Five ways to get free drinks, according to DC BACHELOR. One suggestion: "Go to the busiest store near you to capitalize on worker confusion." (DC Bachelor)
Not affiliated with Starbucks Corporation (obviously)
@ Queenie:
If a store manager has realised a lot of their coupons have 'disappeared' they are likely to notify other stores and change the way they are marked (they are supposed to be stamped with the number of the issuing store).
If you want to get free drinks type coupons for your nearest n dearest, just go into you local sbucks and buy them gift vouchers...totally legit and they can get food with them too!
Posted by: Coffee Master | January 17, 2006 at 11:51 AM
I didn't know about this whole coupon thing... A few weeks ago I was visiting family out of town and went into a Starbuck every day that I was there and every time I was there (three total) they got my drink order wrong and 1.) never offered to remake it 2.) never offered a coupon 3.) defended their mistake as "well, at least you got a syrup for free." (which was gingerbread, YUCK!) I even asked for them to remake one that was obviously wrong (I know it was supposed to be for me, it had my name on it) and they said that they were too busy (they weren't). Is this common practice? Are baristas not supposed to hand out coupons? What are the rules to remaking drinks?
Posted by: MorningJolt | January 17, 2006 at 03:48 PM
Hi, I'm a frequent customer and I'm just wondering what the expectations are from employees regarding tips. I very rarely tip at coffee counters, especially when I am paying $5 for my drink, and I know the employees are making a decent wage.
The reason why I'm asking about this is, I was reading comments on this site, and the one linked about stealing coffee - and several remarks were made by employees about not offering to fix drink mistakes or offer coupons to customer who do not tip.
Is this attitude common?
I have had my drink made wrong more times than I can remember - it always gets remade because I wouldn't dream of paying for and leaving with the wrong drink (never been a hassle with this) - but I had never heard of these coupons until reading this site.
So, what's the deal - do you expect tips and punish those customers who don't give them?
Posted by: jinx | March 06, 2006 at 12:25 PM
Jinx - Absolutely not.
Any barista that behaved in that matter would hopefully soon be terminated.
I think people just like to talk big here on the anonymous internet.
We like to make you happy whether you tip or not.
What we REALLY like, is when you're nice. That is better than tipping any day.
Posted by: barista c | March 06, 2006 at 12:29 PM
Thanks for the response Barista C. Nice I can do. Honestly, I could do tips as well, but how much? For every drink or just exceptional service? Who gets it? What if the register person is a slug but the barista did a fantastic job? If I tip a few times and then skip a visit, is that seen as stiffing?
I guess what it comes down to is I can't imagine what a barista would have to do to provide exceptional service, to deserve a tip. I order my coffee, they serve it to me - there's not a lot of room here for variation. And yet the tip jar is sitting there calling me a cheapskate. They only worse feeling is tossing my change in there - like, here ya go, I know this $.27 is gonna make your day, right? If it's less than a buck, what's the point - and yet, why should I be throwing dollar bills around to every person that sets a tip jar up next to their workstation?
Hmm.... you know, I might have had too much coffee today....
Posted by: jinx | March 06, 2006 at 12:48 PM
Don't tip if you don't want to.
Tip a penny. Tip a buck.
In the States, we tend to tip food service workers because food service workers are not paid a lot.
But if you are such a 'paralysis by analysis' person, pretend the tip jar is not there.
Unless you order 8 or more drinks at a time. Then tip.
Posted by: imabarrista | March 06, 2006 at 01:52 PM
Food service workers make $2.something an hour and are taxed on a percentage of their sales (presumed to receive tips). Tipping them is a no-brainer - it's the Starbucks employees I have questions about.
Why do I need to tip when I buy several products versus just one? If I buy 8 TV's should I tip the sales person? It doesn't make sense to me but I'd love to hear your reasoning - unless, in your infinite wisdom, you feel it would further paralyze me :-|
Posted by: jinx | March 06, 2006 at 02:38 PM
Jinx -- It seems that your why-should-I-tip? question has been answered. Please move on.
