"Please order everything at once"... Starbucks employee scolds customer for adding drink 38 seconds later

[The Financial News] A recent social media post about a customer who reordered a drink 38 seconds later at a Starbucks store and was scolded by an employee has drawn wide attention.
According to a post uploaded recently on Threads, a customer identified as A ordered a cup of coffee at a Starbucks store in Korea at around 9:32 p.m. on the 16th, then added another cup to the order 38 seconds later.
The employee who took the order then told A, "Next time, please order everything at once."
Taken aback, A replied, "Sorry? Isn’t this still one order?" The employee answered, "You scanned the Quick Response code (QR code), remember?" In other words, because the payment was processed in two separate transactions, the employee did not consider it a single order.
Wondering what exactly he had done wrong, A went back to the employee and asked, "Did you really say that to me just now?" Instead of offering an apology or explanation, the employee reportedly responded, "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Did you come all the way over just to check that?"
A acknowledged, "I understand it can be bothersome and annoying. But the way they spoke to me felt really inappropriate," adding, "I’ve never experienced anything like this before."
The post has drawn more than 1,500 comments and has spread across online communities, fueling a broader debate over service standards at Starbucks.
Some users shared similar experiences, writing, "I once saw an employee snap at an older customer who didn’t really understand how to order and pick up," and, "I ordered a latte and after one sip it tasted too weak, so I went up with the cup and politely asked if they could add an extra shot. The employee, sounding annoyed, told me, 'Next time, please order everything at once,' and I was stunned." Others, however, commented, "The staff at the stores I go to are always kind."
In response to the controversy, Starbucks stated, "We apologize that our attempt to guide the customer toward a more convenient way of using the store, while processing both coupon and regular payments in two steps, ended up causing discomfort." The company added, "We will work harder to communicate with our customers and will do our utmost to improve our service training."
gaa1003@fnnews.com Ahn Ga-eul Reporter