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Food, Bars, Nightlife - First Look - Starbucks (Olympic Square)
jim - Sep 24, 2005 - 05:48 AM
Post subject: First Look - Starbucks (Olympic Square)
(Two days after it opening, I visited the new Starbucks in Olympic Square. I expect things will change. )
To the Chinese tune of 'welcome' by, I stumbled in and stared at - count 'em - no less than than 14 young, fresh faces behind the counter staring back at me. Aren't we overdoing this a bit? I paid 19 for a medium coffee (i.e. 1 mug, 17 for small) and noticed something else wrong.
Sure this is predictable Starbucks ambience, furniture, menu and layout. But the store was too warm. No it was hot! No one else seemed to notice. I needed to peel off clothes - fast.
The coffee was good, strong stuff - Starbucks coffee. But it was warm - not hot - 2/3 full, and the service was slow.
But mostly I was hot. The manager explained that there was a problem with the landlord and the air wasn't working. So he opened the door. I walked around the store, seeking a cool place. [Store gets full afternoon sun.] Only the small (3 table) non-smoking section was slightly cooler, but no seats here.
I searched for water - none. So I asked and received ice water (with ice). The manager came over again to apologize but when he came again and again I realized this was becoming free English lesson. When my water glass emptied, I had to go back to counter and ask. (14 people, come on!, more in the back) I explained that in Shanghai there was always a container of ice water available.
When I left, 2 hours later, the air seemed to working, at least a little. Maybe a deal had been struck with the landlord. Most importantly, I had a real caffiene fix.
When I left San Francisco 2 years ago, the Hayes Valley neighborhood was in near revolt because Starbucks was planning to open its first store in an otherwise quiet neighorhood that felt it had enough coffee houses.
Now, things are different and I long for good coffee in a comfortable, familar, casual ambience. I'll be back. I welcome the 'cultural imperalism' of my country. (Did I just write that?) At least the Starbucks hardware is here.
But I think the Chinese customer should have the same level of service and professionalism that American customer has. If something is not right, fix it! Chinese need to learn how to complain. Why isn't a western manager walking the floor of a brand new store? (Maybe cooler outside.)
Audience: Though a few foreigners came in, Starbucks has already captured the minds of the many rich, young, 'fashionable' Chinese, who are taking a break from shopping or business. Manager had to explain that non-smoking sign means just that to a new customer. (Progess!)
Music: Quiet jazz background music, can talk easily.
WC: None - must go into main department store, down the non-moving escalator, past the video arcade, lock in on the scent, enter WC - no soap
Pro/Con: It's Starbucks. Service/training still needs work. Get a WC.
rampage - Oct 07, 2005 - 08:02 PM
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hehe, god bless u and u should in sunshine wearing, haha.
I really can not agree with u anymore that "Chinese need to learn how to complain. " BUT, any reaction? no, so just get used it and time wl change it la.
shanespencer - Oct 13, 2005 - 11:11 AM
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Do the Starbucks in the US have toilets, Jim? In England they don't, so I thought that a Starbucks with no toilet was normal!
shanespencer - Oct 13, 2005 - 11:18 AM
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I recently tried the Starbucks at Parkland, and found it heaving when I got there (well, it was Sunday afternoon). What immediately annoyed me was the fact that the place was packed out, and people were sitting in the soft chairs but not consuming anything. I could see they weren't waiting for anyone at the counter; they were just have a conversation, oblivious to the fact that others required seats. Reminded me of KFC / McDonald's on a Saturday lunchtime.
The service was fast, although the waitress's English wasn't so good. After two sentences she slipped completely into Chinese - it's a good job I can understand it!
The coffee was hot, and tasted exactly the same as it does back in the UK. I paid 27RMB for a mid-sized Mocha.
Hopefully, the next time I go, it'll be a bit quieter, and I'll be able to find a seat more easily!
jim - Oct 13, 2005 - 04:15 PM
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shanespencer wrote:
Do the Starbucks in the US have toilets, Jim? In England they don't, so I thought that a Starbucks with no toilet was normal!
You are right, I don't remember Starbucks having a toilet in US. I guess I had hoped that Starbucks here would use its leverage to *encourage* a landlord in China to upgrade and maintain the physical plant. When choosing a location, I am sure Starbucks negotiates everything else carefully.
This building is also less than 1 year old, a modern, upscale site. Sorry, maybe all of this is just one of my pet peeves.
shanespencer - Oct 13, 2005 - 06:10 PM
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I know what you mean Jim, I guess it's down to where the coffee shops are located. Where I lived back home, it didn't matter that Starbucks had no toilet, as there were some nearby. When I popped in one whilst in London though, I was bursting for the loo at the time, and was bitterly disappointed to find Starucks had nothing, and there wasn't a public toilet in the immediate vicinity. Starbucks could have cashed in there, so to speak.