Posted by: STARBUCKS GOSSIP webmaster | March 06, 2006 at 04:37 PM
well starbucks workers are taxed on their tips too. It's called imputed tip income on teh paycheck
Posted by: | March 06, 2006 at 06:07 PM
I can't imagine a barista making a drink wrong then refusing to remake it. I mean I am not doubting your claim but I just can't believe a barista would be so rude. If I make a drink wrong, I apologize make a new drink and ask if the person wants the extra drink in addition to their new drink. My asm doesn't really like giving out the drink coupons only because he likes to see people happy before they leave the store, so he often will offer people a free pastry instead of a coupon.
Also if you really want a free drink and you want it in a totally legal way, just come in when we are training someone new. If they are training on frapps and you are sitting in the cafe, you will get it, if they are training on bar you will get those too...they may not be your favorite but at least they are free.
Posted by: baristadinating | March 06, 2006 at 07:43 PM
So a customer comes to my store and said he dropped his coffee outside and would like a refill. I said okay we'd give you a fresh cup and asked the barista on register to just charge for a refill. Customer refused because he'd already paid for a refill - AT PETE'S!
Posted by: Angel | March 28, 2006 at 04:00 PM
I am a regular at Starbucks at all the the locations in my town and when I travel I usually stop at Starbucks if there is one in the area because its convenient. This Starbucks that I mentioned earlier is attached to a Shell station on my way home from a nearby city. It is the ONLY time I have ever had a problem with Starbucks and it was awful.
Posted by: morningjolt | March 28, 2006 at 08:45 PM
Some of these folks are honest people that did accually realize after you ring through their drink they forgot to tell you about that extra shot. It's cool no ones perfect so I have no problems doing it for those polite people who do make these mistakes.
Honestly though I do remember those folks as well becuase often they come back becuase you were so friendly with them before. Sometimes these kind of things are chances to make someones day rather then worry about "hey that person is making a free iced latte".
Part of being in service means being kind and polite when faced with these types of things.
By no means should you put up with that homeless person coming in and then getting upset that your not giving them a free drink. I would boot them right out of the store for that one simply due to the fact that they are an eyesore to the paying people who are just trying to relax and have a drink.
End line.
Be kind, be welcoming but don't be stupid. If you see something that you know is wrong just let your shift or manager know and keep on with your day. Were here to put a smile on peoples faces not to fret about "OMG that guy ripped us off and didn't tip!"
I don't know about you but I find the effort isn't worth the stress.
Posted by: | March 28, 2006 at 09:39 PM
all of you who are actually putting your email addies out there, asking for baristas to give you stolen coupons are dumb.
do you think that the internal starbucks police who regulate the internet thefts by employees don't know about this site, and now your email?
or do you just think that starbucks is as dumb as this whole thread topic (the original thefty one..)?
duh.
Posted by: | March 30, 2006 at 05:28 PM
For me, the biggest scam to get a free drink is when customers pull the "I said Venti" thing when I am sure they said Grande or Tall. Most of the time they are pissed off because I made a mistake (even though they were the ones who made the mistake). But other times they explain the mistake with "I'm sorry, I don't know where my mind is today..."
People should really think about that when they say, "I don't know where my mind is today" and how true that statement may be.
Posted by: Sheik | March 30, 2006 at 05:56 PM
Oh... and THEE most irritating display of cheapness/sleaziness is when customers order 3 or 4 shots over ice in a venti cup and then proceed to use the milk at the condiment bar to make a fake iced latte. So they save about 50 cents a day... unbelievable.
Posted by: Sheik | March 30, 2006 at 05:58 PM
I work in a very affluent area of Phoenix at a drive thru store and it really pisses me off when the same people driving $50,000 cars are the ones that will try to screw us over. We had a customer who would come through at least two or three times a week and tell us that she had been to another Starbucks that made her drink wrong. We would always remake it for her but after a few weeks I told my manager about it. She, very politely, asked the woman which store she was going to so she could address the problem with that store manager. The woman absolutely flipped out. She was so pissed that she got caught. She hasn’t come back since. I also think it’s a lot easier to screw us over in a drive thru since we are responsible for ALL modifications. For example “I asked for a three Splenda latte and I can only taste two. Give me a coupon” I also hate the woman that come through in her Escalades and ask us to split a venti frappuccino into two cups for her kids instead of ordering two talls and paying the extra $1.50ish.
