A barista tells Starbucks corporate that she refuses to use the "Skinny" lingo

A Starbucks barista sent this objection to the "skinny platform" to the corporate bosses. She tells them: "At the risk of being reprimanded for insubordination, I will not be following this new method for calling and marking." The "skinny" drinks debut this week.

My name is xxxxxxx and I currently work at store number xxxx in NY. I am a barista. At the beginning of January, I know that we are to begin using a "Skinny platform" for calling drinks, as well as marking cups. I would like to say that I think this decision is a poor one, and, at the risk of being reprimanded for insubordination, I will not be following this new method for calling and marking. I feel as though there are several flaws that will cause confusion, frustration and, potentially, a waste of product and time for partners, and far worse, alienate both partners and Starbucks customers. I've composed a detailed list of problems that can and, more than likely will, arise from the "Skinny platform.

1) We have been trained since day one to follow a specific method of drink calling/marking. Changing it up now will cause FAR too much confusion. For all stores, high volume stores in particular, this can severely impact speed-of-service, drink quality, customer satisfaction, labor, and product usage. Miscommunication between customers and partners, partners calling drinks and partners making drinks, and partners making drinks calling the drinks to the customers waiting to receive their drinks will inevitably lead to drinks having to be discarded after being made, customers becoming angry and impatient, assuming it is employee incompetence that is behind errors, and partners become frustrated and angry at one another after having customers criticize and yell at them. Customers will not want to come to stores where they have had such negative experiences, and coming into work will become something that partners dread as opposed to look forward to. Furthermore, from a financial perspective, the amount of product wasted could impact profits to the company, and time wasted making and then remaking drinks will affect labor hours at all stores.

2) Customers already find it difficult and confusing to order drinks at Starbucks. After spending the time to remember exactly how to order their favorite drink to make things easier for baristas, and maybe even impress us, to have things changed in such a drastic way can upset customers and make things even more confusing. People have spent so much time trying to figure out just how to order a drink at Starbucks, why change things so dramatically. It also allows for a HUGE margin of error. A "Skinny" drink is a drink made with sugar-free syrup, non-fat milk, and no whipped cream. Unless this is CLEARLY spelled out for customers, people will ask for a "Skinny" drink without really knowing what they're asking for. People may want sugar-free syrup but 2% milk, or non-fat milk but still have the whipped cream, or any number of other combinations that are NOT "Skinny" according to the recipe, but are still modified in a "Skinny" fashion. Moreover, partners who have been with the company for an extended period of time have grown used to the current procedure. We have gone through the process of learning how to call the drinks, and how to listen to customers struggle to ask us for everything they want in their drink, and translate the order into correct format. This change will throw partners off and, once again, lead to frustration and mistakes. Why complicate a system that, for the most part, works?

3) It is politically incorrect. Should we start calling drinks with 2% or whole milk and regular syrups "Fat" or "Obese?" Consider what customers on line waiting for their turn to order their drink will think if they hear the drink before them being called out as "Skinny." It leaves the door open for the next person on line to be offended. Additionally, the word "skinny" itself can have many different interpretations, not all of which are positive. In today's society, the term "skinny" often refers to a person who is considered TOO thin or unhealthy looking. People will not want to order a drink with a name that they associate with an unhealthy appearance.

4) The fact cannot be disputed that in society today, people are just waiting for an opportunity to sue major corporations. Without question, people will be leaping at the opportunity file a lawsuit against the Starbucks Corporation for discrimination. In this country, statistics show that more than two thirds of the population is overweight or obese. Calling a drink "Skinny" could easily be considered a form of size discrimination. This is not exclusive to people who are overweight as a result of their lifestyle or eating habits. There are a number of medical maladies that result in people becoming overweight regardless of eating habits or how they live their lives. Whether the corporation cares to recognize the fact or not, Starbucks is a target by society and there are a lot of people who would love to bring it down. This is just giving them the means to do so. Regardless of whether these people are justified in their claims, it is foolish to believe that people will not use this for their own gains.

