Starbucks — Restaurant in Cypress

I have had the pleasure of working in customer service for over 21 years. I have seen a lot of amazing deeds, and experienced many memorable moments. I have also learned and earned the rewards of customer satisfaction, and business loyalty – with the hands on grit that it takes to be someone’s winner. I work hard and play hard. And as a consumer – I carefully choose those places that I decided to spend my own hard earned money. The customer is not necessarily always right; and it often takes a real pro, a true professional, and an authentically compassionate human being – to make or break a potentially negative public service moment; turning a frown into a crown. I call-it the “Red Carpet” experience.

Starbucks Cypress (off Valley View in California) has a true gem on their hands. His name is Anthony Russell Henry – and he goes simply by, Rusty. It is apparent that the journey he has experienced in the Starbucks family has been a positively impactful one. As an unforgettable asset to the company; it is most importantly apparent in the way that his customers reap the benefit of his remarkable skills, welcoming professionalism, and exceptional poise under pressure.

Currently serving up sincerely impeccable magic, as a Store Manager in the Cypress Valley View SB location; Rusty offers an above & beyond approach and energy to his daily grind. Wielding abundantly large shoes to fill, for upcoming Barista Stars – he serves as a prime and tenured example of what the Customer Service industry is quickly beginning to miss – and what it is eagerly desiring to preserve. Consumers (and humans in general) do not want to be treated like a nuisance, a bother; nor like a machine that is handing out money to no end, to another machine that is processing their order with no personal attention, acknowledgment nor appreciation (especially during relaxation, or what is intended to be enjoyment time for that individual.)

Rusty boldly reminds us (in a time where our humanity could slip into a digitally automated black hole,) that something as simple as a gestured / genuine “hello,” or authentic interest in his customer’s names; or even a simple outreach to engage in a five second interaction – is not something to be considered as a great consumerist pastime; but is essential in a culture that is riddled with faster, more convenient, less talk more action practices – In which the humanity within the business opportunity is quickly tossed wayside, for business profitability, and globally domineering bottom lines.

They say, as an employee – that you should leave your personal problems at the door. This is too true, as well as your lack of interest in those that you are serving for the day, or that moment. There are too many people starving for employment opportunities; too many who would appreciate your own greater position in life – not, to enjoy taking care of others with a smile, and a personal touch. This is Starbucks’ Rusty.

I look forward to spending my $5.45 (every 3 days,) my $16.35 a week, my $65.40 a month, and my $784.00 a year. And it is because Rusty makes me feel welcome. Genuinely liked, and cared about. Like a person visiting a friend to share a cup of joe & a real smile. He is always outside of himself, takes a time out for a shift from his own thoughts and life – and enjoys sharing in mine – if only for 5 minutes a person, at a time. This is worth its weight in gold - and as a consumer, as a human, as a real feeling person – I like that. Anthony Russell Henry, (Rusty.) You provide the “Red Carpet” experience, and you are going places; big-Big places. And Starbucks is over & above lucky, to have found you. It doesn’t take a lot to make a day right for someone. Mistakes are made, but the day is easily saved. With genuine care, energetic engagement, and interactive enthusiasm – you can make a mundane moment in customer service, a lasting and memorable one for another. Thank you Rusty & Thank you Starbucks. Keep up the incredible...

We just left this Starbucks by our house that we always go to and I am honestly in complete shock by the way we were just treated. My husband got a tall mocha and our name was called so I went to grab if off the counter and noticed it was super light. Like it was only half way full. It comes with whipped cream so we knew it would be a little lighter but it was way less than what you would expect. We normally don’t say anything but I told my husband we should just ask if they can remake it. He asked and the barista immediately got defensive saying that the order had been sitting there for a while and that it was just bc the foam was melting. I tried explaining that it hadn’t been sitting there for a while that we literally just got called but she kept talking over us. She finally realized it was the wrong order but by then my husband and I were honestly just standing there kind of dumbfounded in the way she had been speaking to us and she goes “are you waiting for a food order or something??” We were like no we are honestly just shocked at the way you’re treating us right now. Again, we are NEVER the type of people to ask for a manager but we were in disbelief and did. The “lead” on duty was standing right there and literally defended her saying that from what he could tell she was just explaining. Mind you he was saying it in a snarky way too. Honestly all we wanted from the get go was to just get it remade so that my husband actually had a full coffee to drink and instead we got talked to completely awfully and left with his half full coffee. Even if she had just apologized for mistaking our order for another one that would have made the situation so much better. I’ve never been treated like that by a customer service person before nor would I ever treat someone like that… Her name was Natalie. Didn’t get the leads name unfortunately, but we would appreciate an apology…

Still waiting for a response to our Starbucks case and an apology. We don’t even feel comfortable going to our local...

I order from here because it is convenient but I am rethinking this place and willing to drive further if it means more consistent service. I order the exact same two drinks via the app. My main drink just asks for lite water, no ice. That's all I ask. 40% of the time the instructions are ignored. I very often have it remade because they forget one or the other or both. I mainly get frustrated at two things: the first is this happens a lot even on days where there appears to be no other orders except mine. During one recent visit, 3 baristas are in the corner talking in a group about what they're doing that weekend or what they will do first when venues open. One poor guy was left to handle all the drinks on his own. He was trying to work fast to get all the drinks out. I can't imagine this location being successful if this is how they operate. Plus, that does not seem very professional. One person in the group talking even appeared to be a manager. The other thing that frustrates me is how often they get the easy drink wrong. It is not some type of complex order like a venti triple shot, half and half, two splenda, one sweet n low, no whip, extra drizzle, extra java chips, double blended type of drink. My order is simply a strawberry acai with lite water, no ice. That is it!...