Starbucks Gossip:

Starbucks Gossip: A reader asks: "Is it fair for a customer to order a 'ghetto-latte'?".

A reader asks: "Is it fair for a customer to order a 'ghetto-latte'?"

The STARBUCKS GOSSIP reader writes:

Is it fair/right for a customer to order what we, at my store, call a "ghetto-latte"?

The "ghetto-latte" is ordering any size Iced Americano, with no water and half ice (This lady's drink is an Iced Venti, no water, half ice, Americano). She then takes the drink and goes to the condiments bar and adds her own half and half.

She and her boy toy came in the other day and both ordered a Venti and Grande ghetto-latte. We just happened to not have the half and half out at the condiment bar. When she ordered the drink, I then immediately said, "and ma'am what kind of dairy would you like?" She then said, "Oh I'll add it myself thank you." But I had to let her know we didn't have any out at the very moment. She asked for half and half of course.

Now my problem with that is... her 2 drinks cost $4.82 (entered as iced grande and venti americanos).

The EXACT drink she orders as we have it on our menu (with all the shots and milk she is actually getting) are called Iced Quad Venti Breve Latte and an Iced Triple Grande Breve Latte.

Venti (and Grande) Americanos come with 4 and 3 shots (respectively) of espresso and then water (and ice).

Lattes are 2 shots (and 2, respectively) espresso, milk and Ice.

Additional shots are $.55. Half and Half (breve) is also an additional charge.

The cost of those 2 drinks (as Lattes) is $10.24 or so!!!!

Is this just a case of the customer being savvy enough to play the system? Or should they be asked to stop? I personally feel they should be asked to stop.

Comments

[Michael F.]

Well, if Starbucks weren't so deceptive with their pricing and incessant nickel-and-diming for every little thing she probably wouldn't do that. I don't go to Starbucks very often but whenever I do order something it never ceases to amaze me that I pay extra for soy milk, even though at the grocery store soy milk is cheaper than cow's milk. It's almost like I'm being punished for being lactose-intolerant.

[Random Thinker]

I think those folks combining drinks and ending up half price of what it would be if they ordered off-menu are brilliant. There's nothing ghetto about beating the corporate giants of Seattle.

I've seen many, many people order their iced teas or other drinks without water - so they get a full concentrated drink, then they can double their consumption just by adding water on their own.

You can feel like they're messing with you, but seriously, is it all that bad? Starbucks made like $3.50 on that customer in pure profits, versus $9.00? Either way, you don't get to see a dime more in your paycheck. I say BRAVO to those customers that beat the system. Trust me, if it becomes too much of a problem, the marketing gurus in Seattle will make some changes.

Here's what pisses me off about Strabucks. I went to 3 different 'bucks in Manhattan last week, and asked for an Iced, Venti, 6 yellow, green tea. At each place the barista seemed pissed that I wanted them to oipen the little yellow packet and shake it in my drink. I'm paying $2.25 for it, and if I wanted it sweetened, they would have pumped the syrup themselves, so why the hell do I get an attitude?

[Rafe]

I think the use of "ghetto" is improper and bigoted because it connotates something wrong with the poor. The latte in question is about being cheap and stingy, not necesarrily poor.

[Kiwi]

you have lost me - i never really understood Starbucks anyway