What I mean by I don't get coldstone is that I don't understand the whole philosophy behind their ice cream.

Okay so they happen to have people who know how to make ice cream in a unique way...

They like to keep the crowd entertained by singing songs...

They have more than just ice cream...

They have Starbucks-esque size names (I forget what they are but I was served by an over-enthusiastic employee who pretended he didn't know what 'medium' meant)

but are these good reasons to overcharge the *#@! out of people?

Ice cream does taste good, but it's ice cream, you can't age ice cream. The only way you improve ice cream is to add sprinkles or nuts or cherries.

Maybe it's because Mrs. mjcewl and I do not have any kids and we can't see the smiles on their faces if we happen to take them there. But if I did have a kid, I would probably take them to a Friendly's or somewhere else where I won't feel like I am getting robbed.

It doesn't really have anything to do with kids. But what ice cream shop now out there now does not over charge. Ben & Jerry's are just as outrageous, and I personally think Cold Stone is better. It tastes good. All I can use for the my reasoning for being overprice.

You get robbed everywhere nowadays. $8 Subway sandwiches, $5 coffee at Charbucks, $4.99 pints of Haagen-Dasz. So a $6 icecream at Coldstone really doesn't stand out much.

Two eggs, toast and coffee is still 99 cents at the Purcellville Diner in my little rural town. ^ The TV usually has the farm futures running as well.

You get robbed everywhere nowadays. $8 Subway sandwiches, $5 coffee at Charbucks, $4.99 pints of Haagen-Dasz. So a $6 icecream at Coldstone really doesn't stand out much.

I agree-- they call themselves the "ultimate ice cream experience," but I don't want an experience. Just ice cream.

This is true of lots of places, but the smallest size available is more ice cream than I want and more money than I want to pay. Even the smallest size is more than enough for two to share.

Marble Slab Creamery was much better, but the local ones in the Phoenix area seem to have gone under. Much better quality!

It doesn't really have anything to do with kids. But what ice cream shop now out there now does not over charge. Ben & Jerry's are just as outrageous, and I personally think Cold Stone is better. It tastes good. All I can use for the my reasoning for being overprice.

Most of Ben and Jerry's stuff is so much better. :rolleyes: :o

The best ice cream experiance can be had at home. Just buy some ice cream, and have it whenever you feel like it. Breyers suits me fine, and I get a the variety of cones on sale. Perfect everytime. :)

wanted Ice cream this past weekend in SD-found a cold stone-my first one visited-I really just wanted Ice cream and did not need a show.The flavors are for juveniles-bubble gum?The ice cream was OK-but at $5 I would like more than ok.

But if I did have a kid, I would probably take them to a Friendly's or somewhere else where I won't feel like I am getting robbed.
I had never heard of Friendly's until I did a brief move to Upstate NY. I could have gone the rest of my life without ever going to one. I have never gotten ice cream in the restaurant, but if it's the same as the retail, I'll take cold stone/marble slab any day of the week. Where else can you get cake batter ice cream with cookie dough pieces? Certainly not Baskin Robbins or Dairy Queen.

You get robbed everywhere nowadays. $8 Subway sandwiches, $5 coffee at Charbucks, $4.99 pints of Haagen-Dasz. So a $6 icecream at Coldstone really doesn't stand out much.

I don't get someone dropping five bucks aor a cup of coffee that you can't pronounce at Starsucks either, but there are people literally lining up to hand them cash. There are those on the left who cannot fathom why I would even think about drivnig a SUburban, let alone actually go out and buy one.

It's all in what people want, value and are willing to blow take home pay on. For my money, I wouldn't pay a third of what Starsucks is charging. It's all in that you personally value. I pay five bucks for a fruit smoothie at Jamba Juice. Perhaps that's my Starsucks.

I think Cold Stone is overpriced as well, but the Rocky Road equivalent that they sell is calling me...caling me...calling...caling....

--PP

I have a sneaky suspicion that places like Subway are trying to make America fat by driving people to McD's with their high prices... But that's my own little conspiracy theory. :eek:

Coldstone is alright, as is Marble Slab (though they had a Hepatitis A scare here), but I am not a huge "junk" food eater, so I do not frequent them.

