Is anyone else reminded of the scene in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" where Jack Nicholson is trying to order plain toast in a restaurant, and the waitress is adamant that it's not on the menu so she cannot give it to him. When he finally orders a "Grilled cheese sandwich but hold the cheese" she goes ballistic...

Wonder if the professor is also a fan of the L.A. Lakers?

That was Jack Nicholson in "Five Easy Pieces".

That was Jack Nicholson in "Five Easy Pieces".
Karen Black was sitting next to him in the booth.

I'm not a Nicholson fan; sorry I mixed up a pair of his roles. And I didn't see that clip of it at the front of this thread, because I don't use Flash.

Companies do have some very strict rules at times, though. One chain that I visit often doesn't let their employees respond to "Thank you" with "You're welcome" but rather requires that they respond with "My pleasure." At least that's better than "No problem" I suppose...

I'm not a Nicholson fan; sorry I mixed up a pair of his roles. And I didn't see that clip of it at the front of this thread, because I don't use Flash.

Companies do have some very strict rules at times, though. One chain that I visit often doesn't let their employees respond to "Thank you" with "You're welcome" but rather requires that they respond with "My pleasure." At least that's better than "No problem" I suppose...

I know who you're talkin about. ;-)

Scary that a grown up professor couldn't handle something like that with any more grace. How embarassing. If it is bad enough to stand there and argue about it, it is bad enough to simply nod and walk out the door, never to return. Some people just don't have enough drama in their lives, even the elite.

I wouldn't call the professor exactly "grown up" myself. What scares me is the thought of such an insecure individual in such a role-model position with authority over impressionable young people!

I wouldn't call the professor exactly "grown up" myself. What scares me is the thought of such an insecure individual in such a role-model position with authority over impressionable young people!

I feel the same way. She lost her mind and her dignity in a power play over a bagel.

I could understand going to fist city if they refused to include cream cheese, but come on. A plain multigrain bagel? No wonder Starbucks kept asking questions. That is just wrong.

Maybe the barista is stupid with control issues. I mean it. The customer
wanted a plain bagel. Why the need to try to control the customer? Is
it part of the job description? Had the servant spent her time serving, i.e.
just do her job, the customer wouldn't have behaved the way she did.

Actively, no. They do train them to ask those scripted questions. Its a numbers game to management. For every one lady throwing fit about being asked if she wants butter or cheese there are thousands complaining about not getting their butter or cheese.

Bingo.

They should do their best to accommodate the "special" customer, but I'm not going to give her any kudos for her "expert" knowledge of linguistics. Its not proper English to not respond to a question or keep what you want a secret. The default bagel listed on their menu comes with either butter or cheese that is included in the price. Apparently saying plain is to simple of a concept or is considered bad English for some reason that only lurks in her mind.

Is she right as customer? yes
Is she a rational human being?no

You get partial credit. She wasn't right as a customer either. Butter or cheese is included with the item. When asked is she wanted butter or cheese she should have responded with "neither". If you go to Burger King, as used in the story, and order a Whooper you better darn well tell them you don't want tomatoes, because it is coming on it if you don't say something. And she would blow a gasket if she was asked by a Sonic employee is she wanted mayo or ketchup on her burger. If it was me and she copped this kind of attitude I would have gone to the back and got an uncooked one or one out of trash because she didn't specify she wanted a cooked one or one that hadn't been in the trash.

You get partial credit. She wasn't right as a customer either. Butter or cheese is included with the item. When asked is she wanted butter or cheese she should have responded with "neither". If you go to Burger King, as used in the story, and order a Whooper you better darn well tell them you don't want tomatoes, because it is coming on it if you don't say something. And she would blow a gasket if she was asked by a Sonic employee is she wanted mayo or ketchup on her burger. If it was me and she copped this kind of attitude I would have gone to the back and got an uncooked one or one out of trash because she didn't specify she wanted a cooked one or one that hadn't been in the trash.
+100

+100

Or the employee could have just licked one and then asked if she would like one without saliva. I'll bet this customer would be more than willing to answer that question.

