It’s like at McDonald’s or at any food chains I know.
My problem is that I can not understand why these practices are not investigated by the proper authorities, because this practice has only one aim, to delude the customer.
It’s like at McDonald’s or at any food chains I know.
My problem is that I can not understand why these practices are not investigated by the proper authorities, because this practice has only one aim, to delude the customer.
When will people get over the sizes at Starbucks? At this is point it is a pretty tired joke.
No one rallies against Jamba Juice for having sizes called “Power” and “Original”. I know, let’s all go down to the sandwich shop and grill the employees there on why they don’t call a bomber a “large sandwich” like everyone wants them to!
Short, Tall, and Grande are classic espresso bar size names. There was a demand for a larger size, and Venti (Italian for 20) was introduced. It isn’t some vast conspiracy to “delude the customer” — what an absurd thing to say.
Ever notice that they don’t even offer three sizes of cups? There’s always four sizes. I think its designed so that there’s no alignment to S/M/L that we might otherwise associate with it.
I’m fine with their naming of sizes. Nowadays I order a “Tall,” but in the past I would order a small and they would CORRECT me. SERIOUSLY? You know the equivalents. Just take my order. Don’t tell me how to ask for what I want.
Reminds me of the soup Nazi. Order juuuust right, or NO COFFEE FOR YOU! NEXT!
Like some of the other respondents here, many years ago I used to get ‘shorts’ at my local US Starbucks without much hoo-ha. A short, dry cappuccino was the equivalent of the normal cappuccinos I get in CH now.
I guess this is something so pressing, irritating and important that it was about time someone filmed and edited a video rant about it.
Maybe issues like this just prove that our lives have gotten much simpler. There’s no need to save our energy for big problems and we can dedicate our time to causes like how a company names their sizes, or why people say Kleenex and not tissue.
Beyond humor, the greatest thing about the show Seinfeld was you weren’t really supposed to like the characters. They were all about themselves: selfish, petty and meticulous about the irrelevant. I think you were supposed to see this and maybe realize, on one hand, that there are stupid and absurd things in this world, but on the other, see that you don’t get any further in life bitching about them. This coffee rant mirrors a scene in Seinfeld with Elaine trying to order a soda at a theatre.
I guess it also kind of speaks to the idea of consumption and want over need. When you want something, you can be particular and rant about it. On the other hand, when you have a gaping wound in your finger, you probably won’t argue with someone trying to offer you a Band-Aid over a bandage.
And yes, this is a pointless rant about pointless rants.
Just because others have brought this up doesn’t mean it’s “tired”…
It just means Starbucks has yet to FIX this.
It’s one thing to call your sizes Power, Original or Bomber… it’s another to use the Spanish word for large to mean “medium”, an English word meaning Big for “small”, and then an arbitrary Italian number.
Branding is one thing, confusion is another. This has moved into confusion.
@ricky
If you’d been paying attention, Venti is 20 in Italian as in the 20oz size.
I think the way American car companies name their cars is kinda retarded too. Sometimes they’re alliterations, sometimes they aren’t. Sometime they’re foreign words, sometimes they’re animals. Whatever, it’s their choice. And what’s with VW’s wind trade names?
We don’t obsess over blog about how to “FIX” those. So, why Starbucks?
If it really bothers you, don’t bother buying it. It’s still a free country.
This video was cute, but completely absurd. Starbucks has been around long enough for people to understand their size names, it really is not that confusing. If it is, I think you have a bigger problem on your hands than ordering coffee.
Also, I frequent sbux a lot, and almost every time I go someone orders a small/medium/large, and I have never seen them be corrected or have any problem getting the drink they want.
Swissmiss is an online garden Tina Roth Eisenberg started in 2005 and has lovingly tended to ever since.
Besides swissmiss, Tina founded and runs TeuxDeux, CreativeMornings and her Brooklyn based co-working community Friends Work Here. (She also started Tattly which was recently adopted by BIC)
Become a Sponsor
Interested in sponsoring a week of my RSS Feed? Click here to learn more.
I love it, it’s like a less sweary version of the “Small, Medium, Large” Foamy ‘toon (http://www.illwillpress.com/vault.html)
Nov 17th, 2008 / 11:51 am
I feel a little less alone after this little “tallmatter”
Nov 17th, 2008 / 12:03 pm
hahahahahaha in spain i know a lot of people who simply ask for small, medium or large ‘cos they get really messed up with these stupid measures.
Nov 17th, 2008 / 12:25 pm
It’s like at McDonald’s or at any food chains I know.
My problem is that I can not understand why these practices are not investigated by the proper authorities, because this practice has only one aim, to delude the customer.
Good video :)
Nov 17th, 2008 / 12:51 pm
It’s like at McDonald’s or at any food chains I know.
My problem is that I can not understand why these practices are not investigated by the proper authorities, because this practice has only one aim, to delude the customer.
Good video :)
Nov 17th, 2008 / 12:51 pm
I can relate to pre-coffee haziness. I think I’ll get my local barrista an xmas/sorry card..
Nov 17th, 2008 / 1:16 pm
When will people get over the sizes at Starbucks? At this is point it is a pretty tired joke.
