AIBU to complain about staff at my local Costa?

This reads like it's from a book called "Things annoying men say to random women in public".

The server would be justified in 'engaging with' anyone who said these by telling them to fuck off.

OP has no idea what might be going on in the server's life. She might be, for example, dealing with the terminal illness of a loved one, or health problems of her own.

I'd just ignore it.
Sure, it's great when you have a nice, cheery person serving you. But it's hardly a deal breaker to your day.
Go there if it's convenient or go somewhere else.
I'd not make someone else's life more difficult over that.
If they were actively rude, or intentionally ignored you that's different

I wouldn’t waste your time complaining nothing will be done, service in this country is generally awful.
Instead vote with your feet go elsewhere, or alternatively take a flask and save a fortune.

I'm not sure coffee shops paying coffee shop wages are in a position to be that fussy.

Do it. I complained via DM on Twitter to Costa about the appalling way the manager spoke to a young member of staff in one store I went to. I didn't have full details of what had been going on, but what I heard was awful. The manager should have been more professional and needed to treat the staff member with respect. Costa did reply and said they were going to look into it.

I'm a netball umpire. I once had a player complain, totally seriously, that I was "being unprofessional and bringing my personal life on to the court", when I muttered out loud that I was tired, not really intending this to be heard. Her complaint angered me so much that I couldn't concentrate on the next game, and someone had to take over from me.

People who work in any customer-facing role are human like everyone else (and I think that a pre-requisite of being an MP should be previous experience in a customer-facing, minimum wage job, but that's another debate). Fortunately for me, unlike many other customer service situations, the umpire is always right, and that player was told where to go, and reminded that umpires are in short supply; one reason for this is because they regularly have to put up with stroppy players.

You are entitled to complain , OP' and are entitled to have your complaint taken seriously.
As long as your feedback is truthful, factual and fair that's fine.

I went into a well-known high street shop a fortnight ago and the manager spoke to me like I was dog muck on her shoe. I put in a complaint to head office and ended it by saying perhaps they could look at more staff training in Customer Care.

I got an apology and a voucher.

If I was going to be cynical about your experience, I would say you deserve it for going into Costa in the first place. IMO the coffee is $h!£ and it's overpriced 😆

Massive loss of profits at Coca Cola and they publicly blamed Costa because of it so I imagine it’s not the most pleasant place to work right now.

She’s not asking to be fawned over. Just some basic customer service would be good, as she is being paid to do but is not.

Trivial to you, trivial to the OP, perhaps, but it wouldn't be trivial for the Costa employee if she was reported because she doesn't fawn over the OP in the way she feels she's owed.

Complain. There’s no excuse for making customers feel unwelcome.

Hmmm there was a TikTok trend a couple of weeks ago about the worst companies to work for - Costa came up a lot. I would assume she hates her job and it’s not personal and let her live her life.

Sorry but I’ve worked in retail for a long time. Yes it’s mostly shite. Yes customers can be fucking horrible. BUT am I ever rude? No. Because it’s my job. If you don’t like people then don’t work in a customer facing role. Otherwise put a smile on your face and be fucking polite.

OP - absolutely complain about the miserable cow. There will be someone out there really grateful to have her job.

No don’t complain. Fgs the poor woman could have anything going on in her life and she isn’t paid enough to plaster a fake smile all over her face for 9 hours per day.

Smile, say thanks, get your coffee and move on with your life.

Honestly, working for COSTA is hell.
I've worked plenty of customer service and hospitality roles and COSTA was by far the worst.
Leave the girl to be ragey, you're paying for coffee not her fake smile. If she's not actively insulting you, it's not about you.

I'd tend to just vote with my feet and go elsewhere for coffee. What would you hope to achieve with a complaint, for something non specific like this?

The OP ain't coming back

Blunt as in rude or just matter,-of-fact getting the job done?

I feel sorry for my dentist - she gets some awful reviews because of her manner, she can appear a little brusque and I think she'd rather die than make small talk, but that suits me as I want the appointment to be as short as possible. She's actually very kind and has cured my lifelong extreme dentist phobia.

By any chance is this in a place that starts with a P and does her name starts with A lol? Sounds eerily familiar situation to our local Costa!

Cringe....

YABU

YABVU for drinking in Costa. The coffee literally tastes like dishwater. I’ll let you off the hook if you’re only buying the cold fruit coolers as they are ok.

I worked in Woolworths when I was a teenager. Customers constantly told me to cheer up and smile - I have something of a resting bitch face. But I never really understood why it was so important to them that I put on a happy face. I had a lot going on in my life and really didn’t see why I had to stand around like a grinning idiot for their benefit. One day I muttered oh fuck off under my breath in response to a “cheer up love” but I actually spoke the words out loud without meaning to. Customer complained and I was taken off the till by the very angry store manager. He told me the only reason he didn’t sack me then and there was because it was Christmas and the store was heaving. I was back on the till the next day, scowling as usual😂

I always sympathise with people who work in Retail and never expect them to be particularly friendly or smiley.

Do you use the Costa app? I often get surveys after my visits and maybe it would best for some constructive feedback instead?

Yep, I don't think it is anyone's life dream to work in Costa. He was probably there because he had little choice.

There used to be someone like that at my local Costa. He was in there a lot so possibly full time. Occasionally it annoyed me but I assumed he was unhappy and hated the work. Who knows what people have to deal with in life. It’s not a great job for a 40something. It’s hard being customer facing all the time.