Starbucks — Restaurant in Mesa

When people ask me why I no longer support Starbucks, I won’t even bring up the situation below. I’ll simply say: “Their coffee isn’t great, the drinks are mostly sugar, and I’d rather support local businesses that value their customers as people — not transactions.

My last and final Starbucks experience:

My husband and I regularly work out at LA Fitness, which happens to be in the same parking lot as this Starbucks location. On this particular day, I decided to skip the gym and get some work done at Starbucks — something I often do here.

As soon as I walked in, I went straight to the counter to order a brownie and an iced tea. I was told they discounted selling their brownies, which was disappointing, but I said “okay, no problem!” and sat down to start working.

About 30 minutes later, an employee came over to inform me they had found a brownie after all. I was genuinely thrilled — I smiled and reached for my card case, ready to purchase, saying “You found one! That makes me so happy!”

That’s when the experience took an unfortunate turn. With a noticeably condescending tone, the employee responded, “Yeah, you have to purchase in order to use our lobby.”

I was honestly taken aback. A few things about this really rubbed me the wrong way:

I did try to make a purchase the moment I walked in. The fact that the register was my first stop wasn’t up for debate.

If a brownie was actually available, why wasn’t it mentioned when I first asked — not 30 minutes later after it seemed like my presence needed justifying?

I’ve been a loyal customer with a ridiculous number of Starbucks Rewards points — clearly, this isn't a place I just pop into without making purchases.

Above all, the tone and implication that I was somehow freeloading felt entirely unnecessary and disrespectful.

Ironically, I’m grateful for the clarity this experience gave me. I’m more than happy to take my business elsewhere from now on. Not because of this one incident, but because it confirmed what I’ve long suspected: Starbucks, as a brand, has shifted away from genuine customer experience in favor of rigid,...

I normally have a pleasant experience at this location. Not recently. and not today. Don’t go in there if you need to charge your phone, And your phone is your primary form of payment. Oh, and also don’t be an undesirable demographic. I think that’s probably most important.

I was pressured the moment I walked in the door to order or get out. I had to charge my phone. that’s gonna take at least 20 minutes.

Even more telling though, I counted four other people in the Immediate vicinity, either drinking water or nothing at all (don’t worry I took photos) And I watched them sit down. So only I was targeted. I can assume why.

There was a time when Starbucks had a social conscience. Which is part of the reason I’ve given them tens of thousands of dollars over 2 1/2 decades. None of that means anything though when the zoomer despises the unemployed in her store.

I can’t fathom what compels someone to identify with, and then emulate, the cast of mean girls or, the snooty ladies from the dress shop in Pretty Woman.

No wonder you can’t keep stores open. I’ll be forwarding this experience...

I went to Starbucks this morning at 8:05am Bought e drink . Large Carmel frappe and a Iced Caramel Macchiato. The "caramel frappe " didn't look like camel. And I asked th brista. He said yes it caramel we just for got to put the caramel on top. .and usually I'm never post on reviews. Unless it really bad . Or really good. . BUT It was BAD.

The caramel frappe had no caramel in the blend. Just coffee. Every other Starbuck I go to always blends and pour side of caramel on the side of the cup. None of that was done. And it tasted like black coffee.... all the brista mostly girls were just in the front talking a giggling. While this one guy was sending out orders. But they were the ones making the drinks. And I guess whatever they were talking about this morning was so much more important. Then making a costumers day. As Dutch bros does so much better. Please have your morning staff service better. Cause this was just...