Can you spot what's a bit odd about this photo? (Hint: It has something to do with VIA.)

I walked into a downtown Chicago Starbucks on Sunday and saw a large sign behind the counter that said, 'STARBUCKS VIA ARRIVES IN 4 DAYS." I inquired about it.
ME to the BARISTA: "What's the difference between the VIA that's in the store now and the VIA that's arriving in four days?"
BARISTA: "Nothing. We were a test market and have had it for a while." (See all the VIA packs in front of the register in the photo.)
ME: "Oh, that seems kind of odd that you say it's arriving when it's already here."
BARISTA: "We probably shouldn't have put that up, but they made us do it."

And how's your VIA promotion going, Starbucks Gossip readers?

Comments

[Miriam]

Empty stands here in the Detroit area. (Not a test market.) It looks ridiculous, why not just stick with the standups until they can actually put out product?

[TCOFFEE]

I agree with Miriam that the empty displays look ridiculous (I'm also in the Detroit area). Wondering how people will take to it. I got a few samples a while back. It's decent stuff, just not sure Metro Detroit will pay a premium price for an instant coffee. The blue-collar crew around here will usually just drink whatever is hot and brown.

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Oh I get it. Starbucks VIA is already in the bottom of the picture when the board so its arriving in 2 days.

[MCSM]

This is true, there are directions to put this on the Daily offerings board if you are a market that does not sell VIA. The two markets that currently sell VIA have been instructed by the Regional Directors to keep the PSL on the Board until Tuesday when VIA launches nationwide, then we are to put up the teaser about the taste challenge. Looks like this store manager wasnt paying attention to emails that the RD's sent out about this. :-D

[intlbarista]

DM's forced people to go to a 2 hour workshop on VIA...did the taste challenge, talked to a couple customers today about VIA, some seemed quite interested, others.. "I don't drink instant period", no-one has actually asked me what VIA actually is based on all our promo boards etc..:P

[b]

Starbuck's is now hiring outside managers at lower wages and targeting anyone who questions there there new operating frame 4 hr a week to manage, forced aggressive up-selling, impossible sales goals (2000.00) per store in one month for VIA, all while resetting labor programs to short staff every shift. So expect a lot of managers getting forced out and new lower paid drones coming soon.

[Burnt Brew]

@MCSM-

No, looks like there’s too much micro management going on in upper corporate offices. The partners thought it was stupid but felt they had no other choice. Maybe they ought to let managers manage and fire half the upper management that does nothing but pump out e-mails that no one has time to read anyway. This is only one small example of too many chiefs and not enough Indians. It’s also what happens when you threaten SM’s with their jobs all the time making them reluctant to ask questions (not that there would be any time to ask questions and be on the floor too).

[wow.]

@b

"2000" what? That's not MY Via goal. MY store is staffed fine. MY DM is not saying these things. MY manager can read Emails fine.

People need to stop blaming people they haven't even met. It's easy to blame invisible "higher ups", isn't it?

[Former SoCal ASM]

I know our goal is 200% to target in the first month. Not sure how that stacks up against all you guys but we're the highest %-to-target in the district, as usual, even though our sales are consistently 2nd or 3rd compared to the top 2 district stores.

[Will]

A tip for any closers reading. On slow nights we've started shutting down the espresso machines early and substituting half a packet of VIA Italian for each espresso shot in hot drinks (VIA Colombian tastes better in cold drinks). Nobody can taste the difference and we're able to clean and get out so much faster. VIA rocks!!

[Mrs. Tillinghamshackles]

I would be furious if I received an espresso beverage prepared with Via.

[Marcus]

Will and everyone in that store that knows about it and doesn't do anything about it should be fired and kicked in the ass on the way out.

I also wonder how the customers are unaware that you don't touch the bar and still produce a drink (our customers are fairly well educated on espresso drinks and wouldn't stand for that).

[livin' la VIA loca]

so this morning a customer came in looking at french presses- she didn't want another coffee maker, she said she just wanted a quick way to make a cup or two of coffee (not particular about roast or profile) before she got to the office to drink more there

so i persuaded her out of purchasing a press ($30) and a pound of beans ($10-13), gave her a few VIA samples and said try these then come back on Tues. to buy

mmmmm...canibalization

[MCSM]

I was going to take the time to respond to everything that was commented, but what it comes down to is that if you don't want to do what the big guys are sending down your way, then don't. Find another job....and if you don't want to quit then do what you're told. I'm a store manager in downtown seattle, and while I think some things asked of us our a little stupid, I do know that it is my job to support the company in any capacity that I can. And if i felt that i was being pushed out of my store, I probably am not doing the job expected of me. Being a store manager isn't an easy job. If it were, any barista out there could do it.

