Starbucks — Restaurant in Dusseldorf

This shop will receive no more patronage from myself & my nearest. Had a quite unpleasant experience today (09.05.24 @ ça 16:30).

Wanted to buy take-out, but needed some info regarding possible lactose-free options. The young man behind the counter, who already looked annoyed or impatient when I approached, rendered such poor, disrespectful & unprofessional service. Such that I haven’t experienced in a long time.

First, he clearly had difficulty listening, and/or understanding & answering what I was trying to ask, and secondly, reacted quite rudely when I had to keep correcting & repeating what I asked.

It wasn’t a difficult question… “Are your vegan products also lactose-free, or, do you perhaps have other lactose-free items (cakes) on offer)?“

What is so complicated about it?

He kept “answering“ questions I did not ask & clearly displayed an annoyance that I was “bothering“ him with it.

After I had to ask a third time, he called a female colleague to assist, to whom I explained & asked a fourth time… and eventually got an answer from.

By this time, he was visibly annoyed with me.

I ended up purchasing something else… and when I paid for my purchase, he responded by literally THROWING my change on the counter (zero eye contact) & turning away to tend to the next customer.

I was so appalled by this blatantly rude & disrespectful behaviour… but started moving away, because I didn’t wish to delay the rest of the queue.

The whole experience did, unfortunately, leave me feeling so bad, that, as I exited the shop, I had to stand there first, to compose myself. Feeling so upset, I turned around to go back inside & asked to speak to a supervisor or manager.

A male individual, whom I assume is the supervisor / manager, approached me & I explained to him what happened & how unbelievably sad & disrespectful the experience was. He promised to speak the employee in question.

Upon leaving the shop again, my daughter turned to look back… she told me look back, as well. And from where we were (outside the shop) we could see the “supervisor“ talking to the young man I complained about. Both of them smiling / laughing…

I think it’s clear to assume what they both thought of the incident.

So, ja… no use thinking that even the management will deal with poor service & rude staff.

I won’t be going back to Starbucks Düsseldorf...

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