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.
I posted this in the Via launch thread, but I think it is appropriate to repost it here too:
Posted by SSJohn:
'How about the damage manipulative high pressure sales will do to our customer base? Did you notice how some of our regular customers looked when they saw how much longer they had to wait for their beverages while we all pushed VIA down everyone’s throat? In short VIA isn’t worth it.'
As a regular Starbucks customer, this SO resonates with me. As I walked into 'my store' today for the usual cup 'o'joe, I was immediately jumped on by the first barista who saw me with the following:
Barista: Hey Vincent, have you tried Via yet?
Me: Yes. I have some.
Barista: If you buy a 12 pack, I'll give you your drink for free the next 2 days.
Me: No thank you.
Barista: (Facial expression of utter dissapointment, turns his back on me).
Me: (Proceed to order my usual drink with the register barista).
Understand, this exchange happened right as I walked into the door. No greeting from the barista (you know, hi how are you today etc)..I was just jumped on to buy Via. Now I work in sales so I understand the concept. I also understand the 'high sales pressure enviornment' some companies create to 'push' products and services onto the consumer...HOWEVER, in the big picture, this pressured approach to push Via to a SBUX regular like me, who does not fit the Via profile (they know I'm a bold drip brewed coffee drinker)... will eventually drive me away from the store. Does SBUX want to lose a daily regular customer who tips well? Didn't think so.
There is a way to sell Via in a high pressure atmosphere without making the regular feel bad about declining to buy it. Learn this lesson quickly. My SBUX 'experience' left a bad taste in my mouth today.
Posted by: Vincent | September 30, 2009 at 04:53 PM
I got a call from my DM today (my day off), complaining about my numbers and how he "knows" we're not sampling because we haven't sold that many. I worked launch day and we sampled and suggested to EVERY customer. Same thing today when I talked to my Shifts.
I visited other stores in the area and found out that the only way they're meeting their quota is because they're doing things like the commenter above me mentioned. Offering their partner beverage to customers in exchange for buying via. I'm sorry, but WHEN we meet our goal, it will be because we did it right, not because we bribed our customers.
This whole promotion is getting on my nerves. My store is always the top in the district for promotional results. And I have a great relationship with my DM, normally. This just tells me that he's feeling the heat from his boss too.
If you're reading this corporate, take it easy.
Posted by: Karl Kenya | September 30, 2009 at 05:32 PM
Just finished my 8 hour shift. Relaxing at home and I get a call from SM. I am forced to make a committment to have 10 friends and family buy VIA. Because we are not making our goal for today the DM, is requiring the SM to require all partners to make a committment to sell VIA to friends and family. If the forced committment is not met the partner will be held accountable. What does this mean. I feel that my job is being threatened if I do not agree.
Posted by: petie | September 30, 2009 at 05:33 PM
Honestly, I'm letting everyone try it and informing people that it is an OPTION for them in their "times of need". I'm not doing any fancy gimmicks, contests, or other "high pressure" techniques. People will either buy it or they won't. I'm not going to force it onto people who don't feel they want/need it. I'm going to let it find it's niche with the people who DO want it and go there. Now I will introduce it to everyone, let everyone sample it, and give everyone a quick "hit list" of info for the product, but in the end I leave it up to them to decide if they want it.
Basically I think it's a good enough product that is head and shoulders above any other instant coffee, but I'm not going to turn a daily-bold-drinker or a "1lb of Sumatra a week buyer" into a "Via Only" customer because that's not the goal of this. When I go somewhere I like to be informed if they have a new product and maybe even asked if I'd like to try it, but I NEVER want to be made to feel guilty about saying "no" and thus I'd NEVER do that to any of my customers!
They can fire me for this if they want to, but honestly, firing me for helping to create "Enthusiastically Satisfied Customers" vs "Via Drones" doesn't seem like a sound business decision.
Posted by: GoAhead&FireMe | September 30, 2009 at 05:36 PM
I got a little smart alec today when my manager told me to "ask for the sale". I started saying "what do I have to do to get you in to a 3 pack of Via TODAY?" and did it humorously, and people laughed, and some even bought via, but it's what I feel like. I might as well be selling junk used cars. I wonder if the Americans with Disabilities Act would cover my SAD and being this pushy.
