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tea gallery
tea gallery
my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the
tea gallery on allen street today-
our experience was less than satisfactory- i had heard so many good
things about this teashop-but we were very disapponted-
instead of being graciously invited into the tea shop we were treated
rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this was not offered to
us-we
were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we did not want anything
for free
this was not what we were expectng-Michael Plant and friends always
have good things to say about the the tea gallery-
we left and wlll not return-
joanne r. aka jpr54
my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the
tea gallery on allen street today-
our experience was less than satisfactory- i had heard so many good
things about this teashop-but we were very disapponted-
instead of being graciously invited into the tea shop we were treated
rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this was not offered to
us-we
were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we did not want anything
for free
this was not what we were expectng-Michael Plant and friends always
have good things to say about the the tea gallery-
we left and wlll not return-
joanne r. aka jpr54
Re: tea gallery
> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the tea
> gallery on allen street today-
> our experience was less than satisfactory- i had heard so many good things
> about this teashop-but we were very disapponted-
> instead of being graciously invited into the tea shop we were treated
> rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this was not offered to us-we
> were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we did not want anything for
> free this was not what we were expectng-Michael Plant and friends always
> have good things to say about the the tea gallery-
> we left and wlll not return-
> joanne r.
Joanne,
Hup ho, I see my name!
Sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear to the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been more productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you mention? The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of it. Again, sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no financial interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. (Joanne's post can be read elsewhere.)
Michael
> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the tea
> gallery on allen street today-
> our experience was less than satisfactory- i had heard so many good things
> about this teashop-but we were very disapponted-
> instead of being graciously invited into the tea shop we were treated
> rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this was not offered to us-we
> were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we did not want anything for
> free this was not what we were expectng-Michael Plant and friends always
> have good things to say about the the tea gallery-
> we left and wlll not return-
> joanne r.
Joanne,
Hup ho, I see my name!
Sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear to the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been more productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you mention? The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of it. Again, sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no financial interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. (Joanne's post can be read elsewhere.)
Michael
Re: tea gallery
On Jul 20, 5:28 pm, Michael Plant <mpl...@pipeline,com > wrote:
> > my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the tea
> > gallery on allen street today-
> > our experience was less than satisfactory- i had heard so many good things
> > about this teashop-but we were very disapponted-
> > instead of being graciously invited into the tea shop we were treated
> > rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this was not offered to us-we
> > were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we did not want anything for
> > free this was not what we were expectng-Michael Plant and friends always
> > have good things to say about the the tea gallery-
> > we left and wlll not return-
> > joanne r.
>
> Joanne,
> Hup ho, I see my name!
> Sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear to the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been more productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you mention? The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of it. Again, sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no financial interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. (Joanne's post can be read elsewhere.)
> Michael
I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
type of experiences did u have have? Beside calling ahead of time-what
should I expect-
everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then leave or do u
sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea?
I apologize-i t was not my intent to imply that u were an owner-just
a customer- and someone whose opinions i value-
On Jul 20, 5:28 pm, Michael Plant <mpl...@pipeline,com > wrote:
> > my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the tea
> > gallery on allen street today-
> > our experience was less than satisfactory- i had heard so many good things
> > about this teashop-but we were very disapponted-
> > instead of being graciously invited into the tea shop we were treated
> > rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this was not offered to us-we
> > were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we did not want anything for
> > free this was not what we were expectng-Michael Plant and friends always
> > have good things to say about the the tea gallery-
> > we left and wlll not return-
> > joanne r.
>
> Joanne,
> Hup ho, I see my name!
> Sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear to the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been more productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you mention? The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of it. Again, sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no financial interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. (Joanne's post can be read elsewhere.)
> Michael
I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
type of experiences did u have have? Beside calling ahead of time-what
should I expect-
everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then leave or do u
sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea?
I apologize-i t was not my intent to imply that u were an owner-just
a customer- and someone whose opinions i value-
Re: tea gallery
> I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
> type of experiences did u have have?
You should have an enjoyable, pleasant experience, after all, you're
the customer, right?
In China, lots of stores sell tea only. Some sell only tieguanyin.
Some sell only puer. Some sell tea and tea ware. Some stores sell tea
ware only. Some do wholesale and retail. Any of these stores will
invite you in to drink some tea - may not be good tea, but ok. And the
sales people just sit and chat and chat, all the while brewing tea.
> everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then leave or do u
> sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea?
I find it odd that in tea stores in Canada - they don't want to talk
to you. Their sales people! But they never talk. They just say: "This
tea is good. This tea is good."
If a store actually wants you to sample, (because each person's
preferences are different - and you have to cater to those), then
there should be no problem sampling this and that tea, and, during the
course of sampling, the sales staff should try to explain various
things, and sell you tea.
Oh, but the really 1 good shopping experience I had was in a Chinese
shopping mall - and the owner was very helpful - explaining everthing
to me - all in Cantonese, which I can speak anyway, so no problem
there. And after I bought some tea, she threw in some free stuff,
which I asked for, but was willing to buy. So that was kind of nice.
I think the business model for tea stores in North America is very
different from that in China. Some stores sell tea and tea ware, and
then they have seating space where you can order a cup of tea, like at
The Tea Emporium in Toronto. Then there are some that do tea tastings
(for the novices that don't know much about tea), and then there are
those that actually run tea courses. That's very different from the
business model in China.
> I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
> type of experiences did u have have?
