June 7, 2011

sources

Sources.

Sourcing.

Such professional sounding, back pages of the magazine terms.

A few of you have asked where I found the vintage sodas and striped straws that were used in the photos for this post.

I found the sodas at Cracker Barrel.


But, at the moment, I'm mad at Cracker Barrel.

I could tell you the whole, long story of why I'm mad at Cracker Barrel, but I'm pretty sure I'd just end up sounding a bit petty, a little bitter, and somewhat vindictive and since this is the internet and things you write here last forever, I'm going to make a sincere effort to avoid petty, bitter and vindictive.

I will tell you that if you go to Cracker Barrel to buy vintage sodas, you might want to avoid the All American Vintage Soda variety pack. The sodas inside that particular (boxed and sealed) variety pack have very cheap, peely paper labels and the bottle caps say "vintage soda" instead of the name of the actual soda. However, right next to the All American Vintage Soda variety pack, they have The. Exact. Same. Sodas. in handled, open, (you can see the bottles), cardboard four packs, and those particular sodas have non-paper, non-peely decal labels, (and can therefore be placed in a tub of ice), and their bottle caps actually say "Bubble Up", or "Cheerwine", etc.

I will also tell you that if you were to naively decide to go back to Cracker Barrel and foolishly try to exchange the still securely capped and boxed, peely labeled, lame-o capped, All American Vintage Soda variety pack for the very slightly higher priced, decal labeled, non-lame-o capped, four pack bottles so that you would be able to sink your vintage sodas in a tub of ice, you would be disappointed in the results of your efforts.

Aren't you all glad I'm avoiding petty and bitter?

Cracker Barrel said that they weren't able to exchange my still securely capped, still boxed, (packing tape off though, so that they could see that the bottles are still securely capped...that I didn't replace the soda with colored water), peely labeled, lame-o capped, vintage sodas because they're a food item, and they can't take returns on food items.

The FDA won't let them.

Now, perhaps the FDA wouldn't let them re-sell them, but I'm pretty sure the FDA doesn't dictate Cracker Barrel's return policy. Especially their return policy in regards to having a display that might possibly, in some circumstances, lead a somewhat naive customer to believe that the sodas contained in the All American Vintage Soda variety pack would be the same as the exact same sodas in the open four packs sitting right next to the sealed variety pack box.

Whew. I'm so glad I decided to take the high road on this one.

:)

The most painful part was going ahead and buying the decal labeled sodas, (which I wanted even more now), whilst still in my snit. And then hauling the big, heavy, non-returnable twelve packs back to my car. They offered to help, but I declined because I'm very mature like that.

Moving on.

Stewarts also has a great variety of old fashioned sodas and I've found them at my local grocery store.

Also, Wal-Mart has cute bottles of orange, grape and strawberry Crush.

Now for the straws.



Etsy has zillions of them, and I bought mine from HeyYoYo. They have every color imaginable. The shipping was instant. I think they were here in three days. Very, very fun.

There you have it! Your very own, back of the magazine source-athon. With the added bonus of a rant.

You won't get that in Country Living!

And now I'm off to pick at the edges of my paper soda bottle labels.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

52 comments:

  1. This is so funny. Now I might add that if you were up here in Alaska with me all this stress would be removed because you would not be finding any such sodas or straws to purchase. We live in quite the stress free zone with a lot of things.

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  2. Hilarious!

    I am sorry to be laughing at your expense...but I am laughing. You are so funny.

    And I think you handled it so much more graciously than I would have. I would have been spitting and sputtering.

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  3. Haha! I love it. I would've been the same way--"No thanks, I do not need help taking these out to my car, because I'm still irritated as heck with you!" :)

    I love the old bottles and the straws. Thanks for revealing your sources.

    Have a great day!
    Pam

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  4. You. crack. me. up...Those sodas are adorable and I would have hung my head and bought them, too and refused the help to the car. So there! You showed them. Thanks for the laugh. Beautiful pictures.

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  5. I just bought those straws at Williams & Sonoma- they only had red but I would love to have found a variety pack!

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  6. LOL! Didn't know Cracker Barrel was in cahoots with the FDA :) Great photos as per usual!!

