The $2 latte sleeve that split my local shop's regulars last month

So there's this spot in Portland, Joe's Corner, and last month they switched from cardboard sleeves to these reusable silicone ones you have to buy for $2 if you want to carry your cup without burning your hand. Half the regulars are furious, saying it's a money grab and they should just give out free sleeves like everywhere else. The other half, including me honestly, think it cuts waste and the sleeve actually works better, plus it's a one-time cost. I've been going there for 3 years and I've never seen people argue over something this small at 7 AM. The owner even posted a note explaining they ordered 10,000 less cardboard sleeves a year and the silicone ones last forever if you don't lose them. But then this one guy, Dave, stood at the counter and said 'I'm not paying to hold my own coffee, that's insane' and walked out. Is this just a Portland thing or are other shops doing this too? Would you pay $2 for a sleeve or is that a dealbreaker for you?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_wesley9d ago

The math on those 10,000 sleeves is a little off though. If they were giving out free cardboard ones before, that's 10,000 sleeves they didn't charge for, but now they're selling maybe 300 silicone ones at $2 each. That's $600 versus whatever the cardboard cost in bulk, which is probably like $40. So it's not really about waste, it's about making an extra $560 a year off the regulars who forget theirs at home. Dave's got a point even if he was dramatic about it.

laura_schmidt829d agoTop Commenter

Never really thought about it that way, but you just changed my mind on the whole thing.