[Chickensoup]

My daughter was a barista and was treated very well, one of their youngst managers before turning 20.

After watching her stint there, one discovers that Starbucks is not selling coffee. Starbucks sells pseudo-friendship. All the baristas have fan-bases who talk to the customers and are like a corner bartender.

My daughter received at least 15 invitations to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and during her barista time, we could not go out to dinner or lunch on the town without a number of her fans coming over to say hello.

These fans had really no interest in my daughter, but instead she provided a connection so sorely lacking in many lives. Someone who is happy to see you, knows your name and asks after you.

So some people come to their Starbucks 2 or 3 times a day for connection with “their” barista.

On some level this reminds me of the onion-peeling scene in the Tin Drum.

[Ditter]

I think Starbucks provides a place to meet and developed real friendships among the customers. My daughter has a group of real good friends that she has met there, I don't think that includes any of the staff.

[TexasGator]

” Starbucks sells pseudo-friendship. “

People have always gone to coffee shops for ‘pseudo-friendship’. Especially if the waitress is pretty and friendly.

[matt1234]

After watching her stint there, one discovers that Starbucks is not selling coffee. Starbucks sells pseudo-friendship.

I have noticed that most coffee shacks are staffed by younger attractive females.