Starbucks — Restaurant in Lakeland

Every time we head to Tampa from Orlando, we stop at your Socrum and I4 store in Lakeland, Florida. Mobile ordered and is usually waiting for us when we stop. Last Friday, about 2:00pm, we did the same, ordering food and drinks.

Walked inside and only Michelle’s drink was waiting up there, so I stood to the side and waited for my other drink and food to appear. Store didn’t appear to be that busy and I just stood there. I was never greeted or acknowledged by any one of the five people behind the counter, including someone who appeared to be a regional rep. No kidding when I say I waited for about another five minutes and watched the staff talking about personal things and one guy even showing a magazine article to another staff member. I finally asked the barista what the hold up was. Turns out the asked for Stevia in one of my drinks was not available, so it sat in an empty cup labeled, apparently waiting for me to come in so they could ask an alternative sweetener. I told hime another would be fine and he made the drink. I asked him about the food and he rolled his eyes. This is the start of my problems.

Another three to four minutes go by, while I am watching him make and heat my food. When he brings it up, I ask him why no one asked me what I was waiting for. I was one of only four people in the store at the time. One lady was upset because he drive through drink was not made properly and another one was upset because the store didn’t have something she had called ahead for. The final guest in the store was someone on her computer, typing furiously away, not a care in the world.

I finally got the food and I asked why not one staff member said even a word to me, when I was obviously waiting for something. Joseph actually said this as his response: “I’m having a bad day”. I responded with, “I do not care about your day. All I wanted was hot coffee and food and no back talk”.

Walked the food and coffee out to the car, thought more of it and walked back into the store. I asked for the manager on duty, to complain about my experience. Guess who was the manager? Yes, Joseph, who actually walked over to talk with me. I re-visited the circumstances with him and he again said he was having a bad day. I explained to him that this experience would make me bypass his store and move on to the next Starbucks down the road. He started to respond, when I interrupted him and just asked him for a comp coupon, as he was not interested in trying to fix my problems. He walked over to the cash register and fiddled with that for a couple of minutes, swiping a card through, pushing more buttons and then re swiping the card. Took it from him, thanked him, but told him he needed to replay this event in his mind as to find a solution for his multiple issues at his store.

Went to our local Starbucks in Ocoee and ordered the same, identical order and handed the barista my comp card. SHE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING OF VALUE ON THE CARD!!!!!!!

Joseph, you are a bad manager and should really go back to school to learn something else, because helping the general public is not...

This place SUCKS! I ordered a chocolate muffin and sweet black tea. They asked if I wanted my muffin warmed, I said 'nah'. They looked at me confused, "do you wanted it heated" .'no,nah, I don't want it warmed, heated whatever' they said 'OH! We thought you said MAV as if you were giving your name..what a weird name to give', 'no, I said Nah as in No I don't want my muffin warmed, but if you want to put my name as MAV, go ahead'... I got my sweet tea and waited as they talked amongst themselves about a team meeting happening on Wednesday...one thought it was today,Monday. And so on... Then they notice I'm still standing there. "Can we help you?" ,"uh, my muffin?" ..they look at each other dumbfounded..."OH!!hehe sorry" and opens some package of plastic wrapped premade muffins and put one into their oven... "I don't want it warmed", girl looks confusedly at me 'i do not want it heated'. She takes it out 'it was in there for like 2seconds, is that okay? I'm sorry I thought you said you wanted it warm". Jesus Christ these people. They're sweet but COMPLETELY incompetent.

I headed out to my carpool so the next person can go in. I warned them, "you may need to keep on top of these people or you won't get your stuff". My passenger comes back a few minutes later "these people are dumb! first the guy that came in after me and one other lady was helped first, then after he gets his order done we still were waiting to be helped. Then I ordered a large(whatever Starbucks version of that is) unsweetened black tea and the lady ordered her food. The man handed me a green tea and said 'we're out of black tea so I made you green tea instead, it's better for you', so I asked for a refund and even that was a hassle! By then the lady was asking the people who were standing around where her food was, and they replied 'we're working on it'" So we went to Wendy's, at least they know how to do things right.

THANK GOD this place will be having a team meeting this week, they need to address costumer service, eliminate unneeded chatter, focus on their customer, and how to properly handle situations in which drinks/foods are unavailable. If I could, I'd give...

I'm so disappointed with this store. We've gone twice in the past 4 days and we ordered 3 white chocolate mochas 'hot" and the coffee tasted burnt. It was so bad you couldn't drink it. I called to tell them and the guy I spoke to explained he knew what caused it and to come back when I had a chance and he would remake them. We went back early Saturday morning and they were great! Then last night we decided we wanted one so, my daughter drove up there and order 4 more this time all of them were hot, I'll be damed if it didn't happen again! I wasn't calling again to complain. It was 9:38 when she ordered and they close at 10. So it was too late to turn around and take them back.. I just felt if I called this morning they would think this women is looking for free coffee. So not true It's just when you pay 26.00 worth of coffee you expect it to be good. I've learned a great lesson taste it before you leave or go to another store. I know I can't be the only one that has had this problem. "GET IT...