a white mocha frappe or a white mocha latte, and on one occasion, I also ordered a flat blond for my boyfriend. Unfortunately, the lid was not secured properly, causing the drink to spill on my hands and resulting in me dropping my entire order. The barista's insincere apology and lack of offering a replacement left me frustrated. These recent events are a stark contrast to the excellent service I used to receive at Starbucks. Despite the delay in reporting due to a busy work schedule and a phone replacement appointment, I felt it was necessary to share my disappointment.

On the 16th of April, I purchased a coconut latte at [redacted] 6th Ave. New York, NY [redacted] due to my allergy to regular milk. Unfortunately, I had a reaction after drinking some of this latte and later realized that I was given cow's milk instead. Despite not seeking a refund or replacement, I visited the store at 17:35 to inform them of the error for the safety of other customers. The response from the staff was extremely disappointing. I was met with no apology, and one staff member even questioned why I drank the latte if it contained cow's milk. I emphasized that I only took a few sips before realizing the mistake. Their attitude towards food allergies was reckless, and their lack of customer service was concerning. As a loyal Starbucks customer, I was shocked by the staff's negligence and rudeness. This experience has made me question returning to Starbucks in the future. I hope the issues at this store are addressed promptly to prevent such incidents and attitudes in the future. Thank you for considering my feedback.

I am a loyal customer of Starbucks who orders almost daily. Despite my enthusiasm, my recent experiences at a specific location have left me disappointed. I consistently request light ice in my Trenta Refresher, yet my drink has been filled with ice up to half the cup, deviating from my preference. When I questioned the barista today, she assured me that the ice level was correct, which I found to be untrue based on my extensive Starbucks orders nationwide. Feeling unsatisfied, I am hesitant to return to this particular store due to this poor customer service encounter. Given the significance of my complaint and the history of legal issues surrounding over-icing at Starbucks, I anticipate a careful resolution. Having been a dedicated patron, I am hopeful that my future beverages can be compensated for. The address of the Starbucks location with these issues is 12 Farm View, Montvale NJ.

I arrived at Starbucks 30 minutes before my work shift to order a drink quickly since I had to head to work. I specifically asked if the drink would take longer than 10 minutes as I was in a rush. The employee assured me it would be quick, but after waiting for 15 minutes, my drink still wasn't ready. The store was severely understaffed on Easter with only two employees trying to handle the workload, resulting in long wait times for everyone. When I had to leave without my drink, I informed the worker who showed no concern, didn't offer a refund, and simply brushed off the situation. I left feeling extremely disappointed with the poor service.