tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post414911092936368678..comments2024-03-28T20:50:27.862-04:00Comments on EV Grieve: Three Seat Espresso will close by the end of 2019 on Avenue A; founder blames StarbucksUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-84106849548660192352019-10-21T12:00:21.418-04:002019-10-21T12:00:21.418-04:00Wow. If we could only use all this anger and figh...Wow. If we could only use all this anger and fight against the closure of the east river park. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-91655536539250033862019-10-21T01:02:28.003-04:002019-10-21T01:02:28.003-04:00@5:17pm: Another round of "how Europe/Scandin...@5:17pm: Another round of "how Europe/Scandinavia/wherever is sooooo much more advanced than the USA" - no thanks! Somehow you link cashless-ness with having a better society, better health care, and better education? Seriously, your reasoning escapes me on that.<br /><br />You ask "why is cashless a hot topic?" Well, give it a minute's thought, and maybe you'd realize that it flies in the face of everything most of us do when we go shopping, which is to spend cash! The supermarket isn't cashless, nor is the post office, the doctor's office, the hair salon, the nail shop, the shoe repair place, the corner deli. And people who do not have a credit/debit card are left out entirely, so it discriminates against the poor.<br /><br />IMO, there's no REAL reason for a business to refuse cash other than having a lazy owner and/or trying to be trendy. Cashless is NOT better; it's exclusionary and snobby.<br /><br />Many of us do NOT want our purchases tracked. Further, how good is security at these cashless terminals? If the terminal or system gets hacked, that costs the customers a LOT of time & aggravation.<br /><br />And, watching college students charge EVERYTHING from a pack of gum to a cab ride, I have to wonder what their bill looks like at the end of the month ... or does the Bank of Mom & Dad simply take care of all that?<br /><br />For myself, I definitely do not want to get a credit/debit statement for cab rides that I took weeks ago and barely remember, nor for a month's worth of whatever else I might buy & consume.<br /><br />Listen, if everyone has decided that cash is useless, please send the cash you don't want to your favorite charity. But for most of us over the age of 30, cash will never go out of style ... even though some of the cashless stores very well may go out of business because they won't take our money!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-4621390563075732712019-10-20T18:51:55.675-04:002019-10-20T18:51:55.675-04:00Bottom line: I never, ever saw a reason to patroni...Bottom line: I never, ever saw a reason to patronize this place. I loathe $tarbux and their coffee, but I never even realized that 3 Seats got rid of the barber shop gimmick so I never bothered. Now I see that my indifference was justified.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-66320724057931091032019-10-20T18:41:38.555-04:002019-10-20T18:41:38.555-04:00I came on here to say my biggest issue with this p...I came on here to say my biggest issue with this place was that it didn't accept cash, but I see that's been covered! While I had an issue with them not taking cash, I did patronize this place a few times, but it was also pricey, and I could rarely get a seat. The barber concept wasn't appealing to me as someone who was going to there to get something to drink. Open a barber shop or a coffee shop. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-42851776422690782852019-10-20T17:17:18.456-04:002019-10-20T17:17:18.456-04:00My goodness. Why is going cashless such a hot top...My goodness. Why is going cashless such a hot topic? If they don't accept cash, then find somewhere that does. There are numerous places that will happily take your cash. I fail to understand why many are so bent out of shape. I just spent the summer in Stockholm. And yes, most places don't take cash as one commenter said. I also visited Denmark and Finland too. Very few places took Euros. I didn't see people there showing concern or discord. We could use some lessons with how they treat others and how they manage money. They are far ahead in health care, education, and commerce not to mention other areas. <br /><br />I wish the employees in the cafe the best and hope they find adequate employment elsewhere. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-15688913364303427992019-10-20T14:12:12.663-04:002019-10-20T14:12:12.663-04:00I think Bagel Guy says it all. EOS.
I think Bagel Guy says it all. EOS.<br /><br />Edmund Dunnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-81487804670512146732019-10-19T21:52:23.441-04:002019-10-19T21:52:23.441-04:00I boycott cashless businesses, and if I didn't...I boycott cashless businesses, and if I didn't realize a place was cashless before I set foot in the door, I walk right out. <br /><br />I know most people prefer the ease and cleanliness of a cashless store, so I accept that this is how the future will play out. (And yes, I went into 3 Seats once, tried to pay with cash, and swore I'd never go there again.)<br /><br />Still, sorry to see them go.Scuba Divahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10326884503725331349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-70674759185955974582019-10-19T20:03:12.486-04:002019-10-19T20:03:12.486-04:00One does not see Southern Cross Coffee and Frisson...One does not see Southern Cross Coffee and Frisson Espresso blame Starbucks or anyone other coffee shops or stores with their closings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-12224499793798933582019-10-19T19:16:19.435-04:002019-10-19T19:16:19.435-04:00@12:03 Any employee can steal. And it's usuall...