A woman in California found the best way to make up for her rude treatment of a Starbucks barista the day before.
On Monday, 20-year-old Bishop, California resident Andrew Richardson was working in a Starbuck drive-thru when he wasn’t able to fully meet the requests of a customer named Debbie.
Debbie, who he described as “extremely pleasant,” was a “touch frustrated” when Richardson informed her that they didn’t have any drink carriers for the multiple drinks she ordered, he told ABC News.
Then, when Debbie asked that Richardson throw away some trash she had in her car, he had to deny that request as well, explaining that it was a health code violation.
Despite the two having had a “friendly conversation,” Debbie then became “a bit more frustrated,” Richardson said.
“…but nothing that I would perceive as rudeness,” he continued. “At worst, she was playfully sassy. I really didn’t think too much of it.”
Richardson said working in customer service exposes him to “ a lot of negativity and frustration,” which he tries to combat with “positivity and patience.”
His method worked. On Tuesday, Debbie came back to Starbucks and was “extremely apologetic,” Richardson said.
“She felt genuinely terrible about our interaction the day before,” he said. “I was so heart warmed to even get a verbal apology. It doesn’t happen much.”
But a verbal apology wasn’t the only thing he got. After chatting, Debbie handed Richardson a card. Inside was a hand-written apology letter and a $50 bill. She had already driven away by the time he’d gotten around to opening it.
Richardson was “completely shocked,” he said.
“Without the money, this was one of the most beautiful and heartfelt things I have ever read,” he said. “It absolutely made my day when I read it. The money was unnecessary. The card alone was the best part. I would have turned the money down had I opened it when she was there. It’s hard to take things like that.”
Richard’s supervisor allowed him to keep the cash since it was given to him in a personal card.
Richard said it was one of the “kindest” gestures ever bestowed upon him.
(H/T: ABC News)
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