Things That Make You Go Hmmm… (#3)
We have a tradition in our house. When we decorate (and by ‘we’, I mean my husband) the outside of our house for Christmas, I go and get us some Starbucks Christmas drinks. My go-to is the Peppermint Mocha (aka Christmas in a cup) and his is the Caramel Crème Brule.
The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don’t know what the hell they’re doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino. – Joe Fox: You’ve Got Mail (my favourite movie – see my previous blog Are You a Daisy).
This year, I decided to try a mobile order since it was a nice day and I figured the lines (both inside and the drive-thru) would be long. I was right. The drive-thru had about 10 cars waiting. So, I parked and headed inside.
I entered our local Starbucks to retrieve my mobile order only to notice they have changed their routine. Mobile orders now have to line up with personal ‘on the spot’ orders to retrieve their drink and this particular line had about 8 people in it. This seemed odd to me. Hence, my ‘things that make you go hmmm‘.
I had taken the time to plan out my craving of a delicious Christmas coffee and order ahead and now, I could no longer quickly run in and grab my labeled drink. I now had to wait 10 minutes in line to get the coffee I ordered from home 10 minutes prior, which was now probably cold.
I know, I know… first world problems. There are many other major issues around our world:
- Economic dispair
- Mental health
- Homelessness
- Child abduction
- Hunger
- Political dictatorship
- and the list goes on and on….
But… this puzzled me. Efficiency is a must for me. Clear, orderly rules and fast service. If there is an option for mobile pickup – that must mean a fast and efficient retrieval. At least that is what I was thinking.
I understand that many businesses now have different procedures and rules during this time, but I would have thought a large retail business like Starbucks would implement a procedure that could not only comply with new restaurant rules, but still maintain the efficient fast option of the mobile ordering. Am I wrong to think this?
Side Note: I own a business and while we do comply with some new procedures that we have had to implement, we still try to make our interactions with others as efficient as possible.
On the other hand, has it stopped me from ordering ahead? Not at all. Do you think I am going to give up my tall blonde hazelnut latte, my featured dark roast with 2 pumps of vanilla and a splash of almond milk, or even my new favourite – a gingerbread latte? Absolutely not. I have gone about three times since. I have arrived to pick up my order and if the drive thru is too long, yes, I go inside and yes, I wait. I just now have to plan accordingly.
I know these ‘Things that make you go hmmm’ are just little rants of conversations that go on inside my head, but if I am thinking it, I am sure someone else is also thinking it. How has your Starbucks experience been lately? Do you order ahead and do mobile pick-up? Have you experienced a similar lack of efficiency? If so, take a deep breath, wait in line and hope your Christmas in a Cup is still piping hot. Smile and say thank you to the Barista (DeSean is only doing his job) and write your rant in a blog like me (while sipping on your delicious double ristretto venti half-soy nonfat decaf organic chocolate brownie iced vanilla double shot gingerbread frappuccino extra hot with foam whip and ice.
Do you have a ‘Things that make you go hmmm’ rant? Click below to share.