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  7. Good chuckle!! I,too, would have declined help. Not sure I would have maintained my cool quite as well as you did. They do look great in the picture,
    Annette

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  8. Shame on Cracker Barrel! That's just poor customer service, plain & simple! I'm glad you went ahead and got the real deal bottles though! Those pictures were so great and I'm sure will be cherished for a long time to come!
    Aren't those straws fun?!? I just used some for a baby shower I did & they were such a huge hit!

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  9. Email them and complain. I did once and got 2 free meals...hey, I'll admit it...I was petty. :)

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  10. HILARIOUS! SUch a good laugh I needed :) thanx for sharing!

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  11. I'm amazed that the employees of Cracker Barrel are familiar with the FDA. They were wrong not to take the sodas back. I would have been in a snit also!Thanks for sharing.

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  12. What a pain Teresa. So frustrating to deal with people like that. It's not like you have a soda capper at home to replace the caps. Dorks. Thanks for sharing the sources though. Great items for the summer. :)

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  13. Shame on Cracker Barrel they are not so nice.
    Sorry you had to endure such a lack of customer service. Retelling of story however very well done. You crack me up as well. It's nice to count on you for that when I may need a giggle. thanks

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  14. I feel your pain. Glad you didn't let it get to you. ;) Thanks for sharing about the straws. Nora's first birthday party is this month and Rebekah is finding such cute things to add to the summery mix. These look perfect.

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  15. I'm so sorry, but I have another question pertaining to these sodas... did the wooden soda crates come with them? I've been looking & asking all over where I could find some wooden soda crates & nobody seems to know!
    We don't have a Cracker Barrel where I live, but there's one not too awful far away... your help would be greatly appreciated! =)

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  16. Wow. That's bologna. Maybe they would make nice wedding center pieces...?

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  17. Cracker Barrel/Slacker Barrel. They need a lesson in "the customer is always right". As you can see I am a frequent traveler of the "high" road. haha

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  18. Wow - you go girl! IF I ever decide to take the high road (and I emphasize the "IF" - LOL), I will NOW know exactly how to go about it. =) Well played!! And, just for the record, I'm with YOU! ~Sal

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  19. Our Cracker Barrel is pretty far off, so rarely go there. Now I'll think of this every time I pass to get to the highway! Sorry they treated you this way. You would think in this economy they'd be a bit more hospitable.
    Brenda

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  20. I'll let you slam Cracker Barrel but, since you mentioned Country Living, I can get on that bandwagon. I have subscribed to that magazine for over twenty years (and still have most every copy) and have noticed that the quality of their magazine has really detriorated over the past year. Less magazine...more ads...and a lot less COUNTRY! Now, I feel better... Enjoy your soda...a cute and sweet idea!

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  21. Law, you crack me up!! Maybe you should have accidentally dropped them on the floor - and then they could have busted and splattered their sugary goodness all over the store...not that I'd even think of such an evil thing...

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  22. oh and how is it that you take a picture of straws and I'm mesmerized? It's not fair. Could you please fly here and take my after pictures for my Coach? I'd be forever grateful. K. Thanks

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  23. So funny!!!! Oh the pains of returning things............

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  24. When some family member (who shall remain nameless) bought the wrong thing at the grocery store (on more than one occasion) I've always returned it. I believe Cracker Barrel is not being completely honest with you.
    You are too funny.

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  25. Thanks for all this very good info, as I am planning on buying vintage soda's for a ladies event in September. I definitely want the real bottle tops and non-peely labels. I already bought my stripey paper straws off etsy, different vendor, though. I'll head to Wal-Mart or the grocery store since we don't have Cracker Barrel out here in California. Guess it's just as well.

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  26. Delurking here. I've lurked and drooled and loved on your blog and posts (I swoon over your photos, and that greenhouse? Oh my!), but never had the nerve to comment. Pish on that. It's nice manners to stop and say "hi". So, hi! :o)

    Oh, CB, why must you be so stinky? I do so love the store, but what a shame. It's good of you to not vent and be petty. :oP

    Thank you for the tip on the straws and for steering me in the right direction on which sodas to avoid.

