Comments on: Today’s Display of Genius

By: TFG

TFG — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:41:09 +0000

I guess you could even do a two-phase process:

- text your order
- you get a response saying “which one? Press 1, 2, 3, 4″
- you press it
- you get a map to 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Is that too complicated? Each one could have their own individual address, too, come to think of it, so if you go there everyday, you only need that one.

By: Fûz

Fûz — Thu, 29 May 2008 02:23:05 +0000

would be acceptable, for a dense urban area where the Starbucks are in a more-or-less even distribution.

Here in flyover country, it might still work cuz many of the Sbuxes here are attached to grocers.

By: TFG

TFG — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:22:15 +0000

An improvement on your idea, Fuz: one SMS address for all Starbucks, and they not only figure out where you are but send the order to the closest one and send you a map with directions.

By: Phelps

Phelps — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:17:08 +0000

There is another thing Whataburger has done. They’ve worked the prices out for whatever location so that your total comes out in quarter dollars after tax. Six bucks, Four fifty, Seven seventy-five, etc. I imagine it has to save them a fortune in time at the window and in counting up the tills too.

By: Fûz

Fûz — Tue, 27 May 2008 02:37:57 +0000

“My solution is a walk-up station for regulars like me who know what they want and need it quickly so they can get on about their day…like a 10-items-or-less or self-check deal at the Wal-Mart.”

Bright Idea 73: Each Sbux gets its own short message service address for walkin orders, and pastes the address discreetly at the entrance. You have that address on speeddial, for stores you regularly visit. You have a message already stored with your preferred order, and just call it up and send it. text the order in as you arrive at the store.

This would be killer for drive-up Starbucks stores along the main Interstates. Phone the order in about 3 mile markers away and it’s waiting for you as you hit the exit ramp.

Subway would be a natural for this one too.

By: Rana

Rana — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:34:27 +0000

Hehe. This guy looks seriously unspun. The baristas just get the scale out, weigh the damn thing, and talk to him in a soft tone of voice — you know, the voice you use for jumpers, serial killers, and postal employees? I mean honest to Christ, anyone who wants their coffee weighed? Seriously ass not normal.

By: TFG

TFG — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:18:10 +0000

WEIGH? [blink, blink] I know the employees can’t do it, but has anybody else told him not to be an enormous G–d— dickhead? Like, say, you? I imagine you would be pretty good at that, Rana, and probably make him feel better about himself, quite unlike the way I would do it.

Guy, Taco Cabana for me is one thing only: greasy crispy beef tacos. They’re reliably greasy, reliably crsipy, and reliably beef. I don’t ask too much out of them, and fajitas seem a fair stretch for a stationary taco wagon. I’ll eat their nasty gloppy burritos, too, sometimes. All this is mostly when I might possibly have had an extra couple of cold beers, so my judgement is most probably not the best it could be, heh heh.

By: Guy

Guy — Sun, 25 May 2008 16:25:22 +0000

I don’t find Taco Cabana consistent - sometimes their fajita meat is good, sometimes it tastes like warmed over shoe leather. God I wish Two Pesos had won the lawsuit, they were do much better.

Once a Wendy’s drive-thru, some guy in a pickup truck with his daughter was lollygagging at the picture menu where can’t order anything. No one in front of him while he was wasting my time showing his daughter the pretty pictures. Ack!!!
I knew exactly what I wanted, it’s quick to make, so I drove around him, ordered, and it was ready when I got to the window. While I was paying, the cashier pointed back at the guy, now at the order mic. He was screaming, “Stop him!!! He butted in front of me!!! He can’t do that!!!”. I smiled and drove off with my food, all in less time than it took for the idiot to place his own order…

By: Rana

Rana — Sun, 25 May 2008 16:10:39 +0000

I kid you not, at my neighborhood SBux there’s this joker who asks them to WEIGH his fricking latte. If it’s not right, he insists they make it over. I’m telling you, if I were his barista, he would be wearing that thing.