You should have an enjoyable, pleasant experience, after all, you're
the customer, right?
In China, lots of stores sell tea only. Some sell only tieguanyin.
Some sell only puer. Some sell tea and tea ware. Some stores sell tea
ware only. Some do wholesale and retail. Any of these stores will
invite you in to drink some tea - may not be good tea, but ok. And the
sales people just sit and chat and chat, all the while brewing tea.
> everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then leave or do u
> sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea?
I find it odd that in tea stores in Canada - they don't want to talk
to you. Their sales people! But they never talk. They just say: "This
tea is good. This tea is good."
If a store actually wants you to sample, (because each person's
preferences are different - and you have to cater to those), then
there should be no problem sampling this and that tea, and, during the
course of sampling, the sales staff should try to explain various
things, and sell you tea.
Oh, but the really 1 good shopping experience I had was in a Chinese
shopping mall - and the owner was very helpful - explaining everthing
to me - all in Cantonese, which I can speak anyway, so no problem
there. And after I bought some tea, she threw in some free stuff,
which I asked for, but was willing to buy. So that was kind of nice.
I think the business model for tea stores in North America is very
different from that in China. Some stores sell tea and tea ware, and
then they have seating space where you can order a cup of tea, like at
The Tea Emporium in Toronto. Then there are some that do tea tastings
(for the novices that don't know much about tea), and then there are
those that actually run tea courses. That's very different from the
business model in China.
Re: tea gallery
Once or twice a year I visit Seattle for several days, and when I do,
I make it a point to visit three tea vendors: Seattle Best, Typhoon
Thai Restaurant, and The Floating Leaf. They have remarkably
different approaches.
At Seattle Best, if I sit down to drink tea, I will listen to a
powerful and protracted sales presentation, the goal of which is to
have me pay a premium price for Taiwanese high mountain oolong.
Usually, I do not make a purchase. Instead, I leave a sizable tip in
the tip jar. If I do make a purchase, I walk out with a few ounces of
incredibly expensive oolong (and sometimes, buyer’s remorse). At
Typhoon, I order tea from a three-page tea menu before ordering a
delicious lunch of Thai food. The tea comes in a big, metal pot, and
the wait staff refills the teapot with hot water as necessary. The
tea is fun, the restaurant cool and relaxing, the food great.
Typhoon’s tea is not by any means inexpensive. At Floating Leaves, I
ask the proprietor at the front counter about the dozen or so
excellent teas on the list and choose one to drink in-house. I take a
seat at a table, and the friendly proprietor brings a gaiwan, cups,
kettle, and water heater. I prepare the tea myself, and I pay the
hefty bill as I leave. If I want, I can purchase dry tea leaves to
carry out.
I’ve been to New York City twice, and I met both times with the owners
of The Tea Gallery. They knew several weeks in advance I was going to
visit. They could not have been more kind, solicitous, and patient.
Different businesses have different models. Sometimes teashops open
late. Joanne—what time did you visit? Right after they opened their
doors and as they were setting up for the day? You say they were
rude. Did they call you names? Even in my own small town, sometimes
I cannot get a haircut unless I call in advance. ~grasshopper
Once or twice a year I visit Seattle for several days, and when I do,
I make it a point to visit three tea vendors: Seattle Best, Typhoon
Thai Restaurant, and The Floating Leaf. They have remarkably
different approaches.
At Seattle Best, if I sit down to drink tea, I will listen to a
powerful and protracted sales presentation, the goal of which is to
have me pay a premium price for Taiwanese high mountain oolong.
Usually, I do not make a purchase. Instead, I leave a sizable tip in
the tip jar. If I do make a purchase, I walk out with a few ounces of
incredibly expensive oolong (and sometimes, buyer’s remorse). At
Typhoon, I order tea from a three-page tea menu before ordering a
delicious lunch of Thai food. The tea comes in a big, metal pot, and
the wait staff refills the teapot with hot water as necessary. The
tea is fun, the restaurant cool and relaxing, the food great.
Typhoon’s tea is not by any means inexpensive. At Floating Leaves, I
ask the proprietor at the front counter about the dozen or so
excellent teas on the list and choose one to drink in-house. I take a
seat at a table, and the friendly proprietor brings a gaiwan, cups,
kettle, and water heater. I prepare the tea myself, and I pay the
hefty bill as I leave. If I want, I can purchase dry tea leaves to
carry out.
I’ve been to New York City twice, and I met both times with the owners
of The Tea Gallery. They knew several weeks in advance I was going to
visit. They could not have been more kind, solicitous, and patient.
Different businesses have different models. Sometimes teashops open
late. Joanne—what time did you visit? Right after they opened their
doors and as they were setting up for the day? You say they were
rude. Did they call you names? Even in my own small town, sometimes
I cannot get a haircut unless I call in advance. ~grasshopper
Re: tea gallery
>>> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the tea
>>> gallery on allen street today- our experience was less than
>>> satisfactory- i had heard so many good things about this teashop-but we
>>> were very disapponted- instead of being graciously invited into the tea
>>> shop we were treated rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this
>>> was not offered to us-we were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we
>>> did not want anything for free this was not what we were
>>> expectng-Michael Plant and friends always have good things to say about
>>> the the tea gallery- we left and wlll not return- joanne r.
>> Joanne, Hup ho, I see my name! Sorry to hear about your unpleasant
>> experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a
>> sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear to
>> the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea
>> because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been more
>> productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you mention?