You get partial credit. She wasn't right as a customer either. Butter or cheese is included with the item. When asked is she wanted butter or cheese she should have responded with "neither". If you go to Burger King, as used in the story, and order a Whooper you better darn well tell them you don't want tomatoes, because it is coming on it if you don't say something. And she would blow a gasket if she was asked by a Sonic employee is she wanted mayo or ketchup on her burger. If it was me and she copped this kind of attitude I would have gone to the back and got an uncooked one or one out of trash because she didn't specify she wanted a cooked one or one that hadn't been in the trash.

Well, we don't have video footage of how exactly everything went down. From a business point of view, if the opportunity was there to diffuse the situation and preserve the sale it should have been taken. But again, we don't know the tone of voice or body language when she answered the answer question with: "I want a multigrain bagel!". She very well may have seemed mentally ill and the Batista didn't realized she was receiving a lesson in linguistics.

I can tell you management isn't going to lose any sleep over this one isolated incident which happen over a year ago. LoL

You get partial credit. She wasn't right as a customer either. Butter or cheese is included with the item. When asked is she wanted butter or cheese she should have responded with "neither". If you go to Burger King, as used in the story, and order a Whooper you better darn well tell them you don't want tomatoes, because it is coming on it if you don't say something. And she would blow a gasket if she was asked by a Sonic employee is she wanted mayo or ketchup on her burger. If it was me and she copped this kind of attitude I would have gone to the back and got an uncooked one or one out of trash because she didn't specify she wanted a cooked one or one that hadn't been in the trash.
Mmhmm

I think she need to sue Starbucks to teach them a lesson.

Starbucks need to learn how to listen to people.

Starbucks need to learn how to respect their customers.

Starbucks need to learn how to serve plain bagels.

Starbucks need to learn how to not call the police.

Starbucks need to learn how to prevent loss of revenue.

So how about instead of being a self richteous professor, just say, "hey, i'd like a multigran bagel with nothing on it...no butter, no cheese". Move on and get over it. You don't own the store there professor, or the English language. There's no reason to make a big deal and a scene with it....get over yourself.

I think she need to sue Starbucks to teach them a lesson.

Starbucks need to learn how to listen to people.

Starbucks need to learn how to respect their customers.

Starbucks need to learn how to serve plain bagels.

Starbucks need to learn how to not call the police.

Starbucks need to learn how to prevent loss of revenue.

Thunder needs to learn that a lawsuit is not the solution to every conflict or unsatisfactory situation.

Thunder needs to learn that the customer is not always right.

Thunder needs to learn that people can vote with their pocketbooks and vote with their feet by choosing other places to patronize.

Thunder needs to learn that police should be called when unreasonable and/or irrational people are doing unreasonable and/or irrational things that can escalate into potentially violent situations.

Thunder needs to learn that it's more idiotic and outrageous for a "learned" and/or "esteemed" professor to act so childishly over such trivial semantics when she was no more in the right than Starbucks was in the wrong.

Well, we don't have video footage of how exactly everything went down. From a business point of view, if the opportunity was there to diffuse the situation and preserve the sale it should have been taken. But again, we don't know the tone of voice or body language when she answered the answer question with: "I want a multigrain bagel!". She very well may have seemed mentally ill and the Batista didn't realized she was receiving a lesson in linguistics.

I can tell you management isn't going to lose any sleep over this one isolated incident which happen over a year ago. LoL



The cops were called and she was threatened with arrested. My guess is she was acting like a crazy person.

So how about instead of being a self richteous professor, just say,
"hey, i'd like a multigran bagel with nothing on it...no butter, no cheese".
Move on and get over it. You don't own the store there professor, or
the English language. There's no reason to make a big deal and a
scene with it... get over yourself.
So how about instead of being a self righteous employ just say,
yes ma'am and move on and get over it?

The customer, even if it was a grease monkey or a wino, was right and
the employee was wrong.

She was in NYC? Then going to Starbucks for a bagel was her first mistake.....

She was in NYC? Then going to Starbucks for a bagel was her first mistake.....

Maybe she knew the other NYC bagel venders would not be respond as favorable to her linguistics lesson? Lol

I've always had good experiences with the service at Starbucks. The
control freak employee was an unfortunate anomaly for the customer.
I wonder how many customers she's run off?

I've always had good experiences with the service at Starbucks. The
control freak employee was an unfortunate anomaly for the customer.
I wonder how many customers she's run off?