[MCSM]

@Former SoCal ASM

Just a little motivation for you :-) I was part of the original VIA launch in Seattle. My store is a smaller commuter drive thru store. We usually sit in the middle of the pack when it came to Sales % to goal. Our store led the district for the 1st 3 weeks of VIA sales % to Goal and we have a 24 hour drive thru in our district that is ALWAYS number one % to goal in everything. So its totally doable. It just depends on how excited you get about VIA and how excited you keep your partners.

We are introducing VIA to our customers through the best channel of marketing possible, our partners. So utilize them. My team is really excited again about the re launch here in seattle. While we are unsure how we are going to hit our targets in 4 weeks, we know that we are going to work our butts off to get there because we are a passionate team that thinks this is a great alternative for those folks who can't get in the store all the time, or just don't go into our stores.

So thats my motivational speech to you :-D

[Nic]

To Will,

I would notice if you didn't touch the espresso machine and dumped instant coffee in my drink and I would have your head on a platter if you sold this to me. 1-800-starbucks

[me]

Will...

If you're joking, thats kinda funny.
If not, I see a promotion to management in your future, because that, my friend, is what they call lean thinking. It may just become a Better Way. Seriously.

[The Commish]

Im going to make drinks like Will now. Woot!

[Mrs. Tillinghamshackles]

Besides, all the loose VIA packets in the store are for sampling or the taste challenge.

[redcup]

not that i'm very artistic, but that is horrible sign making, all skewed and badly colored. maybe the baris-artist wasn't feeling inspired by the product?

our baris-artist would sometimes spend an hour off the clock to produce great signages. illegal yes, but something's gotta give. and it's certainly not going to be non-coverage time.

[keepinitrealinfl]

it doesnt take an hour to make a great board and if i were Wills store manager or even a barista in his store.... hed be gone! the customers do NOT pay for and amazing espresso hand crafted beverage only to walk away with what you feel was an accurate amount of VIA added to their milk in lieu of espresso. its people like you giving the rest of us a bad rep!

[SPORK]

Am I the only one that can hella taste the difference between Via and the french press? I mean sure, it's pretty good for instant, but it's not nearly as good as I thought it would be!

[SBUCKS DRONE LOS ANGELES]

Our goal is just to sell out of the whole lot. Pretty much push it, sell it, or lose your job. Simple as that. I remember the good old days when you weren't forced to sell anything, but just deliver legendary service and a premium quality drink. No worries, I will sell VIA because I really love my job to the point where I will do what it takes to sell this stuff. By the way, I know VIA is technically instant coffee, but I actually bought some standard instant coffee and compared it to VIA. There's no comparison. None. VIA actually tastes like coffee. Instant coffee tastes and smells like mud. One other thing, did anyone notice Howard's signature inside the VIA packaging? I just find it funny how his signature isn't on the whole bean bags of coffee. Just food for thought. Does Howard care more about VIA than the whole bean coffee? HMMMM??? I wonder...

[SBUCKS DRONE LOS ANGELES]

Also, looks like this Will character either wants attention (he's certainly attracting in in this thread) or he's completely nuts. Or both. The question presented to you Will is, "Why?" Why do what you're doing? What's so hard about leaving your espresso machine open until you close? I mean, you could close one machine down, assuming you have two, and leave one open until you close. How hard is it to clean it? Hmm? Is that too hard for you Will? If it is, then you'll be one of the first to go in this new purging process that Sbux is undergoing. So, I have to bust my you know what and wait until I close to clean the espresso machine and you go ahead do what you do? How is that fair to me Will? How is that fair to the company? How is that fair to the customer who's paying for your salary? Hmm? Come on Will. You're smarter than that this. Or maybe not. Sorry about the rant, but I had to speak my mind about this.

[v v v VIA!]

I figured out what's missing from the picture!

The guy holding the banana by his crotch is no where to be found...!!

Now, where's Waldo?

[Formerly ™]

How is that fair to me Will? How is that fair to the company? How is that fair to the customer who's paying for your salary?
Posted by: SBUCKS DRONE LOS ANGELES

Listen, you little child, stop crying, go get a napkin, blow your nose, etc...Life's not fair in case you didn't know. We as the ones getting screwed by the company, do not have to be "fair" to "the company" what so ever..."Fair" was dropped by our company years ago, the customer isn't paying us jack isht, Corporate screws me on my "salary" which is under the living wage, and the customers profit goes right to a bunch of scum-bags who don't give 2 bananas about being "fair"...so save all that BS for yourself....