Posted by: mynameishuh | September 30, 2009 at 05:37 PM
Vincent, this is exactly how it is going to go on in the stores for the next weeks/months. People will give away all kinds of stuff that is not easy to track down just to "sell" Via. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of stores will have a HUGE variance in milk in the next seven weeks. They will just ring a grande latte as a three pack via. The customer saves a little, the store meets its goal and management will be happy.
Just make sure you take the three packs you "sell" off display and either sample or discard them. (For inventory purposes of course, otherwise you'll be screwed sooner or later by a bean counter (or better via pack counter).
Posted by: me myself and I | September 30, 2009 at 05:38 PM
Seriously, this VIA push has bordered on hostile and threatening. I got an email from my DM today saying that even though we are meeting our goal- and doubling or tripling it in many cases- that this is not enough- that the targets were arbitrary and now that corporate is seeing how much VIA can be sold, that if we are "behind the curve" then we are not meeting expectations. That is F'd up. The day after they raise our store's budgets and make it impossible to bonus, we are told that even if we are tripling our VIA goals, that it is not enough?!@#$ I've been with Starbucks for 6 years and I've been through a lot and stood by the company through tough times- but I am nearing a breaking point with this intense pressure from above to shove new products down our customers throats at any cost. Our great work environment and green apron "genuine" behavior values are being seriously eroded by this oppressive sales pressure, and this does threaten to turn many regulars away. I would be turned off if I were them. And if this is the new norm for promos- expect to see turnover skyrocket.
Posted by: VonB | September 30, 2009 at 05:53 PM
Boo. Blown out of proportion.
If you store is not selling a featured product, should it just be "Oh well, you tried! We're partners! Let's move on!"
No. It's a business. It's not that hard to sell Via.
Want a tip? I went to a starbucks today (I'm just a customer) and they sampled their Classic Hot Chocolate with Via mixed in. FREAKIN' amazing. I bought some because of it. You're welcome.
Posted by: wow. | September 30, 2009 at 06:11 PM
People, get over yourselves. Drama mamas...all of you. It is not that bad and you know it. Plus, selling VIA is really easy -make it your own and tell the story. If you don't like having to sell product then get out of retail.
Posted by: CoffeeCub23 | September 30, 2009 at 06:28 PM
So, you'll give people $100 to get fired?
Sounds like a real winner.
Posted by: Michael | September 30, 2009 at 06:39 PM
I'd like to know how much Starbucks is spending on this promotion: free Via, samples of hot chocolate with Via mixed in, etc. It'd be hilarious if they'd spent more on the promotion than what they made.
As for the Via for Friends + Family: you don't work off the clock. If your manager is asking you to do anything Starbucks-related (especially selling) you either ask to be paid or ask that your manager respect boundaries. (I mean, personally, I'd go off on anyone from work calling me on my time off for any reason other than an emergency. That was not an emergency.)
Finally, as a customer who happens to visit stores for work meetings, I am just as sick as the employees of hearing about Via. I don't want to buy it, I don't want to hear about it and I don't want to wait in line longer while the employees pitch it to those in front of me and then me myself.
It's instant coffee. It has its purposes (camping, etc), but, honestly, if you're going to a Starbucks on a regular basis, you probably have general access to either a store or a coffee pot at home or the office.
And this is all coming from a customer... If the customers aren't happy, how can any promotion work?
I feel really bad for the employees of Starbucks on this one...
Posted by: green_cup | September 30, 2009 at 06:42 PM
I can't speak for the company as a whole, like a great many people on this website do. I can only speak for *my* store and the stores where friends of mine work. So far, my friends (mangers, shifts, and baristas) have had the same impression I have: This is a really good product that is selling well. It's been a lot of fun being able to suggestively sell a product we all have faith in, want to drink ourselves, and know customers will like.
Is there pressure? Sure, because it's an important sales launch and store goals are set for a reason. Have I noticed undue pressure that has reached the fever pitch some people on this website are claiming? In a word... no. Not not at all.
It's a good product that is selling well. Don't believe the hype. Nobody is going to get fired for not hitting 200% of goal. Nobody that doesn't deserve it, that is.
Posted by: waltie | September 30, 2009 at 06:43 PM
I'm so glad I'm no longer with Starbucks.
