Weekend OPEN THREAD: Let's get the chatter going!

Discuss the bold coffee promotion -- are customers taking the sticker books? (I've got mine!) -- or anything else Starbucks-related. || Jump to the second page of comments.

Comments

[Jason Coffee]

I thought it was a cool idea when I first heard about it. When I went to my local Starbucks and the partners explained it to me in more detail I started to change my mind a bit. If I understand the promotion correctly, you have to keep track of a passport for 8 weeks, purchase around $18 worth of coffee while remembering to have the barista give you a stamp every week in order to get one $12 bag of coffee for free at the end? Seems like a lot of work on the customer's part for very little return. Maybe there could either 1) be a better way to track it (like digitally via iPhone or Sbux card) OR 2) a better return on the customers investment.

Don't get me wrong overall I think it's a good idea for drawing attention to their BOLD coffee. Maybe there is a different route to go on the implementation? What do you think?

Jason Coffee
Coffee Cup News

[dan]

@Jason Coffee:

While I agree with you that there could be a better way of keeping track of it, I don't know what that could possibly be! In terms of verification, the customer has to bring it in. Things happen with technology (at least that's what they tell me)

For me, this promotion is great - for the stuff a customer already buys (Venti Bold! "Tall bold!"), they're getting something free. I think this is a great chance for customers to learn about the coffee that they are drinking, become educated by our baristas, connect with all of the partners, and really delve into the world of coffee. For the past couple of years, Starbucks has just been "Give me a tall drip". We've lost our love and passion for coffee in the midst of focusing on all of the labor cuts, reorgs, better ways, etc. This is a great chance to reconnect with our roots.

Maybe I've taking this too seriously or too introspectively, but that's what I think.

:)

[dan]

oh, and the card fits in your wallet, just keep it with your starbucks card. bring it in once a week. not a big deal.

most likely the customers are already buying one cup of coffee a week, so now they'll just get a "gift" at the end of eight weeks. woohoo.

[Darth Sidamo.]

You are getting Coffee for nothing (and chicks for free)! It should be a little work. You are getting a 1 pound bag of coffee for purchasing something that you would normally get anyways. If you dont enjoy bold brew anyways then you probably wont enjoy a pound of it. Its not like I go to Qdoba and say "How dare they make me buy 10 burrito's to get a free one." Its Mexican food, I would already be getting a burrito in the first place so why be angry if I get a free one for doing the same thing.

Its funny because when I started we had hardly anything for free besides samples. Now we have like fourteen promotional cards going around all at once. Know the funny part? It is everybody that is paying for them.

Simple business is raising the price of everything else so you can give discounts (sometimes random) to other people. Customers love the idea for something free. Never mind that 4 dollar tall white mocha they got for free on the tenth visit was the process of the price being raised 40 cents beforehand. Think of the price of goods at a super market. They raise the price of a good and give you a loyalty card to bump that price back down to what it should be in the first place. This is also a win as that card is free advertisement. Wonder why we push Starbucks Cards so hard with free internet and whatever? Every time you open your wallet, it is like a little billboard of us right in there.

How do you think we could give away thousands of packets of VIA per store away? Because the mark up on it is incredible.

[Doppio]

Wow, big deal, a free bag of coffee that costs Starbucks probably about $4 at most. Employees get a free pound a week. Employees probably spill more beans than they will actually give away with this promo. I swear Starbucks used to a similar concept with the customer coffee passport years ago.

On the other hand, at least the focus is back on actual coffee and not fruit flavored lattes! Bravo for that.

[Jason Coffee]

@Darth Sidamo I totally disagree that it should be a little work. That is just bad business.

The free part is awesome! But anything to make it easier on the consumer is better for business. I think even Sbux would agree with that.

[Melissa Van Eyk]

I think its great that Starbucks is having a promotion and I agree that it does let you try different bolds. I have tried some new ones myself and have been quite impressed. Just wish there was a simpler way of doing this. No memory left....great coffee though!!!!!

[Melody]

@Jason - I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you. The marketing idea of collect a sticker, put it on a page or in a book, for some reward at the end is as old as time.

This promotion does remind me of the old 1994 customer coffee passport books (oh I wish I still had mine) but with those you had to buy at least a 1/2 pound of coffee, fill the book with stickers (the big stickers that every store should have), and return the book for a free 1/2 pound of coffees. You had to buy about 6 pounds of coffee, bare minimum, before you would see the rewards at the end but the process was fun.

