Among Friends

[suzyQ3]

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@sfnative wrote:

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

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@sfnative wrote:

I am a "no  more Starbucks customer," after having been shamed as being a "older white customer."

This occurred about one year ago in Vancouver, WA, at a busy Starbucks.  I was meeting up with someone I had met on a fiber arts Facebook Group for the first time.  Walked in and went directly to the counter.  There were two youngish very young adult females behind the register, one white, one African American.  I ordered my usual Grande Latte.  They both looked at me with absolutely dead faces.  Sad nothing.  Not even the price or please insert your card, you know the drill.  It was quite strange, to say the least.  Then I proceed to the other end to pick up my drink, which turned out to be hot milk - no coffee in it.  I turn to the barista and ask, " OK, what are you guys pulling today?  I saw the look on the faces of those 2 at the register.  Now, are you going to get on it and do my drink right or do I get on the phone to the Director of Operations for Starbucks Western States and Hawaii, because I have met him, he knows me and I have his business card on me.  So what is it going to be?   (True statement.)

Believe me, I was not whispering at this point. 

I'm incredibly sick and tired of all of the ______  ____   various employees here in the U.S. are perpetrating on the customers they are employed to serve!

Enough already!

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So @sfnative , they called you an "older white customer"? Because you did put this in quotes.

If no, what exactly made you think that your whiteness had anything to with not getting what you ordered?

You are leaping and bounding into dangerous territory with this attitude. If for some reason your high-connections that you bragged about don't do whatever it is you think that they should, based on what you posted here, I would be oh so shocked.

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@suzyQ3 

No, they did not say "older white customer."  I did not say that.

After I sat down with my drink and having introduced myself to my new FB fiber acts acquaintance, I had a clear view of the register station of which I spoke.

The 2 young adult females of which I spoke proceded to be quite animated with every single male or female customer before them.  There were, admittedly, constraints on my part, as the two of us were conversing quite a bit for well for 90 minutes, so I cannot admit to having seen even 50% of the customers or entered after me and were served for that pair.  However, as just mentioned, I did people watch for at least 10 minutes (having told my new acquaintance that it was something I needed to do).

My huge issue and challenge is living in Portland, OR, where little or nothing is tolerated, let along being over 60 and ______.  The same goes for traversing the Columbia River on 205 North to Vancouver, WA for a coffee on Mill Plain at a Starbucks.  Unless you live in Portland, OR, you cannot possibly understand horrible dynamics which exist here, unless of a particular _____.I can say no more.

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I'm sorry, @sfnative , but I still see the situation as benign based on what little I can make of your post; also, I can fill in your blanks, and it's very disturbing to me.

Having said that, I note in another thread that you have not been well. I wish a speedy recovery.

[Still Raining]

Just NO.  This is not what Portland is like.

I am an old, white woman and I have lovely interactions.

Good manners and a friendly attitude go a long way as always.  Oregon can be a chatty place.  Smile, look at them and ask how their day is too.  You know, be human.

I know of at least one Starbucks that brings out a bowl of water for the K9.  And the cops have to remind everyone that puppy is on duty, not be be patted.

You get back what you put out.

[blackhole99]

I've never been inside a Starbucks, but the cops are pretty much disrespected any where they go these days.People seem either to be disrespectful or afraid of law enforcement and vice verse. Hubby and I were pulled over by local police 2 years ago and although the cop was not mean, he was all business and we were afraid of him. If two old white people are leery of the police, I can imagine how the kids feel. I don't know, I think for the police it just goes with the territory. My dad was a cop and I remember people I knew telling me they were scared sh--less of my dad and that was 50 years ago. I don't know what the answer is, other than better training and more psychological testing for the police and probably the same for the public. I know the police in my state especially the State Police,are known for having a tremendous amount of power and sway. I don't think that's good for the general public to be aware of, let alone the criminals. I think that makes it more dangerous for the police when interacting with criminals.