A Starbucks sign hanging in a branch window. Image for illustrative purposes.
A customer at the Starbucks drive-thru was left thinking about an interaction they had with their barista after they paid for their order in cash. They were going to give them $8 in change instead of $10 until they protested. The barista claimed that they had thought the extra $2 was a gratuity.
While they may have just had a mix-up with the math, it was wrong to assume they would get paid extra without asking first. That is certainly how this customer felt, as they had not expected to be tipping during this brief interaction. They just wanted a quick coffee.
An arm wearing a watch holding a takeout coffee cup outside a car window. Stock photography for depiction only.
Starbucks worker thought my money was “just extra”
This morning I went through Starbucks drive through on my way into work. Total came to $12.70, handed the cashier $22.70 cash. When they opened the window and handed me back my change they said it was $8. When I corrected them and said no it’s $10, the total was $12.70 and I gave you $22.70 they said “oh I didn’t count the $2, I just thought it was extra”. After they gave me a $10 bill without opening the register again. If they truly thought it was extra they wouldn’t have had that ready and would have given me the $8 and the “extra” $2. Truly ridiculous…
It is not that people who serve takeout coffee don't deserve a little bonus now and then; it just shouldn't be something that gets automatically assumed. Undoubtedly, they would also be irritated if they experienced this as a customer. Tipping being everywhere is a byproduct of a hustle culture that tells people to earn money by whatever means necessary, but it often doesn't include the work ethic that comes with it. People deserve to be compensated fairly for their jobs, but that doesn't always have to happen at the expense of those whose patronage is keeping their employer in business.
A Starbucks drive-thru side at dusk, seen through a car windscreen. Licensed media provided as editorial context.
"Oh I thought your money was my money, my mistake."
My sister used to work for Sonic. She would tell me about the other girls that would have competitions on how much change they could try and swindle or keep from people. She quit and turned them in.
A small pile of $5 bills with coins on top of them. Still frame for contextual reference only.
I went to a Starbucks and the total came to like $5.20. I handed them a $10 bill and .20 cents. They must have large buttons that say $5, $10, $20, because he press one button on his screen and then handed me $4 and .80 cents. I had to explain the reason I gave him two dimes, so I wouldn’t get all this change. I handed him back the $4.80 and told me to just gime me a $5. He was so confused and anxious, but still didn’t seem to understand the logic he would probably have handed me a $10 if I had got him to.
Stoped doing the old get a clean $5 or $10 a while ago. I just can't stand watching the kids mind short circuit. Ummm...... You gave me to.much money .... Blank look
This to me looks like obvious attempted theft, especially since he produced the correct change without opening the register.
If it's incompetence that really doesn't change much because it's on the business operator to have someone competent running the register.
This thing of assuming change is a tip didn't exist several decades ago. The way it has slowly crept up really makes it look like it's just a theft technique that is getting spread by word of mouth. We should make it painful and embarrassing every time we encounter it because too many meek suckers are just going to go with the flow.
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