Today was a usual Friday at my store. Super busy, line out the door, only three people on the floor when we would need at least four to be okay. Ya know, just how our lives are at Starbucks these days.
I'm running bar backup and customer support, barely keeping up, trying to make lattes on both bars two handed while my bar partner is wading through frappuccinos behind me. We're out of whips, dishes are piling up, I need to brew iced coffee, the oven is beeping... I hand out a drink and the customer is like "can I get an ice water?"
I jump over and grab a cup and make her a water, while filling it up I'm just not in the mood for having anything else to do. Kinda rudely I told her "we'd really appreciate if you order that at the register next time" and she looked at me with the most sympathetic eyes, and said, "I did, but the guy in front of me took mine, I'm really sorry to give you extra work, I've worked food service so I know how frustrating it can be when people add extra stuff, I tried to make it easier on you and I'm sorry you had to break your routine for me!"
Now I feel like a jerk for snapping at her. I apologized and thanked her for trying. At least the line died down before everything fell apart and I was able to catch up on support.
How was your Sunday?