Why do people 'pay it forward' at Starbucks?

[Reborn_]

Originally Posted by UPSROD

I had it happen at Home Depot yesterday!

Hold on, about to go replace the flooring of my house…. That is strange. Home Depot purchases can range from a dollar to 20k

[Tommy-G]

I pay for the cops if they are behind me. It happens quite often b/c the Highway Patrol station is close by.

[owenscj21]

I was in line at a drive thru beer store one time where some Karen behind me was screaming out of her window for me to move forward. I was around the bend and she couldn't see what was in front of me. We're supposed to leave a gap (via a stop sign) so that the beer store staff loading the trunk of the vehicle in front of you isn't worried about you cutting them in half.

Anywho... when I pulled up, they inquired about the racket the lady behind me was making. *shrug* I offered to pay for her order. It was 24 cans of Labatt Blue if I remember correctly. The staff thought I was nuts.

Turns out... a week later on my next trip in, I was told that the case of beer was for her boyfriend who was at home. She got home with the case of beer and they had loaded her trunk with the incorrect beer. He had her turn back to go trade it in for the correct beer lol.

[Dino GT]

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

I pay for the cops if they are behind me. It happens quite often b/c the Highway Patrol station is close by.

Cops around here get free coffee and donuts at most coffee shops. I never seen a cop pay for their order at a Tim Horton's drive-thru.

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

I pay for the cops if they are behind me. It happens quite often b/c the Highway Patrol station is close by.

Same. That's the only exception I make.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by BklynNYBMW

Unless I know the person behind me is family or a friend. I am not paying for anyone’s Starbucks. Pay for your own damn coffee. It is the New Yorker in me. Lol

It is the *normal* in you. That's crazy, I heard about doing favors but to have that expected of you? No way.

Originally Posted by wtwo3

It's stupid... like people going out of their way to give me the right of way even though there's traffic flowing in the next lane over so i can't turn anyway... like I get you're trying to be nice but this isn't the way.

Haha, sounds like the motto for some intergalactic mortal enemy of the Mandalorians..."This is NOT the way"

Yup, it's well-meaning but I've seen that action cause accidents and other frustrations. These ppl need to stop doing that if there are other vehicles around.

Originally Posted by owenscj21

I was in line at a drive thru beer store one time where some Karen behind me was screaming out of her window for me to move forward. I was around the bend and she couldn't see what was in front of me. We're supposed to leave a gap (via a stop sign) so that the beer store staff loading the trunk of the vehicle in front of you isn't worried about you cutting them in half.

Anywho... when I pulled up, they inquired about the racket the lady behind me was making. *shrug* I offered to pay for her order. It was 24 cans of Labatt Blue if I remember correctly. The staff thought I was nuts.

Turns out... a week later on my next trip in, I was told that the case of beer was for her boyfriend who was at home. She got home with the case of beer and they had loaded her trunk with the incorrect beer. He had her turn back to go trade it in for the correct beer lol.

Holy crap, you are a SAINT, there should be an award or a statue erected for your amazing attitude; I definitely wouldn't benefit her after being subjected to some Karen. Wow... I bet she felt really bad if she has a conscience.
(EDIT: maybe your magnanimity was well-placed...you may have subconsciously felt something, she's probably suffering and stressed: any man that makes his gf go fetch beer and go back again can't be any good)

So, I guess the staff intentionally messed up her order?


Anyway, someone mentioned tips for takeout, that's crazy. They have these all over here and assume it's starting to be/already the norm elsewhere. Ridiculous, this is NOT a sit-down service thing, why should I tip for merely takeout/fastfood?

[its55]

Just more stupid narcissistic "look at me!" stuff. I won't fall for it.

[RickFLM4]

Never heard of it. Sounds ridiculous but then again, I think Starbucks itself is ridiculous. How does it even work if the person behind you hasn’t placed their order yet?

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Never heard of it. Sounds ridiculous but then again, I think Starbucks itself is ridiculous. How does it even work if the person behind you hasn’t placed their order yet?