5) Aside from customers who do not fit societies standards of "skinny," there are partners that are employed by Starbucks who are "overweight," and it is ridiculous to think otherwise. Imagine going to work for several hours at a time, and hearing the term "skinny" being called out countless times. It will undoubtedly have a negative affect on a person's self-esteem that may already be low from living in a society that is generally not accepting of people who do not fit the mold of a "beautiful" person. It creates an environment that people will not want to be in. It will exacerbate self-image issues that partners of ANY size may have. Why would ANYONE want to go into a store where they will hear potentially hurtful terms called out repeatedly with no regard as to how they may affect people?

I have no doubt that there is no malicious intent with "Skinny" platform. I'm sure that it is intended to make our jobs easier, and maybe show the public that Starbucks has options that can eliminate many of the calories and fat in the drinks we serve. Maybe it is even an attempt to use a different kind of lingo that could be considered hip or exciting. But the problems I have brought up cannot be ignored. They are real, and they will affect every single Starbucks that implements this system. As a company that is a part of the service industry, you are alienating customers and employees, and there will be repercussions. On a deeper level, this in essence goes against every one of our six guiding principles in one way or another.

I am not the only employee of this company who holds this opinion. I have yet to come across a single partner in any store who thinks that this is a good idea. There are several policies Starbucks enforces that I do not necessarily agree with, but this is one that I refuse to adhere to, and I will not let this be something that I complain about to coworkers and do nothing about. I am speaking on behalf of myself, and any partner who shares my beliefs but has decided not to voice their opinion. I love my job. It is a part of my life that brings me joy and makes me feel as though I am making people happy. It is for that reason that I believe this "Skinny" platform is a policy that, if nothing else, should be reconsidered by the company, if not completely eliminated. I will accept any consequences that I may face for not following this policy, but I would hope that it does not come to that.

The "Skinny" platform is not legendary.

I thank you for your time and hope that you will consider all that I have said.

Sincerely,
XXXXX

Comments

[chishift]

i'm all about insubordination, and my mangement knows about it (always has, always will) and i still have my job for as long as i need it (counting down the days until i graduate) and i will be as insubordinate as possible for this promotion because it is quite possibly the dumbest f-ing thing this company has ever come out with in the nearly two years i've been with them.
and about us being the lowest level of employees, shut the F up! without us nothing would happen, there would be no starbucks and you would not get your daily fix. we try to steer the ship since we're the ones on the "front lines" dealing with this crap firsthand, and everybody's life is easier if things work well for us.
and yes, it will confuse our customers. i've had seemingly very smart(educated) people ask me "how many shots are in a double tall cappuccino?" and "is this my ice water" (as they point to some espresso beverage in a hot paper cup). the idiocy is amazing.
i really don't want to have to explain this to so many of our customers. since we started an unofficial trial of it less than a week ago it's been disaster. and we've had a surprisingly high number of returned drinks because people just don't like the taste of it (SFM in particular). i really don't want to have to remake any more drinks than we already do during the morning rush, and i really don't want to have to explain it twice (once at the register, and once handing off the beverage) because one time is too many.
{end rant}

[Kat]

As a customer, I would prefer Starbucks focus on selling better and consistent products than coming up with new names for things.

[Michael C.]

Apparently your skin is too thin to leave the house. Oh, wait, I said "too thin" so I guess now I'm discriminating against very thin people. Imagine their hurt feelings!!!!! Seriously, call the Whaaa-mbulance to take you to the nearest mental hospital where you can grow up and learn to deal with the "harsh" realities of real life away from mummy and daddy. In the meantime, leave Starbucks, they don't need you there.

i'm all about insubordination, and my mangement knows about it (always has, always will) and i still have my job for as long as i need it (counting down the days until i graduate) and i will be as insubordinate as possible for this promotion

Wow, this post just amazes me. In my opinion in a nutshell, this is probably the biggest reason our stock prices are in the shitter. Partners with this kind of attitude. You are actually proud of that fact that you are insubordinate (always have been, always will be)is that something to be proud of? Believe me, I'm also counting down the days until YOU graduate. You and your management team should be terminated from this company. Since you have such a terrible attitude my wish for you is that you get every customer with as bad an attitude as you have. I hope your last weeks are filled with every imaginable customer complaint. You are a waste to the company.

