A 22-year-old barista was carrying a small, concealed handgun and shot himself in the left leg while customers and co-workers were close by. He was working at the Starbucks on 16th Street NW and U Street NW in Washington, D.C. Read "Starbucks Worker Hurts Homeself in Store When Gun Discharges"
March 04, 2009
Wow. If Plaxico Burress in the NFL can do it, apparently anyone can. What the heck.
Posted by: frmrOttawaBaristaBtch | March 04, 2009 at 11:18 AM
It interesting because at the store meeting, we were told we could no longer bring weapons with us to work. You are not allowed to carry a blade longer than 6 inches. Personally, I would be afraid of a customer pulling a gun on me for making their frappuccino not "chunky" enough.
We have a few gang bangers come into my store on a regular basis. I feel sorry for most of them because they come from a broken homes, or didn't really have anything. I offer them free samples on my little sample tray. They appreciate it, since they know I'm just another brother from another mother.
They help keep the crazies out.
Posted by: BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL | March 04, 2009 at 11:26 AM
what can i say..thugs love themselves some extra caramel frappuccinos too.
Posted by: white_knight | March 04, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Why Tully's baristas are smarter than Starbucks
Posted by: SirensEye | March 04, 2009 at 11:35 AM
I love it when Lil Wayne comes on the speakers at Starbucks.
Yung Joc has a song called "Coffee Shop" which always makes me laugh.
Posted by: BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL | March 04, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Maybe Sbux should consider closing stores in neighborhoods where the staff feels the need to bring guns to work. Not sure if that's one of their closing criteria or not, but SHOULD be?
Posted by: EntertainmentInsider | March 04, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Entertainment Insider, that's not even a bad neighborhood. Maybe baristas who are afraid of urban settings should choose a store in the suburbs.
Posted by: Former Partner | March 04, 2009 at 12:19 PM
That store is near DuPont Circle, only a few blocks from the White House. But we all know how the undesirables live across the street in Lafayette Park.
Posted by: BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL | March 04, 2009 at 12:34 PM
It's to bad the bullet didn't hit upper management instead
Posted by: Paco Loco | March 04, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Is anyone else coming strapped to work...?
Posted by: Paco Loco | March 04, 2009 at 12:45 PM
how did this topic switch from a barista with a weapon to black people? you guys are the kinds of people that don't realize you are saying something kind of offensive in a conversation and embarrass the hell out of your friends.
Posted by: asp | March 04, 2009 at 01:31 PM
About black people, come on asp, the conversation did not become about black people. It did when you mentioned that though.
Posted by: Sista | March 04, 2009 at 01:35 PM
I didn't read the article, but I doubt the barista was licenced to carry, since he obviously didn't have the safety on. If you're going to carry it pays to invest in a good firearm, the NRA first steps class, AND a good CCW class.
Posted by: noncarry2ndadmendmentbarista | March 04, 2009 at 01:44 PM
Venti triple gat with caramel hollow points please....
Posted by: Mrmixx | March 04, 2009 at 02:30 PM
Even if you have a concealed carry permit, the terms of employment expressly forbid possessing a weapon on store property, and have for at least the past year, probably longer than that.
Posted by: SS | March 04, 2009 at 03:01 PM
How come I get charged for a white mocha w/vanilla if I order a grande and only get two pumps of each syrup? the barista told me that they charge for any addition to a drink such as vanilla to a white mocha. This is a drink that I've always gotten and paid nothing extra util just recentely. Why is Starbucks ripping off it's customers?
Posted by: Melinda | March 04, 2009 at 03:34 PM
because vanilla is not on the recipe card for a white mocha so it does require an extra charge. Probably in the past your barista just did not charge you but that's the proper way the drink is rung up. Why don't you just go get a registered card so you won't have to pay for syrups in general?
Posted by: non fat americano | March 04, 2009 at 03:46 PM
If i remember correctly, I just had a meeting with my team about business ethics and this was one of the topics...no weapons! I hope he is also terminated. I know I would terminate him if I was his manager!
Posted by: Java Jane | March 04, 2009 at 05:39 PM
How can someone who calls themselves 'The Dude' be full of so much hostility?
Posted by: NorCalBlend | March 04, 2009 at 05:42 PM
such an epic fail moment.
Posted by: RawrBaristaLinds | March 04, 2009 at 07:14 PM
Everybody's got a friend, his is a G-U-N. Don't piss your Barista off...Viva La Rassa!!
Posted by: Paco Loco | March 04, 2009 at 09:31 PM
nonfat americano,
you are wrong. i'll spare everyone else the agony of unleashing the 'correct ringing procedure debate' flame-up; just search the site or open your gosh darn BRM.
Posted by: Crema_the_crop | March 04, 2009 at 10:42 PM
SS,
I understand the policy at Starbucks, and definately abide by it. My point was that this kid didn't have any business having a pistol in the first place, since he obviously lacked general gun safety knowledge. This is the kind of person that iritates me to no end. Gives the good/responsible (99% of them) firearm owners a bad name.