I think the idea is that by the time you get to the window to pay and pick up your order the person behind you has already placed their order.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Esteban

I think the idea is that by the time you get to the window to pay and pick up your order the person behind you has already placed their order.

Ok shows how much I know about Starbucks. I assumed you order and pay at the same time and then get food later like most fast food counters.

[Atavus]

It’s the Drive Thru.

[UncleWede]

I don't do drive-thru. I've stepped in front of a person in military uniform and paid for their order.

I've also had a waitress bring me a bill in IHOP for a table in uniform. Pay then walk out, don't have the waitress tell them "whodunit"

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

I don't do drive-thru. I've stepped in front of a person in military uniform and paid for their order.

I've also had a waitress bring me a bill in IHOP for a table in uniform. Pay then walk out, don't have the waitress tell them "whodunit"

Or ask them to pay for someone else.

[DocL]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Never heard of it. Sounds ridiculous but then again, I think Starbucks itself is ridiculous. How does it even work if the person behind you hasn’t placed their order yet?

First, I boycott Starsucks so I'll never be paying it forward.

Second, I've never had it happen to me anywhere, at any place of business or drive thu.

Third, if I don't know you then why would I buy you a coffee if you are behind me in line in your $100k car, or wearing your $50k watch.

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by DocL

First, I boycott Starsucks so I'll never be paying it forward.

Second, I've never had it happen to me anywhere, at any place of business or drive thu.

Third, if I don't know you then why would I buy you a coffee if you are behind me in line in your $100k car, or wearing your $50k watch.

It’s extremely common here in Arizona. Happens at least once a week out here.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by DocL

First, I boycott Starsucks so I'll never be paying it forward.

Second, I've never had it happen to me anywhere, at any place of business or drive thu.

Third, if I don't know you then why would I buy you a coffee if you are behind me in line in your $100k car, or wearing your $50k watch.

Also seems like a way of begging to screw up orders.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

I haven't been to a Starbucks in 10+ years (even their hot chocolate was terrible). How people spend that much money every day and drive a Ford Fiesta is beyond me. To each their own I guess.

Cause $10 at Starbucks 3 times a week for 52 weeks a year is still only $1560. You can get leather and upgraded sound in your Fiesta though for that lol, and I agree that is a worthy upgrade.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

I pay for the cops if they are behind me. It happens quite often b/c the Highway Patrol station is close by.

Not that it isn't nice or cool to appreciate their hard work, but my cousin is a cop and pulls about $150k a year (including OT). He can buy his own Starbucks lol.

[Germanauto]

It's human nature to want to feel virtuous. Stuff like this is meaningless but convinces people in their 3 ton SUVs that they are doing something good for humanity.

[dreamingat30fps]

Luckily never had this happen to me, but then I never go to starbucks so. Sounds horrible though, it's almost worse than xmas where everyone agrees not to buy each other useless shit no one needs, but then of course someone always breaks the agreement so you have to buy gifts anyways knowing that everyone knows the agreement is bs. It's really all a pita that serves no purpose and just becomes a hassle for everyone. I don't need and probably don't want anything anyone could buy me. Just save the money you would spend on a gift and put it towards buying yourself something you actually want. Unless someone is planning to get me a C7... in that case I take it all back.

[Flying05]

I learned my lesson about a year ago with this at a McDonald's. I ordered about $12 worth of breakfast for my family on vacation and the person in front of me paid and asked if I wanted to pay for the car behind me. Not thinking much about it and being McDonald's, I thought why not. Come to find out after agreeing and they had already swiped my card, I paid about $60. A damn mini van full of people that I didn't even realize. When I left they waved and were happy, but damn I was so mad at myself and said never again.

Fast forward, I was at a Starbucks and this happened again except I was prepared. I only order a coffee so my bill is about $3. The lady at the drive through said the car in front of you paid for your coffee. I was like great. Knowing I've seen this before. So she asked if I wanted to pay for the car behind me. I asked how much. She said something like $23. I said no thanks. And drove on. Sorry, but I learned from this. I'm all up for doing good things, but I'd rather donate my extra money to charity.

[forumlurker]

The day I win the lotto is the day i'll pay it forward at a Starbucks. Just once tho.