The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[theKB]

Originally Posted by Changing City

But not impossible.

This gives me memories of these upstanding citizens walking out of the old MEC location with bikes.

One would think an Ikea couch box may be actually tougher than an assembled one.

[TwoFace]

Originally Posted by Changing City

But not impossible.

I love this part ... crime pays

"The suspects were identified but have since been released as there is not enough evidence to hold them, police said"

[whatnext]

Did you know Vancouver's only unionized Starbucks is the one on Dunbar? Countdown until they close that one.

Meet the 20-Year-Old Who Unionized a Vancouver Starbucks
Secrecy, suspicion and Steelworkers. Inside an organizing drive at the anti-union coffee chain.
Zak Vescera Yesterday TheTyee.ca

It started when Frédérique Martineau had a bad day at work.

Martineau was working a tough shift at the Starbucks on 29th and Dunbar in an affluent part of Vancouver’s west side. The store was understaffed. Martineau, the supervisor, said she couldn’t even take breaks. “I didn’t have time. So I would just give my breaks to the baristas working with me,” she said.

She and a colleague got talking, and an idea popped up. What if they unionized?

Months later, Martineau’s workplace became the first Starbucks in Vancouver to successfully unionize since the late 2000s, part of a new wave of labour organizing at the coffee giant’s stores across North America....

....But unionizing a Starbucks is no easy thing. The company is opposed to union organizing.

When it learned of the campaign, Martineau said she and her colleagues were interrogated.

Since successfully unionizing in February, they’ve been denied a significant annual raise Starbucks has given to all its non-union employees in British Columbia. The union has filed a complaint at the Labour Relations Board alleging this is an unfair labour practice....

https://thetyee.ca/News/2023/05/10/20-Year-Old-Unionized-Vancouver-Starbucks/

[SpongeG]

one of the problems with unions in such jobs is the extra you may make just goes to union dues

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

one of the problems with unions in such jobs is the extra you may make just goes to union dues

It depends on the union. There are also numerous benefits that aren't just hourly wage. Union dues are tax deductible too.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

It depends on the union. There are also numerous benefits that aren't just hourly wage. Union dues are tax deductible too.

Considering the benefits that starbucks employees are already entitled to I still find it surprising that there is a push to unionize.

I could see starbucks rolling out these "pickup only" stores in Vancouver in the near future, given the lower staffing requirements and smaller footprint (especially with our ridiculous real estate prices and crazy commercial property taxes).

https://www.intheknow.com/post/starbucks-pickup-only-stores-mobile-order/

The adoption of mobile ordering is explosive. In 2021 mobile (ordering and payment) accounted for 26 percent of sales.

https://www.geekwire.com/2021/quarter-starbucks-orders-u-s-now-paid-smartphone/

I would assume as AI and robotics continue to advance the fast food workforce will continue to be phased out. People will still enjoy the interaction involved in a sit down coffee shop and this is where their reserve and roastery concepts flourish but with the majority of coffee transactions being on the go I can't see these actions being sustainable (for the employees).

The location at broadway and cambie has a pick up window, I am surprised we haven't seen dedicated pickup locations yet especially in transit hubs and around the downtown core.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by theKB

Considering the benefits that starbucks employees are already entitled to I still find it surprising that there is a push to unionize.

I agree Starbucks seems like a decent place to work, I was only responding to the point about union dues.

Originally Posted by theKB

I would assume as AI and robotics continue to advance the fast food workforce will continue to be phased out. People will still enjoy the interaction involved in a sit down coffee shop and this is where their reserve and roastery concepts flourish but with the majority of coffee transactions being on the go I can't see these actions being sustainable (for the employees).

The location at broadway and cambie has a pick up window, I am surprised we haven't seen dedicated pickup locations yet especially in transit hubs and around the downtown core.

Coffee prep, especially the cold Starbucks drinks, still require a lot of effort from people.

Funny about the new Cambie and Broadway location. They do have that window, but nobody uses it. The drinks all sit inside and people come in to grab them normally.

If you stand at the window, somebody will help you, but it's not the norm for mobile orders.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I agree Starbucks seems like a decent place to work, I was only responding to the point about union dues.



Coffee prep, especially the cold Starbucks drinks, still require a lot of effort from people.

Funny about the new Cambie and Broadway location. They do have that window, but nobody uses it. The drinks all sit inside and people come in to grab them normally.

