# Cold Stone ice cream assholes **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 4, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504 "2007-03-04T03:16:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/41 "2007-03-04T06:24:59Z")
[QUOTE=justpassingthrough] Hey **Gabe** , how busy was the shop when you tried to order? [/QUOTE] Not as busy as I’ve seen it before, but I was the only person in line at the time. > [@Dr. Rieux](#): > > No, the stuff on the wall is combinations of ice cream and mix-ins. > If you want to see the actual ice cream flavors, look at what’s in the freezer right in front of you. But I ORDERED what they had on the wall by name (minus some of the bullshit words in the name), why couldn’t they just SELL me some? > [@Elza B](#): > > and save the “I’m the customer, do what I want or I’ll leave!” bullshit? That’s how business works! Within reason of course. I was not overly demanding or rude, I just ordered something I saw for sale, and they made it unduly difficult. > [@jayjay](#): > > I can’t fault CynicalGabe for not enjoying that experience. I can fault him for apparently wanting CSC to be Blue Bunny. What the heck is Blue Bunny? It’s not like Brown Bunny is it? 🙂 > [@Vinyl Turnip](#): > > Hey, and you notice how in the movies when someone goes into a bar and says “gimme a beer,” they never ask what kind? They just fill a mug and slam it on the bar. > > I appreciate the simplicity, even though in real life that’d most likely mean it was Budweiser. I do that! But only at my favorite pub, where they actually CAN read my mind, and they know that if I want something other than a Stella, I’ll ask for it. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/42 "2007-03-04T06:29:56Z")
Blue Bunny is a brand of ice cream available at the grocery store. You can pick and choose the flavors you want without having to play Coldstone Creamery’s tricky mind games. The frickin’ bastards. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/43 "2007-03-04T06:49:00Z")
[QUOTE=CynicalGabe] What the heck is Blue Bunny? It’s not like Brown Bunny is it? 🙂 [/QUOTE] Heh. If Blue Bunny were like Brown Bunny, they’d be selling anatomically correct Vincent Gallo popsicles… ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/44 "2007-03-04T07:53:07Z")
[QUOTE=Captain\_C] But then again, I’ve been chastised by friends for my apathetic ordering practices before. For example, I’m the guy who will walk up to a subway and tell the employee “Just give me whatever you personally would eat here for lunch”. I figure they probably eat there more than I do, so they know what is good and what isn’t better than I would. Using this method I’ve found many new things I like that I would have never tried on my own. Do service people hate this? Seems to me after hours of boring specific instructions, a bit of free-willed creativity would be kind of fun. [/QUOTE] Well, I didn’t exactly hate it, _per se_, but back in 1979, when I waited tables at a Spire’s restaurant on the graveyard shift, there was this B-I-I-I-G biker dude who used to come in at 3:30 in the morning, plop himself on a stool at the counter, and say, “Feed me.” He was a pretty easy-going fella, affable, friendly with the guy who delivered the pies; probably his presence had more to do with our never being robbed then the fact that Torrance P. D. had a patrol car or two that took their lunch break there. But the first time he came in and said “Feed me,” I damn near shit myself. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/45 "2007-03-04T08:23:42Z")
Had CSC twice. Both times it was overpriced and only OK. Looks better than it tastes. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/46 "2007-03-04T12:34:03Z")
I refuse to go to Cold Stone Creamery because they make their workers sing for tips, and that seems needlessly humiliating. But you, my friend, need to chill. They have no way of knowing what you were actually looking for, and if they guessed wrong you’d probably complain. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/47 "2007-03-04T12:58:30Z")