Posted by: Adri | March 30, 2006 at 07:54 PM
To me, it's not that they're ripping off the company that bothers me. Really, what do I care that I lost $1 or 2 in sales, when my store takes in 1.5 mill a year. What pisses me off is the assumption on the part of the offender that it'll be easy because the guy behind the counter is too stupid to figure it out.
Posted by: sbuxmanager | March 30, 2006 at 08:23 PM
This is my first time on this website, and it's hilarious to read stories about other partners' annoying customers. We have a lady who gets an iced venti 2 pump vanilla latte, no ice, and then three venti cups of ice on the side. It drives me mad. Of course the two pumps of vanilla are free too, right? Now she sits out in the car and has her kids come in and order it for her. "Just say yes" policy in full effect. I hope she likes decaf.
Posted by: *fuhks | April 01, 2006 at 01:58 AM
I've been a partner for 6 years off and on. I love Starbucks, and my job. My coworkers and I really enjoy the scams people try to pull on us. We have a little notebook filled with all the stupid things customers say to us. Our DM has just reinforced the "Just Say Yes" policy, so now every single thing a customer asks for must be given to them. Free coffee. Yes! Don't like the coffee we're brewing and they want a french press of Sanani...Yes. A woman came in last week with a pound of coffee she won from a Chinese Auction and wanted to exchange it for store credit. Mind you, she didn't have a receipt, didn't even pay for it...she won it! And even after my manager explained that the coffee had been donated to the Auction, she still wanted to exchange her FREE pound of coffee for store credit...That's a scam...but "Just Say Yes"
Or the practice that started up several years ago, if you purchase a pound of coffee you are entitled to a complimentary Tall Drip. The company banned it, but most stores still do it. And a customer will always ask for it and then say "Well my Starbucks does it" And you can't argue the point, you have to give it to them.
And the most annoying thing is when a customer orders BREVE and then gets mad when they're drink is made with HALF & HALF, not HEAVY CREAM. They try to tell us that our Beverage Manual says BREVE means HEAVY CREAM. They are wrong and they assume we don't know how to make these drinks....
Sorry but it's really frustrating...all they had to do was ask for heavy cream. Now I make a point of asking which they want before I steam the milk.
Posted by: Shift Lead | April 10, 2006 at 01:30 AM
1. We still do a free tall drip coffee with bean purchase. That's Free Tall. Not a free Venti. Not a free Venti Frappuccino. Not a Free Venti Coffee with Whipped Cream and Dolce sprinkles. Just free tall drip coffee. If you hit the DISCT button plus code 146 it will ring up as free tall drip.
2. Breve has always meant Half N Half. Whatever problem you have with that single customer needs to be resolved individually.
And in regards to the SCAMMER, she should have just been offered a replacement pound of coffee that she liked and NOT store credit.
Around our store, it's "Just Say Yes, ...Unless"
Posted by: Sheik | April 11, 2006 at 08:35 AM
"Don't like the coffee we're brewing and they want a french press of Sanani..."
I've always thought this was starbucks standard....My manger seems to have no problems at all when I do it for customers. Of course I always offer what's on COW first.
But hey if they still want that Kenya when the Komodo dragon is on brew the french press it is.
Posted by: | April 11, 2006 at 08:47 PM
hey...I'm interested in knowing what eveyone's favorite drinks are. This is very intriguing to me because I like to try new things, but often have trouble creating them.
my favorite drinks right now are:
Quad Espresso with half n' half
and a double tall organic latte.
Posted by: cbarista | May 11, 2006 at 05:59 PM
i have learned over the past nine years to choose my battles.I use to get so frustrated at the person who would order an iced doppio in a venti cup then make a latte..........who cares really it is them that has to live with their own greed.
Posted by: | May 11, 2006 at 06:45 PM
The other day, this customer wanted an organic latte. We didn't realize that we were out until that day. So we apologized, yet she threw a fit and demanded that we make a free drink for her AND give her a free coupon!! jeez
my favorite drink right now is:
double tall 1pump Peppermint, soy, with whip, 1 pump WM. Yum.
