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Friday, February 06, 2009
Checking Back
About a year or so ago I wrote this blog, I thought I’d rerun and give you an update:
Ever get a coupon for a "free" item? One where it turns out the price is exorbitant-and not just to the consumer, but the business owner as well?
This week a local coffee house had one for a small size cup of plain old joe. Not that you didn't have choices, there were. Four to be exact: Strong, mild, decaf and the flavor of the day.
The reason: For the fourth time in five years, new owners were trying to drum up business in what was once a very popular gathering place for the community.
My husband and I loved this place when it first opened. We'd take the dog, the kids and walk the mile and a half several times a week. We'd have coffee and a cookie, the kids would join us with a frozen yogurt from the place next door and our pooch was always offered up a bowl of ice water. We talked, laughed and thought of these exercise jaunts as our family's special times. This went on for almost a decade.
Even as the kids became older and joined us less, my husband and I would still grab the dog and enjoy the patio. Sometimes we'd go for breakfast. We were considered "regulars". Many of us in the neighborhood did the "coffee walk/talk".
Then the first owners retired and sold to a nice couple, unfortunately they didn't last long. The third set turned the place into a dive. Dirty floors, cheap doodads for sale in every nook and cranny. The food wasn't even passable, let alone edible. So we went around to the other side and started going to either the Corner Bakery chain or down the street to the ubiquitous Starbucks.
So when we saw, again that there were new owners and I had a free coupon in hand, I thought I'd give them a chance. After all, they were new people-they deserved a clean slate to begin their new venture.
The place was clean and less cluttered. Good sign, UNTIL-I got in line. A man in front of me also had a coupon. The java girl at the counter was just down right surly! (Maybe from all the free cups and no sales?) She handed him the cup, grabbed the coupon and pointed toward the self-serve pots.
My turn. I had my wallet in hand. I wanted to pay the difference and get a large cup. Before the question could exit my mouth, she shoved the cup at me and pointed as well. My cup fell over and rolled
to me. I decided to ask anyway. She said yes I could, it was a dollar. I said "but the difference on the menu says 25 cents".
She said those were her instructions-did I want to pay or not?
I went with the free cup.
In all honesty, had she been the least bit pleasant I not only would have paid the dollar, I would have also left her a tip. I'm funny that way.
Being in customer service at my day job and having grown up in a family business, I know how to treat people. This wasn't it. Her attitude left me with two thoughts:
She's rude. I will not be going back.
If the coupon was a way to bring in new business and get the "regulars" back, it failed.
This little place once held lovely memories for my family. Sadly this is over.
What a price to pay for a free cup of coffee.
And now for the update: Evidently I was FAR from being the only person who felt this way about what has turned out to be the last in the long line of owners! I would have said something earlier, but well, life and other subjects of interest (if not to you, then to me!) came up.
This little coffeehouse not only went out of business for the last time, but two attempts to turn it into a lunch/dinner café and a hookah establishment have also met with failure.
It now stands empty with blacked out windows-and I don’t think this happened just because of the economy.
Ever get a coupon for a "free" item? One where it turns out the price is exorbitant-and not just to the consumer, but the business owner as well?
This week a local coffee house had one for a small size cup of plain old joe. Not that you didn't have choices, there were. Four to be exact: Strong, mild, decaf and the flavor of the day.
The reason: For the fourth time in five years, new owners were trying to drum up business in what was once a very popular gathering place for the community.
My husband and I loved this place when it first opened. We'd take the dog, the kids and walk the mile and a half several times a week. We'd have coffee and a cookie, the kids would join us with a frozen yogurt from the place next door and our pooch was always offered up a bowl of ice water. We talked, laughed and thought of these exercise jaunts as our family's special times. This went on for almost a decade.
Even as the kids became older and joined us less, my husband and I would still grab the dog and enjoy the patio. Sometimes we'd go for breakfast. We were considered "regulars". Many of us in the neighborhood did the "coffee walk/talk".
Then the first owners retired and sold to a nice couple, unfortunately they didn't last long. The third set turned the place into a dive. Dirty floors, cheap doodads for sale in every nook and cranny. The food wasn't even passable, let alone edible. So we went around to the other side and started going to either the Corner Bakery chain or down the street to the ubiquitous Starbucks.
So when we saw, again that there were new owners and I had a free coupon in hand, I thought I'd give them a chance. After all, they were new people-they deserved a clean slate to begin their new venture.
The place was clean and less cluttered. Good sign, UNTIL-I got in line. A man in front of me also had a coupon. The java girl at the counter was just down right surly! (Maybe from all the free cups and no sales?) She handed him the cup, grabbed the coupon and pointed toward the self-serve pots.
My turn. I had my wallet in hand. I wanted to pay the difference and get a large cup. Before the question could exit my mouth, she shoved the cup at me and pointed as well. My cup fell over and rolled
to me. I decided to ask anyway. She said yes I could, it was a dollar. I said "but the difference on the menu says 25 cents".
She said those were her instructions-did I want to pay or not?
I went with the free cup.
In all honesty, had she been the least bit pleasant I not only would have paid the dollar, I would have also left her a tip. I'm funny that way.
Being in customer service at my day job and having grown up in a family business, I know how to treat people. This wasn't it. Her attitude left me with two thoughts:
She's rude. I will not be going back.
If the coupon was a way to bring in new business and get the "regulars" back, it failed.
This little place once held lovely memories for my family. Sadly this is over.
What a price to pay for a free cup of coffee.
And now for the update: Evidently I was FAR from being the only person who felt this way about what has turned out to be the last in the long line of owners! I would have said something earlier, but well, life and other subjects of interest (if not to you, then to me!) came up.
This little coffeehouse not only went out of business for the last time, but two attempts to turn it into a lunch/dinner café and a hookah establishment have also met with failure.
It now stands empty with blacked out windows-and I don’t think this happened just because of the economy.
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One of my cousins who used to own a business himself said a business is like a baby that requires constant attention and nurture. Some business owners aren't willing or able to put the right amount of thought and care into their enterprises.
My wife and I have a favorite coffee shop that has changed hands every so often. The hours change, the dessert selections change, the prices change, but their basic coffee at least remains good.
Good for you walking as much as you do. That will pay dividends as you get older, trust me.
My wife and I have a favorite coffee shop that has changed hands every so often. The hours change, the dessert selections change, the prices change, but their basic coffee at least remains good.
Good for you walking as much as you do. That will pay dividends as you get older, trust me.
I certainly hope so! Even before the RA/CRPS-I have been dancing, running and walking. Exercise is the key to a healthy heart, mind and body.
Besides, then every now and then, I can eat a cookie!
Besides, then every now and then, I can eat a cookie!
If store owners, particularly small ones, only knew the impact pleasant employees can have, I doubt you would see such rudeness at the counter. I'm not sure if I ever stopped patronizing a business because of one of the clerks, but I have written at least two letters to the manager on behalf of employees who pleasantly surprised me with their manners.
# posted by 
: 8:01 AM
: 8:01 AM
Karen, we've done the same for a wonderful young lady who worked the counter at a local hamburger place-she was so delightful, I sent a note to the corporate office and told them they'd better appreciate such a gem of an employee.
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