Hello there RHU, yet another long-time reader, first-time poster here. I'd go by Misanthropic Barista, but that's too many syllables, so I'll stick with what I've used in the comments for now. MeanCoffeeBitch at your service. (However I'm open to name-change suggestions!)
I manage a coffee kiosk (we wear green aprons) inside a supermarket that's part of the UnSafeway family. It's not a good combination (it's like having two sets of bosses, for one thing), and I have many horror stories.
However, today I have a nice one, which I submit in the hopes that I can whip up some Christmas spirit in myself. (This past year has been hell on me for many reasons I won't get into now; suffice it to say I've NEVER been as low on holiday cheer as I am this year.)
Like any store, we have regular customers, many of whom are awesome. This year, our green-apron side sent us little holiday greeting cards to hand out to our best, most loyal custies. Inside the card was a BOGO offer; buy one (absurdly overpriced) drink, get one free. We only got 25 of these to give out, so we made sure to only choose the awesomest regulars.
One of these regulars was someone I'll call Four-Pump Mocha lady. (Can you guess why?)
FPM was really, REALLY touched that we selected her for our cheesy little BOGO greeting card. So touched that she decided to give us gifts in return. She came in just a couple days ago when I was working, ordered her usual, and handed me a sealed envelope with my name on it.
I thanked her, but we were slammed, so I didn't open it until the rush died down later on. Inside was a $25 Target gift card.
I'm thinking "Wow, really? She spend that much on me?! How incredibly sweet."
But then my coworker told me he too got a $25 gift card (his was for Kohl's). It turns out that FPM had bought a $25 gift card for EACH BARISTA.
There are six of us in the department. FPM spent $150 on us!! And all we did was give her a stupid BOGO, worth maybe $10 depending on the drinks.
I choked up a little when I realized this; another of my coworkers (who coincidentally has also had a really lousy year) actually got tears in her eyes.
Seriously, this was the nicest thing anyone has done for me in quite some time. Thank you SO MUCH, FPM, for showing us kindness and generosity at a time of year when we're all miserably busy and stressed. Perhaps there is some small hope for humanity.
Until next time (when I'll most likely be submitting a long, angry rant filled with the word "fuck"), nolite te bastardes carborundorum!
--MeanCoffeeBitch
From Grocery Girl on Retail Hell Underground:
Hi everyone! This is my very first posting, long time reader and such..
I work at a grocery store (two films were filmed here :) by a certain pair of brothers.), and I've been there for about 8 years now, I'm also in college.
But anywho this happened about....2-3 years ago... it was super packed and we have old...old registers that would either freeze or fry and everything in between because they do not want to put in the effort of rebuilding the front and have working or new anything.
Most of our things were second hand...or from the early 90's....so you can see we usually have a lot of issues with the computers. It's also very easy for the store to get busy, we have 4 registers (which only 3 would be open to ring and express was strictly for lottery purchases, it's annoying and we're a small store.
On this day two very rude and severely annoyed sisters just couldn't understand how it was busy and thought that they should be helped first and foremost.
As it came to the time that it was their turn.....my register froze....
They started berating me on my customer service skills and didn't accept my apology or explanation of the situation.
It took only a minute to restart but when its busy it seems like half an hour X_x.
They started cussing me out!
And I was still a bit of a newbie at cashiering and still shy so I just took it.
Then the woman behind them spoke up.
They muttered something along the lines of "we weren't talking to you" as I finished their groceries and they left.
I was in absolute shock and as I was talking to the woman and telling her she really didn't have to do it she tell me "Oh no no no! They had no right to talk to you like that! You are a sweet girl and didn't deserve that! You have always been sweet to me and the other customers. I like coming here!"
Among many other things she said...but to continue with the story, I saw her at a local artist auction my friend >Ratchet the Barista Girl was featured in (( HII!!! :D )) and we chatted and would chat every time I see her, she even said that herself, my husband and I should hang out some day.
She really is the sweetest lady I've EVER met.
--Grocery Girl
There is a hell on earth and it's called retail! And I like to take a little Jack with mine! What about you? - Freeman
