C'mon, no barista would write "The Black Guy" on a cup, right?

Abe Sauer writes on the Brand Channel website: "Little is known about the photo at [the left], other than the fact that it was uploaded to i.imgur.com and then publicized by Buzzfeed.com. So we cover this with the proviso that it could be a hoax, but it's out there — and it's impacting the Starbucks brand. I'm guessing hoax; and you? || Read "Starbucks the latest to suffer "Black Guy" receipt scandal"

Comments

[Crateish]

There are more words on the right edge, 'The Black Guy in S...'

Anyway, without more information or eyewitnesses, then no story.

I'm going to go up the street, order a tall latte, write 'The Weirdo' on the side, Instagram it with my iPhone and become 'famous.'

[Davisfields4]

This was from Chad Ochocinco:

http://twitter.com/#!/ochocinco/status/78613249888759808

No explanation's ever come out to say how this occured - I'm guessing he just wrote it on there with a sharpie after getting a cup without a name on it.

[Jon Blair]

haha

[Cass]

The customer could have asked for him to write that. If the customers ask we "say yes" ;)

[waltie]

Non story, non issue. This didn't happen. Never in a million years.

[just saying]

while it's definitely not a good idea to describe people in this way - i thought there was pride in being black, like there is in pride being gay...

or is that only when you say it yourself and not when others comment on obvious facts?

(like if i wrote 'gay guy in purple tee', why is that so wrong?!... really not trolling here, just wondering)

[ABDULA]

I Love the black guy ...what do you mean??

[Andy]

Your article is very good fit to be read because it adds new information

[socialist slayer]

If someone is black, what is wrong with describing them as black? PC indoctrination is out of control.

[Stan]

it's chad ochocinco, and he asked for it to be written that way. he tweeted it directly after he did it. some people don't want their names on cups.

[ncsm]

I've seen baristas do some REALLY stupid things over the years, so I wouldn't be surprised if this was for real.

[spence]

The new promotion starts next week and I haven't seen the promo book. What's up? What's new?

[NYBarista]

We had an incident in my store where someone write "Asian Woman" on a cup. There was no photographic evidence to my knowledge but our SM and DM got a complaint from the woman. We get a lot of tourists who barely anyone on staff can understand, but never in a million years did I think one of my co-workers would be that insensitive. It's definitely happened and if your store gets reported, it's serious stuff.

[Stan]

@ncsm it was real. I laughed my a** off when ochocinco posted it. I told him "whoever wrote that might get fired", and he tweeted that he told him to say it. Ochocinco is his own name, and because he wears a helmet, not everybody knows his face, so he can say somewhat anonymous, and funny. the barista who wrote that probably knew exactly who he was, didn't want to start a frenzy of autograph seekers, and said.... "what do you want me to put on that chad?" and he ran with it. I have a famous guy who comes but he has a stage name. I just write his real name, but if i didn't know it, i would ask what he wanted me to write.

[formersfsbuxmgr]

I've written "guy on phone" before for a guy who barely pulled the phone from his ear to order his drink. The guy got a laugh from it when we called out his drink. I guess I did risk getting a complaint but we did it with a smile! He actually put his phone away when he picked up his drink and thanked us.

[otterinthewater]

@spence

Ours was buried in the big ol' flat box of promo stuff.

[Renaldo McJiggis]

As a black man, who gives a crap? What is wrong with "black"? Give up on the PC already. If you don't know a name, describe them the best you can.

[Renaldo McJiggis]

I mean, if they wrote "colored"...wait a minute, isn't that is the name of NAACP? If they wrote Chink or Jap that might be offensive, but "oriental"? WTF. Get a spine, people.

[Black Eye vs. Black Guy]

You are all missing it... the customer ordered a "Black Eye" (drip coffee with 2 shots), which sounds very much like "black guy" if you say it fast.

Perhaps the barista wrote the drink on the cup instead of the persons name in an effort to distinguish this drink from others?

[ABDULA]

What about the Gay Guy-Is he White or Black? Just saying...

[Crema]

"Black guy" vs " Black Eye" = exactly why I insist on proper calling for that drink (a double tall/grande/venti brewed coffee). And don't you dare try calling a "dirty chai" to me. We don't serve dirty drinks in my store.

[ABDULA]

So does "Dirty = Gay" ??? Is that a proper calling?? How about my guest who's a stripper and insists on calling her drink as follows: " Hey sweetheart I'll take my usual SWALLOW with u warming a hot a$$ morning-bun and give me a sausage as well"... @ 7am and the lines out the door ... what I'm supposed to do... GULP HARD!!! Now U Know...WOW! I LOVE HER

[ABDULA]

@ My Store "Black" is not allowed..It's NEGRO so get it right. And we call it as such...Not a black eye, but a NEGRO EYE...YES that is the standard at my store. We're on this Spanish tip, cuz the SM is Latino and from M-I-A-M-I !!!! So what do you do in this situation, GULP HARD :0

[ABDULA]

Red Eye is a "Rojo" at my store... this job is a handfull so never quit your day job haha Howard Schultz is a scumbag. I hope the "Partners" STRIKE in chille

[waltie]

".Not a black eye, but a NEGRO EYE...YES that is the standard at my store. "

No, it's not.

[inkedmuse]

I do chuckle whenever someone orders a "tall black eye".. said fast really does sound like tall black guy, and i always have to avoid the urge to ask "would you like him rich and handsome as well?"

back to topic, we (as i'm sure most stores do) have a handful of customers who i think come in specifically to collect a new name for their cup. There are a lot of things i've written that had it not been at customer's request, i wouldn't do on my own.