Posted by: Lattegal | September 30, 2009 at 07:01 PM
CoffeeCub23, wow & waltie,
Thanks for you “paid by Starbucks” posts. How long have you worked for Starbucks as a website monitor putting a unrealistic positive spin on all corporate agendas? Maybe the company wouldn’t need as much damage control if they just treated partners as ethically as they claim to treat their supply chain workers in foreign countries. Please…It would take a moron not to notice the extreme fear tactics this company is putting partners through.
You know things are horrible when green_cup is on the same side as partners.
Posted by: karen | September 30, 2009 at 07:18 PM
Yesterday with my manager working and sampling via, we sold a good amount. He wasn't intrusive, he just asked people "hey have you tried our new Via? Would you like to? No, ok, what can i get for ya!"
Today -- without him there -- we were lazy. It happens, its shameful, but we just didn't "mesh" today. So we didn't ask anyone if they wanted any via. We made samples but we didn't ask if anyone wanted to try it.
As such we sold less than half of what we did yesterday, so far.
I hear from so many of my co-workers how much they hate that they have to sell now. What some people don't realize is apparently asking partners to say "Have you heard about our new via? Would you like a sample?" is considered being a pushy salesman. I went to look at getting a new car a few weeks ago, and I know what 'pushy sales' is! What partner's are being asked of is not that pushy.
Hell, and if we double or sales we get $500 towards a store party? At least they are offering us a huge reward. Sometimes some launches are more important than others and sometimes they really really want those launches to go well.
I think starbucks has a lot invested in this Via idea and it is key that they can say to people "we were right!"
Posted by: Barista Ben | September 30, 2009 at 07:19 PM
It is a good product, there is a market for it, but my goal is almost $2000 in 12 days. WOW! First day of sales over $100 that is not enough... Would you like me to bleed for you next..
Posted by: Java anyone? | September 30, 2009 at 07:24 PM
why is everyone so surprised that via isnt selling on day two? People who wanted it bought it yesterday.
this weekend we will sell more... the commercials and such are out... It may just take a while for via to sink in... people will start using it, others will see that... so it will spread. WIll we sell one million packets a day? NO. Will it sell enough to stay, yeah, I think so.
Posted by: me | September 30, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Our RVP sent out an email this week hyping via but also tempering himself by telling us to relax and no one will get fired if we don't hit our goal. So chill out people. Sample and suggestively sell. It won't kill you.
Posted by: Columbus SM | September 30, 2009 at 07:44 PM
To all of those who kept insinuating that green_cup was a company shill:
You were clearly wrong, that is all.
Posted by: Aces of Eight | September 30, 2009 at 07:44 PM
Extreme Fear Tactics?
Come on, really? It's retail. There is absolutely nothing new about this in ANY other retail environment since the industry began.
Does that make it right? Not necessarily. Just common and ordinary. Certainly not extreme.
Business is crappy. There is no such thing as "build it and they will come" any longer. The businesses - and individual stores - that survive are the ones that can compete in this hyper competitive world.
At the end of the day your percent to goal won't matter. What will be lasting is HOW you got there. The managers that show their partners how to properly engage their customers about ANY new promotion/product, and then ensure it happens 100% of the time will be the survivors.
You're all salespeople. Time to accept or move on!
Posted by: Evolvedarista | September 30, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Dear SM's
I got a next to nothing raise and was told "there is no money for anyone"
mmmmm.....this weekend for four days free tall coffee's for everyone...is that fair...just a guess but how much did we spend per store for the creepy people displays! enuf to give us all more compensation...trust me I am not whining I just wish they wouldnt justify the lack of merit increases and turn around and four days later give away product....
Posted by: frannie frappicinnii | September 30, 2009 at 07:51 PM
ColumbusSM, if you are in Columbus, OH..expect that RVP to be in town tomorrow. (Thurs)
Posted by: SlamminSammie | September 30, 2009 at 08:04 PM
Selling Via isn't really hard, but there is NO WAY I am going to push it to our regulars. They know what coffee is, they know what the good stuff is. I am not saying Via isn't good, but most of our regulars are purists, they want a fresh brewed cup of coffee from whole beans. It's safe to say our store is doing well with Via sales, but we're not going to ask regulars if they want to get some because they're not going to buy it. Believe me, I've tried it with a few regulars and they were simply not convinced.
Posted by: SBUCKS DRONE LOS ANGELES | September 30, 2009 at 08:21 PM
wow, nobody said anything to me at any of my regular starbucks. The displays were up, but there was no pressure sale or even information. Does CA Bux not need to make numbers or something?
