Sorry for the delay!

Sorry for the delay as I was getting my Passover on last week. Yesterday I attempted to get "Janelle" on a cup but they never wrote down my order so I ended up with a cup with no name.

However, today we're back in action.

Cashier: What's the name?


Me: Jardine. 

Cashier: Charlene?

Me: No, Jardine. 

Cashier: Decaf venti soy americano for Jardine.  

Barista: Here this is your drink...

Back by popular demand...

Today I figured I would just try an English word.

Heiress =

Victory!

This one's for you Randi! Happy Birthday =)

Eunice =

Afternoon delight =)

My coworker Lauri came by and asked if I wanted a coffee from Starbucks. With a smile on my face I said, "YES! Please get me a venti decaf soy americano for Astrid." First she told me she wouldn't be able to do it but she came through!

Lauri: Tall unsweetened iced coffee with one pump of hazelnut. Oh, I have another drink.

Cashier: Ok.

Lauri: Venti decaf soy americano.

Cashier: What was your name again?

 Lauri: She wants me to say it's for Astrid. 

Cashier: How do you spell that?

Lauri: A-S.. you figure it out.

Cashier: I'm going to give her a heart too!

The tables have turned...

On the bus ride in this morning I was debating whether I should be Shiobhan or Sammie Lynn. I talked myself into being Sammie Lynn while I waited on the long line at Starbucks. There were two cashiers working and I was hoping I would get the one I have never had before so he wouldn't recognize me. However, I got the same cashier "Ripley" had the other day and was convinced this was not going to work.


Me: Iced Venti decaf americano.
 (He goes to write my name down and looks at me with this "I know you" expression but couldn't think of my name).

Me: What you don't remember my name?
(I needed to buy some time to think about the last name I gave this guy because he looked like he definitely remembered me)

Me: Aubrey.

Cashier: Aubrey! Right. Ah, I don't serve you a lot do I?

Me: Nope.
 

Cashier: Ah ok, then I don't feel so bad that I couldn't remember.
 (He writes my name on the cup and turns the cup toward me to show me my "name").

 Is this right? I always make sure I spell people's names correctly. 


Me: Yes it is. Thank you!

I left there thinking, "Shit! Did this guy read my blog?" Was this just a coincidence or has he caught on? I might need to find myself a new Starbucks =) Let's see how much longer I can keep this up.

Dynamite!

My boyfriend and I were watching TV over the weekend and we landed on one of the classics of our generation, Napoleon Dynamite. Of course it was right at my favorite part where Kip is waiting for his online girlfriend "La Fawnduh" to get off the local bus. My boyfriend and I just looked and each other as we both exclaimed "Have to use that for Starbucks name!"

However, I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to pull off a "La Fawnduh" so I decided I would order my usual drink for "Allie" and a smaller drink for my imaginary friend "La Fawnduh."

Cashier: Can I help you?

Me: Venti decaf soy americano for "Allie" and a tall skinny vanilla cappuccino for "LaFawnduh."

I eagerly awaited for my drink to see if they would get this one right.

Barista: Skinny vanilla latte for LeChandra.
(Assuming that was me and they got the spelling wrong, I took the drink to find the spelling was correct, the girl just couldn't read).

 Barista: Venti Soy american for LaFonda.
(I was shocked to find both of my drinks were for LaFonda!)

So there's still some illiteracy this AM, but they just ignored the simple "Allie" name and went with
La Fonda on both. Oh well, got an extra drink for later =) 

Panera is on the same wave length...

Sheryl =
 (see bottom of receipt)

Let the good times roll...

This morning they were way off.
Einat = 

Blank stare...

Today I decided I would go with my cousin's name, Elisheva.

Cashier: You being helped?

Me: No, I'll have a decaf venti soy americano.

Cashier: What's the name?

 Me: Elisheva.

Cashier: Alicia?

 Me: No. Eli-she-va.
 (receives a blank stare from the cashier)

Barista: Did she say Alicia?

Cashier: Yeah, I think that's what she said.

Elisheva =

Believe it or not!

After lunch I decided to take a chance at getting my coffee with the afternoon crew. While walking there, my copywriter, David, and I were discussing which name to use. We threw around a couple of ideas and tried to get inspiration from street signs, but landed on Ripley. 

We walked in, ready to execute the plan, and David asked, “What was my name? Rodrigo? Roderick?” We found this irrationally funny for no reason and had to steel ourselves for the approach to the counter. Concerned he wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face with Roderick, he stuck with Ripley. He then realized he was going to be helped by the same cashier who took his order this morning. Since he had ordered an oatmeal, I knew we would be safe because they only ask your name for drinks. However, the cashier remembered him from this morning because apparently he really liked David's hair.

David: Venti decaf soy americano. 

Cashier: What's your name, bro? 

David: (Trying not to think of Roderick.) Ripley. 

Cashier: Believe it or not!  

David: Nice. 

Cashier: You get that a lot? 

David: All the time. 

(David almost walks away without paying, thinking about how he will forever be Ripley in this Starbucks now.) 

Cashier: Rip! Hey Rip!

  

David: Oh, sorry about that.

Ripley =  

Score 1 for Starbucks. Not too surprised since the store was empty and the cashier wrote "Ripley's" name on the cup himself. So we are quickly proving it is just the morning crew during the rush hour hustle bustle that cannot get simple names straight.

Top o' the mornin to me!

