OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Are you ready for a romantic Starbucks weekend?

Where's the best place for a cheap Valentine's date? Starbucks, of course. (And will you be getting V-day cards from customers who have crushes on you?) Discuss this or anything else Starbucks-related -- the demise of Signature Hot Chocolate, for example -- in the weekend OPEN THREAD. || Jump to the second page of comments.

Comments

[waltie]

I'm actually being positive. I'm the one who's saying that Starbucks it's hard to believe Starbucks is firing people for a ridiculous reason that would be *impossible* to prove.

This is a weird website. Usually I'm accused of being over positive to the point that some morons think I'm a company plant. Then there are the stupid people who think I'm close-minded and negative about everything.

[@usorthem3]

@justsaying glad I could give U a chuckle but U obviously tweet

[Melody]

@Waltie - Yes you definitely sound very positive nearly all the time. You also write well, and don't throw out insults.

@CubicalDrone - The "trenta" cup is a 31 ounce cold drink cup in testing phase in Phoenix. Two years ago Starbucks tested a "double grande" (32 ounces) cup but I assume they rejected it. They seem very interested in continuing to explore the idea of a super-big-gulp size beverage in their stores. I don't think it's a very good idea, for many many reasons, but it seems like many customers actually want this - and not just for tea or iced coffee!

I'm running a barista art contest on my blog. It's a little disappointing so far. As I trek around paying more and more attention to the chalkboards at Starbucks, I realize that 95% of them are done with stencils. It feels like barista-produced unique art is fading away, and becoming a thing of the past at Starbucks. :-( And in case anyone is curious, I've uploaded the entire 1992 Annual Shareholder's report. (This was the very first Starbucks annual report).

[Christopher]

@melody

At my starbucks we definitely draw our own signboards. There are times when we don't, but more often than not they are created by one of us. I've been out of work for a few weeks, but I go in this week. I'll be sure to snap a picture on my break.

[erstwhile]

All I can say is I hope to heaven almighty that they give us the new POS systems they promised a year and a half ago before they roll out all this "even more customizable" stuff.

Can you imagine... "oh wait, make that (10-modifier frappuccino) a venti instead of a grande..."

[(former) FLA SM]

Where are people getting stencils for the artwork? I remember getting the Siren's Eye with a page of horribly intricate pictures we were expected to recreate by hand (with no extra labor time to do it.) Fortunately, I was able to draw well enough to not embarrass myself, but it took a long time. We sure never got any stencils for the artwork. (However, I can now draw a mug with wavy steam lines in my sleep!)

[Andy, Shift Supervisor, Maryland]

No one gets stencils but everyone is supposed to copy the picture in the Promo book.

My guess is there used to be a time when stores just made their own picture about whatever the theme was that season.

Did all Starbucks used to have different pictures, Melody (or anyone else)?

[waltie]

My store has stencils. I think they came as a part of some holiday set up a year or two ago and we must've held on to them. I think they are a little boring, but they are a good starting point for a drawing as long as the artist adds a little pizazz.

[sample cup]

Actually I think the stencils come in every promo sign package, but I could be wrong.

And yes, we are supposed to follow the recommended artwork and lettering exactly. :(

[spence]

Thanks to all the customers who tipped big on Valentine's Day. People kept tossing cash not coins. It made working on Valentine's Day a little sweeter.

[sigh]

The stencils do indeed come with every promo package

[javagirl666]

So, if you are in an urban area and your customers each come in up to 3x/day..they repeatedly get the surveys..walk back to their offices(within 2 blocks) and take them..Starbucks is going to think something "fishy" is going on?

[Karl Dahlquist ~ karldotcom]

My brother sent me a picture of the Starbucks Tetra cup last week from Phoenix.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/karldotcom/4352075959/in/pool-starbucks

[john]

waltie,
Hey tell that bitch who's defending you that she doesn't need to send indirect comments to me, that if she has some balls to tell me her self.

