The holidays tend to bring out a more generous side in people. November and December are popular for charity drives, gift programs, and small gestures meant to brighten someone else’s day. That generosity sometimes means small presents like covering a stranger’s groceries, tipping extra, or paying for the car behind you in a drive-thru.
That was exactly what one woman planned to do during a recent Starbucks run. But before she reached the window, she overheard something that made her rethink where her money should go.
What Did The Starbucks Customer Behind Her Do?
TikTok creator Kelly Spinelli (@kspins) shared a short storytime about her experience at a Starbucks drive-thru, where she initially planned to pay for the customer behind her. The video has racked up more than 42,000 views.
“I just went through the Starbucks drive-thru,” she says at the start of the clip. “And while I was ordering my coffee, because I’m in a good mood and it’s the holiday season, I was gonna do a random act of kindness and pay for the beverage of the person behind me.”
Then she pulled forward and heard the order behind her.
“When I pulled forward, I hadn’t put my window up yet when they started their order,” she explains. “And they were so rude to the Starbucks attendant. Awful tone of voice, no thank you, demanding tone.”
That was enough to change her mind.
“So I totally changed my mind,” Spinelli says. “And I got to the window, and I talked to the attendant about it. I put the money in the tip jar instead.”
Rather than paying for the customer’s drink, she decided the barista deserved the gesture more.
“I said I am no longer covering their grande cappuccino, extra foam,” she adds, before cracking a joke with the Starbucks employee about the situation. “And we had a good laugh over that.”
Spinelli says she wanted to call out behavior she sees as unnecessary, especially during an already stressful time of year.
“I just wanted to come on here and let people know that’s uncalled for,” she says. “It’s the holiday season, and it doesn’t matter what season it is. There’s no reason to be rude to the people who are absolutely going out of their way to make you some obnoxious coffee.”
“I don’t say the C word often,” she wrote in the caption. “But when I do, it’s because I’m quite unhappy.”
Why Are People Rude To Service Workers?
Research suggests Spinelli’s experience isn’t rare. According to a BBC 2022 report, incidents of customers lashing out at service workers have increased in recent years. Data from the Institute of Customer Service shows that more than half of customer-facing employees report more abuse since the start of the pandemic.
Psychologists explained that even small disruptions to routine, such as long lines, delays, and rising prices, can build frustration quickly. When expectations aren’t met, that stress often spills over.
Service workers also tend to have less ability to push back, which makes them easier targets. This fits into what psychologists call “scapegoat theory,” where people redirect frustration toward someone perceived as safer to blame.
Commenters Share Their Thoughts
In the comments, viewers overwhelmingly backed Spinelli’s decision to tip the barista instead.
“I have tried to be extra nice to everyone that’s helping me – in stores and drive thru’s – because I know they’re absolutely getting hammered with horrible people,” one person wrote.
“This is PROOF of how negative energy stops blessings! Putting good out gets you good back, I live by this daily!” another added.
Others argued that paying it forward works better when the money goes directly to workers rather than customers.
“Never pay for the person behind you,” one commenter wrote. “If someone is getting Starbucks they can already afford it. Give the extra money as a tip to the barista. They make crap for money and they work hard for you.”
@kspins I don’t say the C word often. But when I do, it’s because I’m quite unhappy. #kspins #starbucksdrivethru
BroBible has reached out to Kelly Spinelli via Instagram and TikTok direct messages for comment.