My LOVE for Keurig

It's February, so maybe I am feeling overly lovey this month, but whatever the case is and I am in total undeniable passionate love with my Cuisinart Keurig brewing system.

I have had the Keurig system since September (PC surprised me with it as a gift for our anniversary), and I have to say at first, I didn't know if we really needed it. I had seen and tried other Keurig brewers and thought they were neat, but didn't think it was something for us.  But, today, if I came home and my house was robbed, I think the first thing I would ask is 'did they take my Keurig?'.

Since I've been off on maternity leave (November), I have used my Keurig everyday and each day as I finish my cup of coffee, I take the last sip and announce 'that was good' *sigh*.  It is truly one of the things I look forward to in the morning (next to the smiley faces of my sweet boys).

This is in no way a paid endorsement of any type, but there are some pretty great features about my Keurig....

• it makes great tasting coffee EVERY TIME
• there is absolutely NO MESS
• There are so many different kinds of coffee to choose from... you can match your mood easily.
• It allows me to drink decaf, and PC regular coffee within the blink of eye
• When I am in a hurry, one touch of a button and in less than a minute I'm ready to go with my hot cup of coffee.

I use to be one of Tim Horton's top customers here in Embrun, PC and I were always making a TIm's run on the weekends... but lately, while we still enjoy the timbits and the odd cup of chili, we aren't going there nearly as much as before we had the Keurig. The couple times that I have had a decaf double double from Tim's I have been disappointed, because my Green Mountain French Vanilla decaf taste ten times better.

I have also been using this particular machine just for a shot of hot water to warm H's bottles.  I only need 6 ozs of hot water, so I just select that cup size, hit the hot water button, and I'm in business. Its been super handy for that.

I'll admit, I've become a bit of a K-cup whore when it comes to brands and kinds. At first we were drinking some Van Houte coffee, but then we discovered Green Mountain coffee, and while PC's go-to is the Nantucket Blend, I love the French Vanilla decaf, but also have a deep appreciation for their Pumpkin Spice, Carmel Vanilla Creme, and the Half Calf.  We recently just picked up a box of Green Mountain Apple Cider (which is so yummy on a cold winter day) and the Timothy's White Hot Chocolate which I am also in LOVE with, not to mention the Timothy's Chai Tea.

There are a gazillion flavours and brands ... and I love going to Tweed & Hickory here in Ottawa where you can buy the individual k-cups and try out as many flavours as you want. It's like the Pop Shoppe of coffee!

All around, if your one of those people who has been thinking about getting a Keurig, I can honestly say, I don't think you will be disappointed.  If you are the only coffee person in the house, then the Keurig is for you, because no one likes to brew a pot of coffee for just one or two cups and then have to clean up the mess after. If you want, no fuss, no muss... this machine will answer your prayers!

I know I am not the only K-cup Keurig lover out there... are any of you madly in love with your Keurig machines, or secretly wishing someone would surprise you with one as a gift?  Valentine's day is just around the corner for anyone looking for gift ideas for their love ones!

Is half-decent service really too much to ask for?

Brace yourself, I am about to go on a rant about a topic that has been bugging me for quite a while: young teens working in the customer service industry.

On three separate recent occasions, I have walked out of a store (in Embrun) shaking my head at the young teen working there, because of their inability to use common sense when serving myself and a long line of others!

A few weeks ago I decided to get a coffee at Tim Horton's after getting my groceries. I drove over to Timmy's only to see that the drive-thru line up was out to the road, so I figured I would have better luck getting served inside the Timmy's.

Now, a year or so ago you may recall my royal disgust for the Timmy's in Embrun... as it was slow moving no matter what time you rolled in there, but in the last 6 months I have noticed a huge improvement in customer service/satisfaction in the morning rush hour. This observation gave me new found respect for the Embrun Timmy's... as I felt they got their act together!

However... on this particular visit, it seemed they were back to their old shenanigans of brutally slow service. And no wonder why... !