As far as Starbuck's goes, I only go in there when I need a quick cup of coffee. Usually I just buy a nice pound of coffee from Whole Foods and drink that though, puts Starbuck's to shame.

I don't get it either. Coldstone is too sweet and heavy. And most importantly, why do we ever need to eat a tub of icecream in a single serving? No wonder this country is half obese. People should appreciate quality and not quantity. Give Ciao Bella a try instead.
http://www.ciaobellagelato.com/

Isn't it all about the kids, especially teenagers? They like anything that seems exclusive and is acquired outside their own house. The more expensive, the better. Teenage girls love their Starbucks - especially the zillion calorie sweet creamy drinks. Give me a modest scoop of Ben and Jerry's or Haagen Daz and I'll be happy.

Back when I lived in SAN, the local coldstone was staffed by perky young high school girls, all pretty. You can tell that the store manager stacked the deck, and consequently a lot of people went there to buy ice cream. The ice cream wasn't anything special though - you're paying to see them work the ice cream with a spatula and sing, essentially.

I had never heard of Friendly's until I did a brief move to Upstate NY. I could have gone the rest of my life without ever going to one. I worked briefly at a Friendly's restaurant while in college (many years ago) and it pretty much put me off soda fountains / ice cream for life. I like my ice cream out of a Dreyer's tub from my own freezer, thank you. And it's $5 for a half-gallon, not $5 a cone.

You get robbed everywhere nowadays. $8 Subway sandwiches, $5 coffee at Charbucks, $4.99 pints of Haagen-Dazs. So a $6 icecream at Coldstone really doesn't stand out much. This is a country where people routinely spend $5 on a cup of coffee or an ice cream cone "because I'm worth it," drive $40,000 SUVs that need $75 worth of premium gas per fill-up "because I need it," then get their homes foreclosed "because I'm broke."

Hmmm...ice cream...I am drooling just thinking about it :) and cold stone, whew. That's rich. But I guess to enjoy that goodness you have to endure singing teenagers, some of them want to be singing and twirling a spatula around, and some of them dread it. But regardless, personally, its worth it.

for me
1. soft serve ice cream, like carvel
2. traditional frozen custard
3. hard ice cream (dont care for it at all really, unless its on top of something at a restaurant)

and i only get chocolate, or vanilla with sundae/at restaurant, so the whole "10 billion flavor" thing has no appeal for me. coldstone and ben and jerry's definitely go for the weird combinations---peanut butter cherry pie anyone? :D and baskin robbins is starting to go that route as well it seems.

The only way you improve ice cream is to add sprinkles or nuts or cherries.

You can also use higher quality ingrediants and increase the butterfat content.

coldstone i don't get.
it's like a cheap marble slab imitation.
marble slab rocks my world...but i don't go very often--doesn't go hand in hand with my svelte figure. :D

We used to always make it a point to go to Cold Stone every time we were in Las Vegas back when there weren't very many of them around. Now there's a Cold Stone in my town and I go there maybe once a year. It's good, but there was something about the novelty factor that was a big appeal for me. I'd rather have a pint of Haagen-Dazs at home.

Two eggs, toast and coffee is still 99 cents at the Purcellville Diner in my little rural town. ^ The TV usually has the farm futures running as well.

Sir,

Do they also have real country ham? If so, I might have to make a several hundred mile detour one of these days.

As long as people are paying it, they aren't charging too much. I don't get it either, but apparently lots of people do, I've never seen one empty.

This is a country where people routinely spend $5 on a cup of coffee or an ice cream cone "because I'm worth it,"

The €4 or the £2.50 cup of coffee are not uncommon.

I'm not a fan of Coldstone...give me Ben and Jerry's anyday...

In Australia we have Cold Rock ice creamery- must be one of those international franchising or patent issues, but it sure looks like the same kind of stuff!
But then I prefer Baskin Robbins anyway.....! :)

I don't get it either, but apparently lots of people do, I've never seen one empty.

This is true. You can forget about getting ice cream in there when colleges are out for spring break, break, etc. or summer weeknights. I mean kids are just in there like locusts.

The flavors are for juveniles-bubble gum?

You've never seen that before? Baskin-Robbins had bubble gum ice cream back in the early 80's. There were even pieces of bubble gum mixed in with the ice cream as an, um, "post-dessert snack." :p If I ate that now, I'd probably puke.