[Educated customer]

This discussion is fascinating more because of the vitriol thrown at the writer than anything else. We live in a society where a person should be able to express an opinion and not be vilified for doing so. This barista obviously cares about Starbucks. If she/he didn't, she/he would get a new job; by making this carefully considered statement, she/he is merely expressing concern that the new label will be harmful and she/he is explaining why. I applaud this person for putting her/him self on the line. The nasty, negative comments posted here are, frankly, unAmerican because they are trying to stifle her/him. The writer isn't trying to foist an opinion on anyone here, her/his letter was for Starbucks corporate, not you. I agree with the writer. I would never ask for a skinny drink because it sounds stupid. I will order the same way I always do and ask for a non-fat latte with sugar free syrup and no whipped cream. If we live in a society in which employers can't hear constructive criticism from their employees, especially then the employees want to help the company, then we're in a very sad place.

[*********]

i totally agree with this article, because i strongly believe that starbucks day a day is creating confusion among its costumers. i can not believe what starbucks is doing with the baristas and "their starubucks basrista dream" it is not fun anymore to work in this company/
Starbucks made such a simple menu of drinks in fufu stuff that nobody can order or even make.

The reason for the DCCF change is that for a product to legally call itself "chocolate," it must contain both cocoa powder and cocoa butter. Which leaves me wondering, why haven't we changed the name of "Hot Chocolate" to "Hot Chocolatety?"

[Cheryl]

You may have totally valid concerns regarding the possible production confusions resulting from the whole "skinny" business.. but the touchy-feely Poor Little Fat Feelings? Give it a rest.

If people have self esteem problems because they're not happy with their weight, the solution is for them to stop shoveling in so much garbage and get the body moving. Banning words like Thin, Skinny, Svelte, size 2 and so forth isn't going to help those with elastic waistbands.

What's the difference between yelling, "skinny" and yelling "no fat, low fat?"

I say.... if you cringe when you hear words like, "obese" and "Fat" etc... why..it's time to get off the couch!

It will undoubtedly have a negative affect on a person's self-esteem (gag gag, whine whine) that may already be low from living in a society that is generally not accepting of people who do not fit the mold of a "beautiful" (or healthy, like, they don't eat CRAP)person. It creates an environment that people will not want to be in. It will exacerbate self-image issues that partners of ANY size may have. Why would ANYONE want to go into a store where they will hear potentially hurtful terms (oooohhh, if we banish the words, then maybe now one will notice that we think it's okaaaaaay to be among the millions of ever expanding potato chip shoveling masses...)called out repeatedly with no regard as to how they may affect people?

[j]

as the husband of a longtime sbux employee / asm,i think supports most promos that sbux comes up with. This time she supports them, but is having trouble as two of her overweight SS's are upset and offended by the new vernacular. My personal opinion (is summed up by many of these readers) is that its mis guided. I am a long time sbux customer. I much prefer the convention of ordering something sugar free and not skinny. It's just silly, and can devalue certain people, and disparage others,

[SBAddict]

1) "Skinny" is not hip new lingo. It sounds like somebody found a 1978 menu and decided to use one of the diet products from it. The employee has a very good point on this score.

2) The employee goes past a line with the whole "I refuse to do it." Because a certain percentage of customers will adopt the lingo, having been conditioned to do so at other stores.

3) All of you telling her to shut up and do her job are way off base. The moment Starbucks or any service-oriented company stops listening to the employees on the front end, they're going to begin to disintegrate. A company wants employees that care, that have an emotional stake in the company. Because employees like that will bend over backwards to give good service, and that only increases the value of the brand.

