The teenaged survey respondents were asked to write in responses on blank lines, rather than choose them from a list. Following Starbucks on the school-based survey were Chipotle, Chili’s, Olive Garden and McDonald’s. Following Starbucks in the online survey were Olive Garden, McDonald’s and Red Lobster, with Applebee’s and Chili’s tying for fifth place. || Read "Teens seek value, preferably at Starbucks"
Before everyone starts bashing the teens I just wanted to say they are a valuable resource for us! We have a few packs of teens that come in for frappacinos or shaken tea lemonades after school each day but they buy pastries, sandwiches, candy, and all sorts of mugs and clearance merchandise....sometimes they are loud and leave a bit of a mess but establishing them into a routine now will make them customers as adults too hopefully lifelong customers!
Posted by: Coffee Soldier | October 14, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Being, a teen myself... i enjoy when friends or other young people come in, sure they may be loud, but i prefer loud chatter then listening to the crap soundtrack Starbucks likes to play.
Also, once in a while random girls will give me their number or ask me for mine =)... not that anything has happened past that! =X
Posted by: Store Manager = 10% good 90% shit | October 14, 2009 at 08:28 PM
I wouldn't mind them so much if they would tip every once in awhile!
Posted by: Gilgamesh | October 14, 2009 at 09:11 PM
I wouldn't mind them so much if they would tip every once in awhile!
Posted by: Gilgamesh | October 14, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Yeah, I know, right?! Not only are they paying you by buying products from your store but they don't even have the decency to leave EXTRA money for no additional goods and/ or services they've already paid for that's listed on the menu?! Those selfish jerks.
Where do you think your paycheck comes from? Sales! The sales generated by these teenaged customers.
You truly are the epitome of the self-entitled, woe-is-me, I-deserve-it-all-for-serving-coffee "barista." Get over it. You're there to serve coffee and you earn your pay doing that. You make probably more than most in your peer-group (retail food service). I'd be more apt to tip at McDonalds because they work much harder for probably a lot less.
Why do you think you even deserve tips? I can tell you that (a) if Starbucks removed tip jars from their stores tomorrow, that'd go a long way to showing they truly cared for their customers and (b) your attitude exhibited here probably indicates you don't do much to deserve tips. What extra do you do to deserve a tip?
And save the whole "just don't tip if you don't want to" conversation... those jars shouldn't be on the counters anyway. You're already well-paid for what you do: that is to serve coffee and be pleasant to your paying customers.
Posted by: green_cup | October 14, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Just ahead of Olive Garden? Sadly, that's not saying much.
Posted by: SMan | October 15, 2009 at 12:00 AM
green_cup: the tip jar and tipping in general is as much for customers as it is for baristas. Customers feel compelled to do something for baristas to show recognition and that they're thankful for the service the barista gives them. Sure, customers can say "thank you", but many people feel like a monetary honorarium says the same, if not more. Baristas shouldn't expect tips; they should work for them. When I help people dig their cars out of the snow and push them back onto the road, I don't do it for tips: I do it because it's my job to deliver a third place experience. They tip for service like that not because they feel compelled, but because they want us to know our work is appreciated.
Once a tip function is added to the debit/credit/Starbucks Card process, that's the day it's gone too far. I find it absolutely pretentious when cafes do that. Restaurants, sure; but cafes should not pressure like that. Does the barista look at my receipt and think I'm cheap for not tipping on my credit card? No idea. Does it make me uncomfortable? Yes. Starbucks will never (hopefully) take this route.
Posted by: CoffeeMaster33 | October 15, 2009 at 01:38 AM
Woah green_cup, what an awesome imitation of an overreacting highstrung crazy person.
Posted by: ICU | October 15, 2009 at 03:41 AM
Green cup
In case you were wondering, baristas start just a few cents above minimum wage so no they aren't paid very well. Same reason you would tip a waiter or a bartender is why you would tip a barista (to some extent). When you go to a bar and order a drink you give the bartender a tip, for what, taking the cap off a bottle and passing it to you which takes about 7 seconds. Don't try the bartender/waiter speech either because I was a bartender and waiter for 7 years so i know the gig well. No one cares if you don't tip but don't be mad because some people want to.