Prunie, anyone who thinks it is appropriate to impose a lesson in linguistics on a Starbucks clerk probably has a screw loose or zero social skills. I go with the notion that"the Customer is always right," when you are dealing with something having to do with the transaction. However, the clerk didn't sign up for a linquistics lesson, probably had no idea what this nutcase was getting at, and the professor clearly had a different agenda than merely buying a bagel, resulting her her acting like a complete jerk over something that was important to her and had nothing to do with why she was in Starbucks. Going off on a tangent about linguistics, IMO, was her own sack of rocks, not that much different than if she had demanded the clerk recite Browning while preparing the bagel or, for that matter, dance an Irish Jig on top of the counter. The customer is always right, except when the customer is not "right." She sounds like she had a screw loose.

Most grease monkeys and winos would probably have said, "Cheese, please" and all of the drama would have been avoided.

Of course, some of these types might have insisted on smoked salmon with cream cheese so . . .

The customer is very often wrong, Prune. This one most certainly was.

Not only is the customer NOT always right, sometimes the "customer" isn't even a customer.

"The barista said, 'You're not going to get anything unless you say butter or cheese!'"

I had to LOL at this quote because the Professor left without anything.

Techinically, didn't the professor actually leave with nothing?

Techinically, didn't the professor actually leave with nothing?

Maybe we should go ask her.

Excuse me, when you were escorted out Starbucks did you "leave with nothing" or "leave without anything"?

I think I'd be more inclined to ask the barrista rather than the professor.

That was perfect. Enough said

I think I'd be more inclined to ask the barrista rather than the professor.

The professor is the linguistics expert (she even said so just to make sure we all knew it). If anyone would know, it would be her. Plus, how do you add insult to injury by asking the barrister? You have to ask person that left empty handed and hungry.

In fact, "barristers" charge way to much to be axing them anything.
Plus you either have to fly to England or make a long-distance call to one of those weird phone numbers to do so. Or is that "to so do"?

("To" intentionally misspelt in the first sintence.)

In fact, "barristers" charge way to much to be axing them anything.

LOL - stupid spell checker (and even dumber proofreader). Where is a linguistics expert when I need one?

Apparently, wandering the streets, bagelless, kicking rocks and mumbling to herself.
(As is the case with most English Majors . . . and even English Captains.)

Apparently, wandering the streets, bagelless, kicking rocks and mumbling to herself.
(As is the case with most English Majors . . . and even English Captains.)

She didn't get a bagel and she's homeless now? Lol

I think she may have wandered over to the local "Occupy" Function to occupy her time and to take her mind off of being such a douchebag to the lowly counterperson who dared to question her authority vis-a-vis what constitutes a proper bagel within The Starbuckian Paradigm.
.
But I've been wrong before.

Prunie, anyone who thinks it is appropriate to impose a lesson in
linguistics on a Starbucks clerk probably has a screw loose or zero
social skills. I go with the notion that"the Customer is always right,"
when you are dealing with something having to do with the
transaction. However, the clerk didn't sign up for a linquistics lesson,
probably had no idea what this nutcase was getting at, and the
professor clearly had a different agenda than merely buying a bagel,
resulting her her acting like a complete jerk over something that was
important to her and had nothing to do with why she was in Starbucks.
Going off on a tangent about linguistics, IMO, was her own sack of
rocks, not that much different than if she had demanded the clerk
recite Browning while preparing the bagel or, for that matter, dance an
Irish Jig on top of the counter. The customer is always right, except
when the customer is not "right." She sounds like she had a screw
loose.
I agree with most of your post and that the professor might have a
screw loose. But all of this could have been avoided had the
control freak barista, who may have 2 loose screws, had simply
done her job.

How did you hit a q instead of a g in linguistics?

I always swap out my g's and q's. I'm not dyslexsic but for some reason, I have to watch that - obviously didn't watch it closely, this time.

I can understand where the professor is coming from. It annoys me that anymore these days when you order iced tea you have to specify 'unsweetened' tea. What next unbacon'ed hamburgers? UnPepperoni'ed pizzas? Uncorrupt politicians?

Eh, what can you do? If you complain about it they sic the cops on you.