>> The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of it. Again,
>> sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no financial
>> interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. Michael
> I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
> type of experiences did u have have? Beside calling ahead of time-what
> should I expect- everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then
> leave or do u sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea?
> I apologize-i t was not my intent to imply that u were an owner-just a
> customer- and someone whose opinions i value-
Yes, I realize you know that I don't own the shop; that was a standard disclaimer for people whose minds that thought might have crossed. You are right on one count at least: The Tea Gallery does not fit easily into any of the usual business models. It is also possible that the owner was having a difficult day since the behavior you describe is not usual with him. As had been mentioned by others, they do not serve cups of tea or glasses of iced tea; instead they prepare tea in a traditional Chinese way, which requires patience and time. It is for that reason I suspect that Michael offered you a tea session (at the usual fee) rather than a cup of tea. I agree that these things might have been made clearer for you and your guests.
Michael
>>> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the tea
>>> gallery on allen street today- our experience was less than
>>> satisfactory- i had heard so many good things about this teashop-but we
>>> were very disapponted- instead of being graciously invited into the tea
>>> shop we were treated rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this
>>> was not offered to us-we were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we
>>> did not want anything for free this was not what we were
>>> expectng-Michael Plant and friends always have good things to say about
>>> the the tea gallery- we left and wlll not return- joanne r.
>> Joanne, Hup ho, I see my name! Sorry to hear about your unpleasant
>> experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a
>> sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear to
>> the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea
>> because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been more
>> productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you mention?
>> The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of it. Again,
>> sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no financial
>> interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. Michael
> I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
> type of experiences did u have have? Beside calling ahead of time-what
> should I expect- everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then
> leave or do u sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea?
> I apologize-i t was not my intent to imply that u were an owner-just a
> customer- and someone whose opinions i value-
Yes, I realize you know that I don't own the shop; that was a standard disclaimer for people whose minds that thought might have crossed. You are right on one count at least: The Tea Gallery does not fit easily into any of the usual business models. It is also possible that the owner was having a difficult day since the behavior you describe is not usual with him. As had been mentioned by others, they do not serve cups of tea or glasses of iced tea; instead they prepare tea in a traditional Chinese way, which requires patience and time. It is for that reason I suspect that Michael offered you a tea session (at the usual fee) rather than a cup of tea. I agree that these things might have been made clearer for you and your guests.
Michael
Re: tea gallery
On Jul 22, 4:44 pm, Michael Plant <mpl...@pipeline,com > wrote:
> >>> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the tea
> >>> gallery on allen street today- our experience was less than
> >>> satisfactory- i had heard so many good things about this teashop-but we
> >>> were very disapponted- instead of being graciously invited into the tea
> >>> shop we were treated rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this
> >>> was not offered to us-we were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we
> >>> did not want anything for free this was not what we were
> >>> expectng-Michael Plant and friends always have good things to say about
> >>> the the tea gallery- we left and wlll not return- joanne r.
> >> Joanne, Hup ho, I see my name! Sorry to hear about your unpleasant
> >> experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a
> >> sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear to
> >> the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea
> >> because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been more
> >> productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you mention?
> >> The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of it. Again,
> >> sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no financial
> >> interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. Michael
> > I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
> > type of experiences did u have have? Beside calling ahead of time-what
> > should I expect- everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then
> > leave or do u sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea?
> > I apologize-i t was not my intent to imply that u were an owner-just a
> > customer- and someone whose opinions i value-
>
> Yes, I realize you know that I don't own the shop; that was a standard disclaimer for people whose minds that thought might have crossed. You are right on one count at least: The Tea Gallery does not fit easily into any of the usual business models. It is also possible that the owner was having a difficult day since the behavior you describe is not usual with him. As had been mentioned by others, they do not serve cups of tea or glasses of iced tea; instead they prepare tea in a traditional Chinese way, which requires patience and time. It is for that reason I suspect that Michael offered you a tea session (at the usual fee) rather than a cup of tea. I agree that these things might have been made clearer for you and your guests.
> Michael
I am disappointed with Michael's explanation-
I was asking him for his experience when he goes to the tea gallery?
On Jul 22, 4:44 pm, Michael Plant <mpl...@pipeline,com > wrote:
> >>> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the tea
> >>> gallery on allen street today- our experience was less than
> >>> satisfactory- i had heard so many good things about this teashop-but we
> >>> were very disapponted- instead of being graciously invited into the tea
> >>> shop we were treated rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this
> >>> was not offered to us-we were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we
> >>> did not want anything for free this was not what we were
> >>> expectng-Michael Plant and friends always have good things to say about
> >>> the the tea gallery- we left and wlll not return- joanne r.
> >> Joanne, Hup ho, I see my name! Sorry to hear about your unpleasant
> >> experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a
> >> sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear to
> >> the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea
> >> because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been more
> >> productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you mention?
> >> The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of it. Again,
> >> sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no financial
> >> interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. Michael
> > I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
> > type of experiences did u have have? Beside calling ahead of time-what
> > should I expect- everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then
> > leave or do u sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea?
