October 5th, 2009

Small != Tall

I love being in Starbucks, waiting for my order, when another customer asks for a small coffee.

Starbucks Cashier: Hi, what can I get for you today?
Customer: A small coffee please
Starbucks Cashier: A Tall coffee?
Customer: A small coffee (a little sternly)
Starbucks cashier to Barista^®: One Tall coffee

So would it have killed the cashier to let the customer use the generally accepted term for the smallest amount of coffee you can buy? Perhaps after being ignored this will be his last time visiting a Starbucks.

Make customer service the #1 priority at your company and your customers will come time and again (and likely bring a friend).