No one rallies against Jamba Juice for having sizes called “Power” and “Original”. I know, let’s all go down to the sandwich shop and grill the employees there on why they don’t call a bomber a “large sandwich” like everyone wants them to!
Short, Tall, and Grande are classic espresso bar size names. There was a demand for a larger size, and Venti (Italian for 20) was introduced. It isn’t some vast conspiracy to “delude the customer” — what an absurd thing to say.
Nov 17th, 2008 / 1:17 pm
actually they have a size called a “short” which is the smallest size, and is not even on their menus, but is available at less cost.
and it’s a better size for espressos or latees that aren’t all milk.
Nov 17th, 2008 / 1:18 pm
Ever notice that they don’t even offer three sizes of cups? There’s always four sizes. I think its designed so that there’s no alignment to S/M/L that we might otherwise associate with it.
Nov 17th, 2008 / 1:41 pm
I’m fine with their naming of sizes. Nowadays I order a “Tall,” but in the past I would order a small and they would CORRECT me. SERIOUSLY? You know the equivalents. Just take my order. Don’t tell me how to ask for what I want.
Reminds me of the soup Nazi. Order juuuust right, or NO COFFEE FOR YOU! NEXT!
Nov 17th, 2008 / 1:56 pm
so true so true, this is a total non-sense…
Nov 17th, 2008 / 2:17 pm
That was really well produced! she’s a good actress.
And look at how everyone’s responding… brilliant!
Nov 17th, 2008 / 4:01 pm
i agree with Chenoa… hasnt this whole starbucks size thing been beaten to death already??
Nov 17th, 2008 / 6:43 pm
Anyone that is fool enough to go to Starbucks deserves the idiocy they deal you.
Plus the fact their burnt tasting java is awful.
Nov 17th, 2008 / 6:54 pm
I order “small” or “medium” without correction but I live in Mpls. Maybe they are too Midwestern to correct me and just judge me silently.
Nov 17th, 2008 / 11:14 pm
Like some of the other respondents here, many years ago I used to get ‘shorts’ at my local US Starbucks without much hoo-ha. A short, dry cappuccino was the equivalent of the normal cappuccinos I get in CH now.
Nov 18th, 2008 / 5:37 am
absolutely hilarious!
Nov 18th, 2008 / 8:51 am
I guess this is something so pressing, irritating and important that it was about time someone filmed and edited a video rant about it.
Maybe issues like this just prove that our lives have gotten much simpler. There’s no need to save our energy for big problems and we can dedicate our time to causes like how a company names their sizes, or why people say Kleenex and not tissue.
Beyond humor, the greatest thing about the show Seinfeld was you weren’t really supposed to like the characters. They were all about themselves: selfish, petty and meticulous about the irrelevant. I think you were supposed to see this and maybe realize, on one hand, that there are stupid and absurd things in this world, but on the other, see that you don’t get any further in life bitching about them. This coffee rant mirrors a scene in Seinfeld with Elaine trying to order a soda at a theatre.
I guess it also kind of speaks to the idea of consumption and want over need. When you want something, you can be particular and rant about it. On the other hand, when you have a gaping wound in your finger, you probably won’t argue with someone trying to offer you a Band-Aid over a bandage.
And yes, this is a pointless rant about pointless rants.
Nov 18th, 2008 / 10:04 am
jeez, get over your jaded self. Who cares what they call it.
Nov 18th, 2008 / 12:23 pm
What next? “Who’s on first, what’s on second?”
THis routine is older than my grandma’s panties, and she’s been buried for 20 years.
Nov 18th, 2008 / 3:20 pm
errr… this is definitely an ad for starbucks. RIGHT? and so is this “tall matters” site. i’m not crazy here, we are without a doubt being marketed to.
Nov 19th, 2008 / 9:32 am
Just because others have brought this up doesn’t mean it’s “tired”…
It just means Starbucks has yet to FIX this.
It’s one thing to call your sizes Power, Original or Bomber… it’s another to use the Spanish word for large to mean “medium”, an English word meaning Big for “small”, and then an arbitrary Italian number.
Branding is one thing, confusion is another. This has moved into confusion.
Nov 19th, 2008 / 8:25 pm
@ ricky.
Is this really the biggest thing we need to FIX today?
Who the F cares people!
Nov 19th, 2008 / 8:55 pm
@ricky
If you’d been paying attention, Venti is 20 in Italian as in the 20oz size.
I think the way American car companies name their cars is kinda retarded too. Sometimes they’re alliterations, sometimes they aren’t. Sometime they’re foreign words, sometimes they’re animals. Whatever, it’s their choice. And what’s with VW’s wind trade names?
We don’t obsess over blog about how to “FIX” those. So, why Starbucks?
If it really bothers you, don’t bother buying it. It’s still a free country.
Nov 19th, 2008 / 9:01 pm
This video was cute, but completely absurd. Starbucks has been around long enough for people to understand their size names, it really is not that confusing. If it is, I think you have a bigger problem on your hands than ordering coffee.
Also, I frequent sbux a lot, and almost every time I go someone orders a small/medium/large, and I have never seen them be corrected or have any problem getting the drink they want.
Nov 24th, 2008 / 1:43 pm