Coffee Bean LA workers take selfish advantage of the death of Paul Walker.

Coffee Bean LA workers take selfish advantage of the death of Paul Walker. Story by Meagan Jeffrey December 4th, 2013

Let me take the time to let you know before you read this story that this story is NOT a personal shot against the company Coffee Bean in any way shape or form. This story is NOT to discourage you from going to their store or to belittle them. It's simple to bring to light that what some of their staff did at ONE of their shops was not right and should not be done by anyone, anywhere. 

I was on my Twitter account this morning and searching Google for information on the results of the Paul Walker death, as I have been turned into this since finding out about his untimely death Sunday morning. 

I came across a post on Google stating Jason Biggs, the actor was not impressed with tip jars at Coffee Bean. So, curious as I am, I clicked on to Jason Biggs' Twitter account and found a photo of tip jars at a Coffee Bean shop in LA with the movie titles of Paul Walker's movies. Staff were asking that people vote on their favourite Paul Walker movie by leaving tips in the appropriate jars. SICKENING! It's very sick and disturbing that people were taking advantage of the death of someone else for their own selfish gains. 

I emailed Coffee Bean LA to see if this was true and what was done about it. Here are the emails I sent and the reply I got back: 

Good Morning Meagan,

Thanks so much for your email. 

I can totally understand your concerns with the tip jars image that you saw online, and I definitely apologize.  Please do know that we too were incredibly upset to see the image that Jason Biggs posted and we immediately worked to determine the store location and were able to have the jars removed that same afternoon.

We too are saddened by the tragic loss and are continuing to investigate the matter with our store to ensure that something like this will never happen again. In addition, we did release the following statement yesterday in response to the incident:

This is completely inconsistent with our brand values and the jars have since been removed. Our thoughts and condolences remain with friends and family of Paul Walker during this difficult time. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf(r) would like to thank Jason Biggs' tweet for bringing this matter to our attention.

Again, I would like to thank you for taking the time to contact us.  I hope you have a great rest of the week.

From: Meagan Jeffrey 

Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2013, 5:12 AM

To: ! Comments

Subject: Tips... Paul Walker

I have seen that your staff have tip jars set up with movie names that Paul Walker has stared in and they are collecting money, profiting from his untimely death. This is very poor taste and poor business ethics. Your staff should not be profiting from his death, how sick are they? Jason Biggs who was in your place of business saw this and took photos of these tip jars and has posted them on his social networks. He is highly disgusted, as well are many others.  In respect for Paul, his fans and family, you need to have your staff STOP this and make a public apology!!

I was NOT satisfied with this response. Thinking if this were my own family member they were exploiting, would this be enough for me? So, I sent another email to them; here is the email: 

From: Meagan Jeffrey 

Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2013, 9:07 AM

To: ! Comments

Subject: RE: Tips... Paul Walker

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and take care of this issue, I will let people know that your company has taken care of this issue. 

Where can the statement you sent out be found? I'd like to be able to share it, as this photo is going around social networks such as Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, tumble and Instagram... I don't know if you're aware of how far this photo has gone, but on my Facebook alone, I have over 1780 friends, twitter I have over 500 followers and so on... And they share... You get the point I am sure. Its only time before its everywhere then back to the Walker family and friends and becomes a huge deal. 

If you could send me a copy or link to the statement you sent out, I can share it to Jason Biggs, and on all my social networks, to get it out there as well... Because as it stands now, no one knows different... They think these jars are still out there. 

And, here is what they said back to this email: 

Comments (Comments@coffeebean.com)

Add to contacts

12:43 PM

Photos

To: Meagan Jeffrey

Thanks for your understanding, Meagan!

The following statement was shared with the media outlets reporting the story:

This is completely inconsistent with our brand values and the jars have since been removed. Our thoughts and condolences remain with friends and family of Paul Walker during this difficult time. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf(r) would like to thank Jason Biggs' tweet for bringing this matter to our attention.

And then we did also respond to Jason Biggs directly via Twitter:

Thanks again!

 Notice they still have NOT answered my questions, so I sent this following email: 

Meagan Jeffrey

12:50 PM  To: ! Comments

Yes but, how much was made in the tips? Where did the money go? If the staff took it and profited from it, will they be losing it from their pay? If so, what will then be done with it? I think it should go to Paul Walker's charity. 

Were the staff that did this punished? Did they send out an apology? I think they should. Were they punished? How, if not, why not? 

I am a freelance writer, and I am doing a story on this now and sharing it with the local radio here, news here and on my writing page. 

As a parent myself, I would be very upset knowing about this. As a fan, I am disgusted. As a person, I am humiliated and as a person who is my own boss, this is by far not okay. If I had staff and found out about this, they would lose that pay, it would go to Paul's charity, and they'd be made to give a public apology, and either be suspended without pay for a short time or fired, for bad conduct and using the death of someone for their own selfish gains. 

