Sugar, pumpkin spice and everything nice, going to Starbucks has become a national, nay, global treat for so many who love their delicious drinks and confections. The logo itself has become iconic, their seasonal items give us a rush of nostalgia, and their year-round drink combinations are as delicious as they are endless. Standing in line and trying to memorize your detailed order, there is one thing you can count on remembering – your own name. However, just because YOU know how to spell it, doesn’t mean your barista will.
The universe works in mysterious ways, and nowhere more so than at the pickup counter where you get your morning Frappuccino. Who amongst us hasn’t been amazed at the creativity and unconscious workings that went into the misspelling of our name on a Starbucks cup? Who knew there were more than one way to spell Erin? Who can tell us what’s real anymore? Powerhouse coffee chain and alternate reality vortex Starbucks, that’s who.
Founded in 1971, Starbucks started out as the pipe dream shared by three friends: teachers Jerry Baldwin and Zev Siegl, and writer Gordon Bowker. After meeting and learning how to roast beans while studying at the University of San Francisco, they decided to create pop-up coffee shops that sold high quality coffee beans to brew at home. They opened their first store in Seattle and began expanding out to other locations across the country. In 1987, the three original owners sold the company to business mogul Howard Schultz. Schultz had visited one of their stores in Seattle and was so impressed with their product that he decided to get involved. He stayed in touch with the owners and eventually signed on as the company’s director of marketing, transforming its stores into the sit-down cafés we now know them as. He bought the company soon after and watched the business grow and grow. Over the years, the chain has expanded all over the globe.
Starbucks has gained some of the most devoted fans in the world, who make sure to purchase their favorite drinks there an average of six times a month. With more than 21,500 stores worldwide they are the leading coffee shop on the planet. Their product is so popular that even their fan favorite Pumpkin Spice Latte has more than 112,000 followers on Twitter, with the company activating some $1 billion worth of gift cards each year. There’s just no stopping Starbucks, though somewhere along the way, their servers’ name recognition ability has taken a turn for the ridiculous. After seeing our own name spelled every which way, we decided to do a little digging, while compiling a list of some of the funniest and most outrageous misunderstandings the company has supplied its customers. Check out these name fails and see why sometimes these mishaps are better than the originals.
[post_page_title]From Bryan to Brian with a y[/post_page_title]
What do you think would have been easier: spending an extra second to understand what the customer meant when he said his name, or writing the entire thing out? We’re sure Bryan was just lending the barista an extra hand and trying to help them spell it correctly. If only life were that simple. This hilarious effort makes us want to head to Starbucks and give this a try. It’s well worth the chuckle.
