TTAG has been promoting the Starbucks Buycott, which is greatly appreciated in terms of helping get the word out to a wide audience. One minor note, however: I’m not really on board with the paying with $2 bills. I’m not going to say it’s a bad idea, but nor do I think it’ll accomplish much in terms of influencing Starbucks. Corporate is the one that will make the decision about guns, and I can promise you what denominations people pay in isn’t among the things reported up through the chain of command. All paying in $2 bills is going to accomplish is making the person handling the money ask you for something else, or be annoyed they have to deal with an uncommon denomination. It’s not likely to percolate up to the decision makers. But Barron Barnett came up with a great variation on the two dollar bill idea that I think works:
Shove the 2 dollar bill in the tip jar. There will be 0 complaint for that. I can understand being annoyed if you were needing change. Taking their few remaining 1′s and giving them 2 dollar bills would be a PITFA.
Putting a 2 dollar bill in the tip jar and telling the Barista why would go a LONG way in putting a smile on their face.
I think that’s a pretty good idea, and I’ve actually done that to get rid of two dollar bills in the past. Everyone appreciates a tip, even if its in an oddball denomination. One thing I would encourage folks to do is take pictures of their receipts, post them online, and send a note to corporate along with a link to the receipt, telling them that you’re a gun owner, and you appreciate then staying out of the gun control debate. Don’t say you appreciate them being pro-gun or supporting the Second Amendment. The corporate guys at Starbucks don’t want to be pro-gun or anti-gun, and aren’t going to be comfortable being seen as either. What they want to do is sell more coffee, and a good way to do that is staying out of contentious political debates. What the Brady and NGVAC folks want them to do is take a stand, which is exactly what we don’t want them doing.
That is a good idea. I will have to do this.
Quoted to emphasize this.
My wife says I have my moments. I figure I’ll be useless now for the next year.
As I was just thinking about it though if the barista is on the fence it will help change their opinion of gun owners. We came in, spent money, and gave a tip, specifically because we like their corporations stance of just keeping out of this fight.
The corporation feels a pocket sweet from the rest of us spending money on the coffee. The barista doesn’t see any of that and his opinion may not be altered just by our presence. The tip can easily help them reevaluate their position if they’re on the fence or even with the other side. When we smile, thank them, and give them money for their service, money that is theirs not the corporations, that is a big bonus.
As we say, “Winning hearts and minds.” I see this as a pretty solid way to help win hearts and minds on numerous levels. Our side has the upshot of being pretty dang generous, it rubs off and has a habit of making people more receptive and question falsehoods they may have been told.
Odd, I’ve never had trouble spending or receiving $2 bills. Now if someone wants to complain about my Obama picture $3 bills, that’s another matter…
I’ve only ever owned two $2 bills, ever, and those were given to me on birthdays as a child.
Had no idea that they were in wide-enough circulation for something like this to be possible.
I think the idea of using the $2.00 bill to tip and “…telling them that you’re a gun owner, and you appreciate then staying out of the gun control debate. Don’t say you appreciate them being pro-gun or supporting the Second Amendment. The corporate guys at Starbucks don’t want to be pro-gun or anti-gun, and aren’t going to be comfortable being seen as either.” is a much better idea than paying with a $2.00 bill and should be the way to go.
Great idea.
NukemJim
Somewhere, I’ve got small quarter sized NRA stickers. Adding them to you 2 dollar bill would add a hint for those clueless Gen Zero baristas.