Cold Stone is the most common franchise in Denver, but Mrs. Swede and I prefer Maggie Moo's.

If you want just ice cream, go to the grocery and pick up a pint. If you want a coffee ice cream with peanut butter, chocolate syrup and chocolate chip cookie dough mixed in, go to Cold Stone. It's that simple.

For a while US Airways was giving away discount coupons for
Coldstone Creamery. I gave all mine away.

Baskin Robbins Chocolate Mint ice cream is all I ever need. :)

A tablespoon of Haagen Daz coffee ice cream. I can dress it up with chocolate syrup, but either way I love it. Back a long time ago I would go to Baskin Robbins for Jamoca almond fudge, single dip wasn't too expensive then. Our downfall was learning how to make homemade stuff that was better than anything bought. Usually vanilla or rum raisin. The ice cream maker was the one you keep part of it in the freezer all the time, forget the brand, but it's easy.

Liquid nitrogen ice cream is the best I've ever had. Oh so creamy and good. ^

i suppose its the same as paying out of your pocket for domestic F. not really that great and you can get about the same effect by bringing takeout and a nice pillow. but there are those that think its worth the $$$.

Two eggs, toast and coffee is still 99 cents at the Purcellville Diner in my little rural town. ^ The TV usually has the farm futures running as well.

How the he*l do they make any money? Is a coffee five bucks? I understand casinos luring people in with such deals, but a local diner? Do they use grade B eggs? Do they even make grade B eggs?

We used to always make it a point to go to Cold Stone every time we were in Las Vegas back when there weren't very many of them around. Now there's a Cold Stone in my town and I go there maybe once a year. It's good, but there was something about the novelty factor that was a big appeal for me. I'd rather have a pint of Haagen-Dazs at home.

I hear you on the novelty factor. Same thing with In n' Out in the Bay Area for me...

How the he*l do they make any money? Is a coffee five bucks? I understand casinos luring people in with such deals, but a local diner? Do they use grade B eggs? Do they even make grade B eggs?

:confused: :confused: eggs dont cost that much. at most $2 a dozen. toast = a slice of bread. and coffee, well, is cheap black coffee.

As long as people are paying it, they aren't charging too much. I don't get it either, but apparently lots of people do, I've never seen one empty.

Maybe it's all in the marketing.

Mmmm ColdStone.... the first time I went to a ColdStone was in some cutesy-touristy LI town. Those guys knew how to work the crowd and mush, er I mean chop the ice cream just so. My husband told the clerk that he'd give them a tip of they didn't sing. So, they were silent. :)

The ColdStones around here just don't have that mushing-touch. :(

I think Coldstone's Ice Cream quality is the pits...I'd much rather stop by Safeway and pick up a pint of HD or B&J's.

Ok, I will bite, what on earth do they sing while preparing your ice cream?

I think Coldstone's Ice Cream quality is the pits....

Same opinion here, the only time I've ever had it, it was so sweet I had to throw it out after a few spoonfuls. Seems Coldstone does quite well in tourist spots. Every time I'm in Waikiki the Coldstones there are packed but I never hear any singing.

Looking at it another way, it's actually quite the bargain. Order a medium or large scoop, load it up with bits and pieces of this and that, slather on some chocolate or fruit sauce and voila! - your 2,000 calorie daily intake for under $10!

Just pray you don't get hungry again later.

Seriously, I've tried it a few times and its way to heavy for my taste. I prefer a lighter ice cream texture.

Ok, I will bite, what on earth do they sing while preparing your ice cream?

The most annoying nursery rhyme type of song is sung while your ice cream is being prepared. For 10 seconds it is cute, by 15 seconds you are thinking, "ok this needs to stop", and after 20 seconds, you become homicidal.
This isn't American Idol....just shut up and give me my freakin over priced ice cream !

They don't sing at my local Coldstone and the girls aren't that good looking either naybe I need to go to another location. I go there for the toppings they mix in. Sure I can buy ice cream, but it would be a pain to buy bananas and strawberries and graham crackers to mix in. That is the appeal for me. The ice cream itself is nothing special.

I've never once been to a coldstone. Are there any in San Francisco? All this talk is giving me a hankering for any kind of ice cream.

