Paying It Forward

[HM]

I voted OTHER because I've never been in that situation and I'm not sure how I would handle it.

 

[powellrj]

I have never had it happen, so I voted other. I would do it if it was a reasonable amount. I don't have the money to buy coffee for everyone in someones office, but for a cup of two it would be no problem.

 

[ImDMous]

I used to drive through Starbuck's every morning on the way to work. Plenty of times I would pay for the next car's order also, maybe once a week. Not sure if anything ever got carried over or if they just enjoyed a free coffee to start their day off right. No over-analyzing involved...

 

[KennesawNemo]

I would pay whatever my coffee would cost towards the next person.

While I do drive through to get the coffee, I always get the cheapest thing. I don't want to pay for 4 venti cappuccinos just because someone paid my tall coffee of the day.

 

[yoopermom]

I do it regularly in two situations:
1)I do NOT like having to drive over the Mackinac Bridge, so started a long time ago paying for the next car behind me (it's like five bucks). I figure it's like my good luck talisman, that as long as I continue to do so, I won't get blown off the bridge . (I will be doing so again tomorrow and Sunday, when I move DS back to college, in case anyone on the DS wants to get in line behind me at the bridge.)

2)There's a super cheap dive of a pizza/Italian joint down by my parents, that many many older people and what appear to be "down on their luck" type people frequent. When DS was little, we started letting him choose one table to pay for, and we'd pay their bill as a surprise for them. It's the kind of place that the whole bill is never over twenty bucks, and it *thrilled* him to know that he was helping someone have a hot, tasty meal.

So I don't think you need to be part of a 300 person chain to do this, just do it when the mood hits you!

Terri

 

[TLSnell1981]

I've been involved with "pay it forward" many times....beginning, middle and end. I've never had an outrageous tab.

 

[lizabu]

I would but have never had it happen to me. I saw a news story about how it ended. So A guy heard about it on the news and decided he wanted to put an end to it so he ordered his coffee and told the cashier he wouldn't be paying for the next person. He said something like it was people trying to conform and he thought it should stop.

 

[NewRVLady]

My tall (small) coffee is a treat very occasionally- I don't want to pay for the next persons giant whatever

I had it happen and I graciously said " thank you"- paid a good tip but declined to continue it

I think it's a THING Starbucks workers have started

 

[disykat]

Why am I not surprised that so many here have tried to dissect this and analyze this? Good grief people, it's a kind gesture. Take it, leave it, pass it along or not. Would you over analyze for someone that holds a door for you too?

It's called participating in a discussion. If you want to start a discussion about people holding doors, feel free!

No one said it wasn't a kind gesture.

 

[LilyWDW]

The fact that this is considered a "news" story is bad enough. But to then call out the person who decided to end it? Childish by those involved.

I also dislike the idea that the cashier was asking if the person would like to pay for the person behind them. I bet some of those people were not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, but because they then felt pressured and that they "had" to.

Or because they wanted others to pat them on the back about what good people they are.

I would have told the cashier "No thank you." when they asked me about paying for the next person. Sorry. I order what I can afford. I'm not going to pay who knows what for the person behind me.

 

[OurBigTrip]

The only person that performed a charitable act was the first driver, IMO.

And I see no problem with the person at the end that didn't want to continue it, either.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Other - I can, but I don't.

 

[ronandannette]

The only person that performed a charitable act was the first driver, IMO.

And I see no problem with the person at the end that didn't want to continue it, either.

See, I would never consider this "charity", rather just a little pop-culture way to brighten somebody's day. Charity involves meeting an actual need without there being any reciprocity. Do any others on here who have actually done this feel like they've been "charitable"?

 

[Kimberlyann11]

I have had this done for me and had no idea in the world it was supposed to be a "chain" because it makes no sense. I went to work and enjoyed my day. Then the following week I did it for someone else.

I truly hope he didn't then feel obligated to keep it going right then and there, because I just wanted him to have a nice day - not take a gamble on whether or not he got a discount on his breakfast. I heard the news story and I was all .

 

[OurBigTrip]

See, I would never consider this "charity", rather just a little pop-culture way to brighten somebody's day. Charity involves meeting an actual need without there being any reciprocity. Do any others on here who have actually done this feel like they've been "charitable"?

OK, you can call it whatever you want, but my response is the same. The first person is the only one that really did anything special.

 

[scoutie]

I've done it before. I don't know what the outcome was. I've also had it done for me before, but when I asked the barista what the person behind me ordered, the bill was $28.00.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

I voted other. Haven't had it happen to me, but I have left money for the cashier/manager to assist others in line behind me.

I disagreed with the company representative's asking for the continuation of the line, and I did not agree with the man setting out to stop it. Wishy Washy?

However, if someone lets me in to the busy traffic, I definitely let someone else in. Does that count as paying it forward?

 

[TLSnell1981]

I also dislike the idea that the cashier was asking if the person would like to pay for the person behind them. I bet some of those people were not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, but because they then felt pressured and that they "had" to.

Or because they wanted others to pat them on the back about what good people they are.

I would have told the cashier "No thank you." when they asked me about paying for the next person. Sorry. I order what I can afford. I'm not going to pay who knows what for the person behind me.

I don't find it offensive. Actually, this almost always happens (to me) in the drive thru. The cashier will tell you, "the person in front of you paid for your order. Would you like to pay it forward"? It's a simple yes or no question. No pats on the back or peer pressure.

 

[disneychrista]

Other - I do not use the drive thru.

I do just have to point out that an EMPLOYEE of the Starbucks should NEVER have been asking customers if they want to pay it forward.

 

[lizabu]

Other - I do not use the drive thru.

I do just have to point out that an EMPLOYEE of the Starbucks should NEVER have been asking customers if they want to pay it forward.

I have to agree. If you want to do something nice it should come from the heart. I kind of think that was the guy who put an end to its point when he did his interview. He didn't say it in those words but I think it was the idea.

ETA I just found a story about him. It's not the same one I read before but he gives his reasoning. It's pretty much what people are saying here. He felt people were being guilted into doing a good deed and he didn't like it. https://gma.yahoo.com/florida-man-d...ucks-line-165749709--abc-news-topstories.html