Kindness in Public Places: The Customer is King

By Cameron Crane

A Grande Iced-Coffee with two pumps of sugar-free vanilla, one pump of sugar-free hazelnut, light ice and no room for cream. I am embarrassed to say that is my Starbucks order, and I order it apologetically each time I go there, being sure to thank everyone who helps me in the process. Some people may not feel the need to do so. It is after all, the job of the barista to make my order, and one of the things that Starbucks prides itself on is the freedom that each customer feels to order their drink to their liking.

But I feel the need to be extra polite every time I order. Not just because my drink is blatantly obnoxious —an unwanted insight into how tediously detail-oriented I am in every aspect of my life —and not just because common courtesy calls for it. But because three years ago I was that barista, experimenting with syrups on each shift until I found the drink that I could handle every single day when I arrived to work at 4 o’clock in the morning. And I know from personal experience how much a “thank you” means when you have been standing on your feet all day making extra-hot skinny Cinnamon Dolce Lattes with light foam.

Behind the bar at Starbucks, I used to joke to my coworkers that I wished they installed a hidden camera in our store. I was always shocked at how rude that someone could be at 6:00 AM, under caffeinated and probably too much pressure. Social graces were forgotten as our customers, bitter that they were on their way to work before the sun was up, would bark their orders, and then immediately stare at their watches. They only had at the most 2 minutes, after all. In the six months I worked at Starbucks, I was called incompetent and lazy, I was sworn at, and I had an 180-degree latte spit in my face. And no, that last part was not added for dramatic effect.

Don’t get me wrong, like any job, being a Starbucks barista had its downs, but it also had its ups. There were also the customers we looked forward to. These were the customers who, like me, ordered their drink every day, just the way they liked it. They greeted us with a smile every morning, took the time to learn each of our names, and left each day with a smile and a thank you, holding the door open for the next person walking in. These were the customers that brought us to work every morning, whose drink we would try to have ready before they even ordered, and who made our own daily routines a little more enjoyable.


The truth is, when you are in a customer service position, these little gestures do not go unnoticed. A smile, a thank you, and a brief conversation with the right person can completely change your day.

Which type of customer are you? Do you read name tags when you are in line at Starbucks, or the grocery store? 

Prompt: Try this today!  Call your clerk by name, look them in the eye, and thank them for a job well done.

Image Credit: howtobecomeinfo.com