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  27. Today I saw Bubble up at Cost Plus World Market. They looked very authentic but then I didn't look really closely. I wish I had read this post first. Those photos were amazing by the way! As always!

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  28. I just tried Cheerwine for the first time and LOVED it. In Central IL we have a farm store called Rural King, they sell different vintage soads. My son loved it as well. However, when my dog knocked over part of my BRIGHT red Cheerwine, the carpet did not like it so much. Ugh. Cute post!!

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  29. In case you weren't aware, we have now both gone off on CB via the blogs. Sweetness.

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  30. Hi there! I found your blog and just love your photography. And now I am wishing I had a Cracker Barrel near me to buy some of those fun looking bottles for a fun photo shoot! :)

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  31. great and hilarious post! and an fyi...CB no longer serves grape soda in the restaurant...they wanted me purchase a 4 pack from the store in order to have just 1 with my meal!!!
    Hope you are enjoying your summer!
    Sarah xo

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  32. You rock, friend. LOVED this! Seriously, very good and well needed laugh was had...thanks!

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  33. Teresa, I love the way you kept your cool and acted so maturely... I have been known to be mature at shops too - my particular maturity was directed at a ticket sales office only yesterday.

    But I won't rant either... much.

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  34. Super funny. Enjoyed the laugh AND your candor.

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  35. Too bad about Cracker Barrel (I had to Google it, we don't have any here...) and the straws are so cute, thanks!

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  36. cracking up! That is soooo something I would do. And I would feel exactly the same way as you. And I'd refuse to let them help me too. Oh...we could be fast friends. Walking down that high road hand in hand. ;)

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  37. That is weird that they have two different versions of their pops. Can I tell you that I made a positive comment in my posts about a certain company and the next thing I know I was getting an email from their corporate internet guy thanking me for featuring his company. Nowadays most companies have people who monitor any online mentions of their company so they can have a chance to rectify PR issues (the company where my husband works has a whole department that does it). So maybe Cracker Barrel will contact you with an apology for their customer service? I do like those pop bottles though!

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  38. Laughing out loud as always...you crack me up!!

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  39. Loved this! Again, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your Cracker Barrell tale! And I love that you took the high road for us. :)

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  40. You are too funny! The next time I'm in a Cracker Barrel I'll be examining those sodas!

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  41. LOL Well Cracker Barrel never heard of the adage...the customer is always right! Your blog is awesome and I love sodas in glass bottles and the straws! I paint cows and love the picture of the cow with the reflection!

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  42. I'm going to take the high road as well and not get up on my soap box! But, I will say..... too bad their customer service isn't vintage!

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  43. you really should write a book - your storytelling is flawless :> you have a special way of drawing the reader into your story - whatever it is about.

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  44. One is never too old to be young n immature. That's so me!!!! Loved those pics (as always). Love you keepin it real (as always)!
    hugs,
    Leslie

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  45. love ALL your photos, just became your new fan!!

    Yvonne@simplyvonne.com

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  46. Oooooh the nerve! ;)

    May I say again what a great picture of your son and his friend. I love her shirt, it is the icing on the cake. I think it's fun that the picture could be 50 years old but for the black nail polish!

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  47. I'm thinking that you may want to send a link for this post to Crackle Barrel's corporate office. I see on their website they have a spot for contacting them. It would do them well to see how much bad PR one flaky employee has caused them...

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  48. I'll take you
    over C.L. any
    day!!!
    xx Suzanne

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  49. that is the most made up, lame load of crap that I've ever heard! the FDA has NOTHING to do with the return of food products and store policy. that is just the ramblings of an extremely LAZY employee who wanted to feel important.
    huge bummer!

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  50. hi there. first time poster, long time stalker. holy crap! get out of my head! i did the exact same thing last christmas!! they have the cutest christmas versions of vintage sodas, but i bought the case instead of the 6-packs and discovered the same peely, paper labels and lame-o caps. unfortunately i arranged mine in the cutest ice bucket and set them out for a party without thinking the peely labels would melt off and turn to mush. it's good to know i'm not alone in my bummedness. when i get mad at cracker barrel i call them "crack bar". it makes me feel better. heh.

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