Posted by: PA SM | October 15, 2009 at 08:02 AM
As an SM thats been with the company for over 3 years (external, hired as SM), I too believe the tip jars should go away. They are, IMHO, tacky and do not create a third place environment. I have had experiences with baristas in which I was told this customer was going to either a)wait for service, or b) not get the courtesy of a "human transaction" because he never leaves a tip. Needless to say, Barista didn't exhibit Green Apron Behaviors in other aspects of the job, and a case could have been made they shouldn't have been hired in the first place. My whole problem with is that baristas (and customers) have a built in sense of entitlement that comes with being a part of SBUX. People (B & C) both need to realize that this is a job in which coffee is served in its various forms along with pastries and what not. The ONLY expectations should be
1) The customer has the right to order what they want, how they want. Barista MUST take the order with a smile and a thank you! (No eye-rolling)
1a) Customer SHOULD, not must, should offer some decorum in their dealings with barista (Hang up the damn phone!)
2)Drink MUST be made according to specs requested by customer (No Decaffing, No nonfat instead of 2%, because you have some, No SF just because)
2a)Customers shouldn't hang over bar, and tell you how to make every drink, or grab and Iced Venti BTL when they order a tall hot GRTL and ask if its theirs, taste it, and say its wrong!
3) Baristas MUST acknowledge all customers, in the lobby, at the counter, at the hand off plane. Not one barista speaking for all, each and every one for themselves.
3a) Customers, say "hi" back, or at least hand us your money, rather than throw it towards us. Common Courtesy goes a long way!
4)Baristas, do your job to the best of your abilities. It really isn't hard. Be nice, smile and give them their beverage. If it bothers you so much to be cordial for 4-8 hours a day, maybe working retail(yes) just isn't your cup of tea (no pun intended) and do something else. If you weren't in such a crappy mood towards your customers, perhaps the mood would lighten up and so would the customers. There really isn't any reason to feel contempt towards any of your customers for any reason, unless 1 of them has purposefully thrown coffee at or on you. Customers will make a mess of the condiment bar, leave cheerios on the floor, not throw away their cups or newspaper when done with them. But, thankfully for them, and Starbucks, you are there to clean it up. Ask your SMs for your job description some day. You'd be surprised to find out just how much there is to do that is considered your basic job. One that in every other realm of business, would be considered your daily routine, and not a tippable customer experience.
All this is not geared towards baristas either. The entire experience is led by the SM, and if they are a miserable douche, it will trickle down. Talk to them about it. The single most effective way to combat any negativity in the workplace is to sit down and discuss it. It actually does work!
PS. to "SM's 10% good"
If you were to sit down with the Job Description and compare all of your peers to the basic duties of Baristas and SS, you'd probably be surprised to see a ratio that would be even lower than 10/90 that SMs are. That attitude is why your customers don't show any hospitality in your store, and why there is probably a significant amount of contempt from partners to customers, customers to partners, partner to partner and anyone else you can involve.
TIP = Tipping at fast food restaurants and coffeehouses that do not offer table service is not necessary, despite the common proliferation of tip jars (a.k.a. guilt cans), which are considered inappropriate by many.[43][44] Such tips may be divided amongst the on-shift staff (except for salaried management), whether or not such staff directly contributed to a patron's order. (from Wikipedia)
Think about the customers that do tip, and you'll realize that the ones who leave a dollar, do so on a 1.99-3.50 bereage. That is a 50% tip! I can't begin to tell you how many times after leaving a tip at SBUX, yes I do tip if I have change coming back, bc i don't want coins, have I not heard a "thank you". Generally, you are getting more than 10% of the total of the bill, and to not thank a customer for leaving a tip is another reason to not leave one. I had a CV comment tell me about that in my location, and that has since been stopped. All of my partners now thank on every tip they receive. They understand that having that jar there is not a right, but a privilige.
Sorry for the rant. Immature arguments and excuses in place of performance bother me to no end!
Posted by: SM | October 15, 2009 at 09:11 AM
and the whole waiters and bartenders get tips for doing the same thing argument. Yes, they do get tips, however, they get less than Min Wage. In Virginia, for example, an employer of a waiter or bartender, can pay said employee $0.00/hour if they make $x.xx in tips. Big difference there! The $x.xx that is defined by the govt is $30/month. So lets do the math:
If you make $7.50/week in tips, your boss can LEGALLY choose to pay you $0.00/hour. Notice the difference. All baristas in my county make minimum $8.00/hour. Not the same argument.