When I got inside I was the 4th customer in line... and there was one teenaged girl working the cash. She was helping a couple of guys get their orders, which were sandwich combos and ice capps. In my opinion her job should be to take the order, get their drinks, and then turn over the sandwich making to the employee on the sandwich bar. This seemed to be what she wanted to do, but it took her a good 5-7 minutes to get their drinks ready, and then another 2 to ensure the sandwiches were going to be made by someone else. Just when she could take another customer at her cash, an employee emerges from the back room.

I am thinking, this employee is coming out to help in what is clearly the 4 o'clock rush, but NO, she is actually on her way home. The original girl on cash seems surprised by her exit, and proceeds to step away from the cash... and strike up a 3 minute conversation with her about why she is leaving. This happens off to the side of the cash, in front myself and 3 other customers ahead of me. So now... while these two lovely teenagers have their discussion, no one is working the cash, which means no one is getting served - NOTHING IS HAPPENING.

Finally, the drive-thru head-honcho (who I would put in her 20s), comes around the corner for a donut and sees this all transacting. She proceeds to promptly notify the cash girl that she must get back to workimmediately. Clearly unhappy about it, she steps back to her cash to finally take the next customer. Another employee emerges from the back room and looks shocked to see how long the line up is - he's jumps on the second cash, and finally after 15 minutes of waiting, I am served.

I leave Timmy's shaking my head, thinking that at 15 or 16 I know I was not THAT stupid, and would have never left the cash to talk to a friend while the line up was out the door.

I thought this may have been a one time deal, but earlier this week while PC and I were at Subway, we had the same type of experience. We arrive at Subway... and are their only customers, a girl greets us and asks up what we want, I order and PC is about to order when a second girl from the back comes out and the first girl stops PC in mid-sentence to tell the second girl 'Oh My God, I totally dropped a sub this afternoon on the floor, it was soooooo hot, I just drop it, totally - right there, and the guy was like starring at me, but I was like I am sorry dude, it was too freakin hot'. Then she looks back up at PC, and says 'Sorry about that, totally off topic, what did you want?' - Totally off topic? - thanks tips, we couldn't figure that one out for ourselves.

By the time we get our subs, a line-up has formed out the door... PC and I sit down and eat only to observe these two girls and one guy serve these 8 customers. You would think their priority would be take an order, make a sub, obtain payment - REPEAT. But no... all I can hear is them talking about so and so's boyfriend who cheated on her and then got beat up at a party - and god knows what else. The tables are mess ... food on all of them, and a garbage overflowing to boot.

One of the employees leaves the line up to go to the bathroom, and has to step over the overflowing trash to get into the washroom. I am thinking when she emerges she will empty the trash and mop up the spilt pop besides it, but NO, she comes out the washrooms, looks at the trash and is as disgusted as we are. She shakes her head and goes into the back room never to emerge again.

HELLO? Clean it up, or at least notify someone who's job it is to clean it up that it is has to be done. Once the line-up is cleared, the other two employees take a seat and chat away, while the restaurant remains dirty. I leave in disgust - AGAIN!

Today... at the grocery store, I wanted to ring the teenaged girl's neck who was working the cash. First of all she couldn't be bothered to be at work, and as she starts ringing through my items she puts them in a plastic bag. I say to her that I have reusable bags (which were the first thing I put on the counter), and she looks at me like I have 4 heads. Then as she rings the rest of the items through, she puts 3 things in each bag as if I have 30 reusable bags with me. Then she asks me if I want the rest in plastic, to which I reply 'No, I think we can fit everything in these 4 bags'. By the look on her face you would think I had just asked her to pee in a cup and drink it. As she packs everything into the four bags, she has bread on the bottom, apple juice on top of the bread, some bananas, and then a pound of ground beef to top it off.

Last time I checked packing groceries isn't rocket science, but apparently it's a skill that some teenagers just can't grasp. Again, I leave the store shaking my head.

There is no way, NO WAY I was that incompetent when I was that age. I understand that these jobs are just that - part-time jobs, not careers. They are doing it for one purpose, the cash, and only the cash. But how hard is it to use your brain in these jobs. I am not asking for over the top service, I am just asking for a little common sense when it comes to customer service. You don't need to talk to me or compliment me or anything out of the ordinary, you just have to use a few brain cells and do the job you were hired to do.