> > I apologize-i t was not my intent to imply that u were an owner-just a
> > customer- and someone whose opinions i value-
>
> Yes, I realize you know that I don't own the shop; that was a standard disclaimer for people whose minds that thought might have crossed. You are right on one count at least: The Tea Gallery does not fit easily into any of the usual business models. It is also possible that the owner was having a difficult day since the behavior you describe is not usual with him. As had been mentioned by others, they do not serve cups of tea or glasses of iced tea; instead they prepare tea in a traditional Chinese way, which requires patience and time. It is for that reason I suspect that Michael offered you a tea session (at the usual fee) rather than a cup of tea. I agree that these things might have been made clearer for you and your guests.
> Michael
I am disappointed with Michael's explanation-
I was asking him for his experience when he goes to the tea gallery?
Re: tea gallery
On 07/27/2008 12:32:09 joannepr@gmail,com wrote:
>>>> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the
>>>>> tea gallery on allen street today- our experience was less than
>>>>> satisfactory- i had heard so many good things about this teashop-but
>>>>> we were very disapponted- instead of being graciously invited into the
>>>>> tea shop we were treated rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of
>>>>> tea-this was not offered to us-we were asked f we wanted tea tastng at
>>>>> $24 --we did not want anything for free this was not what we were
>>>>> expectng-Michael Plant and friends always have good things to say
>>>>> about the the tea gallery- we left and wlll not return- joanne r.
>>>> Joanne, Hup ho, I see my name! Sorry to hear about your unpleasant
>>>> experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a
>>>> sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear
>>>> to the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea
>>>> because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been
>>>> more productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you
>>>> mention? The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of
>>>> it. Again, sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no
>>>> financial interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. Michael
>>> I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
>>> type of experiences did u have have? Beside calling ahead of time-what
>>> should I expect- everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then
>>> leave or do u sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea? I
>>> apologize-i t was not my intent to imply that u were an owner-just a
>>> customer- and someone whose opinions i value-
>> Yes, I realize you know that I don't own the shop; that was a standard
>> disclaimer for people whose minds that thought might have crossed. You
>> are right on one count at least: The Tea Gallery does not fit easily into
>> any of the usual business models. It is also possible that the owner was
>> having a difficult day since the behavior you describe is not usual with
>> him. As had been mentioned by others, they do not serve cups of tea or
>> glasses of iced tea; instead they prepare tea in a traditional Chinese
>> way, which requires patience and time. It is for that reason I suspect
>> that Michael offered you a tea session (at the usual fee) rather than a
>> cup of tea. I agree that these things might have been made clearer for
>> you and your guests. Michael
> I am disappointed with Michael's explanation- I was asking him for his
> experience when he goes to the tea gallery?
I am sorry my thoughts "disappoint" you; others had answered your question admirably well, and I felt, and feel, no need to reiterate. Visiting The Tea Gallery is always a delightful experience for me, even at those times when the owners do not have time to sit down and prepare tea. The shop is so full of wonderous teaware and tea, I enjoy just browsing on occasion. (Did you notice the five foot shelf of tea and teaware books? They are out in full view.) In other words, I go with the flow. You can treat tea shops as you like. No more on this topic from me.
Michael
On 07/27/2008 12:32:09 joannepr@gmail,com wrote:
>>>> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the
>>>>> tea gallery on allen street today- our experience was less than
>>>>> satisfactory- i had heard so many good things about this teashop-but
>>>>> we were very disapponted- instead of being graciously invited into the
>>>>> tea shop we were treated rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of
>>>>> tea-this was not offered to us-we were asked f we wanted tea tastng at
>>>>> $24 --we did not want anything for free this was not what we were
>>>>> expectng-Michael Plant and friends always have good things to say
>>>>> about the the tea gallery- we left and wlll not return- joanne r.
>>>> Joanne, Hup ho, I see my name! Sorry to hear about your unpleasant
>>>> experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a
>>>> sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear
>>>> to the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea
>>>> because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been
>>>> more productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you
>>>> mention? The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of
>>>> it. Again, sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no
>>>> financial interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. Michael
>>> I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
>>> type of experiences did u have have? Beside calling ahead of time-what
>>> should I expect- everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then
>>> leave or do u sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea? I
>>> apologize-i t was not my intent to imply that u were an owner-just a
>>> customer- and someone whose opinions i value-
>> Yes, I realize you know that I don't own the shop; that was a standard
>> disclaimer for people whose minds that thought might have crossed. You
>> are right on one count at least: The Tea Gallery does not fit easily into
>> any of the usual business models. It is also possible that the owner was
>> having a difficult day since the behavior you describe is not usual with
>> him. As had been mentioned by others, they do not serve cups of tea or
>> glasses of iced tea; instead they prepare tea in a traditional Chinese
>> way, which requires patience and time. It is for that reason I suspect
>> that Michael offered you a tea session (at the usual fee) rather than a
>> cup of tea. I agree that these things might have been made clearer for
>> you and your guests. Michael
> I am disappointed with Michael's explanation- I was asking him for his
> experience when he goes to the tea gallery?
I am sorry my thoughts "disappoint" you; others had answered your question admirably well, and I felt, and feel, no need to reiterate. Visiting The Tea Gallery is always a delightful experience for me, even at those times when the owners do not have time to sit down and prepare tea. The shop is so full of wonderous teaware and tea, I enjoy just browsing on occasion. (Did you notice the five foot shelf of tea and teaware books? They are out in full view.) In other words, I go with the flow. You can treat tea shops as you like. No more on this topic from me.