You collected stickers and tried new coffees. Coincidentally, over at my site, we're talking about the same topic.

The little sticker sheets fold pretty small. I'm sure most people can figure out a way to carry it in a purse or briefcase. I would be disappointed to see a digital version of this promotion. It would lose half its fun. Technology keeps better track of things but rob of the kinetic experience of 'this is my coffee sheet' and 'I put on this sticker' and 'look at what a pretty Estima stamp that it is...'

@Dan - You're right. Yesterday I was at a Clover Starbucks trying to order a 'short peru' (Peru Chanchamayo is now on the Clover menu board). It was an episode of "who's on first". The barista only heard "short brew" and rang me up for a short drip. I noticed the price and said, "it should be a lot more expensive than that". I pointed to the Clover menu board. We went round and round. The bottom line is that the barista had no idea that there was a coffee called Peru, and in the end she just said to me, "Sorry I don't drink coffee".

[Alan A]

We're test marketing blueberry waffles in Denver. They're yummy and probably bad for you. Super popular so far. I'm convinced Starbucks is going to end up being IHOP for your car.

[The Bold and the Beautiful]

OK... I understand everyone's optimism and happiness with Starbucks' focus on bold coffee for the next couple of months, but I've been thinking about all the possible headache from this new promotion.

I realize that the concept is a simple one: remember to keep your passbook and get a sticker each week. I also realize that the rules are clearly printed on the sticker book, but I know and you know that there will be people that will lose their books, forget to get a sticker one week, or don't get on board until week 3 or later. And, if you miss this first week are you SOL? At what point do we stop "just saying yes"?

I may be over reacting, but I think we are in the Honeymoon phase of this promotion and don't fully realize the things that will cause us to rant on this site in the near future. Without getting specific, I can also think or several unethical scenarios as well.

[Legendary or I am out of here]

Who else us out of Yukon and which bold are you serving?

[Henry Seo]

Hi,

I'm studying marketing research at Bellevue College in Washington, and I made a survey about coffee industry in USA.
I really appreciate if you could participate in this survey.
I really want to hear your opinions, because I need data from people who have different back ground.

It will take less than 3 mins, and there are 10 questions.

Here is link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3LPLDQ2

[North Star Barista]

*ha* I am excited as I was actually allowed to do a coffee seminar in our store. It's been ages, I love connecting with the customers. Can't wait for the next one!

[Barista G]

A pound of coffee costs Starbucks and average of $2, including labor and shipping.

Your Coffee and tea resource Manual will tell you closely related coffees to Yukon.

Why is it that most Starbucks have small, one person bathrooms instead of several stalls? I mean, people come in and imbibe liquids. That's why people come to Starbucks.

If Howard gets approximately 690k in stock options because he doesn't get insurance, can I opt out of a plan and take the same?

[Isabella]

8 tall bold coffees at $1.50 = $12 not $18 after 8 weeks you get a free lb of coffee. It really IS that simple. Anyone who is complaining about keeping a piece of paper in you wallet has way too much time on you hands.

[Georgia Latte]

Amen to Isabellla.... Just goes to show that people will always find something to complain about. Seems to be what actually fuels this site most days.

[Mark]

Yesterday I tried the "dark cherry" smoothie. It was sticky sweet!!!!!!

The one ounce sample gave me such a sugar rush! I'll stick with the regular coffee.

[formerpartner]

Melody- you are correct in saying these promotions are as old as time, and that was probably a little bit of Jason's point. There is nothing really unique or exciting about this promotion- these days with technology it would be easy to build an app that would allow a barcode scan at register. In fact, the retail company I now work for is incorporating marketing strategies to where consumers can use their smartphones to receive discounts or participate in promotions, including scanning at register.

It's possible, but unfortunately Starbucks (who used to be ahead of curve on trends) is so far behind, that this promotion appears boring.

[Jason Coffee]

@Everyone

Lol. Ok no one agrees with me, I think it's great. But I want to clear something up. I am in no way complaining. I personally would loose it, I know I would. Or forget to get the stamp or wash my pants with the card in them. It's just the reality. Maybe your more organized than me. :-D

Also I think @The Bold and the Beautiful has some good points from the partner perspective.