[JustAnInsideLook]

The larger problem is that the fad of Starbucks is ending. It's no longer cool to drink because it's everywhere. They painted themselves into a corner trying to squeeze out every penny they could. The stores that are doing well will continue to do well, the new struggling stores will struggle. They need to scale back to the store numbers circa 2005 and then sell off the new stores to franchisees if they want to return to high stock prices.

[CalgaryBarista]

1. i get the whole what makes a latte NOT skinny thing (2% milk, or regular vanilla, etc). is a nonfat latte without any syrup still called skinny? or just a "grande nonfat latte"?

By Starbucks definition, a skinny drink must contain one of the sugar-free syrups. If it doesn't contain sugar-free syrup AND non-fat milk AND foam, it's not a skinny beverage. You would be correct in calling your example a grande non-fat latte.

2. is it now "wrong" to call a "grande SFV nonfat latte"? do i have to coach someone if they call it that way? or are both correct?

With the new marking/calling system, a SFV nonfat latte is now a skinny vanilla latte, marked SKVL on the cup. Technically, you should have a coaching conversation with your partners if they continue to mark/call 'skinny' drinks incorrectly. Keep in mind, though, that once one of the modifiers changes (your first question), it's no longer a skinny beverage, and marking/calling reverts to normal.

[jess]

Call me an elitist, but every time someone used to order their latte "skinny," i would get annoyed and go the extra step to call out every single modifier...

I won't be using the term. And I'll be writing in a mission review the next time I work. I feel like the new platform is useless and is simply going to frustrate partners and customers alike.

Plus...the customer wanting to be skinny has nothing to do with the width of the drink? As far as I can tell, the cups only come in one width, and if they get skinnier, they'll fall out of cupholders. then everybody will just be complaining again. (joke)

And the everlasting question...do i put the cinnamon sugar sprinkles on your grande nonfat no whip sugar free cinnamon dolce latte?

Tell you what Starbucks...if I can call out fatty lattes right alongside those skinny lattes, then I'll do it. Otherwise, forget it.

[Clint]

Why not just call it "bland."

I need a Venti Java Chip Frap and make it Bland!

That would settle the entire problem!

[sbuxlifer]

I've always hated the word skinny. There's just something about the word itself that makes me cringe. And I know it's wrong, but I especially can't bear to hear grown men say it. That said, I don't see what's so hard about saying sugar-free, nonfat. It's clear and it's always worked until now.
I decided a while ago that I would not be saying "skinny" either. If you want to add stupid lingo to our repetoire, sugar free and nonfat is "no fun" and sugar free, nonfat, and decaf is "what's the point". That's how we're rolling at my store.
I'm filling out a mission review card when I get to work.

[Grebby]

In the places where I lived, "skinny" always used to mean "with skim milk" in the pre-Starbucks days. Of course the "large" then was 12 oz. and nobody ordered these 20 oz., 800 calorie monsters that made them fat in the first place.

[Grebby]

PS I have a certain affection for the word skinny ever since Lauren Bacall said it in "To Have and Have Not."

Slim: Hello.
Steve: Let's have it.
Slim: What do you want?
Steve: Johnson's wallet.
Slim: What?
Steve: Come on.
Slim: What are you talking about? Hey mister, what's got into you? What do you think you're gonna do?
Steve: I'm gonna get that wallet, Slim.
Slim: I'd rather you wouldn't call me Slim. I'm a little too skinny to take it kindly.
Steve: Quit the baby talk. Which is it?
Slim: You know, Steve, I wouldn't put it past you. I didn't know you were a hotel detective.
Steve: Johnson's my client.
Slim: He doesn't speak so well of you.
Steve: He's still my client. You oughta pick on somebody to steal from that doesn't owe me money.
Slim: He dropped it and I picked it up.
Steve: And you were gonna give it back to him, of course.
Slim: No, no I wasn't. I don't like him.
Steve: That's a pretty good reason.