It's the same here. If Starbucks is situated in an area where there are no toilets close by, wouldn't it make sense to have some fitted in the shop? After all, if I were drinking coffee there and needed to walk ten minutes to find a toilet somewhere, what are the chances of me returning to Starbucks afterwards to continue relaxing with another coffee. You put toilets in your shop, and people will stay longer and drink more coffee. Simple.
susan - Oct 14, 2005 - 08:52 AM
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Oho, your talking is so interesting, I will go to take a taste with Starbucs soon, does anyone like to join?
Jim and Shanepencer, how about having a dinner with website friends on sunday night?
shanespencer - Oct 14, 2005 - 04:09 PM
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susan wrote:
Oho, your talking is so interesting, I will go to take a taste with Starbucs soon, does anyone like to join? Jim and Shanepencer, how about having a dinner with website friends on sunday night?
I'd love to, but I'm skint. (no money)
susan - Oct 15, 2005 - 08:43 AM
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Hi,shanespencer,You are so funny,Nobody wanted to borrow money from you,there is no need to have so much worry about chinese,you are not real western style person.
Ha Ha Ha! do you need me treat you for a drink? I am not a skint.
rickus4 - Oct 25, 2005 - 11:21 AM
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tarbucks about a week after it opened and found the staff attentative, quick and English not too bad. 18 rmb for a double expresso which was hot and rich had me thinking the training had been quite intensive, but with a little room for improvement. My other haunt, Karffer does not have a toilet either so it's a question of timimg I guess
shanespencer - Oct 25, 2005 - 07:31 PM
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I popped into the Starbucks at Olympic Square the other day, and it seems they still haven't rectified the air conditioning problem. It was like a greenhouse in there!
Still, with winter on its way, that'll be a good thing before long.
echo - Oct 26, 2005 - 08:12 AM
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American coffee vs. Japanese/Korean Coffee, any idea?
I wouldn't execpt too much about a Starbucks in Dalian compare to a Starbucks in NorthAmerica, it might be the experience from the Starbucks in Beijing Airport.
weev - Oct 27, 2005 - 12:50 PM
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i thought starbucks sucked.... the little eat things tased terrible too - i was treated to a coffee and some kinda quiche thing..... it looked like quiche/flan.... tasted like tea leaves on crust..... really not impressed - will not be going bak again. period... overpriced "sheeps pen" is starbucks ....
Garfield - Nov 06, 2005 - 01:31 AM
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I tried STARBUCKS PARKLAND about 3 weeks ago, in the evening.... after 22:00. Staff's attitude is good, but the coffee is not so hot.... taste is not bad
mikechun - Apr 16, 2006 - 09:16 AM
Post subject: coffee at starbucks???
what is the big deal?? it is overpriced for coffee yuppies only.
why so much muss and fuss..tell your friends when they come to china to bring a supply of their favorite coffee. personally, i bring back thai or kona coffee when i return from a trip out of china.
my goodness, this is china, not some "modern" western country.
Curtass - Apr 18, 2006 - 07:20 PM
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If a country is "modern" enough to have Starbucks, then it's "modern" enough to have hot coffee.
nigel - Apr 27, 2006 - 12:06 PM
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i went there one time.....dont expect too much on customer service right here....
rickus4 - Apr 27, 2006 - 02:49 PM
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What's customer service mean, if it means standing there with an inane smile on your face saying Ai gwolly or whatever it is, but then doing nothing about it, then fine, but if it means actually looking after and exceeding a customers expectations forget it. Blame the owners/ managers not the staff, training is the answer and too many managers get the job for who, not what they know.
weev - Apr 27, 2006 - 03:07 PM
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hahahaha "ai gwolly" thats class.......
when i first got here, i used to think it was "hi! umm gworn ing" like some kinda chinglish
"hi! good morning!" thing going on...... til i found they were still sayin it at 8 pm too.... haha
yeh ur right, that usually is all that happens in most places - which is not good service, or its the extreme opposite where u get mobbed by EVERY SINGLE WORKER ON THE FLOOR all trying to make u buy that really ugly looking tangerine wife beater or summin...... there is never a modest way of serving a costumer here - its one extreme or the other..... ><
rickus4 - Apr 27, 2006 - 04:01 PM
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we do run hot and cold me and you weev, one minute you are going to give me concrete boots then we agree on two things, the gooners and customer service, I thought the only way was up so here's to a wonderful internet friendship, but not too friendly cos that gets boring dunnit!
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