Bye Bye 'Bou
Over the years I have devoted a few posts to the trivia questions you can answer at Caribou Coffee. For those with poor memory and not from the Twin Cities, here is a review. You go into Caribou, order your drink, and if you answer their trivia question correctly, you get ten whopping cents off your drink.
Only a hyper-competetive freak would worry about these questions, see how many consecutive questions he can answer correctly, and argue with the cashier when he or she tells him his answer is wrong.
Hey, that would describe me. Just click here or here if you need a refresher.
So we'll call President-On-Currency-Gate and CapeHornGate STRIKE ONE against Caribou.
So about six months ago, I went into the Caribou in Highland Park on my way to work. The trivia question was "What basketball legend is used as the model for the NBA logo?" Awesome I think. My streak is up to seven. Here's what went down after that.
Me: I'll get a large light roast, and the answer to the trivia is Jerry West.
Cashier: Ooooooh... sorry (all sympathetic like). It's Pete Maravich.
Me: No it's not. It's Jerry West.
Cashier: I know. Everyone keeps saying that, but it's Pete Maravich.
Me: Everyone keeps saying that because it's the right answer.
Cashier: Sorry.
Me: Pete Maravich played for LSU and the New Orleans Jazz and he died young. His nickname was "Pistol Pete." Jerry West's nickname is "The Logo." There's a reason he has that nickname.
Cashier: Sorry. I can only go by what the card says.
Me: Then you should change the question to "What random basketball star from the 1970s is on this card?"
And, yes I know I should have let this go about two conversational turns ago. I'm holding up the line. I'm arguing over a dime. I really only want to get my consecutive correct answers streak up to double digits again. And well, I'm being an asshole.
So I relent. Pay my extra dime. But I'm keeping score here. That's STRIKE TWO on Caribou. I swore off Caribou trivia after that ugly episode. After that even when I knew the answer, I wouldn't participate. I just don't need the stress in my life.
And then on Monday I went to Caribou with two crumpled dollar bills in my pocket. I ordered my usual large coffee and was charged $2.03. Say what?
Cashier (not my enemy from logogate): We raised our prices over the weekend.
Well, Caribou will haveto reach that coveted price point without me. I had to go out to my car and get a dime from the change holder.
A buck ninety-three for coffee? No problem. But more than two bucks? Not unless I'm going to sit down with friends to enjoy the conversation and atmosphere.
So they upped their price a dime. What is it with me and dimes at this place?
But think about this. The dime discount for trivia has been in effect since I moved here over 11 years ago. A large coffee was around $1.50. It was worth your time. So their trivia discount should be proportional to their price increase. Is fifteen to twenty cents too much to ask?
I guess so. Over $2.00 for black coffee. STRIKE THREE.
I usually buy coffee at the coffee shop once or twice during the weekdays and once on the weekend. Now I am going to make sure I make my coffee at home five to six days a week. And if I do have to buy coffee during the workweek it will be at SuperAmerica. It only costs $1.06 there.
And they don't have trivia.
7 comments:
It's a tough one, isn't it? I feel like a cheapskate whenever I answer the trivia, like the people behind me think the only reason I answer is to save the dime. And I'd feel proud if it was a quarter or something, but the dime just makes me feel like a dip. Especially when the bullshitty questions appear and I have to argue with them about it. So a couple of months ago I decided to stop answering the trivia, because it made me feel like a dork. Now what I do is say, as I'm paying, "so what's the answer to the trivia?" And they tell me, and I can keep a mental tab of my winning streak (which, sadly, has never seen the double digits)...
Still, I think your falling-out with Caribou is sad. Since they probably know you well, you should just ask if they'll sell you the coffee for two bucks. I bet they would. Not that it changes the principle of the thing.
Last time I went to Caribou with a friend, she answered the question wrong, was told the right answer, and then when I ordered, obviously I had the correct answer. Is that wrong? I didn't know the correct answer ahead of time, but I still took advantage of the situation. Should I have given my friend a nickel?
you are a man of principle. and that NBA trivia fiasco is unbelievable! i'm boycotting the bou on your behalf. even though i don't drink coffee.
I totally agree about the price being over $2. They told me, we only raised our prices 1% while Starbucks raised their prices 2%
I've started using my own mug and paying like $1.55. A few years ago, you could use your own mug for $1. Those were the days!!!
Hmmm, making coffee at home... Let's see, you save $1/day for $280 work days/year. That adds up to what $35K for retirement???? That is one less year you have to work at Caribou once you retire...
Juice: My divorce with Caribou is not all that sad. It as actually a relationship that was having one of those long, drawn out ugly break-ups. In fact, I've been cheating on Caribou as my love for Minnehaha Cofffee in our neighborhood trumps Caribou. Basically, Caribou was just a marriage of convenience for me. It wason my way to work, and MC was a few blocks in the other direction.
Nathan: I've had a similar issue with the trivia: when the person before me gets it right, and it's obvious I heard the answer. What do I do? I would have answered correctly anyway, but now I look like a cheater.
Ang: If you find a cause for me to boycott that I don't partake in anyway (Boycott the luge!), I got your back.
Chad: I need to do the mug thing. The really lame thing is I get to work and I pour my coffee right into a travel mug and toss the cup. I'm lame like that. Mother Earth is pissed.
Yeah bit if I work at Caribou Kirk I'll know all the answers to the trivia. Think of all the money I'll save on that! Let's see. In 2040, coffee will $15.00 a cup and the discount will still be a dime.
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