Man, ever since relocating, the Clifton Park Starbucks has gone drastically downhill.
The good news is, the interior is spacious and absolutely beautiful, and there is a much-needed drive-thru.
The bad news is...everything else.
Of course this is also coming from me--a mighty kvetcher--but I've been to this location several times now, and I have ALWAYS left very, very disappointed. First of all, the drive-thru in this area is nice to have. It's kind of awkward getting into it, because the entrance is oddly placed and very much out of the way. However, the drive space is very long, which accommodates for the high traffic. Every time I pass, there is a long, long line, but it also isn't flowing into the street or around into the parking lot, which is good. However, it actually takes forever and a half to get through, which is annoying. This also seems to be a problem for the Starbucks location on Western Avenue in Albany, but it's also a location that is smaller with fewer staff, so I generally shrug it off. With the CP location, the wait is considerable and the staff frankly just doesn't move through orders quickly enough.
The staff is also not very knowledgeable and actually argumentative. The first time I went there, I ordered a treinta cold brew, without ice or added water. This was actually a trick that a Starbucks barista in Atlanta taught me, if I wanted to make my own cold brew for a week. I have never had problems ordering this from other locations, and I have only ever been charged for a treinta cold brew. It was my little hack, but everyone seemed to know about it. Except for this location. First, the barista told me it wouldn't be possible. Then, after consulting with her manager, she informed me that they could only give me the grande size, but that they would charge me for two grande cold brews--essentially about $9 for 16 ounces of concentrate. Sorry, but I can get more and better quality in the supermarket, or even making my own. Pass. I was irritated, but understood, but this was still inconsistent, considering that 3-4 other locations each in different cities had no problem with this request.
I went again this weekend, this time submitting a mobile order so I wouldn't have to wait in the drive-thru line or any line indoors. The mobile ordering system has changed my life, and I use it frequently, especially at the Saratoga Springs store. Generally speaking, I order online, and anything I order is almost always ready for me less than five minutes later, when I arrive to pick it up. Literally in and out. This time, I submitted a mobile order, and it then took me a solid 10 minutes to drive there in the first place. I thought FOR SURE my order would be ready for me, especially because the estimation was max seven minutes. I parked, walked in, and they hadn't even started the order. I waited an additional 10 minutes for my order, and the store wasn't even busy at all--all the traffic was from drive-thru. My coffee order was fine (it was from Clover so kind of hard to mess up), but also wasn't prepared as ordered with cream, etc. I also watched as he fudged with my oatmeal, transferring containers halfway through, and then giving me oatmeal in a tall beverage cup, saying they ran out of oatmeal lids? Again, this left a bad taste in my mouth.
I finally decided to give them one more chance last night. I wanted something soothing and the drive-thru was empty, so I went through and ordered a short hot cocoa with almond milk. First, it was expensive, but I was expecting it--normally the Starbucks hot cocoas are rich and delicious. Guess what I ended up with? A cup full of almond foam with no cocoa. So basically almond milk foam. It was unpleasant, and I couldn't believe I paid for it, but--as are the risks in using a drive-thru for food--I was essentially on the Northway when I realized what they did.
I'm just kind of in shock. When this location was across the street, there was usually a line and a short wait, but the baristas knew customers and they didn't mess up orders like they are now. At the moment, I'm at 100% orders being screwed, and they weren't complicated or crazy orders either. I'm not sure what the solution is, aside from me avoiding this location all together. I'd hope corporate would provide more training to baristas, especially those scheduled during peak times. And not just technical training, but time-management training and customer-service training. Until then....I'm just another disgruntled and caffeine-less patron. read more