Orange Julii
Orange Julius. A delicious ice-blended beverage, and an American icon. Right? Or is there something more to this treat than it would immeadeately appear. What goes in these drinks that makes them so good? Are they really good for you? Do they use real fruit? These are just some of the questions I will answer through my use of first-hand expereicne and analysis.
I have, regrettably, been working at Orange Julius for over 1.5 years. I am currently the 3rd longest tenured blendtender in the ranks. While some may be proud of this accomplishment, I am not. Working at a fast food establishment is one of the worst jobs one can have. Near-minimum wage pay, dealing with jerky people, and having unusual coworkers are just some of the trials I encounter every day I work there. These politeness of customers can vary greatly. From the tipping, gracious patron to the ronchy, dissatisfied buyer.
Some of these shoppers ask questions which do not have a plain answer. For example, "Do your smoothies contain real fruit?" While I usually answer yes to this question, I don't really know the answer to the question. It depends on your definition of "real". It was real, once upon a time. But then it was picked, shipped, smashed, sweetend, pureed, packaged, shipped, frozen, thawed, and finally blended and poured into your cup. You decide.
So what is it about these drinks that people like so much? I don't think they are all that great. I mean, of course I'll drink them for free, but I would never pay $4.00 for a sub-par drink, when Jamba Juice is 20X better.
You may be asking yourself what the point of this paper is. Well, in short, it is about the psychology of the human race. While going to the mall and purchasing a drink to quench your thirst may seem like a simple, inconsequential act, it is actually a complex mathematical equation, involoving many factors which eventually lead the customer to their final decision. And while I still haven't necessarily figured all these factors out, I know a few: advertising, thriftiness, fatigue, hunger, and the size of ones pocketbook all weigh into the decision.
So next time you walk by an Orange Julius and consider purchasing a Julius, or perhaps several Julii, think about what you are doing, and don't be brainwashed by corporate advertising. Just keep on walking.
I have, regrettably, been working at Orange Julius for over 1.5 years. I am currently the 3rd longest tenured blendtender in the ranks. While some may be proud of this accomplishment, I am not. Working at a fast food establishment is one of the worst jobs one can have. Near-minimum wage pay, dealing with jerky people, and having unusual coworkers are just some of the trials I encounter every day I work there. These politeness of customers can vary greatly. From the tipping, gracious patron to the ronchy, dissatisfied buyer.
Some of these shoppers ask questions which do not have a plain answer. For example, "Do your smoothies contain real fruit?" While I usually answer yes to this question, I don't really know the answer to the question. It depends on your definition of "real". It was real, once upon a time. But then it was picked, shipped, smashed, sweetend, pureed, packaged, shipped, frozen, thawed, and finally blended and poured into your cup. You decide.
So what is it about these drinks that people like so much? I don't think they are all that great. I mean, of course I'll drink them for free, but I would never pay $4.00 for a sub-par drink, when Jamba Juice is 20X better.
You may be asking yourself what the point of this paper is. Well, in short, it is about the psychology of the human race. While going to the mall and purchasing a drink to quench your thirst may seem like a simple, inconsequential act, it is actually a complex mathematical equation, involoving many factors which eventually lead the customer to their final decision. And while I still haven't necessarily figured all these factors out, I know a few: advertising, thriftiness, fatigue, hunger, and the size of ones pocketbook all weigh into the decision.
So next time you walk by an Orange Julius and consider purchasing a Julius, or perhaps several Julii, think about what you are doing, and don't be brainwashed by corporate advertising. Just keep on walking.
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