In case you ever want real ice cream and are in the Bay Area, check out Mitchell's (http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=Q5&q=mitchell%27s+ice+cream&near=San+Francisco,+CA&cid=0,0,16289251681890453568&ll=37.744277,-122.422533&spn=0,.02&sa=X&oi=local&ct=image) on San Jose and 29th in San Francisco's Mission district. It's not a chain, no songs are sung, just great ice cream and a long line.

Ok, I will bite, what on earth do they sing while preparing your ice cream?

They rip off really classic tunes such as The Flintstones and make it sound really catchy, when in fact it's really annoying.

Hi everyone! I like Cold Stone, because I dont' know where else they have cake batter ice cream.

Hi everyone! I like Cold Stone, because I dont' know where else they have cake batter ice cream.

This sounds very disgusting just reading about it.

MisterNice

Hi everyone! I like Cold Stone, because I dont' know where else they have cake batter ice cream.

Never heard of "cake batter" ice cream. Now I'm really interested. There's one on 119 Ellis St. in downtown SF. A visit is in my future.

Ok, I will bite, what on earth do they sing while preparing your ice cream?

They sing basically to beg for tips. It's bad enough to have tip jar at self-service counters instead of sit down places, it's really bad when they resort to this. Read the following:

http://www.famousfamily.com/mark/coldstone.html

But what ice cream shop now out there now does not over charge?

Tasaka Guri Guri in the Maui Mall, Kahului, Hawai'i.

2 scoops for $1. Ono-licious.

Rip yes. Other equal rips: definitely. Here we have Lappert's. Boring run-of-the-mill stuff, out the door (with a topping) at about $7 a cone. We laugh when we see the tourists pulling in. They are never very busy, but I guess at $7 a cone, they don't need to be.

One of the joys of travelling is finding ice cream shops. Coldstone just does not cut it nor does Ben and Jerry's when experimenting. I can get those here.

The best I ever had chocolate/banana gelato. What a bloody taste treat.

Try finding universities with agriculture programs. Michigan State University makes their own ice cream for sale on campus and it is awesome. I have heard the same about Penn State. Anybody know of others?

Try finding universities with agriculture programs. Michigan State University makes their own ice cream for sale on campus and it is awesome. I have heard the same about Penn State. Anybody know of others?

Last I heard, University of Georgia raves about their creamery.

Virginia Tech as well.

Cold Stone's about the best I've got near me, unfortunately. I always order the smallest size in a cup and yet I can't ever finish it-the ONLY ice cream place I've ever had that experience. Their flavor choices are limited, but they do have Peanut Butter, which is a little different. (Cake Batter, uh, not for me, thanks!)

Now, that singing! Aughh!! Can't stand it!!! Certainly doesn't inspire any desire to tip in me-unless it would be to tip them NOT to sing...

BUT they do give a free birthday treat ;) and it's kind of nice to occasionally go out just for dessert instead of dinner, and they're lots nicer (and cleaner, I think) than the Baskin & Robbins locations near my house.

I've always figured that the reason Coldstone has all the add-ons available is that their ice cream isn't all that good. And it is way over priced.
I'd rather have the $1.00 ice cream sundae at McDonald's.

They sing basically to beg for tips. It's bad enough to have tip jar at self-service counters instead of sit down places, it's really bad when they resort to this. Read the following:

http://www.famousfamily.com/mark/coldstone.html

I noticed one just openned up down the street. Thanks FT, I am not going now because I do not want to be sang at-how dumb.

The Cold Stone near me doesn't have any singing.

They sing basically to beg for tips. It's bad enough to have tip jar at self-service counters instead of sit down places, it's really bad when they resort to this. Read the following:

http://www.famousfamily.com/mark/coldstone.html

I'm embarrassed and I don't even work there. :eek:

Try finding universities with agriculture programs. Michigan State University makes their own ice cream for sale on campus and it is awesome. I have heard the same about Penn State. Anybody know of others?

My mother-in-law used to rave about the ice cream made and sold by University of New Hampshire's School of Agriculture.

I confess, I enjoy Cold Stone's ice cream. But I usually only get the smallest size offered and usually go maybe once every 3 months or so. Yes, $5 for ice cream is a lot, which is why it's a special treat for me.

