Comment by The_President
17 hours ago
"Long ago" (Chantico-era anyone), Starbucks crews used to write on the cups with a standardized format which enabled calling the line. Actively soliciting the line ("calling the line") was extremely useful for knocking out a line extending out the door. Creating a computer label system may have knocked down shrink from free drinks (friends, cops, other baristas), but neutered the staffs ability to call the line. Now, in a busy Starbucks, it's more likely you won't be asked for what drink until you're at the register to pay.
Aside from the customer waiting longer for their drink, this also impacted a skilled barista's ability to combine batches of milk across multiple drinks, etc.
Recently I walked out of a Starbucks because the staff were waiting on the customer before me to "run and get their payment," while I waited to order a drip coffee that I had cash+tip in my hand for. "We'll be with you in a second."
Oh my god! It has been a long time since I've thought of being sprayed by viscous 200 degree chocolate magma.
Interesting thought about the printed receipts. I found line-calling only being efficient for the hour of morning rush with 60+ customers/hour, and I've never actually seen it effectively used outside my own store which was incredibly well-run. So maybe assumed they stopped doing it because it was too hard to do well.
Ah yeah, and clopening to that 6 am rush, only to look up and see that line out the door and around the corner.