I can understand where the professor is coming from. It annoys me that anymore these days when you order iced tea you have to specify 'unsweetened' tea. What next unbacon'ed hamburgers? UnPepperoni'ed pizzas? Uncorrupt politicians?

Eh, what can you do? If you complain about it they sic the cops on you.

Sweet tea is not the same thing as unsweetened tea. They are different drinks. That is why they ask.

Contrary to what the professor says, if you order a Whopper at Burger King it is coming to you with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, mustard, and mayo on it unless you specifically tell the clerk what you don't want. The onus is on the individual to let the clerk know how their order deviates from the standard order served at BK. Most places are like this.

I'm going to be a trouble-maker and suggest that Prune go to BK and order a Whopper and continue to try to return it, because he doesn't want one of the toppings, and when questioned by the clerk respond to her only with "I just want a Whopper."

Sweet tea is not the same thing as unsweetened tea. They are different drinks. That is why they ask.

Tea's natural state is not sweet. You can't untie a shoe unless its tied. Unzip a zipper unless its zipped. Unbutton a blouse unless you're very familiar and it's buttoned. So it only stands to reason you can't unsweetened tea unless it was first sweetened. And I'm pretty sure they don't use sweet tea to make, arg, "unsweetened tea"!

Questor, you can't say that. Bagels are basically plain. She didn't request for anything on it. All they had to do was take it off the shelf and hand it over. Very simple. If she wanted something on it, then they slice the bagel and add the goodies. Starbucks just wanted thrill and a cop show.

I always swap out my g's and q's. I'm not dyslexsic but for some
reason, I have to watch that - obviously didn't watch it closely,
this time.

!ti hctaw did uoy dehctiws erew yeht ecniS.

:ohno:

Thunder I am no longer commenting on Starbucks, I am commenting on the professors quote from the article, "When you go to Burger King, you don't have to list the six things you don't want." I am saying her analogy doesn't work because it is entirely incorrect.

Thunder I am no longer commenting on Starbucks, I am commenting on the professors quote from the article, "When you go to Burger King, you don't have to list the six things you don't want." I am saying her analogy doesn't work because it is entirely incorrect.

If you order a Whopper at Burger King but don't want mustard on it, you have to say "no mustard please". Her example contradicts itself.

Tea's natural state is not sweet. You can't untie a shoe unless its tied. Unzip a zipper unless its zipped. Unbutton a blouse unless you're very familiar and it's buttoned. So it only stands to reason you can't unsweetened tea unless it was first sweetened. And I'm pretty sure they don't use sweet tea to make, arg, "unsweetened tea"!

Sweet Tea refers to a specific recipe where the sugar is part of the stewing process. It isn't the same thing as "sweetened tea." But you're right, "unsweet" is an odd way to describe something that isn't sweet. It might make sense if you started out with sweet tea and then took the sweet out of it. But what do I know? I can't stand ice tea or sweet tea. I think they all taste like hay.

I'm going to be a trouble-maker and suggest that Prune go to BK and
order a Whopper and continue to try to return it, because he doesn't
want one of the toppings, and when questioned by the clerk respond
to her only with "I just want a Whopper."
The professor very clearly ordered a plain multigrain bagel. If you
order a plain Whopper at BK you get meat and a bun. The order
taker might ask "do you mean without anything" or something
to that effect to clarify, but you get a bun with meat on it and nothing
else.

Okay, because I am a complete nerd, I went to the Starbucks website and checked out the menu. Here is what they say about their multigrain bagel:


All over the country and on My Starbucks Idea we’ve heard you’re craving New York style bagels – with that signature, slightly crisp outside and soft and chewy inside.

Now our bagels are better than ever. Straight out of New York, our new bagels have the authentic texture you want and the delicious taste you crave.

While many of us agree that New York bagels are the best, the real question is “How do you eat them?” We promise we won’t judge – you can enjoy your bagel any way you want! Here are the most popular ways to enjoy a Starbucks New York style bagel:

The Purist – These regulars believe bagels must be enjoyed immediately and that spreads are a serious no-no because a great bagel doesn’t need them.
The Toaster – This group believes most things taste better warm, including bagels, and the yummy toastiness makes cream cheese infinitely more spreadable.
The Dipper – Too busy for toasting or spreading, the tear-and-dip method gets them the bagel and cream cheese experience in the fastest time possible.