Michael
Re: tea gallery
On Jul 27, 4:52 pm, Michael Plant <mpl...@pipeline,com > wrote:
> On 07/27/2008 12:32:09 joann...@gmail,com wrote:
>
>
>
> >>>> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the
> >>>>> tea gallery on allen street today- our experience was less than
> >>>>> satisfactory- i had heard so many good things about this teashop-but
> >>>>> we were very disapponted- instead of being graciously invited into the
> >>>>> tea shop we were treated rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of
> >>>>> tea-this was not offered to us-we were asked f we wanted tea tastng at
> >>>>> $24 --we did not want anything for free this was not what we were
> >>>>> expectng-Michael Plant and friends always have good things to say
> >>>>> about the the tea gallery- we left and wlll not return- joanne r.
> >>>> Joanne, Hup ho, I see my name! Sorry to hear about your unpleasant
> >>>> experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a
> >>>> sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear
> >>>> to the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea
> >>>> because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been
> >>>> more productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you
> >>>> mention? The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of
> >>>> it. Again, sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no
> >>>> financial interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. Michael
> >>> I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
> >>> type of experiences did u have have? Beside calling ahead of time-what
> >>> should I expect- everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then
> >>> leave or do u sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea? I
> >>> apologize-i t was not my intent to imply that u were an owner-just a
> >>> customer- and someone whose opinions i value-
> >> Yes, I realize you know that I don't own the shop; that was a standard
> >> disclaimer for people whose minds that thought might have crossed. You
> >> are right on one count at least: The Tea Gallery does not fit easily into
> >> any of the usual business models. It is also possible that the owner was
> >> having a difficult day since the behavior you describe is not usual with
> >> him. As had been mentioned by others, they do not serve cups of tea or
> >> glasses of iced tea; instead they prepare tea in a traditional Chinese
> >> way, which requires patience and time. It is for that reason I suspect
> >> that Michael offered you a tea session (at the usual fee) rather than a
> >> cup of tea. I agree that these things might have been made clearer for
> >> you and your guests. Michael
> > I am disappointed with Michael's explanation- I was asking him for his
> > experience when he goes to the tea gallery?
>
> I am sorry my thoughts "disappoint" you; others had answered your question admirably well, and I felt, and feel, no need to reiterate. Visiting The Tea Gallery is always a delightful experience for me, even at those times when the owners do not have time to sit down and prepare tea. The shop is so full of wonderous teaware and tea, I enjoy just browsing on occasion. (Did you notice the five foot shelf of tea and teaware books? They are out in full view.) In other words, I go with the flow. You can treat tea shops as you like. No more on this topic from me.
> Michael
you still have not answered my questions---i appreciated answers ppl
gave me-and "i don't treat tea shops as i like"--
On Jul 27, 4:52 pm, Michael Plant <mpl...@pipeline,com > wrote:
> On 07/27/2008 12:32:09 joann...@gmail,com wrote:
>
>
>
> >>>> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the
> >>>>> tea gallery on allen street today- our experience was less than
> >>>>> satisfactory- i had heard so many good things about this teashop-but
> >>>>> we were very disapponted- instead of being graciously invited into the
> >>>>> tea shop we were treated rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of
> >>>>> tea-this was not offered to us-we were asked f we wanted tea tastng at
> >>>>> $24 --we did not want anything for free this was not what we were
> >>>>> expectng-Michael Plant and friends always have good things to say
> >>>>> about the the tea gallery- we left and wlll not return- joanne r.
> >>>> Joanne, Hup ho, I see my name! Sorry to hear about your unpleasant
> >>>> experience. You know, The Tea Gallery is a tea and teaware shop, not a
> >>>> sit-down-and-drink-tea shop for the most part. Did you make it clear
> >>>> to the person you spoke with that you wanted to come in and drink tea
> >>>> because you had heard about the shop? Perhaps that would have been
> >>>> more productive. Can you be more specific about the rudeness you
> >>>> mention? The situation you describe doesn't sound rude on the face of
> >>>> it. Again, sorry you walked away unhappy. I should add that I have no
> >>>> financial interest in the shop, I'm a custumer. Michael
> >>> I need an explanation of what exactly is a tea and teaware shop? what
> >>> type of experiences did u have have? Beside calling ahead of time-what
> >>> should I expect- everytime u go to the store do u purchase tea-and then
> >>> leave or do u sit and chat with owner over several cups of tea? I
> >>> apologize-i t was not my intent to imply that u were an owner-just a
> >>> customer- and someone whose opinions i value-
> >> Yes, I realize you know that I don't own the shop; that was a standard
> >> disclaimer for people whose minds that thought might have crossed. You
> >> are right on one count at least: The Tea Gallery does not fit easily into
> >> any of the usual business models. It is also possible that the owner was
> >> having a difficult day since the behavior you describe is not usual with
> >> him. As had been mentioned by others, they do not serve cups of tea or
> >> glasses of iced tea; instead they prepare tea in a traditional Chinese
> >> way, which requires patience and time. It is for that reason I suspect
> >> that Michael offered you a tea session (at the usual fee) rather than a
> >> cup of tea. I agree that these things might have been made clearer for
> >> you and your guests. Michael
> > I am disappointed with Michael's explanation- I was asking him for his
> > experience when he goes to the tea gallery?
