Originally Posted by saxman66

I was getting Starbucks and the couple in front of me started chatting me up in the line. They get to the front and order and they insist on buying me whatever I want. Cool! So I take them up on it, and simply order a normal coffee worth about $3. I thank them profusely, and even ask if they happen to be on my flight so I could perhaps make sure they get taken care of. Of course they aren't, but oh well. I tried.

So here's the TOTD: I'm at the table putting cream into my coffee while a Starbucks employee is refilling napkins and such and he says to me, "You know bro. When someone does something nice for me, I usually reciprocate and do something nice for someone else. That's how society works dude." It took a second to process what he was saying. What?! I realized by his tone of voice he was basically calling me out and saying I was a big jerk. What was I suppose to do? Buy coffee for the next guy, and then he do the same? When does it end? Do the next 20 people in line have to do it now, meaning someone is going to be the jerk eventually. Am I the tool for not buying coffee now? I'll admit it didn't even cross my mind. (queue Curb Your Enthusiasm theme)

Originally Posted by trip

So that's why that car ahead paid for my Del Taco the other night.

As for Coffee, we quit buying Starbucks and Seatles best (Starbucks) at our house. Lots of choices these days for coffee, we just don't need a double shot of politics with the morning joe.

Originally Posted by Albief15

Correct answer:

"Dude...I know you probably didn't cover this in your "All men are pigs" or your "White Privilege is Wrong" 3 credit hour classes, and your mom probably doesn't have time to come down to the basement and explain it to you, but I am a pilot. I pick up USA Today from an airplane seat when someone else is done with it. I take soap home from the hotel room, and even the coffee filter packets. I'll stand in the rain for 20 minutes for a free airport shuttle to avoid paying a 4 dollar taxi ride to the hotel, and you expect me to buy someone a 6 dollar Latte?

Originally Posted by Albief15

Correct answer:

"Dude...I know you probably didn't cover this in your "All men are pigs" or your "White Privilege is Wrong" 3 credit hour classes, and your mom probably doesn't have time to come down to the basement and explain it to you, but I am a pilot. I pick up USA Today from an airplane seat when someone else is done with it. I take soap home from the hotel room, and even the coffee filter packets. I'll stand in the rain for 20 minutes for a free airport shuttle to avoid paying a 4 dollar taxi ride to the hotel, and you expect me to buy someone a 6 dollar Latte?

Originally Posted by Keizer Soze

The napkin guy is the tool. He should keep his mouth shut and do his job and not harass his customers. But, I have come to expect this kind of thing from Starbucks. After all, this is the place where you get dirty looks for ordering a medium coffee in English instead of a Grande Dark Roast in Starbuckian.

Seriously though, the napkin guy couldn't possibly know if the nice folks in line buying you a coffee - excuse me, a Dark Roast - was a kindness being returned to you for an earlier good deed you performed. I do good deeds all the time and never expect anything in return. Isn't that kind of the point? If you expect something in return then isn't that a favor and not a good deed? Napkin guy doesn't really sound like an expert on how society works. In full disclosure, nor am I an expert. But I do know enough not to go out of my way to call out a customer for what I believe is a perceived slight.

But, whatever! That is why Starbucks is absolutely a last resort for me. I am tired of overpaying 300-400% for a product only to be thrown dirty looks because I don't know, nor am I interested in learning, their language.

Originally Posted by White Cap

Originally Posted by trip

So that's why that car ahead paid for my Del Taco the other night.

As for Coffee, we quit buying Starbucks and Seatles best (Starbucks) at our house. Lots of choices these days for coffee, we just don't need a double shot of politics with the morning joe.

Originally Posted by trip

So that's why that car ahead paid for my Del Taco the other night.

As for Coffee, we quit buying Starbucks and Seatles best (Starbucks) at our house. Lots of choices these days for coffee, we just don't need a double shot of politics with the morning joe.

Originally Posted by OneEyedMonster

And Starbucks sucks anyways. Plenty of local coffee roasters in your home town, small businesses, doing great things. Why spend $12 for a bag of Starbucks beans, roasted 4 weeks ago when you can spend the same and support a local roaster who roasted a batch that day?

Originally Posted by captjns

We support our local proprietors versus the K-Mart, or Walmart, etal, which close down the local stores when they invade our area. Then they close down their superstores, leaving a void in the local area with a rise in unemployment. Aren't these big superstores, (bunch of tools) continue to support foreign economies rather than selling goods manufactured in the U.S.?

That said we patronize the local grinder, and other stores in the a.m. for our morning joe (1/2 the price and twice as good as Starbucks) watching Morning Joe, and fresh baked goods too. Read our local paper and chat with locals who live in our area.