A California patron delivered a touching apology to a Starbucks barista whom she felt she treated rudely, giving him a handwritten note and $50 as a gesture of goodwill.
Barista Andrew Richardson was surprised by the apology from a customer named Debbie, since he hadn’t even thought her very rude when she stopped at his drive-thru window on March 20, ABC News reported.
Apparently Debbie had ordered multiple drinks and was a bit frustrated to discover that the location didn’t have drink carriers to help secure the drinks in her vehicle. She also expressed frustration when Richardson could not throw away trash for her because it would have violated California’s health code for him to do so.
Richardson described Debbie as “very pleasant” during their encounter and thought her frustration was understandable. He said she was “playfully sassy” about the inconveniences and that he didn’t really think much about it after she exited the drive-thru, ABC News reported.
Debbie couldn’t let the encounter go, however, and felt compelled to apologize to Richardson. She returned to Starbucks the next day with a handwritten note and $50 for Richardson. “I need to apologize,” the card read, Business Insider reported. “The thought of leaving a trail of unkindness like that is not the path I want to reflect.”
“You are a young man, clearly working hard to build a future and you should be commended,” the note went on. “Keep up your attitude of cheer and hope. Stay hopeful no matter what kind of people cross your path (or drive-thru).”
Richardson called the gift “one of the most beautiful and heartfelt things” he had ever received. “Nothing like this has ever happened, it’s unprecedented,” he told ABC News. “I’m still smiling about it.”
Twitter users were also touched, and called the apology “classy” and “heart-warming.”