And conversations with a bartender, in a loud bar with a bn plang and people sitting at the bar in front of where you order and pay, with people clamoring to get a spot at the bar to get a bartenders attention on a saturday night, are significantly different than a barista, following depolyment during a morning rush, with soft backgrund music playing and designated order, pickup and sitting places. That argument holds less water than a VIA Packet with both ends cut off. (Gotta keep it relevant!)
Posted by: SM | October 15, 2009 at 09:21 AM
damn keyboard "In a loud bar with a BAND PLAYING...
Posted by: SM | October 15, 2009 at 09:23 AM
Ah...The real green_cup is back. Negative, hateful, abrasive...
I knew it couldn't hide forever.
Posted by: >>><<< | October 15, 2009 at 09:48 AM
Really, people? The tip debate AGAIN? I believe that all that can be said on this subject has already been said. Can we please agree to disagree? Some people believe in tip jars, and some people think they are unnecessary and tacky.
I think that it is unbelievably rude to EXPECT a tip, considering our drinks are pretty pricey, anyway. However, as a struggling college student, I will not say no to anyone who offers.
Posted by: Licensed Burrito | October 15, 2009 at 10:16 AM
To SM: (regarding tips, etc)
First of all, receiving tips is part of the "total pay package" for baristas and shift supervisors. always has been, always will be. i've been with the company over 10 years and you have no right to say we should just "do away with tips" how arrogant and entitled does that sound on YOUR part?? we have a hard enough time making it as it is, don't try to talk the company out of having a tip jar at the front counter. the day you talk Howard out of that is the day pigs fly. so yeah, stop your pipe dreams, and stop trying to change things on such a huge scale because as you will shortly see, Corporate does not care and will not listen to your idle suggestions. you sound like an awful manager, i would hate to work in your store. good luck with that.
XX
Posted by: Jordan | October 15, 2009 at 10:18 AM
The store I usually work at is more frequented by adults on their way to work or on their way home. There aren't as many teens as there isn't a school that close by. I once worked as a borrowed partner in a more community store though. That was a nightmare. Teenie boppers ordering frappuccinos, leaving straw wrappers, napkins, pastry bags and empty cups on the tables. Well, at least they're getting the frappuccinos which is a lot of money for us :)...just, maybe throw away your cups and straw wrappers when you leave!
Posted by: Foam | October 15, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Teens of course like Starbucks, just give them their caramel fraps and caramel macchiatos and they'll be happy.
Just like any other customer, there are a percentage of teens that do tip. Tips are just something you have to work for. The better the customer service you provide, which for some customers is talking to them and answering any random question and for others is getting their drink out under a minute, the more likely they'll tip. I know that when I go to other Starbucks I tip based on the initial conversation I have with the register partner, which is sometimes really great, and sometimes not so great.
Posted by: 144xxxx | October 15, 2009 at 10:52 AM
I really like the teenagers. I haven't found them to be sloppy at all. Only once in the last couple years did we have a table of teenagers that were offensive because of their language. I often close. Since we live in a warmer climate, there are often 5 to 15 teenagers lingering on the patio when we leave. I typically make an iced tea when I'm walking out the door and give it to someone that promises to leave everything neat for the morning crew. It works.
Posted by: spence | October 15, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Why do you think you even deserve tips? I can tell you that (a) if Starbucks removed tip jars from their stores tomorrow, that'd go a long way to showing they truly cared for their customers and (b) your attitude exhibited here probably indicates you don't do much to deserve tips. What extra do you do to deserve a tip?
Posted by: green_cup | October 14, 2009 at 08:30 PM
Actually, in my store we do a lot for the teenagers and children when it comes to their frappuccinos. Not only are we just as friendly to them as we are to adults, but we also give them plenty of extras. Many want extra extra extra whip cream so we give it to them in another cup (in addition to the extra that is on the beverage itself) on the side covered in all the extra caramel and chocolate drizzle they want. Even though we know they don't tip, we still provide them with legendary service. No one is punished for not tipping, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't.
Posted by: Gilgamesh | October 15, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Maybe they should do away with the SM's bonus since constantly pushing products on your customers that they don't want doesn't really do anything for the 'third place' either... Just sayin.
I hope our teenage customers enjoy today's price increases...