@Melody I guess I am just more of a digital boy. I know how easy I loose stuff, that's why I like my iPhone so much. Plus a digital passport on my iPhone with stickers could be just as cool, well to me anyway.

[hearbutloud]

Now that Starbucks is finally offering "freebies" -- and let's be clear, Whole Bean Coffee RARELY even goes on sale - QUIT YOUR COMPLAINING!

"What do you mean, I have to actually show up at a Starbucks to get coffee? It's too much to ask that I go there and purchase something. I should just get it for free whenever I want with no effort on my part."

Spoiled rotten little brats. You're over-paying for your coffee already and THIS is what you complain about? Here's your free pound of coffee, I hope you shove it up yours.

[AA]

What do people think about USA today coming soon to Starbucks stores? I know here in the twin cities it will make the news stand in some stores a bit crowded, where they carry both the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press. The NYT is supposed to go on the top shelf, USA Today on the second, and all local papers on the bottom shelf, even if there are more than one.

[miguel]

People who complain about free stuff are scumbags, we don't serve smothies and newspapers are dead so AA stop your spam ad about usa today.

[Thought of the Day]

Question- if one collected 7 booklets all filled with stickers can they redeem them all for the "free" coffee or is it tied to the reward card ?

[Darth Sidamo.]

The fine print says one free one PER PERSON. And you should work if it is free. There is this laziness of people being entitled to something for nothing.

Starbucks is (or really should be) an Italian coffee shop. There isnt nonfat milk in Italy. There isnt coffee smoothies. You better bet that there are not Iphone applications that you press a button and you magically get beamed coffee to you ala Star Trek. Just how far does technology and ridiculous thinks like Sausage Egg and Cheddar calorie bombs have to go to finally kill off whatever romance existed in an Italian coffee shop.

Sorry for the rant. I feel much better since I found a website where I just log on and they automatically send an Ipad straight to my door without any effort whatsoever.

[baristamclane]

I'm just thrilled that we don't have a VIA target this promotion, so I can actually focus on selling REAL coffee. Do you have any idea how nice it is to be able to sample a French press for the first time what seems like forever?

[baristajack]

Had a customer yesterday that I put whipped cream on her iced grande mocha by mistake, well she screamed "I SAID NO WHIPPED CREAM !" in a tone as if i gave her cancer... these people are getting to be 2 much I apologized 2 times , remade her drink, not so much as a thank you or "thats ok' .. and to think people have lost lives due to earthquakes, lost jobs, homes due to the economy,are going without food.. when will people learn we are all imperfect humans, i made a simple mistake, which by the way I ADMITED immediately. which had no impact on her well being, geeez you just cant win.

[Jen]

Ok, our ordering just switched..so we now get our stuff in Friday night, instead of Saturday. Well the deal (for those of you not aware) is that we are supposed to basically run out of stuff and it will be replenished. Well, last night we ran out of coffee base (For frappucinos) our closing shift wrote a note for the AM and said "sorry didn't have time to call around, there's one pitcher in back". Not only did our AM shift not even notice..he also didn't do the AM milk/temp log or any other duties..and this is someone who wants to be an ASM..i was a little ticked off.

SO basically, we ran out of frappucino base, had some light base left..and enough creme base. Customers were so RUDE to us, when we sai, "I'm really sorry but we are out of coffee base, we will have more tomorrow, can we make it a light base? or a creme?" And customers just went off..one person came through the drivve thru, got annoyed, then came in to yell at us..and i really had to take a deep breath and avoid smacking him. we don't do it on purpose..it happens.

People can be SO rude.

As far as the coffee promotion..if you lose it..yes..your SOL. When i hand it out i have to tell people that, altho we have so many extra i may make a few exceptions for my regulars (shh! Lol)

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

So far from what I'm able to gather the York Roasting Plant does not the capacity to roast enough BOLD coffee for this promotion from the get go. We ran out of BOLD coffee within the first 48-72 hours.

[Darth Sidamo.]

Dont sweat it when people find a way to be that rude to a complete stranger for no reason. Look at it this way:

Since they stress that hard they will either lose hair/grey faster, have a heart attack at a much younger age, and possibly will have every fast food hamburger they ever eat come with a hidden side of loogie. Karma is a wonderful thing.

If someone is that hateful then why worry? Its not like you make less, its not like they were going to tip anyways. Ninety percent of the people who see do appreciate a good tasting hand crafted beverage. You cant make everybody happy.