Posted by: | May 12, 2006 at 04:57 PM
I am laughing my *SS off at the nerve of some people.
To all you SCAMMERS out there, you are so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Let's take a condensed look at what's going on here:
STARBUCKS:
-Starting wage that is above minimum wage for its employees.
-Excellent Total Pay Package for its employees (yes, even if you're Part-Time). Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Stock Purchase below market price, Paid Holidays, vacations, sick days, tuition reimbursement, Compassionate Healthcare for the families of employees with terminal illnesses.
-Partnership with International Aid Organizations for the development of the communities where our coffees originate (in the form of schools, hospitals, potable water, etc.)
-Partnership with the communities that we do business in, donation of pastries, coffee, time, resources, etc., etc.
BARISTAS - We come into work everyday with the desire to do our best, to give our best, and to be our best. We volunteer our time, money, and resources to help the communities where we work and live. We're Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Scout Leaders, Little League Coaches, Marathon runners, volunteers at hospitals, we visit terminally ill children and read them stories, we visit the elderly in homes whether we know them or not. We smile even when you're rude. We politely accept the lousy two bucks for your Venti Drip that you throw at us on the counter because you're too lazy to hand it to a person's outstretched hand, we clean up the filthy mess that you leave on our beautiful furniture, we give you a free drink even when we know that you don't deserve it, and the list of your idiocies goes on and on.
SCAMMERS/THIEVES: You're too selfish and cheap to pay for a cup of coffee and would rather steal instead.
Do you really think that we do the things we do that are not in our job description because we're getting paid to do it? Or that we do them because we are stupid? The answer is NO. We do it because we know that beyond us, there is a community, a society, a world. The difference is this, we think outwardly, beyond ourselves. You think inwardly, only of yourself. I am so sad for you, you truly are pathetic and insignificant.
Posted by: TonySan | May 28, 2006 at 05:04 AM
I LOOOOOOOOve ya'll coffie.
Posted by: Michelle | June 03, 2006 at 09:34 PM
It can get really weird, this one guy I'm sure is in cahoots with another comes in pretends his english is bad, and asks for a tall or grande caramel frappaccio, always behind someone whos ordered a venti javachip, and always when it's busy or atleast alittle near full capacity in the store. The no speake inglis good always takes the venti drink and leaves the caremel frap, so the venti javachip has to be remade. Now here is the thing, I have a booming voice when I call out drinks, I mean that I make sure everyone in the store (it's a smaller one) can hear me. The guy who ordered the javachip had to have heard but didn't claim his drink, then waits at the handoff station like it's been awhile, and then WOOPS the other barista realises the other guy took the wrong drink! Apologises, remakes the drink and gives the guy a free drink coupon. A tall or grande caremel frappaccino looks ALOT diffrent from a Venti Javachip! and both times I have personally handeled it these are the two confussed drinks! The guy ordering the smaller drink (caramel frap) gets out of the store REALLY FAST, while the other guy waits. I don't know how well his inglis really is, but I know a scam!
Posted by: | June 04, 2006 at 09:14 PM
Tonysan: Right on. I especially hate it when people refuse to make eye contact and throw their payment on the counter. What the hell? I smile at EVERYBODY, not just at work, but in my everyday life. So it makes me cranky when some people can't even make the effort to acknowledge that I'm human, not just a mechanical extension of the register.
I love my job. Most of my customers are great people, and they are the reason I love working at Starbucks. But the ones who come in and scam me, the ones who treat me like I'm not even there... come on. How does that make their lives any better? Seriously. It's so irritating.
Posted by: Becke | June 06, 2006 at 03:08 PM
I buy my lattes from Baywalk in St. pete, FL. I am just raving about those guys and gals at the store. i get treated so well and the attitude is phenomenal. I can imagine the PITA's that give them a hard time...folks who are just miserable with their own lives. One barista named Matt has made the best caramel mochas on this side of the planet...dont know why his taste better even though everyone follows the same recipe. But one issue I hav with the pricing structure...The cost of a caramel mocha versus a mocha with caramel syrup. A caramel mocha has mocha syrup, caramel syrup, WC and caramel drizzle. But if want that drink sans the drizzle, it is not a caramel mocha...it should be priced as a mocha and then add 35 cents for added syrup. it makes a like a 10 or 5 cent difference but that adds up when i get so often.
