Coffee Knowledge: How the Starbucks Makeup Dispute Tests Cafe Space

A customer said she was asked to leave a Starbucks store in Shenzhen while doing makeup on the day she collected her marriage certificate, after staff had earlier said makeup was allowed if it did not disturb others. The store said the shift manager spoke too loudly, refunded the full order, and gave two tall drink vouchers. A regional manager stepped in to communicate.

The customer said she had called ahead and bought a coffee and two pieces of bread before starting her makeup, and that a makeup artist had worked at the same store many times over the past year without being stopped. Online reaction split between those who see coffee shops as unsuitable for makeup and those who treat light touch-ups as ordinary, keeping the question of street coffee seating boundaries open.

Recently, a netizen alleged that she was asked to leave a Starbucks store in Shenzhen while doing her makeup on the day she obtained her marriage certificate, and the incident quickly sparked discussion. According to the netizen, she had called the store beforehand to confirm that makeup was allowed as long as it did not disturb others, but on the day itself, after making a purchase, she was still dissuaded by the shift manager during makeup and even felt insulted. The store involved responded that if the smell or powder of cosmetics affects other customers, staff will step in to remind them, that the shift manager did indeed speak too loudly at the time, and that afterward the full order was refunded and two tall drink vouchers were given. The regional manager has stepped in to communicate. Netizens have differing views on this: some believe a coffee shop is not a place for makeup, while others think normal touch-ups are harmless and the conflict may have had other causes. The incident has once again prompted reflection on the boundaries of using coffee shops as public space.

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According to media reports yesterday, a netizen alleged that in early March this year, on the day she obtained her marriage certificate, she was asked to leave while doing makeup at a Starbucks store in Shenzhen.

The netizen's one-sided account shows that two days before the incident, she had called the store in question to ask whether she could do makeup inside, and the staff replied that it was fine as long as she did not disturb other customers.

On the day of the incident, after buying a cup of coffee and two pieces of bread, the netizen confirmed with the staff again and was told to do it in a corner to avoid affecting others. However, during the makeup, she was still asked to leave and insulted by the shift manager.

Because the store is near the civil affairs bureau, the tipster's makeup artist had done makeup for clients at the same Starbucks many times over the past year and had never been stopped, so the person involved expressed great dissatisfaction that this happened on the day she obtained her marriage certificate.

Afterward, the media contacted the store involved, and the store manager responded: if spraying items during makeup affects other customers, the store will step in to remind them. On that day, the shift manager did indeed speak too loudly when giving the reminder.

After the incident, the store refunded the customer's entire order and gave two free tall drink vouchers as an apology. The regional manager of the store involved has stepped in to communicate, and the store level has no authority to know the specific outcome.

Regarding this matter, many netizens did not side with the tipster, and some even said they found it hard to understand doing makeup at Starbucks. Many questioned why the makeup was not done at home, at a wedding company, or in an hourly room at a hotel, which would be more suitable places.

Some netizens also believed: if it really did not affect other customers, ordinary touch-ups and applying lipstick generally would not draw interference. They speculated that it was the use of loose powder, spray, and similar products that disturbed others, which led the staff to intervene. There must have been other points of conflict in such an incident; it would not happen just because of makeup.

Other netizens pointed out that the one-sided statement cited in media reports contained setup and guidance, attempting to rationalize the behavior of doing makeup at Starbucks while basically ignoring the rights and interests of Starbucks and other consumers.

In similar incidents, many independent coffee shops have also been disturbed by influencers or commercial shoots. Many people order a drink and then start filming for a long time, occupying public space.

At the same time, it also affects other customers' experience, such as sitting in someone else's seat to take photos or picking up someone else's drink as a prop, seriously damaging the coffee shop's image.

Perhaps Starbucks staff were not tactful enough in handling the communication, but if elaborate styling is needed, it is still advisable to find a dedicated place, or at least make sure not to disturb others at all. Image source: Internet, Gongfu Finance

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.