I am not saying all teenagers are like this, as I have had perfectly decent service from some of these teenagers, but it seems to be a growing trend lately, that these Generation Y peeps just don't care, and aren't about to start to anytime soon.

Has anyone else noticed that this generation of teenagers approaches life a bit different that the last?

No free Timbits at Tim Hortons!

Given that I am pretty big fan of Tim Horton's, I couldn't resist sharing this story.... and commenting on it.

Apparently yesterday in London, Ontario, Tim Horton's fired an employee for giving a child a free Timbit (value: 16 cents). According to the manager of the store, it was inappropriate behaviour for the employee to give out free food, and she was fired from her position based solely on this one incident.

Check out the story here from the National Post, although many other Ontario news feeds ran it as well.

In my opinion, the story was a new journalist's dream: a single mother of four who has had a reported 'tough life', and loyal employee of the company for 3 years... it couldn't get any better than that!

Once the media got a hold of this story at 9:30 am this morning...the employee was reinstated with the company within a shocking 2 hours, by 11:30 am. A Tim Horton's spokeswoman claims that the manager acted inappropriately in this case, and the employee should not have been fired in the first place. The employee has chosen not to return to that Tim's location she was fired from, but will resume her duties tomorrow, at another location in London.

Can you believe this... ? This minor debacle could have been avoided for Tim's if they had just thought about what they were doing. Perhaps is just my communication's mind working overtime, but large companies such as Tim Horton's should train their managers to think of the consequences of their actions before making cut throat decisions. I mean, firing an employee for giving out one free 16 cent product, has FRONT PAGE NEWS written all over it don't you think?

No harm was really done to the employee... she still has her job, but Tim Horton's reputation will taking a bit of beating for the next day or two in the media, and I am sure this story will definitely turn some people's noses up at what is generally an organization known for doing good things in many communities across Canada.

What do you think... are you somewhat turned off by Tim Horton's initial actions here? Does it taint your view of Tim's, or do you just think it was a slow news day, and the media choose to capitalize on what would normally not be news?

Fragment Fridays

So... I've fallen off the mark a bit with my blogging as of late. Tid-Bits Thursday hasn't made a presence lately... so let me now introduce you to Fragment Friday.... much like Tid-Bits Thursday... here a few fragments of actual posts that I haven't had time to sit down and flush out!

• Spring... a concept I have yet to see fully develop. How depressing... we are officially in the season of spring and there is still A LOT of snow on the ground, and we are still being forced to bundled up in the below zero temperatures. I do have to say that it is s l o w l y getting warmer.... but it's not happening as fast as I would like it. I wish I had some secret powers to just make the snow disappear.
• Pot holes... honest to gawd, you can lose half your car in some of them. I particularly love the mornings where you are cruising down the 417 at lighting speed... eating your breakfast and all of sudden you hit a pot hot the size of Australia, and you think you need be rushed to the hospital because you're pretty sure you just bite off your own tongue. I hope the province has budgeted a lot of cash for road repairs this coming year... cause we are going to need it.
• Rrrrrrrrrrrooooll Up the Rim to Win (RUTRTW) season has been in operation for almost a month now. I don't frequent Timmy's like I use to ... but why would I these days? My luck has still not changed on this STUPID game! You may recall the extreme losing streak I was on last year around this time.... it appears I am destine to be a loser forever when it comes to RUTRTW, as I have yet to win a thing... nothing, nada, nil!
• Speaking of coffee.... have you tried the Honey Latte at Starbucks? I would highly recommend it... such a yummy treat in the middle of the afternoon, it may have infact just topped my regular Vanilla Latte!
• 4 day week/weekends.... now there is a concept I could get use to. I think these last two weeks have been the best work weeks I have had in a very long time. I mean... seriously, talk about work-life balance, I could definitively achieve that in 4 day increments... 4 days on, 4 days off, 4 days on! I think the Liberals should put a platform together for the next election that includes 4 day work weeks every week... and I am pretty sure they would win a majority government faster than you can spell 'hallelujah'!
• PC and I, PC BBQ'd for the first time this week... steak! It was such a good treat... he froze out in the garage while doing it, but it was well worth it! I think I want spring/summer to arrive just for BBQ season, meals are so much simpler during BBQ season... they take less thought, and there is much less clean up... I long for BBQ season to fully begin!
• Well... that's it that's all for today! I realized that I have totally slacked off on blogging this month... and I do have a few valid excuses for it, which I will hopefully get to on Monday... the last day of the month, and the last day of the fiscal year! Yee-haw folks.... bon weekend!

