Starbucks barista shares PPE for drive-thru customers in the rain

Working in a drive-through is not an easy task. While staff seem to just be taking orders, they’re often juggling multiple roles at once, preparing food while tending to customers, and, as TikTok user Stacey (@pooletown73) notes in a now-viral video, inclement weather.

In a clip that has over 425,000 views, Stacey offers some advice for customers coming through the drive-through in a rainstorm.

“Yeah yo! We love you all, but there’s a storm raging in Northwest Arkansas. If you pull up right by that window, please turn off your wipers because Stacey can’t get wet!” the TikToker gushed.

@pooletown73 #fyp #starbucks #drivethru #storm ♬ Original sound – Stacey Mcghee

As Stacey alludes to in his video, the problem with wipers in drive-thrus is that they work by pushing water away from the windshield. While this isn’t usually a problem on the road, with a drive-thru it means the water splashing off the windshield onto the person next to the car – in this case, the drive-thru operator.

This detail is often mentioned when drive-through workers post videos of themselves working in extreme weather events.

In October 2022, a Starbucks employee released video of its drive-thru line while the location was affected by flash flooding. The comments section was soon filled with complaints from fellow baristas about people not turning off their wipers while pulling into drive-thrus during rainstorms.

Stacey’s comments section is no different.

“I think maybe I’m the only person who does that when I pull up to the window [it’s] raining,” said one user. “Probably because I used to get hit with water.”

“Oh my god I always tell my boyfriend to turn off the wipers because it was so annoying when I was driving through,” added another. “You would be shocked how many people have no idea.”

“Felt. Once a woman waterboarded me in a Wendy’s drive-through and just sat there and watched me get soaked,” recalled a third.

Others were grateful for the tip.

“OMG I never thought about it I’m so sorry,” wrote one commenter.

“I never thought of that,” echoed another. “I will from now on.”

The Daily Dot contacted Stacey via TikTok comment.

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