Why am I so mad at Teavana lately? Is it because I have to steel myself for a hard sell before I walk through the door? I feel like such a jerk because I have to shut the persistant sales associates down when they try to sell me over-sized tins and pounds of tea at a time. It’s unfortunate because I love to learn about new teas, but I feel almost afraid to ask any questions lest I be subjected to a long sales pitch.
My most recent visit was particularly edgy because I had misread a forum thread, and I was convinced that the Tevanaites were adding sugar to the dry tea they sell. My husband said I had a crazy look in my eye and I believe it. I was going confront those tea posers about ruining pefectly good tea. Well, it turns out that they add sugar to their tea samples but not the actual dry tea you buy. I’m glad to know this because I really do enjoy a few of Teavava’s teas, and I was ready to write them off with my sugar misunderstanding.
I’m pleased that I purchased both Youthberry and Wild Orange Blossom. This white tea and herbal combo make a fantastically refreshing iced tea. Yes, it’s a super fruity tea but I make no bones about loving fruity teas. It’s hot like the surface of the sun in these parts, so a refreshing iced tea really hits the spot.
People who liked this
Comments
I recently placed an order online (first and possibly last) and they sent a free sample of these two dry teas blended with their rock sugar. I don’t think they sell the tea that way, but it is not just the samples in store. It is occasionally in the free samples they send with web orders, too. I still have the sample unopened, because I am not sure how I feel about brewing with the sugar in there from the start.
I agree with you on the feeling that you have to steel yourself just to go in. I hate shopping to begin with. Just the possibility of uncomfortable shopping keeps me away.
Taryn, you’re right. I’ve worked retail before as well, and certain companies defiantly do push the hard sell. It’s just so off-putting, and I do wish that HQ would realize that return customers are the foundation of any good business and alienated customers will take their business elsewhere. David’s Tea needs to open shop state-side :)
Jen, they really love that f’n German rock sugar don’t they?! I just placed an order online order for an iced tea steeping pitcher, and a 1oz tea sample with rock sugar was listed on my order confirmation. I at least appreciate that they were completely upfront about adding sugar to the sample they were sending. AND hey, why don’t they ever offer take home samples when you make a purchase in store??? I’d like my sample sans sugar of course :)
I hate shopping as well. If Teavana weren’t right next to Sur La Table… I’d probably never go in. Ahhh, the power of tea madness!
My Sur La Table is next to Anthropologie and Trader Joe’s, with Penzey’s Spices just around the corner. Heaven.
Teavana, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, A Southern Season, Williams-Sonoma, all are more than an hour away for me…nearly two hours for some of them! Fortunately, we go that way pretty often, sometimes for hubby’s work, sometimes taking our kids to the airport. Wish we had more like that really close to us.
Jen, Oh the trouble I get into at Anthropologie! For someone who hates to shop, I sure love that place. Penzey’s Spices sounds like a dangerous place for me too.
ashmanra, maybe the distance is a blessing in disguise :) Although, it is good to have a Trader Joes and Whole Foods close by.
We don’t have an Anthropologie, but hubby had a business trip and was near one and brought me the cutest milk glasses! You are right, the distance is a blessing! I would be broke all the time! We take a cooler of ice sometimes to bring special groceries home in. I did finally realize that our local more upscale than the rest grocery store had a lot of the same items and I was just unwilling to pay their price for it, whereas when I am out of town it seems like a treat and I buy it. So now I just buy one or two special cheeses or something locally instead of going wild when we go out of town.
I recently placed an order online (first and possibly last) and they sent a free sample of these two dry teas blended with their rock sugar. I don’t think they sell the tea that way, but it is not just the samples in store. It is occasionally in the free samples they send with web orders, too. I still have the sample unopened, because I am not sure how I feel about brewing with the sugar in there from the start.
I agree with you on the feeling that you have to steel yourself just to go in. I hate shopping to begin with. Just the possibility of uncomfortable shopping keeps me away.
Taryn, you’re right. I’ve worked retail before as well, and certain companies defiantly do push the hard sell. It’s just so off-putting, and I do wish that HQ would realize that return customers are the foundation of any good business and alienated customers will take their business elsewhere. David’s Tea needs to open shop state-side :)
Jen, they really love that f’n German rock sugar don’t they?! I just placed an order online order for an iced tea steeping pitcher, and a 1oz tea sample with rock sugar was listed on my order confirmation. I at least appreciate that they were completely upfront about adding sugar to the sample they were sending. AND hey, why don’t they ever offer take home samples when you make a purchase in store??? I’d like my sample sans sugar of course :)
I hate shopping as well. If Teavana weren’t right next to Sur La Table… I’d probably never go in. Ahhh, the power of tea madness!
My Sur La Table is next to Anthropologie and Trader Joe’s, with Penzey’s Spices just around the corner. Heaven.
Teavana, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, A Southern Season, Williams-Sonoma, all are more than an hour away for me…nearly two hours for some of them! Fortunately, we go that way pretty often, sometimes for hubby’s work, sometimes taking our kids to the airport. Wish we had more like that really close to us.
Jen, Oh the trouble I get into at Anthropologie! For someone who hates to shop, I sure love that place. Penzey’s Spices sounds like a dangerous place for me too.
ashmanra, maybe the distance is a blessing in disguise :) Although, it is good to have a Trader Joes and Whole Foods close by.
We don’t have an Anthropologie, but hubby had a business trip and was near one and brought me the cutest milk glasses! You are right, the distance is a blessing! I would be broke all the time! We take a cooler of ice sometimes to bring special groceries home in. I did finally realize that our local more upscale than the rest grocery store had a lot of the same items and I was just unwilling to pay their price for it, whereas when I am out of town it seems like a treat and I buy it. So now I just buy one or two special cheeses or something locally instead of going wild when we go out of town.