Posted by: nike | September 30, 2009 at 08:35 PM
@me myself and I-
I'm a Americano/bold brewed coffee drinker. Not a Via candidate. Really. I've tried Via. It's an okay product. But it does not fit for me. Therefore, any continual 'hard selling' of Via will eventually drive a good tipping, loyal regular (me) away.
My hope is that they realize this, QUICKLY, and back off. And I believe they will.
Posted by: Vincent | September 30, 2009 at 08:56 PM
@SBUCKS DRONE LOS ANGELES-
EXACTLY!
Posted by: Vincent | September 30, 2009 at 09:09 PM
I'm a little sad, my team is doin g a good job pushing Via, whether they like it or not, but people aren't buying too much. We have been sampling all day. We may have met our target today, but there is no way we will be able to do this 200% of target if sales remain this tepid. And it pretty much sounds like people will be written up if they aren't pimping out Via every second, or mentioning it in every other sentence. I cannot wait until this promo is over.
Posted by: Bearded Barista | September 30, 2009 at 09:13 PM
I agree Bearded Barista. Via just isn't selling in my store, and it doesn't help that our sales have been sliding because we are in a failing mall and we are the lowest in our district. We have a store goal is $1800 dollars in 7 weeks but they want 200% of that, so $3600, and it is horrible. We are sampling like crazy all day long, but it just isn't happening. My manager is discouraged and with that makes me and other partners discouraged. I cannot wait til it's over either. It will be disappointing to see the numbers and our store fail at this promotion, but there isn't much we can do.
Posted by: Disliking Via | September 30, 2009 at 09:24 PM
"I cannot wait until this promo is over"...and we have to meet some ridiculous USD goal of some obscure disgusting beverage whipped up for the Holiday promotion (remember the "surprise"beverage that's being announced just prior to the Holiday set?) My hopes are that it's SCSHC, salted caramel signature hot chocolate, but that would be way, way way too easy (in my store at least).
Posted by: crema_the_crop | September 30, 2009 at 09:34 PM
The reality is, some stores are going to do better than others, it's just that simple. It doesn't mean some stores are pushing harder than others, that might be the case, but it doesn't justify anything. A store that's struggling could be pushing Via just as hard as another store who's selling the hell out of it. We need to come to terms with reality here; Via's going to do better in more stores than others. I just don't like that the powers that be are giving us unrealistic goals and discouraging SM's, it's depressing. Instead of doing that, why not focus on the stores that are doing well and try to help them out more instead of having EVERY store trying to meet a bogus goal.
Posted by: SBUCKS DRONE LOS ANGELES | September 30, 2009 at 09:40 PM
My fellow partners and I have been sampling this stuff like mad, nonstop, and people JUST ARE NOT BUYING IT from my store. We are friendly, we have the samples out there on the counter, ready to pour. "Hey, have you heard about VIA? Would you like to try some out right now? You can do it hot or iced, it's great for when you're traveling, in class, blah blah blah." *customer tries it* "It's really good, isn't it? Can I set you up with a 3 or 12 pack today?" *customer who is already looking rather annoyed, retreats in fear*
We are sampling this stuff, we are telling people about it- lots of them are sampling, JUST NOT MANY are buying. I worked a full 8 hr shift today, and only sold 1 3 pack and 2 12 packs, one of which was just a customer picking up her "pre-order" (may I say, the most gimmicky stupid thing I've had to witness of late. As if any reputable company bases its ordering off of customers writing their names on a piece of paper at the counter...) I am really intrigued by you who say it's flying off the shelves in your stores. It sure isn't here. And we are actually trying really hard. And our customers are already getting sick of hearing about it.
And yes, I have NEVER seen this much pressure being passed down before. To those of you who say we are all exaggerating, please realize that the situation in your store or area may be different, and count yourselves lucky. It seems that quite a few of us, however, are wondering what the hell happened to the Starbucks we signed on with. My DM is calling and screaming at us to get our numbers up. SM comes in and insists we must not be trying/sampling because the numbers are low, even though we've been sampling like mad all day. Partners are freaked out because our SM threatened us at our store meeting, telling us he would stop giving us hours if we didn't each meet X amount of VIA sales each day. It has truly become an incredibly negative work environment- like nothing I've ever seen at Starbucks.
