A friend and I, both second-year students at Tulane, have been dying to try this cozy, local, coffee-shop/study spot, Rue De La Cours, for some time now. To our dismay and embarrassment, the customer service is as awful as the building (on oak street) is beautiful. We usually spend study days lounging around PJ's or Starbucks, and when we do we always order plenty of coffee/snacks to show our appreciation. Likewise, as soon as I grabbed a table at Rue, I threw down my bag, grabbed my wallet, and went to the counter. ""Two con pannas, please."" I handed the barista my credit card, which was tucked behind only a Tulane ID and my Tennessee state license. She stared at me blankly and said, ""we dont accept this,"" as if I just tried to trade my family's sheep and cattle for some espresso. The barista noticed my confused gaze and said, ""there's an ATM right over there."" But to her misfortune and mine, I replied, ""sorry, this is a credit card. Oh well. Cancel those con pannas."" My friend and I proceeded to study for about twenty-five minutes. Then, the same barista that I just TRIED to order from waltzed over to our table and rudely said ""you need to leave if you aren't going to order somehting."" We were appalled. I thought to myself, maybe she didnt remember that I tried to order twenty minutes ago? So I said, ""we tried to order coffee but all we had was a credit card.."" Not good enough for Rue. ""Paying customers only."" She stood at our table with her arms crossed, hip out, and snoody, ""what the hell are you thinking?"" look on her face until my friend and I finished packing up our books and stormed out. On the way out we left a loud parting exchange: ""Want to go to Starbucks?""
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