I don't know if you've ever been to Starbucks or not but no matter where you go, you get the identical treatment. For example, if I say, “I’d like a medium black coffee”, they correct your order by saying “One grande black coffee?” Or you might say, “I’d like a small black coffee”, to which they inevitably reply, “One tall black coffee?”. And I’ve listened to them do this for years now but recently it’s begun to bug me. I just don’t think any customer friendly organization should be correcting, albeit with a smile, any customer’s language when the intent of the order is very clear. I mean this has to be a Starbucks corporate policy given the widespread use and I can understand that the menu has their size designations but at the same time, I don’t like having my speech correct in the interest of corporate marketing. I think it sends a bad message when the a customer is corrected for using a perfectly understandable term that translates exactly and concisely to the menu but is subtly told, The term you used to order your coffee is WRONG! Use our terms or we’ll correct you!” So here is what I did to the nice young lady last time I was in my local Starbucks. Me: I’d like a medium black coffee Starbucks: One grande black coffee? Me: Ahhh, no I think I’d like a medium black coffee. Starbuck: Oh, ah grande is the medium size coffee. To which I commented…. Me: Then why did you correct my order if you understood it in the first place? Try this some time if you go to Starbucks and watch the reaction you get along with the smile and let me know how it goes.
I'm inclined to cut them some slack just because I have a huge amount of respect for people who can remember not to mention not laugh at the fussy endlessly involved orders that they get. But yeah, the insistence on silly and misleading names for various container sizes deserves pushback. I'm an espresso guy myself, straight no chaser, and I ask for a double not a doppio. Or a triple. What is that in Starbuck's-ese? A troppio? I don't care.
I've never been in a Starbucks, and have no desire to, but if I ever find myself placing an order there I've decided to create my own names for their products and make them figure out what the heck I'm ordering. "I'll have a mule-kickin' tally-wacker on shrapnel, and make sure it's tepid and not luke-warm. Thank you" ...and it better be less than ten bucks or I'm leaving.
I remember wandering desperately through downtown Portland Oregon trying to find a simple cup of coffee that didn't have a foreign name. Think I finally ended up in McDonald's.
You get the same corrections if you order anything other then the name given by any food establishment. It is language of that place that gives it part of its identiy and make it stand out from the rest. It is their product and they want that name recognition. I happen to go to Starbucks and yes my kids do get the deserts with their hot chocolate but to prove everyone wrong here the next time I go I will see if I see any douchebags as well as ask if anyone is wearing one. Now that does not count the drive thru people who want the status coffee cup over the atmosphere and have the leftwing liberal I am better then you bumper stickers on their BMW's for I do not associate with such trash.
Have you ever been to one of those restaurants that has two drink sizes, a 12 oz and a 24 oz, and they call the medium and large? When you order a small, they tell you that they only have medium and large. OK, medium implies something smaller and something larger right? When you only have two sizes, you have a small and a large. I don't care if the only two sizes are 64 oz and 128 oz, it is still a small and a large.
Reason Reason Reason. On the other hand I'm not sure that "small" works all that well in America anymore. At least when it comes to food and clothing sizes. But I'm not sure we're ready to ditch it altogether or call it something other than what it is.
We started with an on comment regarding stupid nomenclature for coffee sizes. This topic has now been partially sidetracked into douchbags and BMW hatred. Is this board great or what?
I guess I don't go to many places that rename their standard food items or sizes. Then again, I don't go to many chain or themed places. I know if I went into the local BBQ joint and they couldn't sell me a bbq pulled pork sandwich without correcting me that it was called a Shredded Oink Oink On A Bun, I'd walk out. lol
its not mustard its grey poupon conversation must not take place in your part of the woods. But Seriously, that old stalone movie Judge Dredd where I believe Taco Bell was the only food place left standing is closer to being then my youth where just about every food place was individualized and not a franchise.
You start talkin' 'bout poopin' on someone down 'round these parts and there's a-gonna be trouble, fella. There are plenty of fast foods and national chains down here. But there are also plenty of mom and pop, one off or local 'chains' - meaning they have 2 places open. lol I just much prefer the latter. Better food, better prices, more comfortable atmosphere and friendlier. Real friendlier - not the 37 Pieces of Flair friendly (Office Space reference).
OK so I go into Starbucks and ask for my Black coffee and jump through all the hoops only to be told that the MILK is over on a side table!! What is soooooo hard about a simple BLACK coffee?
I've gone to McDonald's and ordered a Whopper and Chicken Tenders. I've also gone to Burger King and ordered a BigMac and McNuggets. I've also tried to order burgers before lunch at Burger King. All accidently of course.
It would seem you Yanks are wimps when it comes to coffee and Starbucks has finally got the message as to how we like our coffee in the UK http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9117710/Starbucks-coffee-to-be-stronger-with-extra-shot-of-espresso.html
True I get fed up with being asked if I want milk in an Americano. Mind you when I have asked for a medium black coffee I have never been corrected, maybe it's my wild caffeine addict twitch keeps them quiet?