I agree that the whole "skinny latte" platform is ridiculous. The terminology is offensive and gimmicky. My drink recommendation for the day "a short whole milk latte". We need to get back to what's real and cups of skinny lattes/cups of nothing are anything but. Frankly, if I'm paying $3.+ for a latte it better have something of substance in it. C'mon Starbucks!

I will not be using the new marking/calling system either.

[Daydotter]

So which IS it on the cup?

SKVL in the drink box? or

SFV
N
L
like in the old days?

Because

The promo book says "we will continue MARKING and CALLING the drinks like before"

The sheet that came with it says to ignore everything in the promo book about this? Which one nullifies which? I am confused as are most of the shifts

[Oafcore]

Are you kidding me with this?! I got linked here after analyzing SBUX shares on the exchange...I didn't know people were so concerned with how their overpriced coffee drink is marked. Don't get me wrong here I love the company, brilliant business model. I've always thought of the average starbucks worker as a person with a unique personality working to support their alternative lifestyle. You know, Artists, musicians, writers, etc...Definitly in a higher class than your average McDonalds employee. But after reading this essay I don't know what to think. As a STARBUCKS patron I can honestly say that I could care less what you call my drink, or how you mark it...STOP FREAKING OUT ABOUT UNIMPORTANT ISSUES, YOU ARE THE REASON PEOPLE HATE STARBUCKS. Starbucks IS not a career, get your ass in school and get a REAL JOB. Start putting your efforts into real issues, like Iraq or Afghanistan, or hell, Why Starbucks' stock is in the toilet....

[Daydotter]

How about

Grande

5 SR

SKVL

For those who don't know -- SR is the OFFICIAL way of marking Sugar in the Raw (tm)

Is THIS drink still skinny?

How about

Grande

4 H

SKHL

(they want 4 pumps of regular Hazelnut added). Is THIS still Skinny

or should I return to

Grande

4 H + 4 SFH

N

L

Is this semi-skinny?

[auntnancis]

As a diabetic, I will still order my coffee the longer, old-fashioned way. I need to ensure my coffee is sugar-free, non-fat, and non-whipped. I think the only way to do that is to spell out exactly what I want.

[Daydotter]

Hey, Lib!

Maybe you are the reason why the country is going down the drain with your "alternative" culture?

Did you ever think about that? Go to your sites like mediamatters for America or democratic underground and leave us, poor baristas and their shifts, alone with your war nonsense.

[Daydotter]

Oh, I am sorry for calling you a lib. Maybe you are a Ron Paul supporter or a losertarian.

[Daydotter]

See, this is what happens when someone brings in politics into this. Can we stick with Starbucks?

[Daydotter]

I am sure both libs, right-wingers, and hybrids can get along fine here -- just keep your politics to yourselves.

End Rant

[Kevin Sonak]

I think you should not discriminate against the people who are healthy and within their median weight by putting a politically correct term on skinny or fat. People choose to be winners or losers, drunks or designated drivers, and yes, fat or skinny. Life doesn't give you a trophy just for participating. Please don't take this the wrong way -- I am not trying to be cruel, but don't punish those who are not overweight by imposing Orwellian absolutes. Just leave your personal problems at home, or convince the remaining 1/3 of the population they are wrong and they should to gain weight.

[Daydotter]

On a bighter note -- can we say a big HELLO-O-O-O to the regular white cups. I was so freaking tired of the red cups, I could scream.

[Daydotter]

Kevin, a fellow Michigander! Hey, do you know if there's a new Bux in Woodhaven now?

[It's coffee madness!!]

Oh man- as a non- Starbucks employee, reading these postings is freaking hilarious... so many things about these postings are just unbelievable... the fighting between strangers, the feelings hurt from being politically incorrect in a named drink, the little guys trying to take down the corporation- we need this to be a reality show PRONTO!!...

