For years I have been a loyal Starbucks customer, eschewing alternative establishments whenever possible. My large tea with lactose free milk has been $2.05 for as long as I can remember (before that I think it was $1.95).
Imagine my surprise back in late November/early December when I dropped the grandson off at hockey and did the tea run to my local Starbucks, gave my usual order “large black tea, one teabag, lactose free milk on the bar, please” and was told “that will be $2.57”. I said “I only want 1 teabag”, the response: “we’ve put it on the side”.
After arguing with the barista briefly, I asked to speak to the manager. Same story. We only ever sell Venti tea with 2 bags. Well, my friend that was not the way it was from the time the store opened until that moment in time. So I walked out and left my tea sitting on the counter, walked up the block and went to Tim Horton’s.
$0.52 for a teabag? You have got to be kidding!
Many emails and phone calls to #Starbucks later, I was told that the situation would be rectified and of course I could buy a tea with 1 teabag. So I ventured back into the same store in late December and gave my usual order. Same story. After they rang in my tea at $2.57 I walked away and joined my friend, sat in a Starbucks’ chair, used their wifi for 2 hours and didn’t buy a $0.52 tea bag.
More emails and phone calls and finally today I spoke to the District Manager for the store in question who advised that when they changed tea suppliers, the new supplier insisted they change policy and the 2 larger sizes of tea must be sold with 2 bags!
So although I’m the customer, I can’t get what I want.
Years ago my daughter divorced Tim Horton’s because she couldn’t walk in without buying a confection with 4000 calories. That was not Tim Horton’s fault. Today, I officially divorce #Starbucks and their $0.52 teabags! Now if I can just get the money back off my card!
UPDATE: On my recent trip to Florida, my only choice at the airport was Starbucks or Starbucks. But I figured it out. When it was my turn, I asked the barista for the largest cup of tea she could sell me for which I only had to purchase one teabag. The lovely young woman sold me a Tall tea in a Venti cup (I had to look those sizes up, I just used to ask for Large)! Well done Lovely Young Woman!