Today's Starbucks adventure began with me handing the cashier my credit card (to refill my Starbucks card) which clearly states my name is Allison, not Sinead. However, that didn't stop me from becoming Irish in a split second.

Sinead = 

I am also taking suggestions for Fridays' name, post your suggestions below!

Either way, I'm a goddess...

Aphrodite =

Starbucks did not get an "A"

I had to make sure I got into my character this morning so I worked the street corner and committed a few acts of adultery on the way to work.

I entered the store and stated my name was Hester Prynne, twice. Unfortunately the cashiers like to hear whatever they want to hear or whatever name they know closest to it. I went from adulteress to nice Jewish girl in seconds:

Has your name ever been lost in translation at Starbucks? Submit your story or photo to thisaintnocheers@gmail.com today!

I'm not the only one...

My coworker eagerly texted me this morning because Starbucks screwed up her name as well:

Lauri = 

Have a similar story or photo to share?
Submit it today at thisaintnocheers@gmail.com

Don't cry over spilled coffee...

Since my coffee ended up in my lap this morning I kindly asked my copywriter to stop on his way in and pick me up a replacement coffee. He is well aware of the name game I've been playing so he decided to try one himself. We just had a pretty good laugh about this one. In fact, I am still cracking up just thinking about it:

Copywriter: Can I please get a decaf venti soy americano.
Cashier: What's the name?
Copywriter: Octavian.
Cashier: What was that?

Copywriter: (speaking very slowly and enunciating every syllable) Oc-tav-ian.

Copywriter awaits drink and...
Barista: Decaf venti soy americano for Octamon.

Haha, I totally needed that laugh after a spilled drink in my lap!

Gwendolyn

So this morning was a fun test because I was the only one on line this morning. Apparently when it is slow they try to pay more attention. Today's name was pretty on even though it was spelled like a 2nd grader trying to sound it out.

When I went to take the photo of my cup the cover was loose and it spilled all over my lap. So if you smell coffee in the office today, it's probably not brewing, it's just me. The good part – now have an excuse to try another name today since I was only spared a sip.

Help me vote on tomorrow's name!

Let's have some fun today shall we!

So today I decided to go in with a name most people would probably recognize if they didn't cut their high school English class.


I wasn't even sure it was my drink when the barista called out: Avia?

Take your best guess at the name. I will reveal the actual name at the end of the day!
Today's name was Jane Eyre. 

A friend suggested I try the name Aurelia today. Because I stopped for an iced coffee in the morning @ Dunkin Donuts I missed the usual morning crew that screws up my name.

After some high demand about where today's name was I stopped in the same shop in the afternoon. I figured since it was a slower time of day, less people, and a different crew, they were going to get this one right. In fact, the barista didn't call my order to anyone. He wrote it down himself.

I waited patiently for my drink and the name results. Aurelia =

Svetlana =

Who should I be today?

After talking to a few friends about the craziness of my name change I decided it would be fun to try a harder name just for fun the next morning. I figured they would probably get this one right just to prove me wrong.

What can I get you?
Me: Decaf venti soy americano.
Cashier: Can I have your name for the order?
Me: Fatma.
Cashier: DECAF VENTI SOY AMERICANO FOR FATMA. DECAF VENTI SOY AMERICANO FOR FATMA.
(at this point I am convinced they will get it right because she clearly pronounced Fatma the first time and then recalled the order perfectly a second time) 

Barista: DECAF VENTI SOY AMERICANO FOR PATMA?




I look at the cup to find:

Wrong once again. I left with a big smile on my face thinking about who I could possibly be tomorrow...

How this all began...

Cashier: What can I get you?
Me: Decaf venti soy americano.
Cashier: Can I have your name for the order?
Me: Allie.
Cashier: DECAF VENTI SOY AMERICANO FOR NALEE.
Me: (moves along to the pickup counter and shakes head) 

At this point I figure there is no point in correcting her I just wanted my damn coffee to be right, that's all that matters.

After waiting over 5 minutes for my drink (which is pretty long for NYC) I hear the barista call out a name...

Barista: Nathaniel? Is there a Nathaniel? uhh...Decaf venti soy americano
Me: Oh, that's mine.
Barista: Oh, I'm sorry it says Natalieeee NOT Nathaniel. Sorry about that. Are you Natalie?
Me: No, but that's my drink.

After I told the barista I was not Natalee but that was my drink he looked as if I committed theft when I took the drink from his hands. I was in complete awe as to how I went from Allie to Nalee to Nathaniel to Natalee in less than 10 minutes. And so began the daily experiment...

What's in a name?

As a professional in the advertising world there are very few days I can get by without my venti coffee from Starbucks in the morning. There are probably about 10 Starbucks within a 1/4 mile radius of my job so I've tested out a few in the area to see who makes my drink the best and landed on one that I now go to every morning.

Most people know the standard procedure at Starbucks is for the cashier to take your drink order as well your name. They call out your drink order and name to a barista who will then record it on your cup. In past experiences my drink has had many different spellings of my name: Alison, Allyson, Allie, Ali, Ally, Alley, etc. I find this totally understandable as I am not showing my birth certificate upon ordering and if I were in that position I would take my best stab at it.

What I find totally incomprehensible at my current Starbucks is that when I give them my name they follow procedure and pronounce it correctly loud and clear to the barista but somehow it always gets lost in translation...