[Melody]

@BostonStarbucksRebel - Do you mean not enough Yukon or not enough of all the bolds? At some point I'd imagine you just start ripping open one pound bags of Yukon. ?? The customer who is told "we don't have any" when it is sitting right on the shelf will wonder what kind of coffeehouse he or she is in.

[Waltie]

All things considered, the only thing different about this promotion is that we are posting our Bold Pick schedule for the customers to see. The idea that we are going to run out of bold because every store wants the same kind is laughable because *that's what happens every week!* We always have a coffee schedule we are supposed to follow.

We aren't going to run out of anything. If your local Starbucks isn't brewing the correct coffee listed on the banner stand at your store, it's probably because that manager didn't order the right coffee. End of story.

[Karl Kenya]

Hahaha... just wait for Frappuccino Reinvention. Enjoy the Bold promotion while it lasts guys. Hahaha.

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

The anti-Semetic comment was not made by the REAL Boston Starbucks Rebel. But, Melody, we already brewed through all the Organic Yukon on the shelf within the first 6 hours when we realized that we wouldn't have enough. And this is a problem effecting not just one store but nearly all the stores at least in my area because there is NO Organic Yukon to transfer.
This is another situation of Starbucks failing to execute properly another promotion due to proper communication of what needs to be done.

[Em-Bold-ened]

I drink the bold all the time. My question: Why does the same cup of bold (grande bold in a vente cup) cost $2.18 in Brooklyn and $2.29 in Manhattan? The Shysters in pricing are ripping us off. Again.

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Although I will say not having BOLD coffee during the BOLD promotion is like Uncle Howie firing how many people and still coming up with $12 million? Ironic?
Not words exchanged, no time to exchange them.

[javagirl666]

baristamclane: I hate the be the bearer of bad news..but there are still VIA goals for your store. They are just not in the forefront of this promo. VIA is now an ongoing metric that we are being measured on, you might want to talk to your sm/dm about it. My store has to do $18/day to stay on track for the next 2 qtrs.

[(former) FLA SM]

Today is the one year anniversary of the closing of my old store. It's also the one year anniversary of finding out that our DM had been lying to us for months when she was telling us that we would all "be taken care of" and we would all "have a place with Starbucks" after our closing. I still cringe when I think back to how many times that DM looked me in the face and said "Trust me." Unreal. Maybe I was naive at the time but I never thought someone could be such a bad person, to blatantly lie to all of us week after week, month after month. I truly hope that old saying is true: "what comes around, goes around" so that she gets what's coming to her. What a bitch. A big fat lying bitch.

[PictureThis]

You know (former) FLA Sm I have given this lack of ethical integrity a lot of thought. I think maybe watching people lose their jobs makes people really put their ethical standards on ice. So sad for them. I have lots coming back around for my DM too. :)

[Waltie]

"It's also the one year anniversary of finding out that our DM had been lying to us for months when she was telling us that we would all "be taken care of" and we would all "have a place with Starbucks" after our closing. I still cringe when I think back to how many times that DM looked me in the face and said "Trust me.""

There's always the chance, of course, that your DM was misinformed. Perhaps she was lied to about how you all would be well taken care of.

[Asher]

@Waltie, in my store we ordered 12 bullets and received 4 due to no error of our own, and to also verify what SBR was saying earlier, we were unable to transfer from another store.

The funny thing is we as managers end up looking bad in situations like this because everyone wants to point the finger at the SM. I accept it as part of the job, but it's not reality. Starbucks has failed on so many levels lately with our retail orders. Another issue is the whole leaf tea bags which we STILL continue to have zeroed off our manifest. Why Starbucks hasn't gotten this figured out by now is a mystery. But it'll be the managers who are being questioned six months from now when whole leaf tea sales aren't where the company wants them. Ironic but true...

Waltie, don't make assumptions based on your own personal interpretations. If you want to know the truth, do some research and find out for yourself. Store managers, no matter how high of a pedestal they put themselves on, are not the sole proprietors of store success or failure. There are people and departments that WE depend on to HELP us get the job done, and when those resources fail us, there's only so much we can do. I try to be open and honest with my partners regarding those types of situations, and maybe your manager needs to do a better job of communication. But don't sit there and point fingers, whether you have reason to or not. It's immature and rude. I'm sure there's something you could do for your store to actually help besides throwing your partners under the bus on a gossip website.

