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A Starbucks Customer Puts an End to a ‘Pay-It-Forward’
http://www.ijreview.com/2014/08/170795-customer-458-ended-pay-forward-line-starbucks-surprising-reasons/
A “pay it forward” line at a Florida Starbucks lasted for over 10 hours until Peter Schorsch deliberately ended it.
The reaction was almost universally negative toward Schorsch, who was accused of being “that guy” and of letting people down who needed to see an act of kindness after witnessing so many horrible events on the news.
The blogger quieted the critics once he explained his reasoning on his website:
"What is not an act of kindness is…where customers were being told that they had had their drink paid for and then asked would they like to pay for the drink of the person next in line.
That’s not generosity, that’s guilt.
When a new ‘Pay It Forward’ chain started today, I had to put an end to it.
So, yes, I drove to the Starbucks, purchased two Venti Mocha Frappuccinos and, even though someone in front of me had paid for one of my drinks, I declined the barista’s suggestion to pay for the drink of the person behind me.
*P.S. I gave the baristas a $100 tip just to prove that I am not a 100% grinch."
Schorsch explained further in an interview with ABC:
“I just don’t want to be forced into doing something,” said Schorsch, who is also a political consultant. “This is turning into a social phenomenon and I had to put an end to it.”
“This is turning into something ridiculous and cheesy….It just seems like a First World problem to me. Middle-class people sitting in their cars at a drive-thru, sipping a $5 drink and worrying about someone breaking the ranks,” Schorsch said.
“There is a little humor being a contrarian, but I think if you really want to help, find someone that obviously needs help, like the homeless,” Schorsch said.
That is a great point. We all have people in our lives who could use a little lift. Maybe a campaign of anonymously leaving cookies on the front porch of a neighbor going through a difficult time would do more to promote goodwill than being pressured to buy a stranger a cup of overpriced coffee.
A “pay it forward” line at a Florida Starbucks lasted for over 10 hours until Peter Schorsch deliberately ended it.
The reaction was almost universally negative toward Schorsch, who was accused of being “that guy” and of letting people down who needed to see an act of kindness after witnessing so many horrible events on the news.
The blogger quieted the critics once he explained his reasoning on his website:
"What is not an act of kindness is…where customers were being told that they had had their drink paid for and then asked would they like to pay for the drink of the person next in line.
That’s not generosity, that’s guilt.
When a new ‘Pay It Forward’ chain started today, I had to put an end to it.
So, yes, I drove to the Starbucks, purchased two Venti Mocha Frappuccinos and, even though someone in front of me had paid for one of my drinks, I declined the barista’s suggestion to pay for the drink of the person behind me.
*P.S. I gave the baristas a $100 tip just to prove that I am not a 100% grinch."
Schorsch explained further in an interview with ABC:
“I just don’t want to be forced into doing something,” said Schorsch, who is also a political consultant. “This is turning into a social phenomenon and I had to put an end to it.”
“This is turning into something ridiculous and cheesy….It just seems like a First World problem to me. Middle-class people sitting in their cars at a drive-thru, sipping a $5 drink and worrying about someone breaking the ranks,” Schorsch said.
“There is a little humor being a contrarian, but I think if you really want to help, find someone that obviously needs help, like the homeless,” Schorsch said.
That is a great point. We all have people in our lives who could use a little lift. Maybe a campaign of anonymously leaving cookies on the front porch of a neighbor going through a difficult time would do more to promote goodwill than being pressured to buy a stranger a cup of overpriced coffee.
I do this all the time, when I'm at the drive-thru and there's someone sitting in line behind me (it has to be this way so they already know that the person ordered, so they know how much it costs).
I don't like to do it INSIDE the store, because then the person can see me and potentially approach me.
I'd rather just do it anonymously, and be on my way, thank you very much.
I've yet to have someone do it for me. Not holding my breath.
In general, people suck.
I don't like to do it INSIDE the store, because then the person can see me and potentially approach me.
I'd rather just do it anonymously, and be on my way, thank you very much.
I've yet to have someone do it for me. Not holding my breath.
In general, people suck.
So did I.
I kind of see his point actually.....
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