Posted by: noncarry2ndadmendmentbarista | March 05, 2009 at 12:23 AM
"It's to bad the bullet didn't hit upper management instead"
You know, this stuff is getting way out of hand. What's up with all the hostility on here? It's one thing to express yourself, but some of these comments are way over the line.
"Webmaster if you delete another one of my comments at least have the balls to tell me why or else I will shoot you but not in the leg"
The Dude,
This is HIS website, he can delete any posts he chooses. I agree with NorCalBlend, maybe you should think before you post.
Posted by: Darleen | March 05, 2009 at 07:25 AM
haha yeah ASP, ftw. good job you racist biggot.
Posted by: diggity | March 05, 2009 at 07:53 AM
Homeself?
Posted by: BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL | March 05, 2009 at 08:03 AM
BTW, Starbucks is not ripping you off by charging for vanilla in your white mocha. The partner is ringing up the drink correctly, with the modifiers(thereby earning his store more labor, etc)if you weren't getting charged for vanilla before, the baristas ringing you up were wrong(maybe they liked you, forgot to charge it, or just sucked at being baristas)and didn't charge for the vanilla.
Go to McDonalds and ask for some extra sweet and sour sauce, or Bk and do the same... They all charge .35 cents for extra sauces now. When the times get tough, the tough get going. Can't afford the .30 cents for a few pumps of vanilla? Maybe you shouldn't go to starbucks, and just spend your time working instead.
Posted by: diggity | March 05, 2009 at 08:03 AM
I am a CCW holder and carry to work, and everywhere. I wonder if the barrista was one, I can't imagine anyone who went through the training and tests for CCW being that irresponsible with a firearm. I also am afraid I may need to stop going to starbucks if it really is policy that they don't support CCW.
Posted by: Amazonv | March 05, 2009 at 08:33 AM
A few years ago I was working at a store in a marginal neighborhood, and we were told we couldn't carry pepper spray because it constituted a "weapon".
Posted by: Shifty Stuporvisor | March 05, 2009 at 08:42 AM
I don't know, Boston Starbucks Rebel. The price of a grande drink calls for 4 pumps of syrup, and so that can be 2 pumps vanilla, 2 pumps white mocha, or even half a pump of 8 different syrups. Who cares?
Plus, at a certain point, what a barista will charge for is at their discretion. If a customer wants half a pump of mocha in a Venti latte, I don't think it's fair to charge them the 30 cents. But when a customer asks for a Venti latte with only one shot of espresso and demands they only be charged for a tall, I refuse.
But we're getting off topic ...
Posted by: YellowTie | March 05, 2009 at 08:43 AM
Not a big deal, the kid probably had a .22 cal gun on him...I 've shot a few people in the a*$ with this kind of piece, leaves a little scar and you can survive from it. He's lucky it wasen't a bigger cal gun.
Posted by: Paco Loco | March 05, 2009 at 08:45 AM
I own this website, The Dude, and I can delete any offensive comment I want. Oh, I can also ban anyone from ever posting again. Keep that in mind.
Posted by: STARBUCKS GOSSIP WEBMASTER | March 05, 2009 at 08:47 AM
I stopped by the Starbucks at 16th and K NW this morning (March 5) The cashier was this 20-something woman who just leaned on her register half asleep even with a long line. I just stood there waiting for her to ask if she could help me - something she obviously didn't want to do. She finally looked at me with an attitude of "what the hell do you want?" I should have walked out right at that moment. Instead I told her a tall decaf. She got the coffee and handed me a cup. I could tell by the weight that it was half empty, so I lifted the lid and asked her for a full cup. She said "We already told you we don't got no more tall cups." Given that she had never said a word to me she - I don't know who the "we" is - didn't tell me that. She then proceeded to restock the cup sleeves before taking my starbucks card to pay for the purchase. Again, I should have walked out. When I got to the office I called starbucks customer complaint line and filed a complaint. I also asked for a refund on my starbucks gold card. They told me that can't issue a refund. So I have $19.62 on my card that I will never use because I'll never set foot in another one of their stores again. By not patronizing them I won't have to worry about getting shot by one of their employees!
Posted by: Jeff | March 05, 2009 at 08:58 AM
From the Beverage Resource Manual:
Customers should not be charged for requesting extra syrup, sauce or dry ingrdients.
Customers may choose any number of pumps, flavors and/or scoops.
Customers should not get charged for substituting syrups, sauces or dry ingredients or any combination of those listed.
So, the correct ringing procedure on a grande two pump white mocha, two pump vanilla white mocha would be just grande white mocha.
Posted by: Your Momma | March 05, 2009 at 09:14 AM
I can't believe no one mentioned the coincidence about the Hospitals name.
"Howard University Hospital". I thought it was funny.
The rest of the story scares me. Good thing I'm in Canada where the right to carry a gun isn't a crucial part of everydays life (and insane lobbyism).
Webmaster, you should consider pressing charges about that murder threat. That is really a bit too much.
Posted by: a concerned barista | March 05, 2009 at 09:32 AM
@ Your Momma -- your first statement is correct, except you left out "if it's part of the original recipe" at the end...
The correct way to ring this beverage is Grande White Mocha, Add Vanilla...
