Starbucks

“We recently had an extremely disappointing and rude experience at the Starbucks located at Last Exit, Al Khawaneej – this is the first time we have encountered such treatment at any Starbucks location. My husband is eligible for a family discount through the Al Shaya Company privilege program, as his uncle is an Al Shaya employee. When we visited, the team member taking and processing our order (named Grace) was not welcoming from the start, with no smile or warm greeting as she approached us to take our order. When it came time to pay and I presented my husband’s ID and Al Shaya privilege card, she spoke to me in a flat, rude monotone and asked where the cardholder was. At that moment, my husband was seated at a table just behind me, clearly visible from the counter area. She addressed us in a very disrespectful tone, implying I should not have been the one placing the order – despite the fact that we were fully aware of the policy requiring the cardholder to be present, which is why he was with us on site. He immediately came to the counter once we informed her he was there. We were deeply humiliated, especially as other customers were waiting in line and present in the store. We told Grace that this was the first time we had ever been spoken to so rudely when presenting the privilege card, yet she did not offer any apology. Thankfully, the supervisor (named Sudip) approached us promptly and was genuinely apologetic. His respectful and caring demeanor helped calm us down, and he repeatedly expressed regret for what had happened. We want to clarify that we are not seeking any form of compensation – we simply wish to bring this matter to management’s attention. We have always loved Starbucks and consider it our go-to coffee spot, appreciating both the efficient service and the benefit of the family discount. However, the disrespectful approach and lack of accountability from Grace were concerning, as it does not align with the standards we associate with the Al Shaya group, and left us feeling discriminated against and disrespected.”