I visited this Caribou Coffee within the first two days of my being in Minneapolis:
- On Thursday, after having arrived from Toronto and checked in to the hotel where I was staying.
- The next day, as I had a great Thursday experience.
My Thursday experience was wonderful. I had a female staffer help me with my order. I went through the drive-thru and wanted an apple blast beverage. It came in blended form, so I went with it.
She took my cell phone number associated with my Caribou points. I then pulled up to the window to pay for my item. She was friendly and helpful. She allowed me to take the payment machine to tap my credit card and select the tipping percentage.
This wording sounds odd, especially with allowed being used. There's a reason for it.
On Friday, I got a male staffer who ruined the excellent experience that I had the previous day. I ordered a strawberry mango BOUsted sparkling tea at the drive-thru. He sounded nice through the speaker. It was not the case when I pulled up to the window to pay for my drink.
He held onto the payment machine for dear life, covering the tap area that prevented me from tapping to pay. I managed to get him to move his hand so I could tap. He insisted both times that I insert my card. My card has a chip and I will exercise my right to be modern and tap.
He then said that I had options to tip. I couldn't read them. I asked him to let go of the machine so I could tilt the machine towards me to see the options. He said that he couldn't. What? He said that many customers have broken it.
What kind of asinine answer is that? You expect me to literally tip blindly because you won't physically let go of the payment machine so I know how much to tip you? The mobile payment machine is supposed to be handed to a customer. Why the stupid restriction, boy?
I actually told him that he was ruining my experience and his colleague yesterday had allowed me to hold the payment machine. I then left with my drink, which was refreshing and yummy. Sadly, he put a damper on my experience and perception of this cafe.
I should not be in a payment machine tug-of-war situation with this man. This issue needs to be addressed internally with proper training. I loved the woman staffer. Sadly, due to my experience with the payment machine hogger, it lost this customer. I regret tipping this man for horrible customer service. I should have asked him to select the no option because I couldn't see it.
I got an online survey for my Thursday experience. I actually rolled in my Friday experience and did not hold back. I said that I would be returning to the Duckworth Drive location in Eagan instead. It was and is my usual spot where I always get to hold and look at the payment machine. I have never had a problem there.
The general manager of this Caribou Coffee wrote back to me and apologized on behalf of this male staffer. He knew exactly who this person was and assured me that he would receive the training that he needs. This manager also encouraged me to return to his cafe. I said no until this male staffer truly get the help and training that he needs. I wanted to enjoy my stay here and did not want another horrible experience here.
My drinks tasted yummy. With the apple blast, it came with whipped cream, which I'm not fond of. I got rid of the whipped cream, but enjoyed the rest of my drink.
I never returned to this location since the tug-of-war nonsense. I probably won't for a while until this male staffer learns to let go of the machine and allow customers to read the screen and tap to pay.
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