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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsI have never felt so condescended to before in my life.
I think I might have found the apex of snootiness at Teavana. So sue me, I don't know how your stupid store works or much about tea, other than I think the crap they sell in the grocery store is terrible. And $20 for four ounces is kind of ridiculous, but it does make about 40 cups, so 50 cents a piece. Still, I don't think I'll ever set foot in there again.
KMOD
(7,906 posts)but yeah, some of these tea houses are the new uppity, snobby, ooooooh look at me, places to be.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)we also get the coffee. We find the service that much better, and I admit, the tea making vessel I bought for myself, is extremely good. (and compact)
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,899 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,899 posts)Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Especially with your coffee handle.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Leaves
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Time to get that Golden Monkey off your back.
CrawlingChaos
(1,893 posts)But hey, I'm just a lower socioeconomic no-account easily impressed by the technology of the flow-through bag.
In all seriousness, I'm a coffee fanatic myself and as much as I love coffee houses, they can be pretty insufferable too. You sometimes feel like you've stepped into an episode of Portlandia.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)CrawlingChaos
(1,893 posts)and not even try to keep up with you
Phentex
(16,334 posts)I hate snobs of any kind especially when they really ought to try and make sale instead.
I love the idea of asking for Liptons. But as I said in another thread, they were helpful to me. That stuff is a treat though. Way too expensive for everyday people.
CrawlingChaos
(1,893 posts)I always remember some comedian I saw once (I think it was Kathleen Madigan) who talked about going into Neiman Marcus and asking which floor for tires. I've always wanted to do something like that.
But, by the same token, I can get pretty excited about a truly great cup of coffee. Trouble is, it's hard to go back to the mediocre once you've had the best, but I can't afford the best all the time (or my idea of the best, which is probably far from the actual best).
Gidney N Cloyd
(19,847 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)I had some fantastic artichoke tea ('Cha Artichaut') in Dalat, Vietnam, but I learned the hard way that it's best taken in moderation to avoid explosive results.
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)Usually, the personnel are what I call "typical young mall workers, socially naive", which is not to say it's an excuse for their cluelessness. The Teavana locally has them offer samplings, then asks you if you've ever bought their before, once you come in. I get their product, but not often, as it's a treat, and it's fair trade. I've also gotten a thermos from them for bringing bulk tea to work and things like that.
If you're dealing with clueless non-trained, try stepping back, cocking your head and asking how long they've worked with the public. Don't tell them why, just find another person in that store. They'll get the message. I'm not afraid to do that and it gives them something to think about-work related, if they want to last long enough in a retail job.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)Ive found a number of sites that complain about exactly what I experienced, condescension mixed with aggressive sales tactics.
NV Whino
(20,886 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)whistler162
(11,155 posts)Phentex
(16,334 posts)I am not a tea drinker except for some unsweet tea at restaurants but my husband likes flavored teas. I went there to get him some gifts for Christmas and I was up front with them about knowing nothing about what they sold. It looks like pot pourri to me.
They had me try all kinds of things and helped me pick out a tea mug with an infuser that he could use at work. I went back another time to get a gift for a friend and there was a little boy having a complete meltdown in the store. He even dumped a container of tea on the floor. The sales people could not have been friendlier. The mortified mom was trying to clean it up and rush the boy out of the store but one salesperson asked if she could offer the boy some tea instead. The other one cleaned up the tea. It looked to me like they really wanted to make a sale!
I am sorry they made you feel bad. That's how I have felt at cosmetic counters over the years.
Gidney N Cloyd
(19,847 posts)They were new to the shopping center so I popped in and looked for the dog food brand I always get. I asked for help when I didn't see it and the response I get is a very icy 'we don't carry grocery store brands here.' Apparently it was more immediately important to him to condescend than to make a sale because he could have spun it more like 'we don't carry that brand-- let me tell you about some of the brands we do carry and why we chose to carry them.' You got my ass in the store and that's half the sales job-- now all you have to do is upsell me a bit.
blogslut
(38,019 posts)Tea paradise.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)LynneSin
(95,337 posts)and prefer just ordering it online anymore.
What I do like is their tea stays pretty fresh even for a long period of time. I have a tin of tea I probably bought 5-7 years ago and I just used it yesterday and still good. (tins are reusable).
As for their stores - they are mall kids working it and I get the kind of service I expect from mall kids. But I haven't shopped there recently since they did discontinue my favorite brand a few years back (Plum Harvest). I usually only buy online with their sales stuff - good bargains to be found.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)All the high-end stores and weird, hipster-type places (like an entire store devoted to shaving, complete with very expensive, old-fashioned cutthroat razors and those brush things).
I swear I was looking for the artisanal toast restaurant, but didn't find it.
seveneyes
(4,631 posts)mackerel
(4,412 posts)Enrique
(27,461 posts)Last edited Mon Apr 20, 2015, 08:18 PM - Edit history (1)
tea will always be a poor man's coffee.
ohnoyoudidnt
(1,858 posts)There are coffee and beer snobs everywhere, it seems tea snobs are on the rise. This isn't an attack on the OP, but the rude clerks who dealt with the person.
trof
(54,256 posts)Coffee is another matter, entirely.
Enrique
(27,461 posts)adding a winky face now.
Skittles
(153,225 posts)my mum was a Brit and I lived in England many years and the tea over there IS fantastic, but it just AIN'T the same here - in America it is strictly coffee for me, thank you very much!!!
TK421
(15,205 posts)She picked up a box for my birthday and I have to say this is my favorite so far.
How you been? Haven't been around much since I had to move out of my apartment and stay at my sister's place for a while ( the ceiling in my apartment collapsed because my landlord did a poor patch job on the roof ).
Got some heavy rain and the thing busted open early in the morning.
Hell of a way to wake up, surrounded by water.
Skittles
(153,225 posts)I'm alright - hanging in there.
I hear you about apartment woes, although so far I have escaped a disaster like that!
TK421
(15,205 posts)She picked up a box for my birthday and I have to say this is my favorite so far.
How you been? Haven't been around much since I had to move out of my apartment and stay at my sister's place for a while ( the ceiling in my apartment collapsed because my landlord did a poor patch job on the roof ).
Got some heavy rain and the thing busted open early in the morning.
Hell of a way to wake up, surrounded by water.
seveneyes
(4,631 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)kentauros
(29,414 posts)There seems to be plenty of independent teahouses around, as well as the selection at Whole Foods, and a friendly local Tea Mistress for buying tea that I never thought to look for any other sources
Have you considered buying it online?
HeiressofBickworth
(2,682 posts)Murchie's in Canada. It takes about 4 days for it to arrive, but worth the wait. I particularly like their No. 22 blend (green and black tea).
I would LIKE to go to the local tea shop but there is no parking anywhere near it so it's just easier to order on-line.
olddots
(10,237 posts)or if you could tea bag them listening to Nugent .