I hate my job equals bad customer service.

I am slowly getting sick of people who work at places like Subway, Tim Horton's, or the grocery store... who act like they hate their jobs, and display it so evidently while serving you.

Today I headed to the Subway in the Merivale Mall to grab a sub after finishing up a few quick errands. The lady serving me couldn't have been any more unpleasant. I have actually had her serve me before in the same manner. The first time, you wonder if she is just having a bad day - I mean everyone is entitled to one of those once and while, but now, after having been served 3 or 4 times by this same woman, I have come to realize she hates being a 'sandwich artist' and she doesn't give two hoots about whether the meat and vegetables you ask for, actually make it on the bun you choose.

Today... was no different. This woman is probably late 40s, and she looks as though she's had a bit of a rough life - I don't know this for certain, but the way she presents herself gave me plenty of ideas to work from. I understand that working at Subway probably wasn't at the top of her career aspirations, and no doubt she's only working there to pay the bills, but I have to wonder 'how is this my fault?'

Seriously... why is it that the customers always get the brunt of the bad service when the employee absolutely hates their job? If you hate your job so much, quit, and let somebody who actually wants to be there earning a pay check have the position - the world would be a far better place without somebody slapping on green tomatoes, and squirting way too much sub sauce my chicken, let me tell you!

Subway is not the only place I have noticed unhappy people serving the public. Tim Horton's is another establishment where you can discover unpleasant customer service, for no reason, other than the sheer fact that the employee hates their job. I mean, how hard is it put a few donuts in a box, and put some milk and sugar in a cup. Often times an unhappy employee will over flow your cup with coffee or milk, and then slap a lid on it while it spills out the sides, and then continue on providing shitty service to the next guy in line. I really can't stand this behaviour... as I said earlier 'is my fault this person doesn't like their job?'

Lately, I have added the grocery store as another place to discover poor customer service due unhappy employees. I have been bringing my own bags to the grocery store for over 5 months now, and while I realize it would be easier if one could just slap your groceries into the pre-hung plastic bags at the cash - this defeats the entire purpose of a reusable grocery bag.

However, the cashiers (who in my opinion have it pretty easy), seem to throw fresh veggies, meat, bread, and laundry detergent all in one bag, and then scatter the rest of your items among the remaining bags - sometimes only putting 2 or 3 items in one bag, in order to have to use the easier pre-hung plastic bags. And to top off the entire experience , this is all being done, while the young cashiers converse to one another about their evening plans 'like, I totally want to go to Dairy Queen for a blizzard, but like, it's soooooo cold out, like, I don't know if I will.'

Give me a break people.... what ever happen to good customer service? Mediocre to bad service is becoming the norm, or perhaps my standards are just to high for the type of society we are living in these days. I'm not sure anymore, but when I do experience good customer service, I am going to be writing to the company to let them know what a nice change it was to find a person who really enjoys their job and treats a customer like they appreciate their business!

What about you... have you received any bad customer service as of late? Do tell!

Cash Card Junkie

After years of publicly commenting on the fact that Tim Horton's need some sort of debit system or cash card, the decision makers at Tim's have heard my plea and finally did what is in the best interest of their customers - they've introduced the Tim Card - a reloadable cash card that can be used to make purchases at any Tim Horton's.

All I can say is... THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Although my stops at Timmy's are less frequent than in years past, I still feel this addition to the Tim Horton's payment options will go along way in pleasing Timmy's customers. We live in a society where convenience is a must... and the new Tim Card is very convenient for people like me, who never have any cash on them!