[WILL-U?]

its people like you giving the rest of us a bad rep!

Posted by: keepinitrealinfl

No what gives the rest of us a bad rep is this lean BS, that's why everyone is cutting corners, not enough people and time to do all 1 million tasks daily...so don't blame Will, he's just keeping it REAL ;0)

[Xcalibir]

WOW! If all your jobs are really that bad and your getting screwed so horribly... then why do you still work there?

Seriously! I don't get it. Nobody is forcing you to do the job you do. Sure the economy is bad. But according to all the complaints I see (not just this thread) you should be able to go work at McDonalds and make as much money and not have to work under such conditions.

You are getting paid a set wage to do a set job. You don't like the pay or the job then stop and find another job. If all the whiners on here were to walk off the job then maybe Starbucks might take notice and make things better for those of us that stick around and continue to do the job we are paid to do.

Or maybe Starbucks will hire better partners and be a bit more selective about who they hire in the future so the rest of us won't have to put up with your crap and complaints on the job.

Its people like those of you complaining about all the stupid stuff that makes our managers jobs more difficult to the point were they spend more time babysitting then actually doing the job and making things better for the customer and their employees.

Now let the flaming begin!

[GRTL]

Xcalibir....

I think you already started the flaming...

[Xcalibir]

Is that a bad thing?

[The Commish]

I believe will is being inovative. Isn't that what Howard asked for?

[me myself and I]

If I would walk into Wills store and he would make me a latte using via instead of espresso I might spill my whole drink all over him and his clean counter. Just by accident, of course.
You screw me, I screw you. It's that simple.

NEVER screw with a drink for the customer. The customer isn't doing anything bad to you. If you feel Starbucks screws you, there are other ways to get back at them. But the customer isn't the one. The customer paid for a drink and expects you to make it right and give him the best service possible. If you can't give any service, then at least have the courtesy to provide the right drink.

Again, it's not the customers setting those insane sales goals and cutting our labor, it's Starbucks.

And at the end of the day your customer is ultimately the one enabling Starbucks to give you your paycheck.

No customers = no paycheck !!!

Think about it.

[abe]

does starbucks sell tea kettles for like say making via coffee ?

[Chris]

A friend of mine went to Chicago in April and I had him bring some VIA back. We did a tasting:

http://vimeo.com/5262286

[Formerly]

If I would walk into Wills store and he would make me a latte using via instead of espresso I might spill my whole drink all over him and his clean counter. Just by accident, of course.
You screw me, I screw you. It's that simple.
Posted by: me myself and I

The attitude you imply here deserves nothing more than a slap to your fuzzy head. So spill the whole drink, go ahead, your still getting DECAF! OR I've been known to "ADD FOAM" from my mouth if you know what I mean...v v v VIA™

[Me]

1) VIA sounds like an interesting concept, and if it is indeed better than regular instant "coffee" from the grocery, then it does it's job.

2) Instant coffee is only a suitable substitute for espresso in certain cooking situations, not espresso that someone is paying good money for.

3) What a bunch of whiners you Starbucks employees are! "I don't get paid a living wage! Whaaa!" "I work too hard! Whaaa!" If you didn't notice, no one has ever gotten rich working in a coffee shop, and if you don't like your situation, change it. Don't screw your customer just because you aren't happy.

[Me2]

A living wage for a bunch of rich yuppies who can afford $5 dollar cups of VIA™ shots is a bit much to deal with especially when they have no manners and for the first time in their lives get put in their place on my floor, wake up and respect what you do, and who you do it with...I'm beyond happy that I deal with all this B-Shit instead of maybe saving lives and dyeing in IRAQ, a lot more purposeful to deal with rich people who are snots you know....

[Hmmmmm?]

"...instead of maybe saving lives and dyeing in IRAQ"

Oh... you mean "Dying"...

[me myself and I]

What color would you dye iraq in?

[via vs pike]

im surprised that people haven't realized the obvious:
via is good for instant coffee. The only reason that people are amazed by it is because they are comparing it to instant. Try comparing via columbia to columbia, or via italian to italian. Its CRAZY how much they don't taste like coffee. Compared to pike place, yeah, its good. But look how many people hate pike. For camping sure, for travel, sure. But in an office? buy a french press and a pound of coffee. Both need hot water, but the french press has more variety, better quality, and costs less.

