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.
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