Long gone are the days when I NEED a coffee, but when I open my wallet I only have a few pennies floating around, and no cash on me. Usually, I am too stubborn to take a twenty out of an ABM just for a coffee, but I curse myself that I have left the house with no funds for java. I use to think that the above mentioned situation constituted as one 'very bad day' in the life of Sara Coleman, but now I can rest assured that the new Tim Card will indeed put an end to all future bad days in my life.

I love the fact that this new Tim Card will let me wander through day-to-day life without any money on me. The idea of looking in my wallet and not having a dime on me, yet not having to rush out to the nearest street corner in order to bag for money - this is the ideal life!

I think now that I've obtained the Tim Card, I may be joining an elite group of cash card junkies out there ... when I look in my wallet here's what I've got:

• The Tim Card
• The Subway Card
• The Starbucks Card
• The Second Cup Card

Notice that, 3 of my 4 cards are coffee cards... no I don't have a problem - I just want to ensure that I am able to purchase a coffee whenever. wherever. I. need. my. fix.

Do any of you use cash cards...? If so, which ones? Do you think you will be using the new Tim Card?

Large double double... Charge it!

I am somewhat shocked to see that Tim Horton's is now accepting MasterCard. They have gone right over debit and straight onto the ol' charge card. I have been lobbying for this change for almost a decade, and yet now that it's here, I don't think I will be using it.

The way it works is... if you make a purchase under $10 (which many of us do), you don't have to sign your signature, you can have your MasterCard's swiped or your pay pass scanned and stroll out with your double double, no questions asked! It's quicker than counting out your change, or waiting for the cashier to figure out the correct change. The idea is good... but I have two problems:

1. I don't have a MasterCard. I am a VISA girl, TD VISA to be exact. I use to have a MasterCard, but then canned it, as I thought who needs two charge cards... I like all my debt to be in one place, like an anchor... dragging along behind me to every. single. store. I visit.

2. I have stopped frequenting Tim Horton's on a daily basis.

(***GASP! A silence falls over the crowd***)


I know, I know... you can hardly believe this... but it's the honest truth. Since PC has been working back in the office, he is on a coffee kick. I always hated brewing a pot of coffee just for myself, but since he will take a cup now, it seems worth the effort to make coffee every morning. Although we brew Tim Horton's coffee at home, it's not the same as visiting an actual Tim Horton's, but making coffee at home has decreased the number of visits I make to Tim's in a week.

If this MasterCard pay pass business had been introduced when I was making daily trips to Tim's, back in the horrendous days of my French training, I think I would have ran naked down Rideau street over the whole thing. I can remember various occasions when I was short on change, and was desperate to scrounge up enough dimes and nickels to get my large coffee, half hot chocolate. I would literally consider asking for a quarter from a stranger, if it meant the difference between having a coffee in hand to go to French class, or walking in empty handed, on time, and grumpy! The pay pass would be the answer to all my prayers... but somehow, I am through that phase of my life.

Don't get me wrong, I am happy to see that Tim Horton's has evolved from it's CASH ONLY means of payment... but this change is long over due, and frankly I am little perturbed that it's taken this long to get beyond the borders of a single payment form.

Has anyone used their MasterCard at Tim Horton's? Are you happy to see that Tim's accepts a charge card for coffee and donuts?

Finally... I won!

All my faithful readers will be happy to know that tonight, FINALLY, I won a free coffee on Roooooooooooooll Up the Rim to Win. Of course it wasn't an easy win, I had to drive all the way to Maxville to get it - but really, who cares, I finally won.

Tomorrow, I plan to stroll into Tim's at the Rideau Centre and surprise the staff when I present my chewed and torn cup that says I won. I know they won't believe it because as I mentioned in a previous post, they strategically plan out the order of winning cups at that location, and they always ensure that I never get a winner. But... finally the losing streak is over. Who knows, maybe this is the beginning of a winning streak.... can I go 2 for 200 starting tomorrow?

Stay tuned!