Don’t Be Latte To The Finish Line

I’m working in a coffee place that’s downtown. Today is our city’s marathon, and it’s taking place literally outside our street. Between the cheering, cowbells, and pounding feet, it’s chaos out there.

I pick up one of the calls on the customer line.

Me: “Thanks for calling [Coffee Shop], how can I help?”

Customer: “Oh, finally! Someone answered! I can see your shop right now, but I can’t get to you! I’m across the street!”

Me: “That’s right, ma’am, as you can see, the marathon is making it a bit tricky to cross the road. There’s a police controlled crossing a few blocks down where they let people cross the street quickly every few minutes.”

Customer: “Okay, fine. I’ll have a cappuccino and an almond croissant. It’s under [Customer’s Name].”

Me: “No problem, ma’am. We’ll have that ready for when you make it in.”

Customer: “What?! No! You’re bringing it out to me? I’m standing outside the bank.”

Me: “I’m sorry?”

Customer: *Sighs.* “I’m right across the street. You can see me waving! Just run the cappuccino across after you make it!”

Me: “Ma’am, no, you need to come into the store to pay and collect. We don’t do delivery.”

Customer: “That’s so inconvenient! It’s not my fault there’s a stupid marathon happening!”

Me: “Ma’am, I don’t know what to tell you. You’re asking me to hurdle between athletes with your cappuccino, and that’s just not going to happen.”

Customer: “Well, this is terrible customer service! What kind of place refuses to serve paying customers?!”

Me: “…The kind of place that doesn’t demand its baristas to literally run marathons to serve coffee.”

The customer tuts loudly and hangs up. Ten minutes later, a delivery app driver comes into the store to collect a… cappuccino and almond croissant. 

He gets the order, and out of curiosity, I keep an eye out on the bank across the street, where I see a grumpy and impatient-looking woman standing there. About fifteen minutes later, I see the delivery driver bike up to her and hand her the coffee and croissant.

Twenty-five minutes and a significant percentage surcharge because she couldn’t be bothered to walk two blocks down and back again. (Her drink was probably cold, too).