[qewrffewqwfqew]

Not a spook, but it bugs me also when I'm asked to give my name to identify an order.

I have an unusual name that people find difficult to pronounce and spell. Meanwhile, there are five Matts behind me who have each ordered different things. All six of us have to keep visual attention on the service area so we can identify our stuff when it comes out, because I won't know whose name they're trying to call and latte-Matt has been assigned the same identifier as sandwich-Matt.

It bugs me even more that stores adopt this as a mark of "friendliness". It's not friendly, it's presumptuous, rude and inconvenient. I'll happily chat to the staff and exchange names when it's quiet, but don't make them try and learn mine when they're flat out doing their job. Just give me a number, or call out what I ordered - both practices vendors have been following successfully for thousands of years.

[notatoad]

At every starbucks i've been to (and it seems like a pretty strictly defined script), they call out both the name and the order so latte-matt and sandwich-matt aren't assigned the same identifier. The barista calls out "i have a tall latte for matt" and matt who ordered a latte knows his order is ready. It solves both the problem of three latte-drinkers in the line and three matts in the line, as long as there is only one latte-drinking Matt. and assigning names to drinks prevents the queue-jumpers who order their grande latte and then grab the grande latte of the person 5 spots ahead of them.

[beachstartup]

i'm sorry but it sounds like you're making things up. if your name is hard to spell or pronounce, why give them your real name?

these kinds of social constructs are meant to be gamed, not taken at face value. i know people who give baffling names to baristas just for the fun of it.

also, every starbucks i've ever been to say the name you give them, and the order description when they call out for pickup.

MIKE DOUBLE ICED AMERICANO. JOHN SOY CAPPUCCINO. LINDSAY FRAPPUCCINO WITH CARAMEL.

[SyneRyder]

At the cafes in Australia they rarely call out the order description, only the name, repeatedly until someone collects their order. Which often tempts me to give my name as "Bueller"...

I used to give an easier name to baristas (even though it turns out 75% of baristas can't spell "Colin" either), but once I signed up for a loyalty card it caused issues that my "Starbucks name" didn't match the one on my loyalty card, so I mostly use my real name now. Nowadays the baristas at my local have memorized my real name & my order, so it's no longer an issue.

[JacobAldridge]

I always give my beautiful wife's name as it's much easier to spell and yell than mine, and slightly less common. It's amazing how many brains seem to process 'Jacob' as either 'Jason' or 'Joseph'.

But I am always tempted to give my name as Primrose Everdeen [1]

[1] http://hungergamesfandom.net/tag/i-volunteer-as-tribute/

[qewrffewqwfqew]

> why give them your real name?

Reflex/conditioning? I've actually had exactly this conversation with a Matt, and we came to the common conclusion that we should both use a name like "Zorro" that's unique and easy to spell. But I haven't trained the reflex enough yet: generally when asked for my name, I have no reason not to give it.

[redblacktree]

qewrffewqwfqew does seem to be difficult to pronounce and spell.