August 09, 2006
An open letter to the Cold Stone Creamery kid who made my ice last night, and who I didn't tip
Dear dude,
Last night was my first visit to Cold Stone Creamery, and it put me in a bind. You lost. It's not fair, I know. Can we talk about it?
Prior to last night, I had heard a lot of things about Cold Stone Creamery. Among them: The ice cream's really good, it's prepared in a unique way, the cups have stupid names ("like it" is small, "love it" is medium, "gotta have it" is large) and employees have to sing a song about the store every time someone tips. I was excited for the first two, and not so excited for the second two. Call me old-fashioned, but I just don't like altering basic principles of retail that don't need fixing. I consider both Cold Stone Creamery’s changes demeaning. It's foolish to think you're offering the customer something unique when you still have three size choices, and they are, whether you like it or not, small, medium and large. And it's foolish to force your employees to do something corny and staged, and to do it repeatedly, when that's not what customers are there for. We come for ice cream, not a show. It puts an awkward, false veneer on what should be a normal, person-to-person exchange.
You seemed sympathetic to that. I ordered my ice cream in a "small," and you confirmed it using the word "small." That was great. We stuck it to the man! What a team! But after I paid, I had a tough decision to make. I wanted to tip you, but I really, really, really didn’t want you to sing that song. It would have made me uncomfortable, knowing that I forced you to do it. I’d have wondered if you resented me for tipping you, as if you'd think, “Your lousy tip isn’t worth me doing this.”
So I didn’t tip.
And that was kind of lousy, too, because I saw you pounding away at that ice cream. Man, you creamed that thing. And that’s the kind of effort that deserves some tipping. Not that the standards are high, of course. We’re a tipping culture. We tip when someone pushes a button and coffee comes pouring into a cup. We tip people for picking up our luggage. We tip people for doing the jobs they’re supposed to be doing. I’d rather everyone just get paid more, and the tip be included in the price of an item, but that’s an argument for another day. Anyway, you deserved a tip, and you didn’t get one.
Sure, it’s my fault. I went with some friends, and one of them, who also hates the song you have to sing, left a tip when the cashier wasn’t looking. That was pretty smart. I should have done that. But still, I think there's a learning experience in here: Cold Stone Creamery should just do away with the song. It isn’t charming. It isn’t pleasant. It’s annoying to the customers and (I assume) the employees, and I bet I’m not the only one who has been discouraged from tipping because of it.
Or, well, maybe I am. Maybe I’m just a selfish, petty bastard. But I doubt it.
Next time, I promise I’ll slip you a dollar when you’re not looking. Thanks for the good ice cream.
-Jason.
Posted by Jason Feifer at August 9, 2006 08:15 AM
Comments
Coldstone is incredibly yummy - I particularly enjoy the Candyland sundae - birthday cake ice cream, M&Ms, Snickers, and Kit Kats. MMMMMMM...
But I went with a friend on her birthday, and not only did we hear the tip song a few times, but they sang to her, too.
And she's 35.
It really wasn't amusing.
Posted by Browneyedgirlie at August 9, 2006 09:52 PM
I hate the singing, too, but I still would have given the guy a tip. I can't take some turkey off another man's plate because his company is run by assholes.
Posted by Berto at August 10, 2006 02:11 AM
"love it" vanilla has 607 calories and 342 calories from fat. That's 118% staturated fat's daily allowance.
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-B00001-01c22DZ.html
Check out the other sizes, flavors and items. Yummy yes...but don't make it a habit or your arteries will be blocked.
There are a lot of good ice cream shops in New England. This sounds like one to avoid.
Posted by Gary McGath at August 10, 2006 08:04 AM
I'm totally with you on the singing thing.
Posted by Lyss at August 10, 2006 11:38 AM
The Coldstone in my neighborhood knows me. When I tip them I make them ALL promise first that they will NOT SING or I will take my tip back immediately. I also overtip so that any musical theater majors can get over themselves. For the most part they are all relieved and I feel good AND I have ice cream so really its a triple win.
Posted by sam at August 10, 2006 12:43 PM
I'm with you! The ice cream is great, the song is annoying! Your friend had the right idea on sneaking them a tip... I'll have to keep that in mind next time.
Posted by Anna at August 10, 2006 12:55 PM
I was there once. Upon walking in and hearing the tip song twice, I gave a $10 bill in exhange for a promise not to sing at all while I was there. Sure $10 is a bit steep, but I was pregnant and irritable and really wanted some ice cream. The staff agreed and the crowd cheered and everyone tipped because they didn't have to hear that stupid song. It was truly a win-win situation all around.
Posted by lora at August 10, 2006 03:49 PM
their ice scream stinks without all the toppings. there's so many better local places all around boston to go to than this chain.
and i hate the singing too...
Posted by john at August 10, 2006 06:16 PM
I think the real question for me is, does tipping ensure good service? Because if my tip will enhance my experience in some noticeable way, then sure, here's a dollar. But in most cases, the tip comes after the fact, where it has no chance of making the guy grind the ice cream better or the porter carry the luggage faster.
Maybe we should tip first, then order?
My thoughts and others' comments on tipping at The Curious Shopper, here.
Posted by Sara at August 10, 2006 07:05 PM
You should come back and tip him and leave real fast!~
Posted by Don at August 17, 2006 06:23 PM
I may become an employee at the cold stone creamery, and one thing i am not looking forward to is singing, besides the fact that my voice goes up 8 octaves when i try to sing, It's humiliating. The customers dont want to hear it, and the employees don't want to sing it, the only answer is to stop leaving tips, and that shouldnt have to happen if there is good service. So to all of the people that want to leave tips but dont want the singing, DO IT BEHIND THEIR BACKS.
Posted by nate at August 21, 2006 11:01 AM
Definitely the worst ice cream I've ever had. It wasn't my choice to go there, but I went in despite my beliefs. What kind of ice cream shop doesn't have regular vanilla? I asked for it and found out all they have is French Vanilla. wtf. Not to mention the ridiculous prices. I could have easily gone to a local store and gotten more ice cream for half the price. The ice cream had the consistency of bread dough. I had to chew it. God knows what they put into it. I tipped them with some of my coin change and they didn't sing for me. It's the principle. Shame on you Cold Stone Creamery. Just my thoughts.
Posted by Matt at August 27, 2006 05:37 PM
I work at Coldstone and we don't resent tips at all. We sing and don't mind it cause i feel we are getting paid to. Just yesterday i made 20 dollars on top of the 4 hours i worked. Making that 5 dollars an hour is what makes the singing worth it. but it is overrated and sometimes is annoying but you can request that we not sing cause we are always happy to comply.
Posted by aaron at July 5, 2007 08:43 PM
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