Are you a repeat Starbucks customer? That might mean you have, at one point or another, thought about the calories you're going to get from that tumbler. How much sugar is packed in one White Chocolate Mocha grande? According to Entrepreneur, it's more than what you get from a Snickers Bar.
To make matters worse, a barista decided to write a not-so-thoughtful message on the cup of a Starbucks customer. A Twitter post revealed that a customer received an insulting label from a Starbucks joint at St. Augustine, Florida. The note read, "DIABETES HERE I COME." It was written in all capital letters, as well.
The note was meant to be a joke but the customer found it offensive. It was neither cute nor funny. The article goes on to explain that for the customer, it was personal. He decided to write back: "2 of my sisters are diabetics, so ... not funny."
Diabetes is a real struggle in the United States where a huge portion of the population is categorized as obese.
"That first word just automatically brought the picture of both sisters in my head, and I was taken aback," he told Action News Jax. Clearly it was customer satisfaction at the lowest level. The customer didn't want an apology but wanted everyone else to know that this is a problem. He doesn't want anyone else to go through it. Starbucks issued a statement following their employee's actions: "Starbucks strives to provide an inclusive and positive experience for our customers, and were disappointed to learn of this incident. We are working directly with the customer to apologize for his experience, and with our partners (employees) to ensure this does not happen again."
It is unclear if the employee has been terminated or disciplined but Melanie Spring, a brand strategist, explains that the employee should not have been employed in the coffee shop in the first place. "If this person was having a hard time offering sugary drinks they don't believe in, they shouldn't work there," says Spring. Employees may find it difficult to believe or love their own work place but they are required to respect the brand and its conditions. This is a significant area in customer relations since the Starbucks employee was a customer-facing staff member. Customer-facing employees must be properly trained to avoid circumstances like this.
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