Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for January 26, 2022

Hey, be happy the coffee shop is open.

The Great Ratini.

I always find it weird when I agree with Rat, if they were busy, they were busy, and for once there’s no evidence that Rat just didn’t want to do it. Actually kind of shocking.

I’m waiting for Rat to call fathead over…

I’m so glad that I don’t go into cafes.

So, lately, I’ve noticed that there now are fewer employees in the stores I visit, and some of them aren’t (yet?) well trained. Serious question: Will you prefer to have LESS (but well informed and helpful) service, or MORE (but not very good) service?

Hey! That guy! That’s my friend Don!

I wondered where he was getting that awful coffee.

Snark is free with every order!

Oh look, it’s a male Karen.

How long ago was the “called in advance” was the order placed?

The time it took to open the door to the cafe?

Doesn’t look like a soy boy

I guess Joe is the Fathead?

Ratdrake gestures hypnotically…

Calling in advance when you are standing outside the door and about to come in doesn’t count. Fathead.

Medium, decaf, sugar free, vanilla latte with soy milk? Bleah. Why doesn’t you just drinks water?

Who wants to wait for the morning cup of Joe ? Tis the reason I brew my own coffee :-) … Croc Power !

My niece worked for Starbucks and I was telling her that McDonalds makes a very good cup of coffee!

She replied “No they don’t”

I replied “Yes they do”

She replied “No way!”

So the next time I saw her I had a Starbuck’s Americano" and a McDonalds coffee in plain paper cups and asked her what she thought was the best.

Hands down she said the McDonalds was the best!

So I told her that she picked McDonalds over Starbucks!

She said “No way” and that I had switched the cups to fool her!

Couldn’t convince her otherwise!

One of these days when I see a long line I’m going to mobile order instead and see if the order comes faster than the last guy in line when I placed the order. I’ve tried that with Jack In the Box, but their app is totally worthless, not unlike what their restaurants have become lately.

If Hipster Henri had ask for a double chocolate mocha supreme with sprinkles Rat would told him to wait while he pulled it out of has Wise Ass (on the Hill). Cool beans bow tie, too.

I’m surprised that someone had time to answer the phone.

It’s a FREAKING CUP OF COFFEE, FOR GOD’S SAKE!!!!

Call ahead, because heaven forbid someone have to wait five or ten minutes for a coffee.

You orders coffee in advance? Just order it at the store.

It’s none of my business what other people like, but what a horrible excuse for coffee.

I had my two cups of black coffee with nothing else in it and no caffeine removed from it at home this morning. I don’t say it was better than Joe’s Roastery, but at least it was done exactly my way and cost me less with less hassle than going out of my way to a coffee shop.

Customer service has gone the way of the dodo!

I mostly shop on line! I can’t tolerate rude, ignorant and blatantly mean people.

Employers don’t train their employees like yesteryear. Period!

Karen.

Surprising good customer service for Rat!

810,000+ dead above the usual U.S. deaths. How many of these worked in the service industry?. Whether you believe in the science or not, you can’t help but notice there are fewer people to wait on you, longer wait times, etc. You can keep your blinders on or not, the virus doesn’t care. But when the next virus erupts, please keep your opinion to yourself and let the rest of us deal with the pandemic without your machinations.

Personally, I could never work in retail of anything, I don’t have the temperament for it. I applaud loud and long those that can and do, tho. And thank you!!

If he called in advance, it probably IS the fault of management. Talk to the manager. He’s the one who makes the stupid decisions, and leaves the employees to deal with the angry customers while he hides in his office.

Remember whe. You just ordered “coffee”?

Rat’s expression in the last panel indicates micturition…

When I rule the world, people like that customer will be put out of my misery.

Some people should not be in customer service.

Just make your own damn coffee!

If someone told me “Give me your manager”, I would say “Please, take him.”

I’ll bet that guy was a serious target for bullies in school!

I like coffee, but every time I visit a place that ‘specializes’ in coffee I leave disappointed. If not in my own home, I would much rather sit down, be approached by a waiter/waitress (perhaps with a coffee pot in hand) who offers me a menu and asks, “Coffee?”

I like that rat has a job so we can see him destroy the Karens

Rat still has to find the soy field; and the cows that graze in it.

Everything is in such a big mess-o

What is the point of decaf expresso?

And tell rat that that customer fop

Also wants a pretty leaf design on top.

Oddly, our local Peet’s has added an employee in the morning. The two grocery stores I shop at always have enough check stands open. Is it because Eric Swalwell is our congressman? I think it’s blind luck but I’m grateful.

I go to serve yourself coffee places (Wawa or Sheets around here). 99 cents and if it’s not right I only have myself to blame.

Oh No, I hear a snowflake a-cryin!!

Ugh, that can’t even be called coffee.

In my local NextDoor feed, some woman was throwing a Karen tantrum that the local pizza places (not chains) were closed on Saturday. Most restaurants are closed on Saturdays because the workers won’t show up. Sad but true.

I am such a coffee lowbrow. I’m sitting here with a generic K-cup coffee with a pack of stevia and a splash of milk in it. And I’m happy.

Perhaps he should switch from decaf to full-caf.

I can see why Rat got such a raise. He makes that place what it is!

In, NYC, Starbucks serves the noble purpose of being a public bathroom.

You tell him, Rat! I do dislike the “self-privileged, self-entitled” snotty type….

When I place a mobile order at McD’s they don’t actually put the order together until I arrive and check in. Who wants 30-minute old food or drink?

That guy is a karen. Don’t listen to ’em Rat