What I like about their ice cream is all the creative combinations that they have. I had a peanut butter and chocolate combo the last time I was there and it was quite tasty. :)

Try finding universities with agriculture programs. Michigan State University makes their own ice cream for sale on campus and it is awesome. I have heard the same about Penn State. Anybody know of others?
University of Wisconsin - Madison. Excellent, of course!

I noticed one just openned up down the street. Thanks FT, I am not going now because I do not want to be sang at-how dumb.

"I do not want to be sang at" - how dumb:D :D :D

I went to Coldstone a few times in LEX (town, not airport) and I don't remember any singing. Not done everywhere?

University of Wisconsin - Madison. Excellent, of course!
I second this! Bascom Hall ice cream gotten at the UW Student Union. You can sit on the Terrace and look out over Lake Mendota. Of course, a Capitol Brewery beer in hand is also good...

I too confess that I like Coldstone. The prices aren't too extreme in my book (like another member mentioned Starbucks takes the cake) and for the amount i go there (maybe once every few months), I don't mind paying $5 for my ice cream. That being said, the singing just pisses me off. I was at a Coldstone in Napa, CA, and a few teenagers found it amusing to come in and give a tip (without ordering anything) just to hear them sing :td:

I had never heard of Friendly's until I did a brief move to Upstate NY. I could have gone the rest of my life without ever going to one. I have never gotten ice cream in the restaurant, but if it's the same as the retail, I'll take cold stone/marble slab any day of the week. Where else can you get cake batter ice cream with cookie dough pieces? Certainly not Baskin Robbins or Dairy Queen.



Growing in Upstate NY and the northeast ingeneral--you NEVER went to Friendly's for the food--always the ice crea,--which was great. Fribbles, the sundaes, the watermelon slices (ice cream that looked like watermelon). It blows away Cold Stone. What ever happen to the Mom and Pops stores? I despise the corporate placeslike Cold stone00refuse to pay $5 for crappy ice cream. I agree with the guy about Breyers--I can get a half gallon for $3 at the store and it suits me just great

Oversized servings, ice cream that is too rich and too sweet, not many flavors,
expensive.

My family loves Coldstone but given a choice, I'll eat my ice cream elsewhere.

(The ambience is almost always very upbeat though, so if you need a lift, stop in!)

Two eggs, toast and coffee is still 99 cents at the Purcellville Diner in my little rural town. ^ The TV usually has the farm futures running as well.

Do you have an airport for real planes ?

I also enjoy Coldstone for an occasional treat. It's always busy in Gainesville - this is a college city, so students run amok. Our Coldstone employees only sing to you if you tip. They always greet you as you come in, and gives you exactly the combo you want, which is what I like... double caramel and chocolate fudge, in sweet cream ice cream, with heath bar and butterfinger mixed in...yummmmm....

I can only eat the small size as well, and go in 2 or three times a year. But it is very sweet and thick and creamy :)

Am I the only one out there who doesn't want to design his own ice cream?

I'm happy to pay for premium scoops (and am spoiled with the options in Boston), but one of the things I want for my money is an inventive flavor combination. For me, the Cold Stone concept falls flat, because none of the ingredients are interesting.

Give me the local stores that sell burnt caramel and fresh garden mint and guinness ice creams, served with a surly New England glare :D

I have to say that the Cold Stone version of cookies and cream was about the worst that I had ever tasted. I only finished about 1/4 of it and I am normally the type of person who leaves nothing behind.

If you are looking for a similar concept (and without the singing), Marble Slab is much much better.

No singing at the Cold Stone by our place, we actually live between three of them, and they are all all just tired HS kids schlepping out the ice cream.

We usually only get it when we can use the coupon on the back of the movie ticket we used that day. And we don't watch many movies.

I guess there's supposed to be some novelty to the whole idea of getting some "special" ice cream. I guess it's okay, but I don't crave it. The fact that we live between three of them is like TSS (The Starbucks Syndrome): way too many locations and wayyyy overpriced.

Not that I am being some coffee and ice cream snob, but they've been marketed so that people think it's something they need to add to their daily routine. Climb into EssYouVee. Go to drive-thru at MickeyDs so the kids get a healthy breakfast. Go to drive-thru at Fourbucks to get a half cafe doppio ristretto icy chillatta blended soy. Drop off kids at school that is one block away from house. Etc....

some cold stones are great, some not so great, I actually prefer Maggie Moos.