Starbucks — Restaurant in Saint Petersburg

Today I went to Starbucks like I do almost everyday usually I order ahead and they have it ready for me, they even know me by name which to me is great customer service i have been going to this location for years, today I decided to go through the drive through and take my fid with me (feathered kid) named Charlie, the associates there know I am a professional avian trainer and always ask about how the birds are doing! I am always excited to go there. Today was unfortunate, and it made me realize how rude people can really be for no apparent reason.

As I pulled up to the window Charlie my blue and gold macaw was super excited to greet her with a wave, as she kept doing it I started to record her waving to the associate who smiled with happiness, she also called over other associates to come check it out they smiled in excitment as well. It was super cute and capturing that interaction was such a positive feeling to know such beautiful animals can engage in such excitement with humans.

After the associate handed me my drink and bagel she began to tell me that recording associates was against Florida law, but what she didn't say is it is actually illegal if someone has no knowledge that someone is recording you and doing it in a "hidden" matter, and also posting it on social media without your consent, Let's just say she turned a super positive interaction into a negative one for no reason. She made me feel like a criminal.

If this was the case, then every customer in starbucks that takes quick videos of their drinks or fun interactions they have, with associates in the background is considered illegal becasue those associate had no knowledge they were recording. Also, those customers that have cameras on their dash boards that pull through the drive-through are recording without their knowledge.

I wanted to write this review just incase anyone else encounters this situation, with their dog, cat, bird whatever they have with them on their way up to the window to be aware becasue if you have a cute interaction with an associate like I did. Don't try to capture the moment because you will be accused of...

I usually receive the BEST customer service here - there’s even an employee who writes funny little memes on the coffee that I love, like “my shaylaa”. But today? Absolutely not. I even complained directly to corporate. Deplorable behavior. I said my drink was way lighter than usual - $9 for a drink is already crazy, shouldn’t it be made correctly? I was not rude. I apologized for the inconvenience. The woman at the window stood there like a nervous child (assuming a nasty manager behind her, so understandable) and just said “it’s made with almond milk, i’m not sure” and tried to hand it to me. FYI: I would NEVER ask a small business to remake or discard a drink, but a corporation? 100% I will. So I asked. The pixie cut manager storms over, doesn’t make eye contact, ROLLS HER EYES, and grabs the drink. “She wants more ice then. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” I said “oh no it’s not an ice thing..” completely ignored. She pours almond milk and holds it up in the air saying “ALMOND MILK - SEE!” That was not the issue. She angrily puts it down, never even looking at me. Then the woman at the window handed it back to me - no I’m sorry or I apologize, no eye contact, no anything. I even said “I’m sorry for the problem it just wasn’t made right at first.” Silence. I feel insane right now. What did I just experience? I understand being overworked or having an off day. I get that way too. But to treat a customer like they’re not only wrong, but stupid and less than is so messed up. Even on my worst days I would still give a customer the decency to make eye contact. I usually love this Starbs and it’s only 5 mins from me so I will be back - but gonna take a commercial break since I just felt all around sad and overwhelmed leaving. Today’s lesson: Treat people...

Avoid this location. Went through the drive-through to use a free breakfast sandwich coupon I received by email. I told the lady on the drive-through speaker I have a coupon for a free breakfast sandwich. She says okay what would you like. I tell her I want the ham egg and cheese croissant and a cup of water. I pull up to the window and some other black girl answers and says $4.79. I say I have this free coupon. She asked to see my Starbucks card so I pull it up on my app which has $4.91 left over but the coupon said they might need to scan it or something so I let her scan it but thankfully it didn't go through I thought she was going to try to deduct from my gift card for a second. And I said I have the code here and she just ignored me and couldn't get it to work so she walked away for like six minutes and then some other white girl who talked in a country accent asked me if I was waiting on something and I said yes a breakfast sandwich I have a free code. She says well what's the code, I say it and the black girl returns and she still can't get it to work so then she says $2.69 and I say why should I have to pay anything it's free? She probably tried ringing it up as half price and she says oh that's right so she just brings it up as a free promo thing. Hands me the water first without the lid fully secured onto the cup and spilled water everywhere into my car which was the icing on the cake to a very aggravating experience. I didn't get soaked but still got wet. Thank god it wasn't hot coffee.I also got a frappuccino from this location before and it just tasted like crap which is only particular to this location, the workers seem to be very incompetent. Please avoid this store and go to the one on 4th St S or downtown...