As an instant product, it is great, but I can't believe that anyone would use it as an everyday option.

just my two cents, thats all

[waltie]

I find it hard to believe a store actually makes lattes with Via in the evenings... but not impossible to believe. After all, there are a lot of stores that pour mocha and chai into cups at night and then pour the syrup into drinks when somebody orders one. When I see partners doing that, I tell them to put the pumps back into the containers or give me my money back.

[Ron Ryan]

I dont have a problem doing my job but a little appreciation would be nice and being threatened on a consistant basis just to make the DM'S look good is crazy. I remember when the DM"S would actually come in the store and HELP out, back then they respected us. Not just their pets some are so obvious it is sickening. Stand on your own merit not on the ideas of others.

[me myself and I]

via vs. pike, this is exactly why the taste challenge is against pike and not a "real" coffee. Our pike was even over 30 min old when we took the taste challenge. Ever tried pike that old? Yeah, even maxwell house can compete with that.

[Karen]

First we teach people to love rich full bodied coffees and European espresso based beverages. What happens, the company prospers and everyone is happy. Now we lower everyone’s taste standards to PPR so we can compare it to VIA instant coffee. What happens, everyone is unhappy. Moving in the totally opposite direction doesn’t seem to work very well. I used to enjoy working for a premium coffee retailer. I don’t want to work for Folgers. What next, Creamora non-dairy creamer on the condiment bar? Perhaps styrofoam cups? Oh the romance of Starbucks, can’t wait to give my friends a package of VIA for Christmas…

[yukonluvr]

here are a few comments:

- somewhere in the handouts, booklets, papers, etc. we got, partners were encouraged to sample VIA hot, iced, or as a latte (in a tall cup w/ 3 pumps). i'm not saying will is right in what he's doing, but that could be part of why he's doing it.

-also, i was proud of myself today. i sold a pound of sulawesi, after giving a customer a sample of the french press i made for myself. it was the first time tasting it for the both of us. i've had it before when it was part of the core lineup, but i can only remember hating it. i think it tastes pretty darn good now. he was looking at kenya, his favorite, but after trying the sample, he decided to go with sulawesi instead. it made me feel good. and i gave him the rest in a tall cup to go.

-and as far as the taste challenge goes, VIA shouldn't be compared to french presses at all. the taste is nowhere close. but if you compare it to brewed, i think it's pretty good. what i want to do is compare it to other instant coffees.

-i'm excited about the challenge b/c we're allowed to dress up as someone in need of VIA, and i get to wear an orange apron!!! i also want that VIA pin!

-and as far as sells go, i think my store will do pretty well the first week. because of the setup, i think a lot of customers will get a pack or two just to try something new, and that will boost our sells and help us meet our goals immensely. the taste challenge i think will also really help with pushing this product. my only problem is that the 3-packs seems so easy to steal. ugh

that's all.

viva la via!

[me]

apparently the taste challenge is columbia via only. confirms my belief that italian via blows.

[SBUCKS DRONE LOS ANGELES]

Hey Formerly, I actually work and make the drinks the way they're supposed to be made. I do my job right and for little wankers like Will to be so "witty" and "clever" makes me feel like I am part of that. So why are you Formerly? Was it too much for you? Awwwww, poor thing. Good riddance. Don't come on here throwing your lame insults at me because you don't work for Starbucks anymore, it makes you look weak. Oh, and have a nice day.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1656205315]

Via as a stand-alone is simply unmatched. There isn't a solitary instant (yeah, yeah, I know it's not instant...) that can compare on any level. My hunch is that VIA will be the new water bottle drinkers rage.

[SBUCKS DRONE LOS ANGELES]

I concur with Kevin, I already saw a guy throw it in his water bottle and shake it up.

[Anony-girl]

VIA is the most irrelevant product Starbucks could have released nationally to date. In a time when every penny count, paying 2.95 for 3 packets of instant coffee appears unethical at best, and immoral at the very least. Starbucks is in a tricky time right now as they try and convince their customers that purchasing drinks from them is still a wise choice.

I work at a store in the Chicago market and we're all privately laughing at how Starbucks Corporate wants us to reposition VIA and sell it as if we never carried it before. The company has sent each store new versions of old VIA Ready Brew display stands [essentially spending thousands of dollars twice] so that we can act like VIA is new. The pressure is on store managers to make between 2300 and 2700 in VIA sales in 7 weeks. Most of us SMs feel like this entire operation is diverting attention from our labor and running our stores. We've been all but threatened that if we are not making the money, then our District Managers will be at our stores every day to find out what's wrong.