C’mon, fess up. Tell me, how often do you tip at Starbucks? How may weeks of orders does it take before you no longer notice the tip jar? (my favorite, the paper tip cup, scribbled with “Tips for College Fund”). Recently I was at Starbucks where this was on the counter:
I usually have a hard time dropping cash into a tip jar when I live by a debit card. However, this time I found myself digging deep into my handbag to see what money I could find. I just had to cast my vote for plain M&M’s!
The Barista and I started talking about the M&M’s. There wasn’t a line formed so it was OK. Believe it or not, even I know to order fast without bantering when there are people behind me. I mentioned what a clever an idea it was, and she told me how yesterday’s tip jar was “Twilight” vs “Harry Potter” and “Twilight” won.
I am curious to go back to see which M&M’s won, what the current tip jar of the day says…who won that day…see the next new tip jar…and so on… see the money trail here?
Good old fashioned small talk still applies to customer service, so think about how you can translate this to your social media plan. How can you engage for your business?
Tags: Cara Mandart's Blog, community, engage, Harry Potter, M&M's candy, personal branding, Starbucks, talk, Twilight, word of mouth marketing
I often tip at Starbucks only when I pay in Cash..when I pay on Credit Card I feel bad.
I haven’t even been to starbucks lately. No free wifi. But when I do go, I try to tip when I have cash. Problem is, I rarely have cash. I wish they let you tip on the card. If they did, I’d tip every time!
I agree if they would have a tip area on the receipt I would add something. Not sure if you hit the anchor text but i like the mystarbucksidea.com concept. engage and listen to customers with every manner available to reach them all. Next blog I plan to talk about how to converse in social media.
not nearly enough….
fun way to engage people though – for sure
Fun is the perfect word: fun disguised as business! This week they had Are You in a Good Mood or Bad Mood? Good Mood won, however there was some money in the bad mood jar, too.
Very nice post, and what a great way for them to connect. I don’t tip as frequently as I should at Sbux, but maybe this will help me remember. Thanks for the post. Will definitely watch your blog a while…
- Karen Z
Call me a curmudgeon, but I have trouble getting behind tipping someone who pours me a cup of coffee. Maybe its because, at the age of 16, I worked in a shoe store lacing up shoes and deftly slipping them on sweaty, smelly, and in some cases, crooked feet. Really, can you think of a job more deserving of a generous tip than that? Yet I settled for my hourly minimum wage and employee discount, thank you very much. But one thing I quickly learned amidst the Timberlands and Air Jordans was that I had alot of time to talk to the customer, which in almost every case was an adult. It was typical small talk – the Sox game from the night before(how about Boggs-3 more hits!) or what high school I attended(“oh, my nephew Tim goes there…do you know him?”). Idle chatter really, but it was conversation that engaged us both. Yet, when I saw that customer back in the store a few months later, I like to think my service and ability to “chat” had something to do with it. Maybe not single-handedly, but perhaps a small piece of it. And of course, you know what a customer’s second visit to the store often resulted in? That’s right…more conversation, where some even remembered my name(no, no name tags – way too uncool). So you are absolutely right, Cara – small talk still applies to good customer service. The hard part is it has almost…almost become a lost art, whether it be Starbuck’s or Footlocker. So here’s my tip the next time I swing in to order and pay for the world’s most expensive(and best) grande cafe mocha with cream…have you heard the new Wilco CD?
Shoe store tips! I am all for it! I reluctantly shop at shoe warehouse stores like DSW and online shoe shopping as I am on my own. They have someone to help a little, or even online assistants, but its not the same. The small talk during a transaction at most places must be the lost art due to everyone being in a hurry. The tip jar for to-go items is certainly debatable but part of life now. A good tip possibly be in the form of return service!
[...] Reduce Electricity: Unplug the coffee maker! It’s plugged in all week but you only use it for 10 minutes per day…or maybe not at all since you go to Starbucks. [...]
As I read my second blog on Starbucks, @JustinSMV http://tinyurl.com/lmjokj & @CaraMandart http://tinyurl.com/nk5ez5, wish they delivered.
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
As I read my second Starbucks name drop @JustinSMV http://tinyurl.com/lmjokj & @CaraMandart http://tinyurl.com/nk5ez5, wish they delivered.
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
thanks! @RayLaUr As I read my second Starbucks name drop @JustinSMV http://tinyurl.com/lmjokj & @CaraMandart http://tinyurl.com/nk5ez5,
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
As I read my second blog on Starbucks, @JustinSMV http://tinyurl.com/lmjokj & @CaraMandart http://tinyurl.com/nk5ez5, wish they delivered.
As I read my second Starbucks name drop @JustinSMV http://tinyurl.com/lmjokj & @CaraMandart http://tinyurl.com/nk5ez5, wish they delivered.
thanks! @RayLaUr As I read my second Starbucks name drop @JustinSMV http://tinyurl.com/lmjokj & @CaraMandart http://tinyurl.com/nk5ez5,
Hi, Thank you! I would now go on this blog every day!
Do You Tip at Starbucks? http://ow.ly/1wJl9
From @CaraMandart, proud wife of a great guy who avoids Twitter: Do You Tip at Starbucks? http://ow.ly/1wK30
RT @CaraMandart: Do You Tip at Starbucks? http://ow.ly/1wJl9 – hahahah ummm no.
Ha ha funny…Tip at Starbucks!!!!…He he he…
Goo one
[...] pet peeves. When I was scouring the internet for images to include in my post, I came across this post by fellow blogger, Cara Mandart. She talks about visiting a local Starbucks and seeing this on the [...]