Um, Teavana was not at all what I expected. The one at the mall where I work is an itty, bitty, teeny, tiny, little store. There were literally five customers (including myself) and three employees (but two of them alternated going to the back stock area) and no room to move around unless someone stepped outside of the store. And I didn't realize that it was set up like a deli where the associate is required to assist you and weigh out the tea (since the teas are stored in large containers), which makes sense. But I thought that everything would already be prepackaged, which would also make it accessible so that one could compare and contrast or browse in peace. But I'm just being picky about that since I like to have a nice, big bubble around me when I shop and thoroughly examine the product I'm interested in purchasing.
I browsed the site ahead of time to see what was offered and how much. I wanted to get the Acai Matetini Mate loose tea because it has acai (super antioxidant), looked like it had a fun blend, and was one of the less pricey teas. I also was on the lookout to find the small Teavana Perfect Tea Maker, since the site showed it was on sale for less than $14. I was thinking about getting an infuser but those were about $13 on the low end so the Perfect Tea Maker seemed to be a winner, plus it had raving reviews. I found the Tea Maker pretty easily and was glad to see the sale price applied in the store.
I made the mistake of telling the first sales associate I encountered that it was my first time there and I wasn't entirely sure how it all worked. I saw the "Wall of Teas" but knew that I only wanted the Acai Matetini and let her know that up front. She then went to the back to get a male associate to help me, and she took my Perfect Tea Maker away from me which was confusing since I was at the counter/register but meh, whatev. I think she went ahead and bagged it when she went to the back because I didn't see it again until the bag was handed to me.
Anywho, once Dude was caught up with my brief story of being a Teavana virgin, he opened the container and did all the magical wave and sift pizzazz. My main question was how did the measuring process work since the website started at 2 ounces. I was hoping it was like a fabric store or deli, where you could request half the "basic amount" (1 yard or 1 pound seem to be a good standard starting point). Sidenote: I worked in the deli/bakery of a major grocery store, people ordered various ways... "Give me a 1/4 a pound." "I want 7 slices." "Start slicing and let me stop you when it looks good." I was kind of hoping that there would be leeway to ask for half a scoop or just let me watch the scale and determine from it. Nope.
Sooo, Dude scoops some into a sample cup thing and puts it on the scale to demonstrate the smallest amount they sell (2 ounces). It was just under 2 ounces, btw. I told him that I would indeed like to purchase the smallest quantity of 2 ounces. There were two sizes of canisters by the scale, a large one (darn near the size of a coffee canister) and then one about 2/3 of that size. He grabbed the large one, started the spiel about it being my first time buying tea there that I needed to purchase the canister and I could bring it back each time for refills. Then went over the pricing, something about $6 then $7 then $3 extra...I don't know, it was getting drowned out by other noises. At that time he was already dumping the tea from the sample cup into the large canister on the scale and it went from like $6.72 to $10.87. The weight of the canister wasn't calibrated into the scale (something we had to do when packaging weighed food into containers at the store). I asked if I had to buy the canister. Again, since I was new I needed to have my tea put into it so it could be stored and then I could bring it back the next time I come in (What if I haven't finish the tea currently in it and wanted a different tea, hmm?). Then he talked about the benefits of it being an airtight container. So I continued to be difficult (I do feel bad about this since I know it's part of his job to push certain items) and told him I had airtight containers at home... Though he kept insisting that I need to buy this particular canister. After more of the ping-pong about not needing the canister, I finally told him I'm sorry, I don't want the tea if I have to buy the canister. That's when he pulled out the quaint little foil baggie and informed me that he could sell me the tea in the bag...however it wouldn't hold up and will go stale after 5 days if not put in an airtight container. So he dumped the tea out of the canister, into the big container, and then scooped out a little over 2 ounces into the foil bag. I FINALLY was able to purchase the tea!
I want to give Dude major props though for doing his job! I know that it's a company thing and that they pressure you to use tactics to get sales and meet quotas. My "Grrrrr" is mainly aimed at Teavana because of that. I HATE it when employees are required to get customers to buy (or sign up for) things they don't want. It's irritating for the customer to feel harassed to spend more (or give out information they don't want to share) because that's what makes the big wigs at Corporate happy. :/
However, I will probably continue to shop at Teavana...not as much as I probably would prior to this experience, but I do enjoy the Acai Matetini.
Caveat Emptor.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
Healthy Drink Ramble!
I was thinking about finally buying a Keurig (I've been debating this since I started working at Sears 3 years ago). I'm not a coffee (gave up that habit about age 6 #trufax) nor hot beverage drinker, but I do enjoy a frozen mocha-y drink whenever I'm feeling adventurous. Though I discovered that I really like the Chai Latte K-cups we have at work (breakroom incentive!). And I'd probably consume the mocha drinks on a regular basis if I had a Keurig. Then you have the option of the My K-cup to brew your own blends of whatever.