Nothing against **Cynical Gabe** , but I think the complaint in the OP is on a par with the famous row about [dryer lint](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=269863) (the good stuff kicks off on page 2). ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/48 "2007-03-04T13:24:38Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] Calling a [substance which includes](http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/nutrition_ingredients.html) Guar gum, Cellulose Gum, Carageenan, Mono & Diglycerides and polysorbate 80 a “Super-Premium Ice Cream” does not strike me as terribly honest. Does the stuff even melt when it gets warm? [/QUOTE] Holy crap: I suggest anyone who wants to consume saccharine pap until they feel queasy just read that website for a bit. > [@](#): > > At Cold Stone Creamery, we consider ourselves fortunate to be in the “people business.” Who wouldn’t get a thrill out of serving up a Founder’s Favorite or a Cold Stone Creation™ dreamed up by the wild imagination of an excited 5-year old peering at us through the glass? The fact is, smiling is contagious around here. You might even say we’re really in the “smiles” business. Feeling left behind by the new ice cream revolution? Try this: > [@](#): > > We admit it. We do use quite a few ICL-isms (that’s Ice Cream Lover-isms) around here. Visit our [Cold Stone Glossary](http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/about/cold_stone_glossary.html) to get “in the know.” See? In no time you’ll be ordering Cold Stone Original™ Creations™ like a pro, and will soon be having the _Ultimate Ice Cream Experience_®! Heck, you’ll probably like it so much you’ll want to “audition” for a job there! None of this means you should go in there and hassle the employees because the business model annoys you, of course, but sweet zombie Jesus, that website makes me want to go outside and punch a nun. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/49 "2007-03-04T13:27:01Z")
[QUOTE=even sven] But you, my friend, need to chill. They have no way of knowing what you were actually looking for, and if they guessed wrong you’d probably complain. [/QUOTE] And you, my friend, need to learn to read. They were clearly and specifically told what he wanted: [quote=CynicalGabe ] I ordered what I thought was a simple enough request: “A waffle cone with one scoop of Mint Chip and one scoop of Cookie Dough”. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/50 "2007-03-04T14:10:39Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] Calling a [substance which includes](http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/nutrition_ingredients.html) Guar gum, Cellulose Gum, Carageenan, Mono & Diglycerides and polysorbate 80 a “Super-Premium Ice Cream” does not strike me as terribly honest. [/QUOTE] That would explain why it has a funky aftertaste. If I wanted funky aftertaste, I’d by the cheapass 5 gallon bucket of generic shit at the grocery store. ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/51 "2007-03-04T15:00:23Z")
If his order _wasn’t_ clear enough (peppermint ice cream with chocolate? mint chips in vanilla?), the person behind the counter should have asked questions to lead him to the proper answer. If one of my servers had given a customer grief about not ordering the right way, she’d be in quite a bit of trouble. I can’t even imagine if I went into a restaurant and ordered myself a meal that came with a steak and my choice of potato, and then the server looked at me blankly and said, “We can’t do that. We make every plate to order.” The _proper_ response is, “And how would you like your steak? Home fries or baked?” True, maybe that level of customer service is asking a little much from someone in a CSC, but hell, even in McDonald’s they ask what kind of dressing you want with your salad. They wouldn’t just look at you blankly and say you ordered wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/52 "2007-03-04T15:01:27Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana] It melts very quickly, and has terrible guar-y mouth-feel. _Consumer Reports_ pointed out that the ice cream itself isn’t very good, and is really just a base for the add-ins. [/QUOTE] I’d like to find out for myself, but the singing thing puts me off. Quite frankly, if what you say is true, I’ll stick with Ben and Jerry’s. Or visit [Klavon’s](http://www.klavonsicecream.com/). (Warning-their site has plug-ins for midis, so it might freeze your browser-I opened it with Netscape, and that seemed to work). Unfortunately, for those outside of the Pittsburgh area, you may have to stick with B&J. Still, I might try it, just to see what all the fuss is about. I wonder if I can pay them NOT to sing… ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/53 "2007-03-04T16:23:23Z")