Posted by: . | October 15, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Re: Posted by: . | October 15, 2009 at 10:38 AM
touche, dear friend! and i wholeheartedly agree. as a former SM i don't believe i have ANY right to say whether the tip jar stays or goes because i don't rely on that money for food or gas AND i made more.
i loved teenagers. it was always kind of fun to laugh at how the teenage girl cheerleader types would order their frappuccinos where their voice would go up at the end, and to hear them all talk as if they were texting. i thought they were fun and hilarious.
and teenagers have some of the most expendable cash and are the future daily customers - so taking care of them helps ensure customer loyalty when they enter the workforce.
Posted by: chloe | October 15, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Customer: Ordering coffee from Caribou, I would like a large americano but in a medium cup, with 14 sugars a splash of cream and whipped cream on top.
Caribou attendant: the condiments are right over there...
Customer: Ordering coffee from SBUX, I would like a venti americano but in a grande cup, with 14 sugars a splash of cream and whipped cream on top.
SBUX Barista: Absolutely X, and is your sweet puppy with you today, I've got treats!
Posted by: sickofentitledcustomers | October 15, 2009 at 02:37 PM
I also like entitled customers. They are supporting our stores more than ever. It just seems like a higher percentage of customers have a quirk to their order. Perhaps those without the customs have found they can do without it at all or can get it elsewhere.
Those with custom requests are fiercely loyal because we do it right.
I'll cheerfully make all the decaf 3pump Mocha 1 pump raspberry non fat with whip lattes that are ordered. I'm there for 8 hours. Why would I care what someone else wants to drink?
As for tips. . . I'd have to leave if I didn't get tips.
Posted by: spence | October 15, 2009 at 03:32 PM
Store managers are just a shitload of douche bags anyway. We should follow the advice from Shakespeare and first get rid of all the worthless store managers.
Posted by: BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL | October 15, 2009 at 06:36 PM
As a generally happy Starbucks customer, I often recoil at the rude way partners are treated. I have found that a sincere "thank you" does wonders, with or without a tip. I've seen partners display remarkable patience under trying conditions.
Posted by: Dave F | October 17, 2009 at 05:36 PM
The store I worked in was close to two high schools, and we got tons of students from both schools (as well as teachers). The students mostly ordered Frappuccinos, and almost all also ordered a cookie.
Interestingly enough, the VIA sampling was also a hit with the high school students.
Posted by: Former SBUX employee | October 17, 2009 at 11:30 PM
"There really isn't any reason to feel contempt towards any of your customers for any reason, unless 1 of them has purposefully thrown coffee at or on you. " From SM at 7:11am.
How many posts use the tag 'SM'? Could be anyone. Even so, here are some reasons to feel contempt toward a customer:
-They're on a cell phone. Period.
-They're chomping gum.
- They ignore your greeting.
- They place their baby, in diapers, on the same counter that we serve food.
- They take more than 10 seconds to answer questions like "How are you?", "Would you like whip cream on that?" and "Have you heard about Via?".
- They carry luggage that they call a 'purse'.
- They ask if the lemon loaf is 'gluten free'.
- They grab a tall Pike when they ordered an iced venti mocha.
- They order a green tea frap with raspberry. Is there anything more disgusting?
- They want to know 'which tea is the best?'?
I hate about 90% of my customers. I often fantasize about beating them unconscious. Care to comment?
Posted by: C and B | October 18, 2009 at 03:07 PM
Green cup are you serious? Honestly you're unreal, it's sad really...
Posted by: Leslie | October 21, 2009 at 01:55 PM
People can go to any gas station to get a cup of coffee for a quarter of the price, but they come to us for the experience. That is why we should get tips.
first of all, to generalize and say that we are generiously paid is pure oversight. The minimum wage is different in all states.
I would say that we are not paid that great compared to other food service industry jobs. I have a friend that just got a job at a store similar to starbucks and they have less then our high standards. But he gets paid a dollar more an hour then I do (plus tips) and i've been working for starbucks for almost two years and have gotten good reviews everytime. I am not complaining saying that I deserve tips, but I do think that taking away our tips would be a huge mistake.
Ya'll need to figure out the difference in the argument. It is one subject to talk about working for the tips and deserving them. It is another completely to say that we shouldn't have the jar out there. I personally don't tip when I get something at the bucks, but I dont think we should take that option away. There is no need or reason. If an employee is undeserving of his tips, then he is undeserving of his paycheck and should be let go. Quit whining about the money people generously give us, it doesn't make you look like a Saint.
Posted by: QuiteTheNonsense | November 11, 2009 at 08:23 PM