Introduction:Recently, a consumer in Nanjing purchased a drink at Starbucks and noticed a single character "骚" (which can be translated as "vulgar" or "flirtatious") appearing alone on the cup’s label, sparking widespread discussion. The store explained that the character was the staff member’s ID, which was automatically printed on the label due to the use of a coupon. The incident led many customers to question potential issues such as points theft and staff profiteering. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the entire incident, the system’s operational logic, and practical advice for consumers on how to view and manage their own membership nicknames.

Recently, a consumer in Nanjing was shocked to find that, in addition to the usual drink information, a prominent single character “骚” appeared on their Starbucks cup label, taking up an entire line by itself. This sparked a flurry of online discussions, with some speculating it might be a typing error, while others suspected it was a prank by the staff.

According to reports, the incident occurred on the afternoon of November 2nd, when the consumer visited a Starbucks outlet in Nanjing intending to buy just two cups of coffee and a small cake. The staff recommended that ordering two drinks at once would come with a free small cake, bringing the total payment to 58 yuan, which she found to be a good deal and agreed to the purchase.

However, after leaving the store and taking a closer look at the drink labels, she noticed that one of the cups, besides the product name and details, had an out-of-place “骚” character. This left her feeling quite confused and uncomfortable.

Many netizens weighed in with their opinions upon seeing the news. Some speculated it might have been a system typo, such as the character “少” (meaning “less,” as in “less ice”) being mistakenly entered as “骚.” However, others quickly countered, pointing out that these labels are usually auto-generated by the system, making it unlikely for a single word to be manually entered. More people guessed that the “骚” character was likely the consumer’s own membership nickname or the ID of the staff member in the system.

Some netizens analyzed: “This is usually where the membership card nickname is displayed; you should check the nickname settings in your mobile app.” Another directly stated: “This sticker is automatically printed for online orders and shows the user’s custom nickname, not something manually typed.”

Faced with the customer’s质疑, the store explained at the time that the drink was actually purchased using a “spend 80, get 30 off” coupon, reducing the original price of 88 yuan to 58 yuan. The coupon had been downloaded by a staff member from an internal regulars’ group at the company and was about to expire, so the on-duty staff suggested the customer use it. However,the coupon was linked to a specific staff member’s app account, and when the system printed the label, it automatically pulled the staff member’s ID—which happened to be this inappropriate “骚” character.

To resolve the issue, the store staff took back the problematic drink and discarded it, then remade a grande-sized beverage for the customer. But the consumer’s concerns were not entirely alleviated. She stated: “I was never informed that any coupon was used when placing my order, and there’s also the issue of points. It’s as if the staff used an internal discount without telling me, and may have even used my points.” Furthermore, she questioned whether the staff might be profiting from internal coupons, “They used the staff’s 80 minus 30 coupon, but sold it to me at the original price.”

In response to the incident, a Starbucks store manager later addressed the matter through the media, emphasizing that it was a misunderstanding. The manager stated that the staff did indeed use the “spend 80, get 30 off” coupon, reducing the original 88-yuan item to 58 yuan. The coupon had been downloaded by a staff member from an internal regulars’ group chat and was nearing its expiration date, so the on-duty staff recommended its use to help the customer save money.

However,the coupon was tied to a specific staff member’s account, so when the POS system printed the label, it automatically included the staff member’s in-app ID name—that is, this “骚” character.The store also emphasized that the POS system does not allow manual text input, making it impossible to intentionally print such a word on the label.

After the incident, the store offered a refund, but the individual refused. She stated she didn’t want a refund but hoped the store could provide a formal explanation of the incident in written or video form and offer a public apology. She further added that if there truly was a staff member with the ID “骚,” she hoped to meet the employee to verify the authenticity of the event. As of now, the two parties have not reached an agreement, and the store manager stated they had no ill intent from the beginning and had been actively handling the matter.

Industry insiders pointed out that when customers place orders via the Starbucks app, the system typically automatically displays the member’s nickname on the cup label as a convenience feature. However, due to system settings or improper account binding, similar misunderstandings can occur. Consumers are advised to regularly check their app account settings, especially the “member nickname” field, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings or embarrassment caused by custom names or staff IDs being displayed.

Although this incident is an isolated case, it serves as a reminder for consumers to pay extra attention to payment details and membership information while enjoying discounts, ensuring their rights and interests remain protected.

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