[QUOTE=Captain\_C] But then again, I’ve been chastised by friends for my apathetic ordering practices before. For example, I’m the guy who will walk up to a subway and tell the employee “Just give me whatever you personally would eat here for lunch”. I figure they probably eat there more than I do, so they know what is good and what isn’t better than I would. Using this method I’ve found many new things I like that I would have never tried on my own. [/QUOTE] The problem with this is that while I’m sure that you are cool and laid back and will be cool with whatever they give you, a lot of people wouldn’t be. They’ll _say_ “Just give me whatever you personally would eat here for lunch” but then: [ul] [li]Get a vegetarian worker and say, “Hey, why isn’t there meat in here? What the hell?”[/li][li]Get something they dislike and say, “I _hate_ olives, don’t use those! What’s wrong with you?”[/li][li]“I’m _allergic_ to onions! YOU CAN’T PUT ONIONS ON THERE!”[/li][li]Get a roast beef sub and say, “Oh, well I’ve been cutting down on my red meat and didn’t want beef.”[/li][/ul] Yes, it clearly goes against the spirit of “gimme whatever”, but people do that kind of shit a LOT. And so while in theory it’d be fun to have “creative rein”, chances are you’d end up being bitched at because it wasn’t what they wanted. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/54 "2007-03-04T16:39:40Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] Still, I might try it, just to see what all the fuss is about. I wonder if I can pay them NOT to sing… [/QUOTE] I’ve considered offering to put $5 in the tip jar if they refrain from singing the entire time I am in the establishment. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/55 "2007-03-04T16:43:52Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke] That would explain why it has a funky aftertaste. If I wanted funky aftertaste, I’d by the cheapass 5 gallon bucket of generic shit at the grocery store. [/QUOTE] Glad I’m not the only one who dislikes this crap. It also has a gluey texture that is unpleasant. We have a local outfit called Hot Licks that is far superior to Cold Stone. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/56 "2007-03-04T17:04:14Z")
[QUOTE=Regallag\_The\_Axe] But, sir, you forget the mind set of the person behind the counter. Said mindset is, if I recall with correctness, ‘Well, fuck it. They don’t pay me enough to care about the customers happiness.’ [/QUOTE] I certainly understand that mindset. I hope they likewise understand mine, so there is no confusion over why, when I see a “tip jar” displayed on the counter at a restaurant/coffeehouse/etc. staffed by eye-rolling Gen-Y zombies, I usually respond with an eye-roll of my own (or bitter laughter, depending on just how diffident and undeserving of reward the service happens to be). I’m a good tipper, but I’m not giving Suzy Nosering a lagniappe for stuffing my bagel in a bag and tossing it on the counter, never pausing her soliloquy to Tommy Tribaltats on last night’s clubbing exploits long enough to like, acknowledge my existence, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/57 "2007-03-04T17:10:43Z")
I accept and embrace that their ice cream kinda sucks, and is over priced. But where else can I find cake batter ice cream with graham cracker in it? (in denver) ---
**Author:** ![Charger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@Charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charger)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/58 "2007-03-04T17:13:38Z")
There are a lot of hoops I’d jump through just to get some cake batter ice cream. Mmmm…glahglahglahglah. My only complaint is that they make you regret putting a tip in the jar, which is why I never do. I think if you have a bad experience there, toss a penny into that jar on your way out. I always get the feeling that tippers need to apologize to the employees, because the singing thing has got to be hell. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/59 "2007-03-04T17:31:29Z")
[QUOTE=CynicalGabe] Mind you, on their big list-o-flavors that are their specialties up on the fucking wall, is one called “Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip” and another one “Cookie Dough and brownie bullshit”. [/quote] I am so NEVER ordering that last flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504/60 "2007-03-04T17:40:58Z")
[QUOTE=CynicalGabe] Jamba Juice forgot to give me my pretzel along with my shake. [/QUOTE] This made me laugh out loud. God forbid some 17-year old kid busy fretting over 100 other people’s drink orders forget your pretzel. Maybe you could have, I don’t know, uh… asked for it? I know that’s probably a crazy idea that offends your trendy mad cool hip edgy concept of customer service though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-stone-ice-cream-assholes/394504.md?page=4)