>
> I am sorry my thoughts "disappoint" you; others had answered your question admirably well, and I felt, and feel, no need to reiterate. Visiting The Tea Gallery is always a delightful experience for me, even at those times when the owners do not have time to sit down and prepare tea. The shop is so full of wonderous teaware and tea, I enjoy just browsing on occasion. (Did you notice the five foot shelf of tea and teaware books? They are out in full view.) In other words, I go with the flow. You can treat tea shops as you like. No more on this topic from me.
> Michael
you still have not answered my questions---i appreciated answers ppl
gave me-and "i don't treat tea shops as i like"--
Re: tea gallery
On Jul 28, 8:28 am, joann...@gmail,com wrote:
>
> you still have not answered my questions---i appreciated answers ppl
> gave me-and "i don't treat tea shops as i like"--
Hi Joanne, I think you shouldn't be so soured and hound endlessly for
others' opinions. Many other poster have given you their experience at
The Tea Gallery, and Michael too (he says it is always a delightful
experience), and I don't see the valid point of you still pursuing the
topic. If the bad experience peeved you, why not write to Tea Gallery
and ask for clarification? Or arrange another trip there to see if the
owner of the place is truly brusque and downright rude? No amount of
opinions of other posters can match your own first hand experience,
second time round.
From the way I read your son's post, it seems that the place was just
opening, the place wasn't set up when you walked in. The owner had the
right to turn down your request if he was in the midst of opening up
the shop. Your son's mention of the place while he browsed around
also confirms that that is not a regular teahouse store for people to
sit down and drink tea - with or without payment. You may not treat
tea shops as you like, but you do have some misconceived and
stereotyped ideas of what tea shops and their owners should behave -
perhaps not you, but your son certainly does expect to be offered tea
whenever he steps into a tea shop in New York City, and who seems to
delight in being offered iced tea on "a freaking hot day".
Seriously, give the place another go before you blacklist it - hey,
even I am going to give Franchia another go! Call ahead and make a
reservation, your next experience might make you change your first
impression, or you might just prefer iced tea after all to The Tea
Gallery.
kevo
On Jul 28, 8:28 am, joann...@gmail,com wrote:
>
> you still have not answered my questions---i appreciated answers ppl
> gave me-and "i don't treat tea shops as i like"--
Hi Joanne, I think you shouldn't be so soured and hound endlessly for
others' opinions. Many other poster have given you their experience at
The Tea Gallery, and Michael too (he says it is always a delightful
experience), and I don't see the valid point of you still pursuing the
topic. If the bad experience peeved you, why not write to Tea Gallery
and ask for clarification? Or arrange another trip there to see if the
owner of the place is truly brusque and downright rude? No amount of
opinions of other posters can match your own first hand experience,
second time round.
From the way I read your son's post, it seems that the place was just
opening, the place wasn't set up when you walked in. The owner had the
right to turn down your request if he was in the midst of opening up
the shop. Your son's mention of the place while he browsed around
also confirms that that is not a regular teahouse store for people to
sit down and drink tea - with or without payment. You may not treat
tea shops as you like, but you do have some misconceived and
stereotyped ideas of what tea shops and their owners should behave -
perhaps not you, but your son certainly does expect to be offered tea
whenever he steps into a tea shop in New York City, and who seems to
delight in being offered iced tea on "a freaking hot day".
Seriously, give the place another go before you blacklist it - hey,
even I am going to give Franchia another go! Call ahead and make a
reservation, your next experience might make you change your first
impression, or you might just prefer iced tea after all to The Tea
Gallery.
kevo
Re: tea gallery
On my last trip to SF Chinatown I'm eating in a restaurant by myself
and I notice the kitchen and service staff sit down around 2:45pm to
eat. I'm taking notes on what the chef was eating and who was suppose
to waite on who. A large group walks in around 3pm noting how they
had the place to themselves. I wondered how they would get served
since everyone as sitting and eating. They were told lunch was over
at 2:30pm and dinner was open at 5pm. There was a lot of huff,huff
and watch this $200 cheque walk out the door. Everybody continued
eating and I had the place to myself. It was wonderful.
Jim
PS My local tea shoppe has a nice Korean tea called King Green. Its
their only one.
Kevo wrote:
> On Jul 28, 8:28?am, joann...@gmail,com wrote:
>
> >
> > you still have not answered my questions---i appreciated answers ppl
> > gave me-and "i don't treat tea shops as i like"--
>
> Hi Joanne, I think you shouldn't be so soured and hound endlessly for
> others' opinions. Many other poster have given you their experience at
> The Tea Gallery, and Michael too (he says it is always a delightful
> experience), and I don't see the valid point of you still pursuing the
> topic.
...I thought theres the door was a typical NY attitude according to
West Coast media bias...
On my last trip to SF Chinatown I'm eating in a restaurant by myself
and I notice the kitchen and service staff sit down around 2:45pm to
eat. I'm taking notes on what the chef was eating and who was suppose
to waite on who. A large group walks in around 3pm noting how they
had the place to themselves. I wondered how they would get served
since everyone as sitting and eating. They were told lunch was over
at 2:30pm and dinner was open at 5pm. There was a lot of huff,huff
and watch this $200 cheque walk out the door. Everybody continued
eating and I had the place to myself. It was wonderful.
Jim
PS My local tea shoppe has a nice Korean tea called King Green. Its
their only one.
