Leah, my favorite of yours. "The I-Can't-Believe-You-Don't-Have-This Shopper." Just brilliant, I can't write it in my own words you describe it so eloquently:
"Desperation really sets in during the last weekend before Christmas and this is the shopper whom I interact with most. There has been plenty of opportunity to shop in the previous weeks yet there is still a large group that puts it off until now. Over and over again, I have to explain that we are out of a product and consequently brace myself for the backlash. Phrases like “Are you kidding me?”, “How could you not have such and such?”, “I just saw it last week but I was waiting for it to go on sale!”, “This is just ridiculous!”, and “*various curse words*” fill the air and mix with the background Christmas songs. They are legitimately confused and shocked by a product being out of stock mere days before Christmas as if they are the only ones that buy presents."Although in situations such as these, the smile on my face must stay -- I fume on the inside and wonder what has driven such customers to be crazy. My fellow partner (Starbucks lingo for co-worker) said it so well after much death glares from customers who weren't fond of the absence of our Caramel Brûlée sprinkles: "Are you really willing to make someone cry...just because you didn't get your sprinkles? Just, just think about that. Just think about that for one minute."
Customers walk into our doors, we greet them with a smile, we do our best as we haste to make 10 drinks perfectly, while another 10 pile up, while at the same time customers are asking to put milk in their coffee, make them a large ice water that could've been ordered/we have self-serve water and complaining because we don't have stupid sprinkles!
Sprinkles!
This world has gone crazy (or cray-cray for modern sake). I am just simply baffled by the behavior of ravenous holiday shoppers/shoppers in general who think the world revolves around them, who think they can cheat the system, who treat us like we're invisible/bottom of the caste system. Please don't throw me your cash, please put it in my hand. Please don't roll your eyes at me when I try to clarify your drink for your sake. Please don't ask me for a refund on your drink if you've drinken 80% of it! What?
The Flip Side of my Stupid Rant
Leah, I'm super thankful that you ended on a good note. "The Really Really Nice Shopper." Now that's a sigh of relief. If every customer was a Really Really Nice Shopper, all of my days would be complete. When a customer walks in with a smile on their face, tells me Merry Christmas, or even tells me I'm doing a good job, I believe my joy meter goes up, and continues to go up until the Really Really Nice Shoppers are halted by a series of not-so-nice shoppers, then the joy meter goes way, way down. And this is not to say I still don't have a smile on my face, because, oh yes, I do. And what happens in these moments when I'm confronted by Really Really Nice Shoppers is the confrontation that there is still good to be found in the world. But it's also a huge confrontation that I, as a Christian human being working as a Barista at Starbucks, can also spread that good vibe, that sincere smile that could possibly build someone up instead of tearing someone down. I could possibly be that person that reminds a customer that, "Hey. There is still good in this world." Now wouldn't that be a better perspective?
Now we relate it to the GOSPEL.
I know, I know. The Gospel? What in darn heck does me dealing with holiday shoppers have to do with the Gospel? Oh, so, so much.
I've been thinking about how to follow Jesus while working at Starbucks. It's a tough world out there, and a lot of small battles to be fought. Especially with customers who make you feel like shit. The simplest verse in the Bible - everyone knows it. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Paul says "do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another...but if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another" Galatians 5:13.
As barista's, our job is in customer service. We are here to serve our customers. Although we may be beaten down by their heinous standards and judgements, Christ taught us to be servants anywhere and everywhere we go.
"It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" Matthew 20:26-28. It is not this way among you -- and it's not. It totally goes against every grain of our culture and society. We are entitled to be offended and then turn around to slander and gossip. But this is not the way of Jesus, and he calls us to serve those who offend us, to love our enemy and to forgive.
"O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the Lord;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken" Psalm 15.
Shoppers & Holidays?
Oh yeah, were we talking about crazy customers? Okay, so I needed a quick rant. Onward to serving, and forward in being a crazy sinner, forgiven. Gotta keep movin' on and remembering the Gospel everyday at Starbucks - like, seriously. Can I just take a moment to think about sprinkles? I mean, just a moment to think about a customer who sincerely wanted sprinkles and didn't get any? Yeah, I can do that.
LOVE IT!!
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