OMG!! The professor was just a purist, the first category listed on their own website. So there ya go.

Okay, because I am a complete nerd, I went to the Starbucks website
and checked out the menu. Here is what they say about their
multigrain bagel:

OMG!! The professor was just a purist, the first category listed on
their own website. So there ya go.
Then the proper response from the control freak barista should have
been, "oh, a purist!"

Then the proper response from the control freak barista should have
been, "oh, a purist!"

I still think the professor was ridiculous. A nekid multigrain bagel isn't worth having a meltdown over.

Tea's natural state is not sweet.

Tea's natural state isn't even liquid.

I still think the professor was ridiculous. A nekid multigrain bagel isn't
worth having a meltdown over.
You're right.

The professor very clearly ordered a plain multigrain bagel. If you
order a plain Whopper at BK you get meat and a bun. The order
taker might ask "do you mean without anything" or something
to that effect to clarify, but you get a bun with meat on it and nothing
else.


Did she clearly order a plain bagel? The articles are unclear on specifically how the transaction transpired. From I can gleam, based on what little the articles provide along with the professor's agenda, I figure the lady just asked for a "multigrain bagel." She didn't specify plain for the same reason that she refused to specify she didn't want the butter or the cheese: she feels a "multigrain bagel" should be just a multigrain bagel and you should have to specify that you want cheese (or whatever) not that you don't want it.

So, if she did indeed ask for a "multigrain bagel" and not a "plain multigrain bagel" I think its entirely reasonable for the cashier to ask "do you want such and such" on it. In this case, the cashier was trying to be helpful and ensure the lady got exactly what she wanted, but instead the professor decided to push an agenda rather than just order a bagel.

If, however, she did, in fact, ask for a "plain multigrain bagel," then that's different.

Did she clearly order a plain bagel?
According to PQ's post of Starbucks website, yes, she clearly
ordered a plain multigrain bagel.

The professor very clearly ordered a plain multigrain bagel. If you
order a plain Whopper at BK you get meat and a bun. The order
taker might ask "do you mean without anything" or something
to that effect to clarify, but you get a bun with meat on it and nothing
else.

Implied plain, didn't say plain. No one can say it was clear unless they were there. If your acting crazy from the get-go, people would have a hard time getting what your trying to imply.

Im not sure why you used a whopper as an example. There is no way for me to imply I want a plain whopper, I have to clearly say plain whopper. If they did give me a plain whopper they would be ripping me off because thats justa regular hamburger that there charging me extra for. Lol

Implied plain, didn't say plain. No one can say it was clear unless they
were there.



According to PQ's post of Starbucks website, yes, she clearly ordered
a plain multigrain bagel.


Okay, because I am a complete nerd, I
went to the Starbucks website and checked out the menu. Here is
what they say about their multigrain bagel:

The Purist – These regulars believe bagels must be enjoyed
immediately and that spreads are a serious no-no because a great
bagel doesn’t need them.
The Toaster – This group believes most things taste better warm,
including bagels, and the yummy toastiness makes cream cheese
infinitely more spreadable.
The Dipper – Too busy for toasting or spreading, the tear-and-dip
method gets them the bagel and cream cheese experience in the
fastest time possible.

OMG!! The professor was just a purist, the first category listed on
their own website. So there ya go.
She clearly ordered a plain bagel.

Tea's natural state isn't even liquid.
Whatever it is, it isn't sweet.

Did she clearly order a plain bagel? The articles are unclear on specifically how the transaction transpired. From I can gleam, based on what little the articles provide along with the professor's agenda, I figure the lady just asked for a "multigrain bagel." She didn't specify plain for the same reason that she refused to specify she didn't want the butter or the cheese: she feels a "multigrain bagel" should be just a multigrain bagel and you should have to specify that you want cheese (or whatever) not that you don't want it.

So, if she did indeed ask for a "multigrain bagel" and not a "plain multigrain bagel" I think its entirely reasonable for the cashier to ask "do you want such and such" on it. In this case, the cashier was trying to be helpful and ensure the lady got exactly what she wanted, but instead the professor decided to push an agenda rather than just order a bagel.

If, however, she did, in fact, ask for a "plain multigrain bagel," then that's different.

I'd bet on your version.