The first episode can feature this barista getting fired- that would be quite a hook for the show... then we can watch the corporate marketers trying to come up with a drink name that won't offend anyone, all the while creating drinks that make us all fatter- BRILLIANT!!...

Have we all seen the hidden camera Burger King commercials where people flip out because they temporarily took the Bic Mac off the menu?... that is GOLD, my friends... you think they'd just relax and find another way to get empty calories, like... like... a Frappachino!!... hmm, I smell a spin-off series...

Thanks to starbucksgossip, I now have the answer to my question as to what Starbucks baristas do when they're off their shift- they go home and blog about Starbucks... this is GREAT!!! keep the madness coming, we love reading it!!

You know what I get at Starbucks?... water... and they still screw up my drink every time... "I said 2 pumps of hydrogens, not 1!!"...

[Shann]

Well. I was laughing to myself today because I was thinking over the New Skinny platform and now we put foam on a skinny mocha... It isnt in the recipe for a mocha, but if it is Skinny... ah
Do we remember a couple of threads back so many people were making a fuss over foam going on a "Mocha with no whip..."

I started off today explaining to many regulars that they can begin ordering their Grande sfv n l as skinny v l... They were thrilled...
Most of them stumble over so many words and things to have to remember.
At first I was opposed to this idea, but hey, it is our job to follow the rules and guidelines and recipes. They never said in the job description that we wouldnt have to learn a whole new drink calling system. Why are we complaining? >.>

[Steven]

I object to an employee of Starbucks calling herself a "barista". This is confusing for customers who already struggle to not laugh at the parody of pulling espresso that is done by Starbucks. When I worked at McDonald's in high-school I had 10 times more personal control over the quality of the final product than a Starbucks employee ever will.

[HopkinsBella]

Vicki Verona,

I know that the whip to foam will be in the test phase only. I can read, believe it or not.

[SS]

DAYDOTTER: Your "4 H + 4 SFH" N L would be wrong regardless, as technically it is "4p H + 4p SFH". ;)

To the earlier commenters asking about the no-whip test market, I don't know the whole of the story but my store and many others (if not all?) in the Atlanta region (which comprises a much larger area than just Atlanta - I'm in Alabama) are participating.

[not a barista]

I hate you starbucks! Here is the thing: i worked in the corporate stores and then now work in the independent one.
We have sizes that are called normal things like small medium and large. Our machiatto is the real machiatto with espresso and foam.
Of course people have learned the starbucks lingo and bring it into our shop. And the hilarity ensues.
"Can I have a grande latte? You mean a medium? No I mean large!"
"Can I have a tall coffee? You mean a small? NO the big one, large!" "Can I have a machiatto? You mean the regular one with espresso and some foam? yeah yeah... Wait, where is the rest of it? I ordered a caramel machiatto!!"

So now the new skinny crap. "Can I have a skinny vanilla latte? Oh now that you made it, i meant with sugar free vanilla!" "Skinny mocha please, but I do want the whip cream!"

For the love of god stop bastardizing our language!
It was cool before but now that you are moving to the mcdonalds territory, stop making things complicated.
Though i have to say, brilliant marrketing move. All the papers will be talking about it as if it's really really important. Like when you added lunch with sandwiches. People forgot that, at least in 1999, you had sandwiches and salads too. yep the $5 ones with 2 pieces of bread and a small piece of meat and cheese.

[SS]

STEVEN: If you'd like to object to the job title, I recommend you contact corporate. They hire us as baristas; why should we call ourselves anything different? Some of us actually are educated in the art of espresso beverages, by the way. Just because we happen to push a button to pull your shot for the moment doesn't mean we don't know how to pull an excellent shot from scratch, start to finish, and top it off with some latte art. Grouping all Sbux baristas into one category is an epic show of ignorance and stereotyping.

[barista lane]

Steven:

You get behind the counter and compare the taste of milk that is aerated correctly vs. incorrectly. And then taste shots that have been calibrated correctly vs. incorrectly. Then try a mocha or a white mocha without stirring. Then tell me how much control I have over the drinks I make.

