Starbucks — Restaurant in Crystal River

I have been going to this new store often. I’ve had several good experiences when they’re nobody in the place. Yesterday, however, was the last time I will order ahead there and possibly may not return. Three times in the past when I’ve ordered ahead I’ve had to wait for my iced tea to be prepared. The ticket was still sitting in the machine. Yesterday was the fourth time that ticket was still in the machine. I ordered at 11:09a.m. There were 2 people waiting for the drinks to be made when I entered at 11:15. There were 3 people working in the store, one at the window, one at the register and one making the drinks. I went to the mobile pick up area and waited. 2 cars placed orders and were served. 3 people entered the cafe, two separate groups. They placed their orders and were served. I asked the girl for my drink. She then prepared it. I was still waiting for a bakery item, one that didn’t need to be warmed. I asked her about it and she said it was coming. Another person entered the store ordering at cafe. I asked the girl about my bakery item and asked why I hadn’t gotten it yet. She explained that “cafe orders are prioritized over mobile orders” and bakery was not her station. She could leave to get my item. It was someone else’s position. I got agitated and explained I had been waiting over 15 minutes for my items after their expected time of 11:13. I said I have a child in the car and needed my bakery items. She unhappily got the item. Why order on the mobile app? Isn’t the idea that your order is getting made as you travel there? The other Starbucks in Lecanto has always had my drink ready. What’s the problem with the Crystal River store? Management needs to think of the way they prioritize. If mobile orders are not respected then we’ll just line up in the drive thru and in the cafe waiting creating an unpleasant t atmosphere.

PS on previously occasions I’ve sat on the patio. The music was very loud. U asked that it be turned down and was told it was controlled by management and nothing could be done.

PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR...

I typically am not the person to leave a negative review but I’ve literally never had a bad experience at Starbucks until today. When we walked in we were promptly greeted which was super sweet. But that’s where the good experience ended, we were asked to wait to be served which was totally fine as we were in no rush, when our barista came to the register I ordered my drink and while I was trying to order he kept repeating my drink order back to me and getting it wrong, the third time he rolled his eyes when I said what I actually wanted. And when I tried to redeem my birthday drink he kept insisting that there was still a total despite me showing and scanning my app multiple times. The other employee behind the counter then had to come and tell him that it was my birthday and he said “oh sorry I just zoned out”. After that my boyfriend and his friend were waiting for their drinks and I walked up to the counter to grab a straw and the barista was on the phone lol which like typically doesn’t bother me but both of the guys drink orders were quite wrong. One ordered a hot chai with a shot of espresso and it came out as an iced plain chai, and my boyfriend ordered a vanilla sweet cream cold brew and it didn’t have vanilla or sweet cream. And finally we had to remind the barista that we had ordered a cookie and cake pop because they had forgotten. It was just a frustrating experience and I am hoping for a better...

What a difference location makes! I usually go to the Lecanto location and the baristas are always grouchy, unfriendly, and generally seem miserable to be there.

I got tired of it, so today I made the drive to the Crystal River location… and the employees were phenomenal! They greeted me in a genuinely friendly way, seemed to enjoy each other’s company while they worked, and stayed busy cleaning and restocking the whole hour I was in there, and they didn’t even seem to mind doing the chore work.

I understand customer service is difficult and stressful, but these guys made it feel like I stepped into an alternate universe because friendliness, professionalism, and happy employees are just so rare anymore.

Bonus: my drink was 100% perfection.

From now on I’ll make the trip to this location....