[Waltie]

Asher, your post was idiotic. I wasn't blaming anybody, pointing fingers, or throwing anybody under the bus.

I was simply pointing out that ordering the same bold coffee each week has always been the company standard, so nothing about this promotion in specific should have put a strain on anything. Have some stores not received the correct product? Of course. That happens all the time, and it's annoying. Just this week, we didn't get a few vital items that we had ordered.

But... that happens. You deal with it and move on. All I was pointing out was that the ordering process for the pick of the day this week hasn't really changed from the way it has always been every week.

And just because you disagree with some of the things I said (though, to be honest, nothing you said actually contradicts, address, or holds any real connection to anything I actually said), it doesn't mean I don't understand the same things you do.

[notalwaysasitseems]

waltie, must be nice in your own made up world. But a LOT of cafes did not receive Yukon, and it had nothing to do with not ordering.

As to all the whining and bitching...those who do so will do so no matter what is going on...

[notalwaysasitseems]

re whole leaf teas-don't assume b/c they are not selling in your store, that they are not selling. They are.

[harmaa]

I'm living in my own little fantasy world when Fresh for you Fraps will never come out.

I bet we won't get any extra labor when they're introduced, too.

Is this how you meant to capture our passion for this job once again, Howie?

[Melody]

@Waltie - You're welcome to come join me in my fantasy Starbucks world at any time. Just click on the link in my name. The recipe to Melody's fantasy is pretty much plenty of currently good Starbucks experiences, a dash of fantasy about current state of Starbucks, a heaping spoonful of optimism, and mix with a pinch of memories of the Starbucks from the 1990s.

[Torontodude]

Panini Review, Short and Sweet:

Epic fail.

I tried the tuna melt. It was barely edible. Didn't taste fresh and the heating was uneven. Even with my $2 off coupon, it was still a hefty $5.25.

I might go for a panini if I were stuck at an airport and it was the best of a bad lot of unattractive food options. Which is fitting, I guess. The paninis seem to be re-heated airline type food.

[meta_stable]

I dig the new bold promotion.

My business partner and I both drink at least one venti blackeye bold a day and buy whole beans every week or so.

Between the 2 of us we've started 20 cards with Yukon stickers. The game now becomes juggling them for the next 7 weeks.

It's funny that we had to ask about EVERY card and not once did a barista or SM offer to set us up.

On Tues we were in the Mt Kisco NY store - 10:30-11:00 AM:

Barista at the register( who knew our order) - "were brewing a fresh batch, it will be a couple minutes."

Us - " No problem, fresh brewed is good"

Us moving past register and standing infront of SM working the bar. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

SM - "You guys are waiting on bold?"

Us - "Yes, Pike Place is dishwater."

Floater flutters past the register as another customer is ordering a venti bold and ignores the light to pour him 20 oz of goodness as we wait (and wait) with Miss Personality.

10 minutes later 2 venti blackeyes bold, our everyday drink for longer than any of you have been working for the Siren ( let alone running this store ) and nary a mention of a promotion.

Go Bold !!!! F@ck SM's that have dismissed core coffee drinkers.

[Sbuxgangsta]

@ Boston Rebel. Your coffee outage is not due to low capacity at any of our plants or poor communication from Starbucks, its due to bad planning on the part of the partner placing the order in your store(and other stores in your area.) Organic Yukon is far from stocking out at any of our DC's or Roasting Plants, in fact store pulls are below company expectations. If the person placing the order for your store would had used the tool provided for them(It is in the promo workbook,) they would have had a better understanding of what to order.

[Barista G]

Sbuxgangsta:

I think more than one person complaining about the lack of promotional coffees pointed out it was not an ordering error. You should note that, although SM's are responsible for ordering product, they are not the only determining factor in what is received. Perhaps you are producing more than enough coffee and distribution is simply routing it where it is not needed. Perhaps at the time the order was placed, a number of products were zeroed out. Perhaps you're not really a Sbux employee and you merely want to incite rebellion among employees because you have nothing better to do. Honestly, this site is full of so much acid and unwarranted anger that I find myself asking if it's worth visiting anymore.

[Darth Sidamo]

@Meta_stable

If the barista is worth a cent or two when it comes time to doll out the points of coffee they will gladly show where it says one pound PER PERSON.