Posted by: buckaroo | September 30, 2009 at 09:41 PM
...on a less serious note, I think Starbucks should give pronunciation guides with every new product they roll out. It makes us look like idiots when half the partners don't even know how to pronounce the name of a new product. Ha. I've still got two coworkers in my store who are pronouncing it v-EYE-uh half the time. And most of my coworkers apparently never caught on to the penchant ol' Howie has for Italian-inspired names, and are still pronouncing cinnamon dolce as "dol-say". Le sigh.
Posted by: buckaroo | September 30, 2009 at 09:49 PM
second on that pronouncing guide, especially with so many partners being english-as-second-language speakers. the dol-ce / dol-say confusion was probably started in summer 2007 with dulche de leche (sp?), which is loved 1000 x more than VIA. that was a rough summer for partners with zero spanish-language awareness.
Posted by: redcup | September 30, 2009 at 10:02 PM
when did starbucks get taken over by scientologists?
sounds like the same high pressure sales tactics to me.
Posted by: cassandra complex | September 30, 2009 at 10:09 PM
I haven't seen much in my area of high-pressure sales for Via, but I absolutely believe it is happening. On twitter, one barista commented on wearing orange aprons ... cool what places got those? I haven't seen them.
But for the many baristas who have to push Via so hard, I feel for you too. There was a time when Starbucks thought that enthusiastically satisfied customers would be great for the business, rather than the latest promo of the season.
@Evolvedarista - if you really think that baristas are just salespeople then it doesn't matter what they're hawking. Starbucks should hire some used car salesman. Let's go back to the idea of creating a growing business by creating LOYAL customers who are loyal because they love the experience and the coffee.
Posted by: Melody | September 30, 2009 at 10:09 PM
BTW, the barista asked me to buy some VIA for the troops...and I did today. I felt good, but suprised that they used that sales pitch :) "Support the troops" because they have no good coffee in IRAQ :)
Posted by: jonnysf | September 30, 2009 at 10:32 PM
I'm noticing more and more of the prose on these posts sound uncannily like they came from the SSC!
BTW....STOP...upselling ANYTHING to me at Starbucks...I'm so sick and tired of the upsell. I'm already there, I'm a regular customer, your getting my money nearly everyday... Is that not enough???
Posted by: Thought of the Day | September 30, 2009 at 10:35 PM
i seriously cant wait til this shit is ovr and done with.
Posted by: white_knight | September 30, 2009 at 10:38 PM
I think that Starbucks just missed the boat completely on who buys instant coffee, why, and where. They'd be better off selling it in a grocery store for a third of the price. No one who drinks instant on a regular basis is going to pay $1 a serving, and if they're going to make a trip to Starbucks to get it, they'd probably rather just buy the real stuff
Posted by: bostondrinker | September 30, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Melody im in upstate ny and my store has 3 of the orange aprons. it feels more like an early halloween gift than a promo tool, but they are pretty cool.
Honestly though, im only 3 days removed from my store meeting about Via and I am already sick to death of it. Im sure its better than most other instants out there, but the idea that the higher ups seem to be trying to sell is that it is nearly indistinguishable from regular coffee, and its just not true. Even the Pike Place, which I think is crap compared to our bolds, is a hundred times tastier and more full-bodied than Via.
Also, this stuff should be getting sold in supermarkets, not stores. Why the hell would anyone buy instant coffee while at a store that sells the real deal? Its much more economical to just buy a pound of coffee, and only slightly more time-consuming to brew it at home.
I'm usually a pretty major cool-aid drinker for all things starbucks, but selling a product that I'm so unenthusiastic about is getting old really fast.
Posted by: baristo | September 30, 2009 at 10:56 PM
No high pressure sales tactics here in Toronto. A partner brought a sample over to my table -- right after bringing my French press. She couldn't have been nicer. It was Italian Roast and she asked me how I liked it. I said it was fine, but I preferred the less dark roast. She then asked if I would be surprised to learn it was instant. So I laughed and said: "you got me! Sucked in by the VIA promotion."
We both laughed and she gave me two free samples. She suggested I could use it for ice coffee, among other things.
She did everything possible to connect.
But here's the problem. VIA just isn't that good. It's a better than average instant coffee that is very expensive. But there is a basic disconnect from the brewed coffee many customers want and expect.
I might pick up some VIA for a trip to a remote location. But you can get pretty good coffee these days in many hotels rooms. And I have a French press at home.