Kevo wrote:
> On Jul 28, 8:28?am, joann...@gmail,com wrote:
>
> >
> > you still have not answered my questions---i appreciated answers ppl
> > gave me-and "i don't treat tea shops as i like"--
>
> Hi Joanne, I think you shouldn't be so soured and hound endlessly for
> others' opinions. Many other poster have given you their experience at
> The Tea Gallery, and Michael too (he says it is always a delightful
> experience), and I don't see the valid point of you still pursuing the
> topic.
...I thought theres the door was a typical NY attitude according to
West Coast media bias...
Re: tea gallery
On Jul 30, 8:23 pm, Space Cowboy <netst...@ix,net com,com > wrote:
> On my last trip to SF Chinatown I'm eating in a restaurant by myself
> and I notice the kitchen and service staff sit down around 2:45pm to
> eat. I'm taking notes on what the chef was eating and who was suppose
> to waite on who. A large group walks in around 3pm noting how they
> had the place to themselves. I wondered how they would get served
> since everyone as sitting and eating. They were told lunch was over
> at 2:30pm and dinner was open at 5pm. There was a lot of huff,huff
> and watch this $200 cheque walk out the door. Everybody continued
> eating and I had the place to myself. It was wonderful.
>
> Jim
>
> PS My local tea shoppe has a nice Korean tea called King Green. Its
> their only one.
>
> Kevo wrote:
> > On Jul 28, 8:28?am, joann...@gmail,com wrote:
>
> > > you still have not answered my questions---i appreciated answers ppl
> > > gave me-and "i don't treat tea shops as i like"--
>
> > Hi Joanne, I think you shouldn't be so soured and hound endlessly for
> > others' opinions. Many other poster have given you their experience at
> > The Tea Gallery, and Michael too (he says it is always a delightful
> > experience), and I don't see the valid point of you still pursuing the
> > topic.
>
> ...I thought theres the door was a typical NY attitude according to
> West Coast media bias...
Oh no~! That's what happens when Asians become americanized! :"D
duuuuh...
I am not certain of this - perhaps niisonge can tell us more - when a
similar situation like what you experienced in SF Chinatown takes
place in China, one of the staff would stop eating and attend to the
guests, take the order, and one of the kitchen staff will process the
order. Folks in China hardly pass up an opportunity to rake in a few
dollars...
kevo
On Jul 30, 8:23 pm, Space Cowboy <netst...@ix,net com,com > wrote:
> On my last trip to SF Chinatown I'm eating in a restaurant by myself
> and I notice the kitchen and service staff sit down around 2:45pm to
> eat. I'm taking notes on what the chef was eating and who was suppose
> to waite on who. A large group walks in around 3pm noting how they
> had the place to themselves. I wondered how they would get served
> since everyone as sitting and eating. They were told lunch was over
> at 2:30pm and dinner was open at 5pm. There was a lot of huff,huff
> and watch this $200 cheque walk out the door. Everybody continued
> eating and I had the place to myself. It was wonderful.
>
> Jim
>
> PS My local tea shoppe has a nice Korean tea called King Green. Its
> their only one.
>
> Kevo wrote:
> > On Jul 28, 8:28?am, joann...@gmail,com wrote:
>
> > > you still have not answered my questions---i appreciated answers ppl
> > > gave me-and "i don't treat tea shops as i like"--
>
> > Hi Joanne, I think you shouldn't be so soured and hound endlessly for
> > others' opinions. Many other poster have given you their experience at
> > The Tea Gallery, and Michael too (he says it is always a delightful
> > experience), and I don't see the valid point of you still pursuing the
> > topic.
>
> ...I thought theres the door was a typical NY attitude according to
> West Coast media bias...
Oh no~! That's what happens when Asians become americanized! :"D
duuuuh...
I am not certain of this - perhaps niisonge can tell us more - when a
similar situation like what you experienced in SF Chinatown takes
place in China, one of the staff would stop eating and attend to the
guests, take the order, and one of the kitchen staff will process the
order. Folks in China hardly pass up an opportunity to rake in a few
dollars...
kevo
Re: tea gallery
> our experience was less than satisfactory- i had heard so many good
> things about this teashop-but we were very disapponted-
>
> instead of being graciously invited into the tea shop we were treated
> rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this was not offered to
> us-we were asked if we wanted tea tastng at $24
That's interesting. Their website does say it's best to call ahead
though:
http :// www .theteagallery,com /Articles.asp?ID1
Never been to the Tea Gallery or NYC - because, ummm, I'm in Fuzhou.
Let me tell you how it is here. Today I happend to pass by Ten Fu Tea,
so I went in to take a look. The sales assistants were very courteous.
One came up to me right away, and offered me a small paper cup of tea
(biluochun). Finished drinking it. Then she came up again for more
tea, this time (tieguanyin). Third round, she came up again, and she
gave me jasmine tea to try. And this was while I was browsing around
the store. And at the same time, there was another sales assistant
always at my side, asking me what teas I liked, and showing me around
the shop. This second assistant kept asking me to take a seat, and try
some tea. Finally, I decided to try green tea (Longjing). We sat down
together - and she brewed it just for me - and we all drank it (sales
assistants included). Wow, what a spectacular tea. She gave me 3
different Longjings to try - one at 50 yuan per pound, the second at
100 yuan per pound, and just for the heck of it, another at 200 yuan
per pound. I probably spent half an hour just sampling tea. She was
very patient.
Of course, after explaining how to brew the tea, demonstrating how to
brew it, and answering all my questions, she got the sale. And I was
very satisfied. That was an awesome experience. Not only that, she
gave me some tea snacks and moon cake to sample too, in case I might
be interested in purchasing those too. But I liked the tea best. And
all of that was free to try.
