Dear Howard Schultz (Chairman and CEO of Starbucks)…

Dear Mr. Schultz (Chairman and CEO of Starbucks),

First of all I would like to thank you for your company and products. I appreciate the ability to spin around 3 times and  face one of your establishments when I stop.  I also appreciate the ability to use all of those $5 bills I have cluttering my wallet on a Venti Cafè Americano.

What I DON’T appreciate is watching 3 cars in your drive-thru being serviced for every one customer inside.  Look, I actually parked my car (in the designated spot) and walked into your store to make my purchase.  I can tell you’ve spent a lot of money trying to impress me and liberate more $5 bills from my wallet.  You’re a business, I get that.  Sometimes it works!

I find it absolutely infuriating to place my order and watch drink after drink from the “outside” be processed in front of mine.  You always have twice as many Baristas working that tiny little window than you do the big expansive counter.

The little treats you put out for me are a nice touch but the guy in front of me always seems to have taken the last one.  The sole employee manning the inside counter is too busy helping the window to notice.  As a point of reference I actually SAVE you labor costs as I put my own flair in my drink at the little self serve counter!

All I’m asking for is a little respect when I enter your store, after all, I’m taking the time to enjoy the “experience” and I might even stick around and visit for a while.  I assume that was your intention when you started oh so many years ago.

Please Mr. Schultz, please consider the customer who cares.  The customer who sees, and buys, all of those leftover holiday items in January to free up shelf space for the Spring Collection.  The customer who uses your free wireless services you have invested in.  The customer who cares enough to bring this matter to your attention.

Five Blades Really Are Better Than Three!

After a LONG run with the Mach-3 I decided to take a chance with the newest crop of razor systems on the market.  I picked up a Gillette Fusion Power razor at the local megamart & gave it a try.

I must admit I was pretty skeptical that this “new and improved” razor would be any better than my current kit.

I’m a firm believer that shave prep is what makes the difference.  I always shave in the shower after letting by shave cream of choice do it’s magic.

The Fusion razor has 5 tightly spaced blades on the front and a single blade on the back for those hard to reach places.  The Power model has a vibrating handle that is supposed to make the razors work even better.

To be honest it was love at first stroke.  There was a noticeable difference in the feel of this razor as opposed to the 3-blade unit I’ve been using for years.  The initial thought was that I was not applying enough pressure.  It just did not feel like it was doing anything.

I quickly found out it was not only doing something it was doing it with far less effort than I’ve ever had to use before!  I’m a pretty meticulous shaver and I actually ended up overdoing it.  Afterward I did have a slight case of razor burn but that was my own fault.  Subsequent uses have cured that problem  (as did a liberal use of Zirh Sooth) & I’m growing more and more impressed with this razor every day.

If you are growing tired of your current shaving regimen and you’re looking for a change, check out the Gillette Fusion series of razors.  Like anything in the shaving world, the refills are where Gillette makes their money.  I’ve read online that people are getting over a month out of each cartridge.  I can live with that!  I’ll plan on reporting back later this year with a long-term review of the Gillette Fusion Power razor.