Posted by: susan | April 15, 2007 at 09:22 AM
I sometimes will order a venti iced coffee, pour a bit out and add milk. Ive NEVER considered this stealing. I personally dont like the ration of milk they put in behind the counter. I like to mix half and half and skim milk. Its not like I use a pint of milk! You all sound a bit jadded. I paid for the venti iced coffee didnt I?
Posted by: sarah | April 16, 2007 at 08:54 AM
I agree! I would bet you that half the people who are ordering drinks in samller cups and them adding their own milk dont consider this stealing. So what if they think "hey im paying $3 a day, 365 a year. $1,100. a year and if I want to save $.40 by mixing my own milk I will damn it." none of you are paying for your drinks. I will gladly pay for my drink, have occasionally had it made wrong, asked for a replacement nicely but never asked for more than that. i feel Im honest. I think you are getting your nickers in a bunch over some of these "scams"
As far as the woman in her escalade who buys a venti and splits it between her two kids WHO CARES!!! she paid for it! she can do what ever she wants with it.
Posted by: qtee | April 16, 2007 at 09:21 AM
It isn't people putting milk in iced coffees that everyone complains about. It's when people deliberately try to take advantage or pull the wool over the barista's eyes by ordering x# of shots of espresso and making themselves a latte, or people who purposely take someone else's larger drink off of the counter.
If I made a mistake making your drink, and you ask me to remake it, I will. No problem; you ordered something and my job is to give you what you ordered.
If, however, I took your order for a tall vanilla latte and then hand it to you and you tell me it was actually supposed to be a venti soy vanilla latte, I will take offense, because that is blaming me for something you forgot to say and for confusing your sizes. THAT is what is insulting.
If you come in and tell me you had a grande green tea frappuccino and a grande double chocolate chip frappuccino, and the cups both cracked in your car and ruined the interior, and you spoke with a MAN in the cafe who told you you could come in for free drinks, and there IS NO MAN WHO WORKS IN THE CAFE, then yes you are STEALING and being decietful. And I will not make you the drinks.
Posted by: BNBARISTA | April 16, 2007 at 05:02 PM
51st baseline,laveen AZ
This is only my 4th day working as a starbucks Barista in training, and i love how its taking over my life!as soon as i get off work (which isnt work to me) i study and try to find out more (which is how i found this site!)
-but do any of u pro's have any "ancient chinese recipes/ways to learn how to be really good and fast at making their recipes!?" especially scince im gonna b working in the mornings soon already!?
Posted by: HazelNUT | August 08, 2007 at 08:06 PM
51st baseline,laveen AZ
This is only my 4th day working as a starbucks Barista in training, and i love how its taking over my life!as soon as i get off work (which isnt work to me) i study and try to find out more (which is how i found this site!)
-but do any of u pro's have any "ancient chinese recipes/ways to learn how to be really good and fast at making their recipes!?" especially scince im gonna b working in the mornings soon already!?
Posted by: HazelNUT | August 08, 2007 at 09:32 PM
Well, I have people try to scam me all the time for free drinks, but I work in a store in which all the partners are well trained, and if you don't know you're being scammed, someone else on the floor has seen it, and can point it out to you..Plus, we keep tabs on new schemes on the fridge, so that becomes the place to get caught up on what is new..
Hazelnut, the way you become faster on the bar is to find a system that works for you, and to stick with it..That, and you have to keep moving, you have to keep doing something..Keep milk steaming, keep going, keep working..Never, ever get caught not doing something, that's how you fall behind..But, there's one "trick" that is a good idea..Let's just say that you have 2 grande and 2 tall lattes on the line..You have two Verissmos..Take the grandes and put them both under one of the verissmos, and pull 4 shots. Because there are two spigots on each machine, the shots are divvied up equally into both cups..Now, for this to work, you have to be sure that you have enough milk to pour for both drinks as soon as the shots are finished pulling, because if the shots go bad, you have to repull, and that defeats the purpose of doubling it up..But, like I said before, the best thing you can do is find a system that works for you, and work from there..
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