@12:03 Any employee can steal. And it's usually the ones you think you'd never have to worry about. Too tempting. And the ways people come up with would astound even Einstein. Theft should , and usually is, built into your biz plan. That said, I'd rather some college kid or kitchen guy knick me for a twenty here and there than fork 5pct of net over to the banks. Margins in this business are already super tight. Chase , Amex, Capital One and Visa are not my partners. They didn't put their lives on the line to open my first store. Quite the opposite. They laughed me out the door when I needed start up money. My goal is to keep the doors open, pay my staff a living wage, and put my daughter through college. The $90,000 a year Ave A saves on fees goes a long way towards making sure that all happens. In my opinion the greatest scam perpetrated against the American small business person over the past 25 years is that they are obligated to help fund debt culture and kick 5 percent over to the banks. It's part of the reason you see so many shuttered storefronts. It's also why places like 3 Seats had to charge such high prices for smaller sized portions. BagelGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155261136809679167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-78165381730378172832019-10-19T18:44:17.662-04:002019-10-19T18:44:17.662-04:00@2:13pm: Exactly! And may I say, as an older perso...@2:13pm: Exactly! And may I say, as an older person, my cash is as good as a 20-something's debit card. I have valid credit & debit cards, and I use a nice iphone, but I am NOT going to patronize a cashless place, end of story.<br /><br />There are a number of businesses near where I live that are cashless and they get ZERO dollars from me. Those proprietors haven't the faintest idea how much money I and my neighbors would otherwise be spending in their shops; IMO, they ought to get their heads out of the cashless-ness sand!<br /><br />It would be interesting to see a tally (a new project, EVGrieve?) showing which places are totally cashless and which are not, and tracking how long before they go out of business.<br /><br />IMO, the most successful places ALL take cash! For example, Joe's Pizza on 14th takes cash & the line there is frequently out the door. Whereas Martina's is gone!<br /><br />Think about TJ's, Whole Foods, and even McDonald's: can you imagine any of them cashless? They all take cash - and for good reason!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-68391198165574956362019-10-19T18:21:29.572-04:002019-10-19T18:21:29.572-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.BagelGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155261136809679167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-54065519483231396622019-10-19T14:13:17.308-04:002019-10-19T14:13:17.308-04:00Cashless? What happens when your phone runs out of...Cashless? What happens when your phone runs out of juice? How do they take payments when their internet connection goes down? How do they sell anything if theres another blackout? I guess they don't want the elderly, people without credit cards or smartphones. kids, or new immigrants to spend money there either, and now they won't have to.Billsvillenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-69018459389116731172019-10-19T14:09:57.688-04:002019-10-19T14:09:57.688-04:00While they generally had good reviews on Yelp, I ...While they generally had good reviews on Yelp, I usually look at the bad reviews first to see if there are any red flags before visiting. This review from Aimee S. was posted on Yelp a week ago. No wonder they are closing.<br /><br />"I'm confused why this cafe has such a high average rating. Visited for breakfast and was thoroughly disappointed. Here's an itemized list of every substandard aspect:<br />1. The wait for our food was incredibly long. They're understaffed. <br />2. The coffee was watered down and tasted burnt. My friend tossed it on our walk out the door. <br />3. The strawberry banana smoothie was flavorless. <br />4. The seating was cramped, as there was a massive, unused chest freezer sitting adjacent to one of the few tables. <br />5. The avocado toast was lackluster: dry bread with some sliced avocado and very poorly made scrambled eggs, littered with copious amounts of black pepper, plopped on top. <br />6. The bagel for the bagel sandwich was stale as if it had been made "fresh" about 4 days prior. <br /><br />Overall, the worst experience I've ever had at a cafe in the entirety of NYC. Thankful I'm able to leave a poor review so, eventually, this cafe can be replaced with another, better one. <br /><br />Oh, and there were certainly more than three seats not an apt name, guys."More Than 3 Seatsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-56617657913312861732019-10-19T13:32:23.933-04:002019-10-19T13:32:23.933-04:00I never patronize 'cashless' places. If my...I never patronize 'cashless' places. If my money is no good to them, they don't get my business - it's just that simple.<br /><br />And I would have thought that in NYC's small-business environment, any smart business person would want as much $$ as they can get. If you are cashless, you can't even IMAGINE how much revenue you're losing. A smart person would want maximum income, which would absolutely include accepting cash. As to employee theft, how much are the employees stealing?? You're still making more money by accepting cash even if your employees take some of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-34815371234946120112019-10-19T13:31:47.024-04:002019-10-19T13:31:47.024-04:00Countries such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden are 8...Countries such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden are 80-90% cashless now, so it does work in some places. However, in the US, where credit card debt, student loans and mortgages are already high, I wonder if the cashless society will lead to more unfettered spending and higher debt. Paying cash keeps me more aware of how much money I’m frittering away on non-necessities and helps keep my spending in check.