So I guess I'm not the target market. But I'm not sure who is. And maybe Starbucks isn't sure either.
Posted by: Torontodude | September 30, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Once again people, the reason we are selling this in our stores and not grocery stores at the moment, is that OUR customers are the target market NOT instant coffee drinkers. We are trying to show them that they can have their Starbucks even when they can't get to a store. That's why we're selling it in our stores. Because the target buyers are in their almost everyday. Get it?
Posted by: SBsmooth | September 30, 2009 at 11:23 PM
I'm so confused with this promotion, it's like heres an easier way to make coffee so don't come in here anymore? The price makes no sense, I can totally taste the difference and the fact that we have to push it on every customer makes me mad. Plus we were told we have to sell 200% of our goal, so why don't they make our goal whatever 200% is? I really think we're driving both partners and customers away with this promotion.
Plus, some of the things I read about like SM's making partners family buy or else, and DM's calling on days off yelling at managers is not creating a great work environment.
Posted by: D | September 30, 2009 at 11:31 PM
I have to say that, as someone who has worked for Starbucks for over four years, this is not to environment into which I was originally hired. The environment makes my coworkers feel frantic, pressured, and bullied, and though there are some people or areas which have escaped that pressure, the overwhelming consensus here proves to me that I'm not just imagining a different environment. The Via push feels desperate, as do the tactics, which obviously are going to vary. Our DM has required that each shift lead call her after every shift in which the sales goal is not met (which is nearly every shift). Our shift leads are cranky every shift because they have to look forward to being verbally chastised before they go home. Just about every visit by the DM is punctuated with a reminder of how "lucky" we are to have jobs in this economy, and a reminder that anyone else would be happy to take our jobs - more veiled threats than helpful comments. We are a very well-performing store in our area, so I can only imagine what kind of pressure is being put on the others.
Not that we're not pushing Via properly, either. We all got fairly excited about it during the meeting, feel it compares well to brewed coffee, and want to sell it. We mention it to every customer who will listen and push a sample packet into every hand. I do feel that a certain amount of pressure and competition is required to keep this kind of sales pitch going strong, but it's not exactly flying off the shelves yet, and the threatening tactics are getting frustrating. Starbucks, you reek of desperation, and you're rubbing it off on me!
Posted by: L. | September 30, 2009 at 11:53 PM
1) Horrible idea ... SBUX customers aren't instant coffee drinkers. Just aren't. Could be the best instant coffee ever, but it compromises everything SBUX has done to get us drinking "real" coffee.
2) WAY, WAY too expensive.
Honestly, I dream about taking this company over and making it what it could/should be. For a while, it's wanted to be everything to everybody. It should just be a damn good, affordable, convenient cup of coffee.
Posted by: DL | October 01, 2009 at 12:06 AM
I also ran into a buy VIA for the troops campaign. There was a box you could put your VIA packet into. I just shook my head because why did it suddenly appear today? Why not during Memorial Day or Veterans Day.
Sad.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/09/29/apnewsbreak_us_to_send_home_more_troops_from_iraq/
that coffee in the picture looks better that VIA to me
Posted by: GlenFeliz Regular | October 01, 2009 at 12:11 AM
I've been told that we will be upselling for a month because that's the amount of time it takes for customers who only come in once in a while to come in.
I personally refuse to pawn it off to every customer I see. If I see a customer interested, or know that they would be, I suggest it politely and only after asking how they are, but I will NOT ask every customer if they want via. My manager coached her and I explained I was uncomfortable acting so ungeniunely and that customers were not responding, I asked if I could work the rest of my shift on bar, and we agreed that it would be better if I were there. The end
Posted by: SPORK | October 01, 2009 at 01:16 AM
here's some unsolicited commentary from the public: http://blog.nanowrimo.org/node/292
Posted by: firebus | October 01, 2009 at 01:53 AM
Welcome to our world....here in Seattle and Chicago, the Via test markets, this is our 3rd promotion. I don't want to hear your bellyachin'. most of my customers already have some from the 1st time I hard sold it.
Posted by: awabie | October 01, 2009 at 05:22 AM
@ sbsmooth
Great points, but if I don't have to go to the store, and have a supply of VIA in my cupboard, does that mean I will save money by not buying pastry, sandwiches, the occasional frapp or latte or any other impulse purchases.
I don't see how this will help them in the long run.
Posted by: Bill | October 01, 2009 at 05:55 AM