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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.