It is not often that I write a post like this. I really don’t like to “dis” anyone, especially those companies that have gone to the lengths that Starbucks has to offer gluten-free products. However, I am very disappointed in my experience at Starbucks today.
As I went to get some work done this morning at home, I discovered that my internet service was down. I had some pressing things that had to get done, so off to Starbucks I went. I figured that while I was there, I could also sample the KIND bars they were supposed to be sampling today. I went in & ordered my coffee, 2 year old God daughter, Emma, in tow. I sat down, unpacked my laptop and went to get online. Well, that is not possible without a “Starbucks Card/Account”. No free wifi! WHAT? The nice woman sitting next to me told me that I could just sign up right there, so I tried to on the Starbucks website that came up on my laptop. Guess what? They send an email confirmation to your email address before your account can be activated. See where I am going with this? How exactly am I supposed to access my email if I can’t access the internet? I went up to the counter, Emma in tow, offering multiple customers her Goldfish, and asked the barista. Well, seems you can’t sign up in the store, you have to do it before hand. How inconvenient is that? If I would have known that in advance, I would have just gone to Panera or Caribou Coffee. I asked for my money back for my coffee, since the only reason I purchased it was so that I wasn’t in there just to use the internet. I didn’t feel bad because I hadn’t even taken a drink yet & now I had to pack up & head to Caribou, where I am now. As a side note, they didn’t even have any samples of the KIND bar out! I saw all of the gluten-free snacks on display for sale, but no samples.
I can understand a company or establishment not wanting people to come in just to use their wifi, but most people don’t do that. Most people will buy something. I think it is a huge turnoff to customers to charge them for something that they can get for free right up the road. A prime example – me. I am now sitting in Caribou, with a decaf cold-pressed iced coffee and my free wifi. I can guarantee that I will make sure to give my money to a company that looks for ways to accommodate their customers, not inconvenience them.
