Starbucks Gossip

Starbucks to store managers: Make your quota on VIA or we'll shoot this dog!

Well, not exactly, but... there seems to be a lot of pressure to peddle the stuff. Here are some excerpts from the comments section:

I've never heard the threats of "corrective actions" in the years I've worked for Starbucks as I have now. Even now the bar on QASA has been raised to 100% and if you make below a 95% the SM gets a corrective action and a phone call from the RDO (Regional Director of Operations). Woe to the stores that don't hit the 200% to goal on VIA sales in 5 weeks of the 7 week promotion. That was the bar that is set for us and I imagine daily calls to the stores from nervous DMs asking for sales numbers will be the norm for now on.

And another comment:

We are being THREATENED into selling VIA.....and it's scary. Because we didn't make goal today, our Regional and District Manager will be in our store in the morning to see what's wrong. We've pushed VIA to every customer we see, and we're not making goal. I'm so frustrated and nervous about this launch, and it's become a hostile work environment, and we're being told it's okay to guilt customers into buying it, whatever it takes to make goal.

I'll pay $100 to a store manager who gets a "corrective action" call from an RDO and tells him/her to "go f-- yourself." (Tape of call and name of RDO required for payment. Only two "prizes" will be awarded. Sorry, I'm not rich.) || Jump to the third page of comments.

"From the Comfy Chair": No spark at the Sparks, Nevada Starbucks

BY "JUAN VALDEZ"

Starbucks
Pyramid and C Streets
Sparks, Nevada

VIA –   1.  By way of:  (example) I went to Best Buy via Starbucks
By means of : (example)  Starbucks sent me free coffee via the mail

Well, yesterday was the big launch of VIA, Starbuck's answer to instant coffee. And if I didn't know it beforehand, I certainly found out while trying to navigate the narrow confines of the Starbucks in Sparks Nevada.

What a weird, strange layout. The store is right on the street but it's not very visible nor clearly marked; I nearly drove past and I knew where I was headed. The interior is very narrow with the comfy chairs at the front, the retail in the middle and some other tables at the rear. What little space there is to maneuver is taken up by a rather large display of..you guessed it...VIA. //CONTINUED IN THE FIRST COMMENT

Newspaper claims "lukewarm" reaction to VIA at New York Starbucks

"You can get a cup of coffee for $1 on every corner of New York City that tastes better than this," said a 45-year-old woman customer. "Maybe it's a product for people in other cities. I don't see it selling here." || Read "Starbucks Via gets lukewarm reviews in New York debut"
> CNBC's Jim Cramer declares VIA better than Sanka

The nationwide VIA launch day is here. Are you selling any? Buying any?

Share your "VIA Day" stories here. Are customers buying? Or showing any interest in your stories about how it improves their lives (or whatever your selling points are)? || Read "Starbucks rolls out Via instant coffee nationwide" || Jump to the second page of comments.

Former Starbucks CEO Donald named grocery store chain CEO

Remember Jim Donald? He's been named CEO Haggen Inc., Bellingham, Wash.-based grocery store company. Haggen operates 33 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon and had revenue of $844 million in 2008. Read "Haggen taps former Starbucks head as its CEO"

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?

Let's get the always-lively weekend OPEN THREAD going!

There's a reason why the OPEN THREAD always has 100-plus comments -- it's a great place to discuss anything Starbucks-related (in a civil manner, of course). || Jump to the second page of comments.

Introduction of Banana Vivanno Smoothies at Starbucks leads to sexual harassment

A 29-year-old former Starbucks barista says in her lawsuit that young male co-workers put bananas between their crotches to resemble male genitalia; placed them in cracks of store walls, napkin dispensers and bathrooms as phallic symbols; and inscribed one with an offensive, suggestive remark directed toward her. The woman says managers took no action, and the situation worsened the more she complained. || Read "Sex-harass suit brewing at Starbucks"

Not quite sure how the Starbucks iPhone payment app works? Watch this video

The guys who produced the video -- and ordered some coffee -- had a bit of a problem getting the bar-code reader to read their order, but they declared the process "fun." || Watch "Paying for a cup of coffee with the new Starbucks iPhone app"

"From the Comfy Chair": Juan finds everything great at Seattle's Best -- except for the bland coffee

Seattle's Best
Borders  Everett Mall
Everett, Washington

BY JUAN VALDEZ

Following is a transcript from the evening news:

Announcer: Good evening everyone, I'm Chet Winkler and this is ENN (Evening News Network)! Topping the news tonight is a special report from ENN Special Reporter, Juan Valdez, who is in the field with a special report! Juan, where are you and what are you doing?

Juan: Hi Chet, I'm at the Seattle's Best Coffee at Borders at the Everett Mall. I'm enjoying a cup of light roast coffee (they didn't tell me the name of the coffee) along with a toasted ham sandwich. Yum!

Chet: But why are you in a Seattle's Best? I thought you only went to Starbucks.

Juan: That's true Chet. But Seattle's Best was in the news recently because Michelle Gass just became president. Since SBC is owned by SBUX, I thought I'd jump on the burro and head on over to see what all the commotion was about.

Chet: Is there a commotion there?

Juan: No, not really. In fact, there's really not a lot of business here at all. 

Chet: So, how's the coffee?

Juan: I believe they refer to their coffee as "uncommonly smooth." In this case, that means "very bland."

Chet: Can you give us a better description, Juan? That was pretty bland.

Juan: Sure Chet. I'm sure you've eaten American chocolate a few times in your life. Folks who are used to American chocolate usually do not like dark Swiss chocolate because it is much more bitter and has an abrasive mouthfeel. In reality, the dark Swiss chocolate is better than American chocolate because it has more flavor and stimulates the palate in all sorts of unusual ways. And if you don't like it, you are just an unsophisticated backwoods boob who has no appreciation for the finer things in life. Well, that's how it is with this cup of coffee I'm drinking – it's the American version of chocolate.

Chet (quickly puts away the Hershey's bar he was eating): Uh, ok, thanks for that enlightening description, Juan! So, how's the rest of the store look? //CONTINUED IN THE FIRST COMMENT