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-4313891147240055202019-10-19T13:28:23.642-04:002019-10-19T13:28:23.642-04:00@12:03pm: How about those of us who CHOOSE to pay ...@12:03pm: How about those of us who CHOOSE to pay cash? I don't want my purchases tracked, I don't want my info commodified every time I buy a coffee or a salad, and the more places that have my credit/debit card number, the greater the chance that one of their systems gets hacked and then I have a problem FAR MORE time-consuming than buying a coffee or salad.<br /><br />Further, every dollar bill says it is LEGAL TENDER for all debts, public and private, in this country. So why should my cash not be acceptable?<br /><br />The problem, IMO, is people who can't figure out how to identify counterfeit money, or who can't hire the right kind of employees. But I think if you begin with the idea that the employees are all going to be on the take, the hiring process is already twisted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-24999693383700576272019-10-19T12:03:16.277-04:002019-10-19T12:03:16.277-04:00On the contrary, I prefer cashless. I have manage...On the contrary, I prefer cashless. I have managed two local food businesses in the west and east village that only accepted cards because of the proliferation of counterfeit bills and internal theft from staff. It was really the only way we could be sustained. There were a couple of exceptions we took cash when a guest had a complete emotional breakdown, but it was very rare. I do feel for those whom might not have access to credit/debit or those whom simply choose not to use due to interest rates and fees. I understand how a few might deem it discriminatory for certain groups of people. But this is almost 2020. I rarely use cash anymore. I always use my debit card and credit cards. It's easier. I will probably get a lot of shit on here for expressing my thoughts considering the train of comments refuting such a practice, but I thought it was worth a shot in providing a different POV. Have a great weekend! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-40962967541194148832019-10-19T10:17:02.883-04:002019-10-19T10:17:02.883-04:00It's a lazy excuse to blame Starbucks. I stopp...It's a lazy excuse to blame Starbucks. I stopped going to this place because they wouldn't accept cash. I don't go to Starbucks either, so can't blame that. Considering how many people in this immediate area don't use credit cards for myriad reasons, it was poor business planning to not accept cash. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-85180193293753542702019-10-19T10:04:48.668-04:002019-10-19T10:04:48.668-04:00Why is this cashless issue/debate wreaking such ha...Why is this cashless issue/debate wreaking such havoc in our community? I had no idea it would upset so many people. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-55441937600910977922019-10-18T23:37:35.562-04:002019-10-18T23:37:35.562-04:00While a few businesses are cashless, far more acti...While a few businesses are cashless, far more actively discourage card use by imposing minimums and surcharges.<br /><br />PeterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-38359893229745136132019-10-18T20:24:30.575-04:002019-10-18T20:24:30.575-04:00Cashless is weird (and yes classist and yes untrus...Cashless is weird (and yes classist and yes untrusting of employees). This place was expensive and not that good. The vibe/crowd was offputting and elitist. Impossibly high retail rents is most likely the real problem for all of the above. Blame Starbucks all you want but there are plenty of other cafes thriving in proximity to Starbucks in NYC. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-87227095549081694512019-10-18T19:01:27.202-04:002019-10-18T19:01:27.202-04:00Never felt like the place bothered to embrace the ...Never felt like the place bothered to embrace the community. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-62691579144757760942019-10-18T17:14:56.928-04:002019-10-18T17:14:56.928-04:00And yes. It is a royal pain in the ass to get chan...And yes. It is a royal pain in the ass to get change and make deposits. But it’s a sacrifice I will gladly make to keep that money I’m my businesses pocket. BagelGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155261136809679167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-65708904487183923402019-10-18T17:13:48.878-04:002019-10-18T17:13:48.878-04:00@anon 4:59 Not true at all. You can negotiate a v...@anon 4:59 Not true at all. You can negotiate a very favorable situation with a local bank as we did with Capital One. No deposit fees no change fees. But even when I was at Chase and they hit me with the fees you speak of , it was minuscule next to the $80,000 a year I’d have to pay in fees at my Ave A store. People can do what they like. Me , I’d rather put that money towards paying my staff a fair living wage with bonuses and out the rest towards the upkeep of my shop. BagelGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155261136809679167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-90131607910676624392019-10-18T17:13:33.072-04:002019-10-18T17:13:33.072-04:00Starbucks is just FINE with me. They also treat th...Starbucks is just FINE with me. They also treat their Employees well. So a Big FU and Good Riddance to the others (including this guy who is closing) if you dont like itKarlnoreply@blogger.com