Thanks.

[fuwalda]

I just wanted to come online to hear about all of the stores that burned down. What? Nothing happened? No stores shut down? No riots broke out? No customers avoided Starbucks in disgust?

Well, not at my store. Most of the customers, as it turned out, really seemed to like the new skinny thing. It makes it easier to order. And most of the partners got into the groove. It makes it easier to call and mark.

It remains to be seen if this was a success, but it certainly wasn't the failure many people predicted. And I hope the girl who wrote that letter felt pretty stupid as she watched partners and customers use the word skinny with little to no confusion or hurt feelings.

[RoBoBarista]

Made it the whole shift this a.m. w/o anyone saying that word....behind the counter.

still refusing to use the term "skinny," especially because people kept f-ing it up, both partners and customers, and it's still stupid, no matter how you try to justify it.

[fuwalda]

In your opinion it's stupid. In my opinion it's not.

[very suprised]

I was very suprised today, customers loved the skinny lattes. Not only one but many customers said they felt the old drink calling was difficult to order and remembering all the differant components in thier drinks.

[Just a Customer]

For a new customer, the SBUX menu can be overwhelming. For a regular, if you can't handle telling the barista how you want your drink made, WOW, slow your life down a bit. As for the skinny platform, there has been ice cream out for years now called Skinny Cow. I have yet to hear of riots or mass ice cream panic.

[Meag]

I really need to read on up on all this at work lol there's so much Im unsure of lol. Anyway I just think that it's interesting that this barista wrote that letter, good for him/her. This does not mean I agree nor do I disagree. Also, about the platform.. well Im on the fence about this, I'll just wait and see what happens at my store..soo at the moment, neutral like switzerland :)

[Zeke]

The letter is mostly going to be ignored; they've already considered the implications (threat of lawsuits? give me a break) - but that all said, it's a poor decision. "Skinny" is mostly going to have the effect of humiliating the Starbucks employees who are forced to say it. And making people in line cringe inwardly.

I had a customer in my store today almost die because she was allergic to the sweetener in the 'skinny' latte she ordered and thought it was just a non-fat latte.... needless to say we aren't using 'skinny' anymore in my store...

I'm not a fan of skinny. But this argument that the word is somehow politically incorrect is just insane.

[almostanasm]

I too think the "Skinny" platform is misguided. As someone with a sensativity to the SF stuff, I have to say the SFM is the WORST (it is colored with yellow #5 and red #40, two colors which are considered suspect by many countries, and indeed banned in some- google them if you want). Someone made a 'skinny' hot chocolate (chocolaty???) the other day and i nearly puked from one sip that i didnt even swallow!
Someone at head office better be reading this thread. My mission review is gonna be heading your way. This ridiculousness HAS to stop, i wont encourage my customers to drink something this toxic and harmful for them!

[Kittymoose]

I'm not doing it - and neither is anybody but my SM at my store. It's easier for us to call and mark drinks same as before - so what's the point?

I foresee a ton of remade drinks in the future. "What? Skinny means Sugar-free AND no whip? I thought it was just non-fat milk! This is gross!"

I agree with Almostanasm. The stuff they put in artificial sweeteners really freaks me out.

[Melody]

I tried the "skinny" mocha today just to say I tried it. Will never do that again. I drank just barely 2 sips, took it back to the barista and told them it was gross. They laughed and agreed and I got another drink.

*where's a smiley head pounding against a brick wall when you need him?*

By the way, someone mentioned the orange syrup as having tanked (and predicted SF syrups may do the same?). In the summer, Orange syrup was fabulous for italian sodas. Most stores will indeed make you one if you buy the carbonated water. And it's one of the cheapest drinks you can buy. It's a fabulous unknown summer bargain. Orange syrup with carbonated water, with whip cream and a little cream, and orange sauce on top.