thank you, starbucks

I am a fan of customer service. I think it comes from my years of working various customer service jobs. IMO, it's an artform.... not many can do it well. I hated working the customer service jobs, but I now have no patience for poor service.

Three or four weeks ago, I stopped into the old Starbucks downtown where I used to work. I asked for my usual drink -- a double tall non-fat latte. I was informed (rather rudely) that they were out of skim milk. Not a big deal, but if I'm going to be paying more than $3.50 for a 12 oz. beverage, it better be exactly the way I like it or be at least 5.2. (Note: When I worked at Starbucks, we would have given a free drink to someone if we didn't have skim milk when they ordered it.) I settled for a tall coffee light frappacino. Which was disgusting. And the barista had some serious attitude.

Since the customer service had been poor at best and my drink was something I wouldn't pay $1 for, much less $4, I sent a brief email to Starbucks. I got a response that evening, and then a couple of days later, I got two free drink coupons. A decent consolation.

As Ryan and I sit and drink our delicious, free lattes this morning, I'd like to take a moment to thank Starbucks for being one of the few companies that still understands the artform that is customer service. (And I've come to grips with the fact that I'm grossly overpaying for ground beans and milk.)