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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel a bit humiliated by this?

141 replies

Steaksauce · 20/03/2018 08:17

I'm travelling for work today and stopped at the Costa place at the train station to grab a quick coffee.
I placed my order (a latte) and gave them my reusable cup.

The two women at the back making the drinks started discussing my order very loudly so I and everyone else in the queue could hear: "god, what's the point in that drink? Any strong drinks in your reusable cup? Perhaps some water?" They then started laughing to each other.

I don't think I'm mega sensitive but I guess I could be (I'm not a morning person so felt at a bit of a low ebb)
But I felt a bit embarrassed and I'm pissed off because they said what they did so loudly and wtf has it got to do with them what I order?
Plus the fact it's pretty shitty service to take the piss out of paying customers when they're right there in front of you.

So AIBU to be annoyed and embarrassed or were they just letting of steam given that they work in retail and we all know that customers can be pretty annoying at times.
(To clarify, I wasn't rude or anything, I politely asked for my order when they asked me for it - though when they gave me my drink I didn't say thanks as that was after the above and I Though if they're going to be rude then why should I thank them for the coffee?)

OP posts:
TenancyTroublesAgain · 20/03/2018 08:21

God forbid you order a Costa product from Costa.

That's really inappropriate and unprofessional of them, and I'd complain in the hope that they'd be embarrassed in return.

falsepriest · 20/03/2018 08:22

Two Costa employees were taking the piss out of a customer who ordered a LATTE in COSTA??? Hmm

UndomesticHousewife · 20/03/2018 08:24

I don’t really understand what they were saying, were they talking about the drink and cups or were they making a nasty comment about you personally?

Original poster
Steaksauce · 20/03/2018 08:24

Well that's what I thought, it's not like a latte is an unusual order.
I rarely complain but I have in this instance because it was so unprofessional and generally not very nice.

OP posts:
Original poster
Steaksauce · 20/03/2018 08:26

@UndomesticHousewife they were basically laughing at me because a latte isn't a very strong coffee and because my cup is small they were implying that I might as well have not bothered with it and felt the need to laugh at me.

OP posts:
claraschu · 20/03/2018 08:26

I don't understand what they said, but I am sorry they were rude to you as you try to do the right thing.

I just came here to say thank you for bothering to use a reusable cup. People like you give me a warm feeling of hope for humanity. I always bring a reusable cup, and try to avoid plastic as much as possible. When I see someone else doing the same, I feel happy and friendly towards them, so just wanted you to know that there are strangers out there who are full of support and kinship for you.

Byebyebye · 20/03/2018 08:27

What’s wrong with a nice latte 😵😵😵

AjasLipstick · 20/03/2018 08:41

Phone up and ask to speak to the manager. Then tell her/him what happened and what time it was.

Then write to head office....inform them of what happened and tell them you have told the manager.

It's shit! I'd love a job in a coffee shop but people like that have them and can't even be polite!

GnotherGnu · 20/03/2018 08:49

You should report this - these two must be putting customers off all the time: if I heard staff members talking like that about another customer, let alone about me, I'd probably walk out and not come back. The manager needs to know.

farangatang · 20/03/2018 08:50

WTF is wrong with employees like that?!

Definitely bring that to the management/Head Office's attention.

And Flowers for using a reuseable cup! Wish there were more like you!

IAmMatty · 20/03/2018 08:51

Slagging someone off for drinking a weak coffee is...erm...pretty embarrassingly bad smack talk Grin

exWifebeginsat40 · 20/03/2018 08:52

i complained once when i saw a Costa employee hoovering the cakes with a dustbuster. it isn’t really relevant but it’s all i have.

Mrsmadevans · 20/03/2018 08:53

Who taf do they think they are ? Definitely complain to the manager and imho this won't be the only complaint they have heard about these two .

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 20/03/2018 08:56

Put in a complaint. It goes without saying that is highly uncalled and unprofessional.
Tell them you want an apology and that you expect them to be serverly reprimanded otherwise remind them "people talk" ect.

Lalalaleah · 20/03/2018 08:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Newtothismumthing · 20/03/2018 09:02

Don't feel humiliated, if anything I'm sure the other customers were thinking about their rudeness. Very unprofessional, definitely make a complaint to the manager. I also get a latte.. although I always forget to take my own cup. So good job!

mandem08 · 20/03/2018 09:02

Complain.
We are all too quiet about terrible service

Idontdowindows · 20/03/2018 09:02

I would complain. This is not on and no matter how frustrated they are with their job, they need to stay professional.

INeedNewShoes · 20/03/2018 09:09

I'd complain. It'll be good for you (they'll probably send you some vouchers) and it'll be good for these members of staff who need to learn how to look after customers before they fuck up even more royally.

EasterRobin · 20/03/2018 09:10

That is such an odd comment to make. Surely they must serve hundreds of lattes a day. How long can they continue to be surprised by this request?

But I wanted to say "yay!" at you for using a reusable cup.

flobella · 20/03/2018 09:13

Tweet a link to this thread to Costa with the location of the shop.

AuntFidgetWonkhamStrongNajork · 20/03/2018 09:14

i complained once when i saw a Costa employee hoovering the cakes with a dustbuster

OMG is that where I'm going wrong? I've never hoovered a cake before. Why would you need to hoover a cake?

Perhaps the person ahead of you ordered a 5 shot expresso on a teaspoon or something, I'm trying to be charitable here.

LittleMysPonytail · 20/03/2018 09:14

I’ve worked as a manager in a costa. A latte is the most common order and I would always get a small because a medium is a rip off and I can rarely drink a large. I’m glad you complained. I would definitely have wanted to have known about this. It’s utterly bizarre as well as rude.

morningconstitutional2017 · 20/03/2018 09:14

It was rude and unprofessional. You were buying something from them and the least you could expect is that they be polite - it's called customer service.

FetchezLaVache · 20/03/2018 09:19

Hang on a minute...

www.costa.co.uk/responsibility/our-cups/

Particular worthy of note is this bit: "we are also offering customers 25p off any hot or cold handcrafted drink when served in a reusable cup".

So not should these two bastions of customer service not have taken the piss out of your reusable cup, they should have offered you money off.

Definitely complain!

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