If you stand at the window, somebody will help you, but it's not the norm for mobile orders.

Cold drinks are no problem for these beverage robots! Surprised Vancouver has yet to see any of these automated kiosks especially with the real estate costs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKhSFh0QrnE

With that said I would assume the reduction in staff would be those required for chashiers, cleaning customer facing areas etc.

I would assume starbucks isn't manning that due to staffing constraints - frankly if they elimited the cashier entirely that would be the way to go and have them solely handling pickups.

----

In other news.

Aburi group seems to be taking over the CRU at the kengo kuma building on Alberni. Not sure if it looks like a new restaurant concept or another Aburi Market.

**did not notice this was already posted in the restaurant thread a few days ago... oops

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by theKB

Considering the benefits that starbucks employees are already entitled to I still find it surprising that there is a push to unionize.

I could see starbucks rolling out these "pickup only" stores in Vancouver in the near future, given the lower staffing requirements and smaller footprint (especially with our ridiculous real estate prices and crazy commercial property taxes).

https://www.intheknow.com/post/starbucks-pickup-only-stores-mobile-order/

The adoption of mobile ordering is explosive. In 2021 mobile (ordering and payment) accounted for 26 percent of sales.

https://www.geekwire.com/2021/quarter-starbucks-orders-u-s-now-paid-smartphone/

I would assume as AI and robotics continue to advance the fast food workforce will continue to be phased out. People will still enjoy the interaction involved in a sit down coffee shop and this is where their reserve and roastery concepts flourish but with the majority of coffee transactions being on the go I can't see these actions being sustainable (for the employees).

The location at broadway and cambie has a pick up window, I am surprised we haven't seen dedicated pickup locations yet especially in transit hubs and around the downtown core.

When did Starbucks start adding a tip feature when paying?!

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by whatnext

When did Starbucks start adding a tip feature when paying?!

It's been on the app forever. The nice part is you get asked after your order, so you can actually tip on service if you need to.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by whatnext

When did Starbucks start adding a tip feature when paying?!

First time I noticed that was in Kelowna a few weeks ago but the new PoS terminals seems to be hitting all stores. I guess since they have the tip jar it was inevitable.

[SpongeG]

a former staples in Surrey is going to be a Coop Food store

2023-05-14_01-44-53 by snub_you, on Flickr

[SpongeG]

tipping through the Starbucks ap has been there a long time, a few years at least.

Almost all fast food restaurants have the tip option come up now. At a KFC before they handed us the terminal the guy asked if we want to tip and we said no so he had to remove the option before giving it to us at the drive thru.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

It's been on the app forever. The nice part is you get asked after your order, so you can actually tip on service if you need to.

This wasn’t on the app. I was paying at a drive-thru with a debit card.

[Conrad Yablonski]

This AM @ the Granville Island Terra Breads I noticed staff were smiling extra-hard (if you didn't know the place is notorious for treating staff like something nasty on a shoe).

Sure enough I was handed a new POS machine that was a nightmare to navigate unless I was 'throwing down large' in terms of tips-this in a place where they take a piece of bread put it in a bag and hand it to you.

The cashier finally rescued me quaking in her boots all the while I guess she'd been hearing about it already; I never actually said anything just pitched my voice a little flatter/deeper said 'Thank You' and vowed it would be a while before I returned.

[memememe76]

I haven't been to the Granville Island location in ages, but their other branches serve made-to-order meals. It's not just a scone and away you go.

[dreambrother808]

If you’re angry because there’s a tip OPTION, for people working jobs that struggle to pay the bills in a very expensive world, your problem is you.

Lots of people are happy to tip. That’s what it’s for, to make it easier for them.

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

If you’re angry because there’s a tip OPTION, for people working jobs that struggle to pay the bills in a very expensive world, your problem is you.

Oh shut your mouth I'm not taking on any guilt about how awful capitalism is.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

If you’re angry because there’s a tip OPTION, for people working jobs that struggle to pay the bills in a very expensive world, your problem is you.

Lots of people are happy to tip. That’s what it’s for, to make it easier for them.

Do you tip at McDonald's?

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Do you tip at McDonald's?

I sometimes tip and sometimes don’t. Like I said, it’s an OPTION and if the mere existence of that bothers you, I suggest that you spend time working one of those jobs and living off that wage,