Starbucks mobile orders are going missing, and students believe that they are being stolen.
According to a non-scientific survey posted on The Miami Hurricane’s Instagram story for 24 hours, more than one third of 35 respondents reported their drinks missing upon arrival. Of that figure group who marked that their drinks had been missing, nearly one third said it happened multiple times.
A student and former Starbucks employee who wishes to remain unnamed, has dealt with multiple instances of drink-theft, both while working behind the counter and as a customer.
“I watched a girl steal my drink yesterday when the cafe was pretty empty,” she said. “I know several people who have had their drinks stolen at this location, including friends and customers reporting it to us during the time I worked at this Starbucks store in Shalala.”
While reporting her stolen drink to a UMPD deputy, the student said that another student also approached the deputy and said that her drinks had also been stolen multiple times.
According to the police report, an unknown white female in a gray sweat suit and gold headphones took the unnamed student’s beverage and exited the Starbucks. UMPD CCTV footage confirmed that the suspect left campus with the beverage, and headed towards the Metro Rail.
Jessi Kaplan, a junior at UM, also experienced a missing mobile order.
“I was so upset. I have a very busy schedule. I just needed a little pick-me-up,” she said. “I had been waiting for so long. I asked them if my order was ready, and showed them my confirmation, and they said they couldn’t find my order. So, it was definitely stolen.”
More than 80% of survey respondents said they would report their stolen drink to a staff member to remake the order. However, the unnamed student and former employee said that approach may not benefit the customer nor the employees.
“It’s not fair for the customer to have to ask the barista about their drink after waiting pointlessly for 15 or more minutes in a busy crowded cafe,” she said. “Or [for] the barista who is often overwhelmed by the large number of orders already and now has to stop everything to remake a drink that was taken.”
Currently, no proof of order is required to pick up a mobile order. Mobile orders are placed on the counter with the customer’s name on it.
About 55% of respondents from the original survey say that closer monitoring by Starbucks employees would likely reduce drink-theft.
Mobile orders can be placed by either using the Starbucks app or Grubhub, where students can pay by card or Dining Dollars.