Yesterday Dr. Oz was talking about how white tea has a large amount of antioxidants in it so I want to start drinking white tea. Which then lead my thought process to using my potential future Keurig to brew tea, especially white tea. But upon further research I found at that white tea should steep at a lower temperature... So then I dug deeper into my psyche and realized that I mainly want a Keurig because it's cool, different, gimmicky, quick, and easy but again, I'm not normally a hot beverage consumer. Jump to "O hai, I wonder if there's a way I can just buy the K-cups I'm interested in and diy brew them myself??" Apparently there are ways...many ways depending on what type of beverage you want.
Well, since we have Teavana at the mall I work at and an independently owned tea store at the old mall I used to work at...why not just get some little infuser things or reusable tea bags and fancy blends of loose leaf tea? That sounds like fun! I could either get an electric kettle or *gasp* actually boil some water on the stove (I'd rather not go the microwave route even if it's super quick and easy).
I've been itching the get a Keurig recently since our store is in liquidation but really I'm not going to save that much on the machine. By the time the prices become "good," we'll already be sold out (happened during the last store closing). If by chance we have any for a "too good to pass up" deal, then sure, I'll buy one. But until then, I think I'll save a good bulk of money and use that for my future white tea addiction.
On this topic, I think I'm going to try to get into a habit of blending smoothies. Frozen spinach, berries, and orange juice sounds like a plan to me. Actually, anything to help improve my health is going to become more of a priority.
I'd been having pain all around my left shoulder blade for over a week. Then Monday I woke up and it was worse. From Monday through Wednesday I had problems when turning my head or moving my arm. I'd just lock up from the pain. Wednesday night I looked in the mirror and then took pics since my shoulder blade didn't feel right. The left one was poking out (at an odd angle) and about 3 inches higher than my right one. Yeah, this freaked me out. I went our chiropractor Thursday since I was off from work. My wreck may have had something to do with it but it's mainly stress. ...work stress. Apparently I've been having muscle spasms for a long time and not realizing it (I usually don't give much thought to pain unless it's reeeeally bad). And the muscle has tensed up and harden. It won't be much longer until that major stress trigger is out of my life. Until then, I've got to try to "relax" about work... Ha! It's difficult when you have to carry the weight for slacking employees.
And this is why I'm all giddy about beverages, especially ones with healthy potential. In my mind, they'll make everything better.
Which could be said about booze too, since it's a beverage. Yeah, I could use a strong fruity drink after work everyday...but that would be bad. Very bad! But oh so goooood!
Yesterday Dr. Oz was talking about how white tea has a large amount of antioxidants in it so I want to start drinking white tea. Which then lead my thought process to using my potential future Keurig to brew tea, especially white tea. But upon further research I found at that white tea should steep at a lower temperature... So then I dug deeper into my psyche and realized that I mainly want a Keurig because it's cool, different, gimmicky, quick, and easy but again, I'm not normally a hot beverage consumer. Jump to "O hai, I wonder if there's a way I can just buy the K-cups I'm interested in and diy brew them myself??" Apparently there are ways...many ways depending on what type of beverage you want.
Well, since we have Teavana at the mall I work at and an independently owned tea store at the old mall I used to work at...why not just get some little infuser things or reusable tea bags and fancy blends of loose leaf tea? That sounds like fun! I could either get an electric kettle or *gasp* actually boil some water on the stove (I'd rather not go the microwave route even if it's super quick and easy).
I've been itching the get a Keurig recently since our store is in liquidation but really I'm not going to save that much on the machine. By the time the prices become "good," we'll already be sold out (happened during the last store closing). If by chance we have any for a "too good to pass up" deal, then sure, I'll buy one. But until then, I think I'll save a good bulk of money and use that for my future white tea addiction.
On this topic, I think I'm going to try to get into a habit of blending smoothies. Frozen spinach, berries, and orange juice sounds like a plan to me. Actually, anything to help improve my health is going to become more of a priority.
I'd been having pain all around my left shoulder blade for over a week. Then Monday I woke up and it was worse. From Monday through Wednesday I had problems when turning my head or moving my arm. I'd just lock up from the pain. Wednesday night I looked in the mirror and then took pics since my shoulder blade didn't feel right. The left one was poking out (at an odd angle) and about 3 inches higher than my right one. Yeah, this freaked me out. I went our chiropractor Thursday since I was off from work. My wreck may have had something to do with it but it's mainly stress. ...work stress. Apparently I've been having muscle spasms for a long time and not realizing it (I usually don't give much thought to pain unless it's reeeeally bad). And the muscle has tensed up and harden. It won't be much longer until that major stress trigger is out of my life. Until then, I've got to try to "relax" about work... Ha! It's difficult when you have to carry the weight for slacking employees.
And this is why I'm all giddy about beverages, especially ones with healthy potential. In my mind, they'll make everything better.
Which could be said about booze too, since it's a beverage. Yeah, I could use a strong fruity drink after work everyday...but that would be bad. Very bad! But oh so goooood!
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