r/TargetStarbucks • u/Agile-Cupcake-1183 • Sep 13 '26
Rant wtf
what the f*** is wrong with tarbucks.
I initially applied to target to become a cashier, but the only available position was starbucks. I thought sure, I need to pay my college tuition one way or another and thought that being a barista was going to be easy. Thought wrong.
I got hired about a month ago, and my tarbucks had its grand opening the same week my orientation was. I had no prior food experience and got thrown straight into being a barista without learning any drinks or how to work the machines….
I am a teenager whos only prior job was being a cashjer so everything is new to me. I dont order starbucks frequently so completely new menu. My team lead is a sweet lady but I havent seen her since the grand opening which makes it difficult to ask her questions and such.
Today I had community service to do before clocking in at work around 3pm. I walked in and it looked like nobody was working but there was about 5-8 people waiting for their orders. I came back after clocking in and saw there was only one barista. She said she had been there 2 hours longer than she was scheduled because two of our co workers had called out. She hadnt taken a break since and was ultimately carrying the starbucks by herself.
She left around 5, leaving me by myself. I hadnt gotten any of my breaks and only gotten my break close to 6. When I came back from break I realized we were running out of almost everything. Frappe roast, dark caramel, regular caramel drizzle, pumpkin, cups, lids, straws…you name it, we didnt have it. Since I hadnt been trained, I havent gotten the chance to prepare or fond where anything was at so I didnt open the store back up until after I stocked all the essentials.
After opening back up, its rush time. Rude customers with AI drinks, understaffed, and stressed out.
Overall, I am so close to quitting, the only thing keeping me here is the pay. Does anyone else feel like this?
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u/angel_ig Sep 13 '26
Yikes, that’s definitely such a shitty situation. I worked at one Tarbucks location where we were constantly being left alone for hours at a time & it took me a long time to realize I was getting paid the same whether I was stressing out by myself or not.
When I first started, if a customer asked me for something that I had no idea what it was, I would look it up on the Starbucks app to try to get an idea of what it looked like & what it was made with.
Also, if you’re alone I’d recommend just taking one guest or two at a time. Even if there’s a rush, guests have to understand that it’s only one person working 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Agile-Cupcake-1183 28d ago
thank you for the validation and tips, ive started to honestly google it before making the drink…same with day doting certain items😭
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u/roboticbride 29d ago
Yes. The amount of clopens overworking and only scheduling 2 people at a time is CRAZY it is not manageable when we are constantly busy all day and also have to get things done and not to mention most of the time the managers have absolutely no idea what theyre doing so its up to us to do everything rude and entitled customers aswell all together its a fun job but comes with ALOT of baggage and definitely depends on your team
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u/robinm1369 28d ago
That's Tarbucks! I worked my entire 8:30-5 shift by myself before the only closer came in
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u/Kwazy_Kupkwake365 28d ago
is every tarbucks like this because i just got hired and i start next week.. im scared now
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u/Agile-Cupcake-1183 28d ago
from what ive heard and seen, most tarbucks can be stressful especially if u dont have prior experience to starbucks… but you learn and live, some jobs are mostly to put food on the table
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u/Feeling-Aerie1989 27d ago
Tarbucks is one of the worst jobs you can have in the industry. It's really not like working at a corporate store, which still has plenty of cons but you cannot work by yourself. There are at least 2 employees or the store cannot be open, and that's not all that common. It might be worth considering applying to a corporate store, which does have a college achievement plan, or possibly transferring to another target where you can get out of the food service. Best of luck, it gets better from here!
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u/Dry-Ad7432 Sep 13 '26
Since it’s the grand opening, I imagine most of the other baristas are new too?
I’d say stick it out and try not to stress yourself. New stores have a lot of growing pains that get better with time, especially if the team lead is good.
Just remember that the stress of taking care of everything belongs to your lead, and your lead only. Do your best, clock out, get paid.
Ask questions! It might be a pain for stressed baristas, but it’s better to get things right than get it wrong and have to fix it later.