Thread: I need help with Starbucks lingo!

char... EXACTLY... its all in the DELIVERY... if you go in with the attitude that you dont KNOW what you want... and you dont FEEL you belong there..they will treat you that way..
you go in there with you head high... your order in mind... and then just flat out TELL them...

a smile goes a long way...

when i do something stupid while driving... (and god knows i do it enough ) when the person you just ticked off looks at you and wants to gesture very unkind things at you..*L* i just give a big SHRUG and a HUGE smile (comes in handy) and EVERYTIME they will blink ..look puzzled ... and then grin back... never fails..
i just give that .."whoooops! my bad" and they dont quite know what to do...

just look around today... notice what people look like... when they DONT smile...
give em a smile of your own... and watch the transformation... makes em look ten years younger... honest...

you think i smile so much because i am HAPPY? *L*,,, no way! it keeps the wrinkles up..*grin*

have fun with your DR.phil group..;-)

Thanks to everyone (Trina, you rock!) for your advice and replies. I think I'm gonna do just that: turn on the charm and call them by name (this always helps) and ask for the largest size plain green tea.....I can dress it up myself.

I'll be sure to bring plenty of cash and Splenda packets.

Maxi, I'm sure you'll get your order just as you want it and with a smile! If not chalk it up to that person having a bad day. I mean, how'd YOU like to work there?! It's bad enough I gotta be pleasant to about 50 people a day in person and another 100 or so on the phone - I can't imagine what it's like to wait on the numbers they must see!

Kim, you're right, I do the same thing when I do a dumb-dumb while driving - make a silly face and shrug my shoulders with my hands up where the other driver can see them and the message is plain - OOOpsie, I did a stupid thing, my fault and I'm sorry! - and I get the same response you described!! Works every time....

Smiles are frowns turned upside down and make FEWER new wrinkles! LOL!

Char

Our Starbucks here actually has little "translation booklets" for the Starbucks lingo. Cracks me up. I'm with Maggie - I ask for exactly what I want. If I get a snotty reply, it just eggs me on.

I actually have one of those little booklets in my desk drawer and have refered to it more than a few times! Of course, I've still managed to confuse the heck out of baristas unintentionally. The last time I was in Boston, I was strolling around Downtown Crossing and decided to get a coffee before going over to the Public Garden to sit down for a bit. I marched up to the counter and ordered a "tall vente latte" instead of the "tall breve latte" that I had in mind. To the barista's credit, she was really nice to me while sorting out exactly what it was the dolt in front of her really wanted.

Esther - I do the same thing! Even with the translation booklet, I mess it up everytime.

Hey, the next time you are in Boston, check out my favorite coffee place. It is on Newberry Street (second block after the Gardens, as you head west - or outbound in Boston Lingo). I call it the Italian Place, because I can't remember the name, but it's something long beginning with T and a bunch of zees and ies in it. No special lingo required and their cafe breves are to die for. And they are cheaper than Starbucks.

I actually make my own breves at home - DH gave me an espresso maker for my birthday/christmas gift - I power that puppy up, along with my coffee maker, steam some cream, pull a shot of espresso, combine with my coffee and some cream, and bang - I am ready to go. I have found from bitter experience that I cannot have more than one of those a day. The last time I had two, my staff cracked jokes about my incredible energy all day long.

Kim... I could be just like your grandma. Alot of places I go(including starbuck sometimes) doens't have the decaf green tea I want, or is just plain OUT OF STOCK, so I tend to carry one of two tea bags in a ziplock bag in my purse. My friend's think it's funny, but I like what I like, and I"m not going to pay for something I don't. LOL