Teas are highly variable. If you can't sample it in-store before you
purchase, then how will you know if you like it or not? In China,
anywhere you go, you can sample the tea before you purchase. That's
common business practice. And these teas I tried today were all pre-
packaged at the tea factory - no fussing with loose leaves. But in-
store they kept sample packages open on the shelves for customers to
try.
Tea ware was very expensive. Much more expensive that at other places.
But I was very satisfied with the tea.
That's what a tea experience should be - not turn people off.
> our experience was less than satisfactory- i had heard so many good
> things about this teashop-but we were very disapponted-
>
> instead of being graciously invited into the tea shop we were treated
> rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this was not offered to
> us-we were asked if we wanted tea tastng at $24
That's interesting. Their website does say it's best to call ahead
though:
http :// www .theteagallery,com /Articles.asp?ID1
Never been to the Tea Gallery or NYC - because, ummm, I'm in Fuzhou.
Let me tell you how it is here. Today I happend to pass by Ten Fu Tea,
so I went in to take a look. The sales assistants were very courteous.
One came up to me right away, and offered me a small paper cup of tea
(biluochun). Finished drinking it. Then she came up again for more
tea, this time (tieguanyin). Third round, she came up again, and she
gave me jasmine tea to try. And this was while I was browsing around
the store. And at the same time, there was another sales assistant
always at my side, asking me what teas I liked, and showing me around
the shop. This second assistant kept asking me to take a seat, and try
some tea. Finally, I decided to try green tea (Longjing). We sat down
together - and she brewed it just for me - and we all drank it (sales
assistants included). Wow, what a spectacular tea. She gave me 3
different Longjings to try - one at 50 yuan per pound, the second at
100 yuan per pound, and just for the heck of it, another at 200 yuan
per pound. I probably spent half an hour just sampling tea. She was
very patient.
Of course, after explaining how to brew the tea, demonstrating how to
brew it, and answering all my questions, she got the sale. And I was
very satisfied. That was an awesome experience. Not only that, she
gave me some tea snacks and moon cake to sample too, in case I might
be interested in purchasing those too. But I liked the tea best. And
all of that was free to try.
Teas are highly variable. If you can't sample it in-store before you
purchase, then how will you know if you like it or not? In China,
anywhere you go, you can sample the tea before you purchase. That's
common business practice. And these teas I tried today were all pre-
packaged at the tea factory - no fussing with loose leaves. But in-
store they kept sample packages open on the shelves for customers to
try.
Tea ware was very expensive. Much more expensive that at other places.
But I was very satisfied with the tea.
That's what a tea experience should be - not turn people off.
Re: tea gallery
I think regulars are treated differently than customers. I see some
of that at my local tea shoppe. My biggest disappointment based on
recommendations in this group Imperial Tea Court Ferry Building San
Francisco. Burn me once shame on you, burn me twice shame on me.
Jim
PS What makes a tea shoppe sucessful are other factors than making
everyone feel special. Hell ITC was incapable of selling tea.
joann...@gmail,com wrote:
> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the
> tea gallery on allen street today-
>
> our experience was less than satisfactory- i had heard so many good
> things about this teashop-but we were very disapponted-
>
> instead of being graciously invited into the tea shop we were treated
> rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this was not offered to
> us-we
> were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we did not want anything
> for free
> this was not what we were expectng-Michael Plant and friends always
> have good things to say about the the tea gallery-
>
> we left and wlll not return-
>
> joanne r. aka jpr54
I think regulars are treated differently than customers. I see some
of that at my local tea shoppe. My biggest disappointment based on
recommendations in this group Imperial Tea Court Ferry Building San
Francisco. Burn me once shame on you, burn me twice shame on me.
Jim
PS What makes a tea shoppe sucessful are other factors than making
everyone feel special. Hell ITC was incapable of selling tea.
joann...@gmail,com wrote:
> my son, his fiancee, and myself were looking forward to visiting the
> tea gallery on allen street today-
>
> our experience was less than satisfactory- i had heard so many good
> things about this teashop-but we were very disapponted-
>
> instead of being graciously invited into the tea shop we were treated
> rather rudely-we wanted to have a cup of tea-this was not offered to
> us-we
> were asked f we wanted tea tastng at $24 --we did not want anything
> for free
> this was not what we were expectng-Michael Plant and friends always
> have good things to say about the the tea gallery-
>
> we left and wlll not return-
>
> joanne r. aka jpr54
Re: tea gallery
Space Cowboy <netstuff@ix,net com,com > writes:
> I think regulars are treated differently than customers.
I think you have a point there (though of course regulars *are*
customers.) I didn't respond to the original post because I'm a
regular at the Tea Gallery. I could say that my first experience
there, when they didn't know me from Adam, was totally delightful, but
that was years ago.
/Lew
---
Lew Perin / perin@acm.org
http :// www .panix,com /~perin/babelcarp.html
Space Cowboy <netstuff@ix,net com,com > writes:
> I think regulars are treated differently than customers.
I think you have a point there (though of course regulars *are*
customers.) I didn't respond to the original post because I'm a
regular at the Tea Gallery. I could say that my first experience
there, when they didn't know me from Adam, was totally delightful, but
that was years ago.
/Lew
---
Lew Perin / perin@acm.org
http :// www .panix,com /~perin/babelcarp.html
