Headed back home from Heathrow Airport after a lovely vacation, I stopped at the Pret A Manger for a quick pre-flight bite. When I got to the cash register, I noticed this awesome sticker — concise, honest, and, best of all, empathetic. VAT NIGHTMARE We’re legally required to add on VAT when you eat in. [Keep Reading…]
Photo of the day: Back in 30 minutes
Time has always bothered me; I don’t really believe in it. It’s a human invention, a representation of reality. Now the passage of time, that’s something I can believe in. You can feel it. You can measure it. But it’s always, ALWAYS, relative to something else. Like when you’re in the train station waiting for [Keep Reading…]
Undercover Boss: Just How Badly is Your Company Screwing Itself
Undercover Boss is one of my favorite new shows. Why? Because we desperately need to encourage upper management to get in touch with what’s really going on inside their companies. The right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing, and it’s harming employees just as much as customers, if not more. I was [Keep Reading…]
The NEW Frappuccino: however-you-want-it
From middle school through college, I was obsessed with Starbucks. Five-times-a-week obsessed. Then five years ago I realized that I was spending $1,500 a year on coffee, quit cold turkey, and haven’t had a drop since. Part of me also hated the evil empire it has become. In middle school when the first Starbucks opened [Keep Reading…]
Photo of the day: Penn Station, Charging Station
I’ve found myself at Penn Station quite a lot lately. You see, I’m working on the project of a lifetime with Happy Cog Philadelphia, so I visit by train from time-to-time. A few weeks ago I observed some unusual behavior: I’ve passed by this column dozens of times when I walk into the Amtrak area [Keep Reading…]
Domino’s Pizza: Be Inspired By Your Harshest Critics
We all know that Domino’s Pizza isn’t exactly a New York slice. But when Domino’s finally realized just how many people hate their product, they did something drastic about it. Watch the video below. Whatever you think about Domino’s Pizza, whatever you feel about the brand, you have to admit one thing: it takes a [Keep Reading…]
Photo of the day: LLUP to open
Peace & Love Café is one of my favorite local spots. They’ve got free wi-fi, amazing sandwiches, and lots of comfy seating. The perfect alternative to a Starbucks. And how can that name not make you feel great? I’ve been going to Peace & Love for several years, and always noticed that their inner door [Keep Reading…]
Resolution Found with the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
I’m impressed. Within 12 hours from my initial complaint to the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel about their sub-par conditions, I had received an email apologizing for the discontent. Then within 20 minutes of my response today (to follow), we have received a refund for one night. I am very pleased with the outcome and the [Keep Reading…]
The Sheraton Responds!
[This is an update on the disappointing conditions I recently experienced at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel.] Within 12 hours of my critical survey submission to TNS Global — the vendor who handles Sheraton’s customer satisfaction surveys — I received the following email from Sheraton’s Manager of Experience Engineering. I’m really glad they’re listening. Read [Keep Reading…]
The Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel is a hot mess
Allow me to preface this rant by saying that the organizers of IDEA 2009 are in no way responsible for the poor accommodations and service at the Sheraton Center Toronto Hotel. Though it was the hotel recommended on the conference website and at which a group discount was provided, there is no way that the [Keep Reading…]