Got Milk?

I stop at Speedway convenience stores several times a week. When I drove in this morning, I noticed a mini-van, luggage carrier on top, sitting at the gas pumps; it had New Jersey plates. I thought about families vacationing together, and visiting family in Indiana for the 4th if July. Such pleasant images.

Well, it wasn't the case when I walked inside the store. I've grown familiar with the nice older barista who works the coffee island keeping it stocked and clean. (Are they called that outside of Starbuck's?) A lady customer was asking if they had milk for the coffee, because she didn't want all the calories from the creamers. "No, I'm sorry. We only have the creamers." Customer: "That's why people are so fat."

I couldn't help but look up. The barista looked at me and rolled her eyes. "Fine! I'll go buy my own milk," and she walks off toward the dairy case. She returns on my other side at the Half & Half machine squirting some into her coffee.  (Guess she didn't want to buy milk.) "Now I have an extra 70 calories because the management at this store are so inconsiderate that they can't put milk out for their customers!" The man next to me commented, "I wish I could be that happy."

Any minute she could go off and pull out a semi-automatic! When she rounded the island asking for a stirrer, I scrambled to find one. There it is! I offered it to her, "Here you go." She mumbled her thanks. The barista was also there in an instant pointing out the choices for coffee lids.

About the time I approached the counter, she was marching that direction stating that she was only paying for her bag of ice because "the coffee stinks here." God, please open another register because I always take too long getting my stuff paid for. She will be really upset standing behind me. Thank you! The next register opens and the clerk is unphased by her tirade.

I watched her leave the store and who picks her up? The mini-van with New Jersey plates. That poor man has a really long ride ahead of him today!

Ever notice how you respond to angry or volatile people? The most common responses: ignore, placate, confront, or avoid. Clearly, we don't typically have people "go off" in our groups or teams if we don't have milk for their coffee, but conflict happens!

Comments

[Heidi]

Kathy,

I had the same thing happen to me at 7 11 here in San Diego.
People nowadays are either angry or the other extreme happy, but always in such a hurry to even notice that there were other people in the store during their tirade or playing around.
Who wants to start their day off that way?
Let me tell you, In the early A.M. I just want one cup of coffee with 5 Hazlenut creamers and a box of Hot Tamales.
Maybe I should buy half and half for our tables on Sunday, since Californian's are always watching their figures? :)
Heidi