Starbucks

Starbucks is a great example of the cycles of business. It’s a story of «how great is this!» that cycles around to «I wish this business had some competition». This Starbucks location is a great example of this. When it opened, there was another coffee shop a couple of miles away. It had great music, those big stuffy leather chairs and delicious pastries. But… It has gone away and since then someone at Starbucks decided to re-​do this location, probably to impress their corporate boss and «make things better» and get a promotion. The results;
Gone are the comfy chairs and tables, the inside now resembles what a coffee shop would look like if it were located under a state park shelter. Hard laminated chairs, small round tables, a cramped 3 stool bar and the «picnic table», I’m not even going to describe it, and don’t come here just to see it, your time is much too valuable. So, if you like a stripped down, corporate styled java stop, you’ll love it. It’s a real shame that my best thing about any coffee shop is the drive through.

Terribly slow service this Saturday afternoon. It appears that there were many employees on duty but not getting customers orders taken care of. Too much personal chit chat between employees. They are not focused on customer service. Poor management to allow this behavior.

I love a good clover brewer! I especially love it when they have Papau New Guinea Reserves!
The server was great! She apologized for the wait (we ordered three clover coffees so of course, they came out one at a time). We watched her make them and she wasn’t trying to balance anything else– the drinks only took as long as the Clover took to brew them and I’m good with that — we told her we were happy to wait. It’s funny how relieved she was. Sweet of her.
Delicious coffee– totally worth the wait

Consistent bad service. This is the closest Starbucks to where I live (about 40 minutes away) but I find myself regretting coming to this location often. I tend to drive all the way across town to the Mall at Barnes Crossing and head to Barnes & Noble and order at the Starbucks inside. West Main’s location can’t seem but to hire clueless baristas. Drinks are not as good as the one in the mall.
I ordered a 2 Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frapps and got 2 plain caramel Frapps. When I asked about it all three girls came to the window, smirked at me and said «We don’t have the crunch part. We’re out.» So I was like, «Don’t you think you should inform customers you can’t make the drink when they order it instead of making another drink and serving it to them?» They just stared and smirked. Needless to say their manager heard about it and so did Starbucks customer service. I got 2 free drinks to compensate for the terrible service.

Horrible service today:
Server gal: What can I get you today? (Vacant look in her eyes-I’m in trouble)
Me: Good morning. Do you have echinacea tea?
Server: (blank stare) um, what’s that?
Me: A hot tea.
Her: Oh. I don’t know.
Me: Can you check?
Her: (Not checking) We have black tea.
Me: Ok. The tea choices are behind you. Could you check for me? (They have about 10 types on the wall behind her, I suspect she is not looking because she can’t read. — yes, I can be snarky in the morning.)
Her: (Still not checking.) We have Green tea. Is that what you want?
Me: No, I’d really prefer an echinacea tea if you have one.
Her: I don’t know what that is. (Vacant look.)
Me: The tea choice are behind you, would you please check?
Her: (Turns to a young lady making coffee) Hey, do we have ecc-​un-​asia (I can’t make this up.) tea?
Coffee maker: I don’t know what that is?
Me: (Giving up on the idea that either might actually look at the tea choices they have.) How about Earl Grey?
Her: (Smiles) I know what that is!
Woman behind me: (Whispers) I believe they do have echinacea here but she wasn’t going to let you have it! What poor service!
Me: (Whispering back) I gave up, I don’t have the energy this morning to pursue this.
I expect at least sub par service at Starbucks but they reached a new low today. The server was not about to actually check to see what tea choices they had. Kudos to her though, she stuck with her choice of willful ignorance.
Have a delightful morning, everyone.

I stop here often when passing through Tupelo. Although the baristas are hit-​or-​miss regarding their level of coffee knowledge, I usually walk away satisfied. As with most Starbucks, this location includes clean bathrooms, free wifi (although slow at times), and outlets for plugging in your various electronic devices. Foot traffic seems to be pretty slow throughout the work week, but you may run into a crowd in the early evening hours.

Amended from before. This time the service was great!

Same SBUX, but in Tupelo MS, a gift from the gods. We so needed a coffee break after visiting Elvis’ birthplace. Helped us get home with a nice coffee buzz!
& on a very hot day too!

My late aunt lived in Tupelo and when Starbucks came to Tupelo, I knew that good coffee would not deter me from visiting. My husband and I caught a late and simple breakfast at this Starbucks this past Friday. The blueberry scones were good and the Italian Roast coffee was perfect to get us going on the daunting task of packing up my aunt’s apartment.
We had the opportunity to east in and environment was conducive for conversation, surfing the web, reading and drinking coffee. I wish all Starbucks could be like this one in the ability to just relax and drink good coffee.
Since we were ‘south’ there ware people sitting outside and surfing the web. This just felt like a great gathering spot and a wonderful addition to the Tupelo community.
I stop here at least once on each trip I have made to Tupelo.