Customers may add as many pumps of syrup, extra sauce, or scoops of dry ingredients as they want as long as it's part of the original recipe. If it's not, you charge ONCE, and THEN they may get as many pumps as they want. So the other thing to watch out for is the barista should only be charging ONCE for vanilla in this scenario, whether it's one pump or 10.
However, why would you sell your store short? Are you charging your customers for a regular latte when they order a vanilla latte? Of course not! Read the resource manual again...you're either missing a significant subject heading or it states what I'm saying earlier...
Posted by: Asher | March 05, 2009 at 09:37 AM
As I recall, the most recent policy change on syrups was to charge for the first added syrup, but for 30 cents you can add as much syrup as you want. How about some regular mocha, a little raspberry, and a hint of cinnamon dolce with that?
Posted by: Shifty Stuporvisor | March 05, 2009 at 09:51 AM
To the Customer Jeff, thank goodness you no longer will bother us with your booshie antics, we are glad to not have you return to ANY of our stores. The poor girl probably was up at 4:30AM setting everything up so you could come in and spend no less than two dollars (You know Jeff is cheap cause he used a gold card which is discounted, and he left NO tip) and he expects to get sucked off on the line or something. I wish you came into my store, maybe it would "Pop-Off" again!! Viva La Rassa!
Posted by: Paco Loco | March 05, 2009 at 09:56 AM
A Starbucks in Westbury, NY or something was robbed the other day. If the partners had been armed, they wouldn't have lost the money from the safe. Even firing a single warning shot, would be enough to scare most of them away. Although, I was always told to shoot to kill.
Posted by: BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL | March 05, 2009 at 10:35 AM
@BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL - Sorry, even as a CCW holder, and a former retail worker, I would never shoot someone (or a warning shot, which is dangerous) to protect money-they can have the money. now if they fired warning shots, or planned to hurt a person, then it would change to shoot at center of mass.
Posted by: Amazonv | March 05, 2009 at 11:24 AM
How in the heck do you start a new conversation on here? Sorry folks I am new on this and it looks pretty interesting. But I wanted to comment on the white mocha/vanilla comment in the middle of the shooting article.
Policy states (yes look it up fellow Leads/Baristas) that if it is the same amount of pumps of syrup you DO NOT charge extra. A grande is 4pumps white mocha for this drink. If you want 2 pumps wm and 2 pumps van. then you DO NOT charge for the van. If they want 1p-wm, 1p-v, 1p-tn, 1p-r then you still do not charge. If it EXCEEDS the recipe amount of pumps with a different syrup then yes you charge for it. "BUT" keep in mind each SM/DM/RD may set their own policy on this. I personally feel they should not be allowed to do this cause it does cause problems for the baristas when they all of a sudden charge a guest when at another store down the street does not. So from the guests point of view why should I go to your store when I can go a couple blocks up the street and pay less.
Posted by: Shift Supervisor | March 05, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Please do not feed the trolls!
Posted by: Nicholaus | March 05, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Uhm, wow.
Posted by: xxzxcuzxme | March 05, 2009 at 03:23 PM
Good Bye Jeff!!!
Certain customers arn't worth my time and although Starbucks would take money from any jerk, I don't need the aggravation. Some customers feel entitled to treat baristas like dirt. Personally I'd rather those creeps go somewhere else or just stay home.
So, note to customers:
Don't want decaf...get off you cell phones.
Want good service...act like a human being.
Posted by: Legendary | March 05, 2009 at 05:50 PM
First of all, what Barista makes enough to buy a gun? I can't even afford food.
However, I'm awfully handy with a straw and an espresso bean.
Posted by: Via Lost Wages | March 05, 2009 at 06:01 PM
Legendary: What about Jeff's post said anything about cell phones or entitlement or aggravation? It's baristas like you that are an embarassment to Starbucks.
Posted by: Brandon | March 05, 2009 at 06:42 PM
I'm still laughing at your straw and espresso bean comment btw
Posted by: funtimes@thebux | March 05, 2009 at 07:20 PM
Legendary, I don't think that's a very nice response to Jeff. I think its clear that the barista was not doing a very good job.
But Jeff, not everyone is like that. Not even most of us! Don't let one crappy employee run you out of SBUX forever!
Posted by: demitasse | March 05, 2009 at 09:11 PM
Leaning on your register is not legendary. You are lucky you are not my barista otherwise you would be waiting in the unemployment line! We as a company cannot afford to lose customers!
BTW Jeff..we already have your 19.36 and your $25 for the gold car, might as well use it. Just do not go back to that store. And it does not do you any good to call corporate. The store only hears about the complaint 30 days later. You should have called the store and spoken to the manager...we are the ones that have to take care of these poor baristas.
Posted by: Java Jane | March 05, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Jeff...
You had a bad experience, but not all baristas are like that. I'm surprized Starbucks customer service didn't send you a drink certificate. I've never heard of anyone who didn't get one.
Legendary...
I can understand the cell phone thing. If a customer is too important to get off their phone, I'll give them decaf too. It's not just Starbucks customers though, people are rude everywhere.
Posted by: Michelle | March 05, 2009 at 09:59 PM