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

Comments

[Boston Barista]

On my ten hour shift yesterday I only had one person who had a sample and did not think it was good. We sold a ton of it, and I make it at home every day on my way into work. Its AMAZING iced, I would say its better than the fresh brewed iced coffee we serve in the store. If you like to come into starbucks, get a french press and talk about the subtle flavors, then yeah, this is not going to be for you. However that person is very, very rare these days.
How many times have you been in a hotel with terrible coffee but hot water.
What about on a flight, again hot water but really bad coffee
Ever been in a long meeting in the same situation.
There are lots of times that this makes sense. Give it a chance before you shoot it down.

[414 Barista]

At my store we are honestly trying SO hard to sell via, but being in a mall where people AREN'T spending, or in an area where it's lower middle class consumers, we aren't reaching our goals. I am one of the more experienced baristas nd am close with my manager, and even she is discouraged. It's getting to all of us :( I don't know how I feel about via or the 200% goal we have.

[JD_Damnitall]

My store in particular is always busy in the AM and getting that line down is of major concern because left unchecked it goes out the door and so do the customers who DONT want to wait (because we have to hype VIA to everyone)... Personally, I think its stupid to spend the last 2-3 years of my baristaship telling customers that coffee loses its flavor after a while once you grind it (so brew often to enjoy more quality) and yet... we are selling little packets of pre-(micro)-ground coffee to people.

Granted, VIA tastes better than instant, which only makes VIA the "BEST of the WORST". Worst of all, we are having them sample the VIA with Pike's which is not only a nicer and smoother blend but also its the taste that everyone is accustomed to because we (SBUX) have been forcing them to drink it since the launch about two years ago.

SBUX is getting Greedy and Losing Sight of that "Third Place" by seeking out "Every Place"

[Frappucino Master]

Hey People. This whole VIA thing is RIDIC. Am I pushing it?Yea. Do people want it?No. People are walking in for their FRESH ICED QUAD VENTI SOY LATTES. I refuse to push powder coffee to these customers who are coming daily to spend on avg 6 dollars for a drink.

[Jamison]

This story is so pathetic. Just a perfect example of uninformed and jealous people trying to bring down a great thing. First of all, let's not forget this is INSTANT COFFEE!! Yes, it is really good, but it's instant coffee. Ugh people are so frustrating. Secondly, I've been to maybe 7-8 stores all over Manhattan today and Via is buzzing. Everybody seems to love it, it's def selling, and yes it really does taste good. Let's give it a chance before we shoot it down, man why is everyone so quick to judge??!!

[Herb]

Frap master - Have you ever done anything innovative your entire life? Of course people may not be fully receptive to the notion of a new drink right away... you have to push it to give it an opportunity to be successful. Stop complaining, and appreciate how cool this company is for taking a risk in a tough market...

[Jamelle B.]

Long live the mermaid and long live Howard Schultz!

The guy is so special!!! Everyone and their mom counted him out yet again?! Doesn't anyone ever learn! This guy is a genius!

Via is much better than I thought; I cannot believe how good it is. Now when I travel across the country, all I need is a little hot water and some Via and I'm good! I can work the whole way w/out being tired and actually have good coffee!!!!! Yeaaa

[ex-sbuxmanager]

I tried it today and I have to say that it was much better than I expected. I could probably tell the difference between Via and a french press, but not the difference between Via and what comes out of the Bunn brewers. I'm not sure if that's a testament to how good or how bad the Bunn brewer is.

That being said, I really do not miss having a promotional goal set for my store by corporate and then being told that I have to sell 200% of that goal. Why not just set the goal higher?

"Maybe it's a product for people in other cities. I don't see it selling here."

I love how new yorkers think that everything in new york is so much better than the rest of the world. Lady, that $1 deli coffee tastes like shit and you can get better coffee almost anywhere else in the civilized world for just as much money. I live in NYC BTW

[CamSpi]

Day two was a little discouraging. Maybe its just because its slower on Wednesdays... :/

[v v v VIA™]

v v v VIA ™

[bk barista]

Yeah, it was not selling at my NYC store yesterday. Too bad we're required to meet 200% of the "goal."

[mynameishuh]

I thought that the 200% to goal thing was just Mid-America, figure it was the RDO, he can be like that. I think the push for 200% to goal is for press releases. A nifty little news story where they interview a starbucks exec, talking about how successful it was and that it "doubled our expectations" or some crap like that.

[Frappucino Master]

To Herb:
Have I done anything innovative?
Absolutely.
But you have to really think about what is happening here. It's like someone walking into a steakhouse wanting to buy a top of the line fresh cooked steak, and you trying to entice them to buy a frozen TV dinner instead.
It just doesn't compare.
VIA may be okay in certain markets, but I don't anticipate it doing very well in my particular store where customers want only the best, freshest and most LUXURIOUS Drinks available, made to their specifications.

[Sneaky]

Jim Cramer had BETTER say that Via is better than Sanka. Starbucks is paying a fortune to be on his sister channels show Morning Joe. I don't think the exec's in Rockefeller Center would be too happy if he said otherwise.

[Oh no]

@Frappucino Master

Not to be picky, but if you are truly the "master," how about spelling it right.

Frappuccino.

[Herb]

Frap Master-

You just don't get it. It's sad really, you just made yourself look ridiculous. Via is NEW, and it won't be successful if it's not heavily marketed. Well said "Oh no," hahahaaa, get out of here frap master before you embarrass yourself even more.

[Michael T.]

I agree with Herb hahaha, Frap master u lost this one bro

[just another partner]

VIA isnt supposed to replace the iced quad venti white mochas... it is supposed to be for those times when you cant get to starbucks for that drink... like mid afternoon when you need a pick me up and cant leave the office... how long was that office coffee sitting there on the burner? or instead of brewing a whole pot of coffee for one person, a pack of via is easier. also, if someone just drinks decaf, this is perfect for them to have at their house for when guests come over who might want the "regular"... lots of other reasons to have via on hand.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=94602311]

She's not a mermaid; she's a siren.
Howard is a duck.
And Sanka is great in the kitchen.
They even use is at the world premier culinary school, AKA The Culinary Institute of America.

VIA is somewhat of a joke. Not everyone wants it, and Starbucks doesn't seem to understand that.
More than 50% of my customers come through the drive-thru. And those people want caramel frappuccinos...Not coffee...Fresh or instant.

[the singing siren]

And...if we're supposed to sell 200% of our goal...doesn't that make that number our new goal?? For example, if the "goal" is 450 units, and 200% of said goal is 900, then the true goal is really 900 units. Has anyone else noticed this??

[Tim]

Dear Singing Siren:

Nobody likes you. You are a fool. Your post makes ZERO sense. Lastly, how is howard a duck?! You wouldn't even be posting on here if it weren't for him. You wouldn't have a job if it weren't for him. You're just a jealous bum. Get out of here dumb dumb.

[Erik H.]

I'm not an employee, but I do appreciate what you (they) do. I have spoken with two very well-spoken non-pushy, courteous baristas regarding the VIA product. One in Sandusky OH, another in N. Olmsted. tasted it solo in N.O., and taste tested against Pike Place in Sandusky. I could tell the difference, but it took a little work. I have no Starbucks in the little podunk town I live in, just really badly done local coffee. So 90 cents a cup of SBUX VIA against 1.25 bad/burned/old coffee is a no-brainer to me.

[jason]

Well said Erik

[Jack Brosnan]

Is this a bad thing or a good thing...
***************************
Jack Brosnan
foreclosed home auctions
*** High quality comments only please ****