This particular Starbucks has THE WORST service. I've had multiple experiences that have been less than optimal at this location. Here's a summary for those who don't like to read: SLOOOOW. DO NOT GO if you are in any sort of timely schedule whatsoever. Here are some brief details:
Mishap 1: Ordered my drink from the drive thru. Slow service, but tolerable. Received my drink hot inside of iced (this is Texas, afterall). Requested a corrected drink and went on my way.
Mishap 2: Ordered my drink inside, hoping it would be quicker than the traditionally slow drive thru service. Waited 15 minutes and grew restless. Saw customers who came in AFTER me receiving their drinks. Asked barista if she had my ticket. She said that she didn't but then promptly made my drink. Okay, not ideal, but perhaps a technology glitch.
Mishap 3: Again, ordered my drink inside hoping it would be quicker than the traditionally slow drive thru. Colossally mistaken assumption. Stood there eagerly waiting for my beverage. Watched the barista slowly perform her duties like she didn't even have a sense of time. Hellllooooo, maybe you don't care about YOUR job, but I'd like to get back to getting my own work done. I didn't actually say that, of course. Instead, I waited several more minutes (at this point 15 mins had passed). She proceeded to hand a drink to a young girl who came in 5-10 minutes after me. I was concerned at this point that my drink ticket got lost again. I asked the seemingly apathetic employee if she had a drink with my name on it and, sure enough, she confirmed she did. Mind you, I have literally been standing there staring at her for 15 mins already. You'd think she would've asked what I was waiting for...but no. This apparently is the way she always operates so she didn't find anything unusual about me standing there for so long. I explained to her that I had been waiting for some time, customers who came in long after me had already received their drinks, that this happened to me last time I was there, and asked if my beverage was being made next. Her response was that, yes, it's next, but that she had to make all the frappuccinos first. She proceeded to hand another iced drink (not frap) to a customer who came in after me. Then slowly made my drink. While observing the Starbucks employees for nearly 20 minutes, I had noticed that several other employees were just standing around doing nothing. One would hand drinks through the drive thru...when they were eventually made...others did nothing. So when she FINALLY handed me my drink, a full 20 minutes later, I curiously asked "are you the only one allowed to make drinks?"...to which she replied "yes." This simply baffled me, so I question if it's even true.
So, to be clear, I don't know if this is an issue with Starbucks' policies themselves, this location, or this particular employee, but why the heck is only ONE employee "allowed" to make drinks? If the other employees are not trained as baristas, then why are so many of them "working" and not speeding the process along? Also, the barista really did have some frappuccinos she was making.
So here are some suggestions: 1. Starbucks has a SEPARATE line/employee that is dedicated to making fraps. 2. Starbucks employs/schedules more people trained and allowed to make drinks...or hires employees who work well with others and don't control the process 3. Customers can do their part, too...those who want milkshakes need to go to a Sonic instead.
The only reason I ever gave this Starbucks another chance is because it is conveniently located on my route. However, if I have to wait 20 minutes for my order then I might as well drive out to a different coffee shop. Heck, I could even go buy myself milk and fire up my own latte machine in that amount of time. read more