[waltie]

John, I'm sure that if people are avoiding contact with you, it has less to do with their lack of "balls" than it does with the fact that you're just unpleasant.

[Chloe]

Hey, Webmaster!

Have you heard of this new show called "Undercover Boss"? As a former partner and current customer, I'm curious what upper executives current partners would want to see on the show, and what jobs they would have them do. :) Seems like a pretty eye-opening show. They featured one of the COOs on Oprah.

Open thread topic, perhaps?

[Melody (@john)]

john, really, do you think you look smarter when you call people names, and get really angry and stomp a little?

justsayin'

(And yes I wanted to use a hashtag right then.)

[CD]

John -

Back off on the name calling. Additionally, if you want someone to address you directly, perhaps you should address them directly.

[yukonlvr]

@Melody

chalkboard art is definitely becoming a thing of the past. it sucks because i love doing chalk signs because it allows me to be creative, but my manager hates it because 'i take too long.' :( i hated when stencils rolled out because it just makes all the signs look blah. i recently got to do a valentine's day sign though, so i'll send a pic and enter! hopefully they haven't washed it off yet! one of my favorites was a promo for brazil ipanema bourbon i did a year ago. she was beautiful!

[I.Heart.Spirit]

@Chloe

I saw the first two episodes of that show. I really enjoyed it! The whole time I couldn't stop thinking Howie needs to be on this show!!!

[Cindy]

I hate to change the subject...but does anyone know anything about the sexual harassment complaint against rvp Andrew Alfano? Could it be true? I wrote a piece about it but wanted to get all your thoughts. Does anyone work with him?

[waltie]

If you are writing a piece on a legal issue involving a major corporation, I would advise against quoting anything you read on an internet message board. But that's just my opinion.

[Cindy]

@waltie thanks for your reply. It sounds like a corporate response. I worked at the SSC for 10 years and know SBUX corporate speak very well. Where do you work?

It wasn't posted on a message board. I have the letter that was sent to Kalen Holmes.

[waltie]

I work in a store, and what I said sounded like a store-level response, not a corporate one. After all, when customers come in and ask/complain/talk about nonsense they read online, it's a store-level annoyance, not a corporate one.

That's one of the reasons why I actually come to this board and attempt to use logic and common sense in counter the ridiculous comments some people make. Because I know customers read a lot of this garbage and will come in to my store and ask me about it.

[Kevin]

Everyone's getting decaf tomorrow.

[j]

so we are "partnering" with a FOR PROFIT company to manage our pastry donations?

[:(]

its crazy how negative some of these posts are...

[formermanager]

Hey, was anyone who works on the east coast of the country, allowed to close early or open late due to the several feet of snow we had, or did you have to risk your life for coffee?

[Finally, its happening to me right infront of my face and i just cannot hide it.]

Had to risk my life for coffee. Of course every employee at my store besides me can see the store from their window except myself.

[(former) FLA SM]

"its crazy how negative some of these posts are..."

And you think this is a coincidence? The gripes people have here aren't imagined. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck.....

[Melody (@yukonlvr)]

@yukonlvr - I quoted you over at StarbucksMelody.com - I bet your right that store managers are now discouraging the barista artwork. It's a drain on precious labor resources, but it's something to me that allows each store be a little unique.

[Andy, Shift Supervisor, Maryland]

Halfway between Baltimore & DC (hardest hit snow in the country) our store got closed about 2 full days and 2 or 3 half days over the 2 mammoth snow storms.

[spence]

We have closed early or opened late 3 times within the last month.

[Cindy]

@waltie - I'm thrilled to see how passionate you are about the brand and your store. And you're correct...you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. In fact, I'm working on a serious of article about the top five Starbucks internet myths.

Keep up the great work.

[spence]

Dark Cherry Latte's coming up. Sprinkled with Chocolate curls. Yum. I love chocolate covered cherries.

[Espresso Truffle Lover]

SHAME - The only reason I went to Starbucks DAILY was for the Espresso Truffle. Now I can save my money.