Java war II

McDonald's is really serious about making a dent in Starbucks, Tim Horton's and other coffee bars' business. It is offering free morning coffee again.

Sunday morning

A Sunday morning at Starbucks

Embarrassed?

Received this email from Starbucks:

Offer valid from 06/04/09 - 06/05/09 for one Tall (12oz) complimentary Iced Coffee or Iced Coffee with Milk at participating Canada Starbucks locations. Limit one per customer per day. Must pay with a registered Starbucks Card. Offer not valid in provinces of Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted.

As it turned out this was a promotion by one of its many stores. That store sent it to all of Starbucks' customers.

Just wondering

Wonder what Pepsi's reaction be if they know their rack is used to display a competitor's product? On the other hand what about Starbucks?

On the bus

With the proliferation of cellphone camera one just never know when somebody will decide to snap a photo.

McFree

As a signal to its entry into the upscale coffee trade McDonalds for 2 weeks will give out free coffee during its breakfast hours. This giveaway started yesterday, April 20. Not to be outdone, Starbucks on Earth Day, April 22, will fill up customers' travel mugs en gratis also.

Sharing

At Starbucks the other day and saw the two of them sharing the joy of a new toy.

Service award

Didn't know they have such an award. Saw this in the Gilmore and Dawson location in Burnaby.

West coast culture

One of the West Coast images people west of the Rockies has is us seating on sidewalk cafes sipping coffee. After all Starbucks did started its worldwide march in this part of the world. This overflowed bin on the corner of Burrard and Alberni seems to confirmed that Starbucks is still holds a commanding lead over its rivals.

Starbucks

Yesterday went to Starbucks with a friend. After paying for our drinks and noticed my Starbucks card balance is on the low side. Decided it was a good time to increase the balance. Everything went smoothly until she started to make the change. Apparently she was short on bills so she proceeded to give me $25 in coins. She reluctantly went to another drawer and counted some bills after a brief and mild complaint from me.

I wouldn't say this was unpleasant but the point is a bit of common sense and consideration for the customer is in order.

Coffee mug

Didn't know they sell souvenir coffee mugs until a visitor pointed it out. Whoever buy them have to be in die-hard Starbucks fan classification. Look for the mug in every city they visit and add it to their Starbucks souvenir mug collection.

Starbucks bear

Saw this cute little guy at the Starbucks counter the other day. A great ornament for the monitor as long as one is willing to part with C$19.95 before taxes.

In the news

No, they aren't members of Vancouver's finest. They are hired by the transit system to catch fare-skippers and to maintain security. Nonetheless they are armed. The only non-regular force in Canada to do so.

Lately the transit security police are in the news because in addition to the regualar fire-arms they are equipped with the infamous "taser". The local media had dscovered that the transit police had on more than one occasion used the taser on non-violent but fleeting non-fare payers.

How much is the fare? It is $2.50 for one zone. Imagine being tased for $2.50 which is about the price of a latte at Starbucks.

Starbucks

These are just two of the Chinese New Year related displays I found inside a Starbucks. It did come as a surprise. Sure this Starbucks location is just on the fringe of Vancouver's Chinatown. Nonetheless it was a surprise, a pleasant surprise.