Can you please let me know the answers to my questions so I can add them to my story about this matter. 

Thanks, Meagan 

So, as it stands right now December 4th, 2013 at 12:54 pm, they haven't let me know what has happened to the money or staff. I am waiting for a reply on this. When I find out, I will add it to my story. 

Here is the photo from Jason Biggs that started this all: https://twitter.com/JasonBiggs

Jason Biggs @JasonBiggs22h

Umm, am I crazy, or does this seem exploitive and in poor taste? @CoffeeBeanLApic.twitter.com/VJYv71VoDo

NBC Los Angeles @NBCLA54m

Coffee Bean orders removal of "Paul Walker" tip jars, shown in this pic by actor@JasonBiggs http://4.nbcla.com/189LnRV  pic.twitter.com/PepqjRXNv7

 Retweeted by DWW DarK Sir3n

Story by Meagan Jeffrey December 4th, 2013 

UPDATE on the Coffee Bean LA tip jars: 

I received an email back from Coffee Bean LA tonight at 5:43 pm here is what the email had said: 

Meghan Patke (meghan@wagstaffworldwide.com)

Add to contacts

5:43 PM

Photos

To: Meagan Jeffrey

Cc: ! Comments

Hi Meagan,

Good Afternoon. Below are the two official statements released by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® regarding this incident which was not sanctioned by the brand, and the jars were immediately removed once Jason Biggs’ tweet surfaced yesterday morning.

December 3 –

This is completely inconsistent with our brand values and the jars have since been removed. Our thoughts and condolences remain with the many friends and family of Paul Walker during this difficult time. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® would like to thank Jason Biggs for bringing this matter to our attention.

December 4 –

The company whole-heartedly regrets the incident and extends our deepest apologies. As a gesture of our condolences to the Walker family, friends, and fans, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® is making a charitable donation to Reach Out Worldwide.

Additionally, here is a new blog post today from Jason Biggs’ as well – http://blogbiggs.tumblr.com/post/68996924130/i-should-have-known-that-my-coffee-bean-post-was

Here is the note Jason Biggs wrote on his Tumblr blog regarding this matter, after he had previously stated that he was not impressed with Coffee Bean...: 

I should have known that my Coffee Bean post was going to make some noise, especially in this headline-hungry age we live in, and especially with all the eagerness to post any news surrounding Paul’s passing. I suppose I wouldn’t be honest if I said I wasn’t expecting it to stir some shit up. Because I was indeed shocked at what I saw. But now that this has become a bit of a story in its own right, with The Coffee Bean responding and saying it will take the appropriate actions, I can only hope that my post didn’t get some hard-working college student fired. Because I do not really believe the act was malevolent. Ignorant and insensitive, yes. Dumb, sure. But not mean-spirited. I quite like the coffee bean, and the baristas that were working yesterday were sweet and otherwise professional and made me damn good red-eye with a room. And for the record, I wouldn’t have been able to pick between Varsity Blues or Fast and Furious. But if Eight Below was an option, that’s a different story. RIP Paul

• Dec 4th, 2013
• 8 notes

Here is the response I had to the blog post from Jason Biggs: 

blogbiggs:

I should have known that my Coffee Bean post was going to make some noise, especially in this headline-hungry age we live in, and especially with all the eagerness to post any news surrounding Paul’s passing. I suppose I wouldn’t be honest if I said I wasn’t expecting it to stir some shit up….

Sounds like someone is trying to save face for the previous statement they made about Coffee Bean and being upset about what they saw… 

I think it is highly disgusting what the staff at Coffee Bean did and I WILL speak openly and honestly about it because I do not have a publicist breathing down my neck telling me what to say and not to say… 

The staff at Coffee Bean knew very well what they were doing in making the tip jars, and asking for money to be put in them. Coffee Bean will not say how much was made and won’t say if the staff are being punished but, they have said that they will make a donation to Paul Walker’s charity Reach out worldwide. I will be checking in to see if they do keep their word and make a donation as they say. 

I didn’t write this and share it to be headline hungry or even because I am eager to share something surrounding Paul’s death. I wrote and shared this story because as a parent if I knew someone was taking advantage of the death of my child I would be PISSED! I would be heartbroken at their greed and insensitivity. There is no excuse for what they did and there is no reason they should not be held accountable for their actions. 

I say, dock their pay, suspend them without pay and have THEM make a public apology. For Coffee Bean company to cover for the staff is not enough, the staff who were greedy and insensitive should have to make the apology themselves. I am sure, if Paul were still here, he would be highly disgusted. 

It’s sad we live in a world where people take advantage of the death of someone for their own gain and greed, where people pass it off as being okay, and saying, “sure, it was in poor taste, but they have said sorry.” and think it’s enough. 

People are still trying to come to terms with the loss of Paul Walker, especially his family and loved ones. So, for Coffee Bean to simply be sorry (quietly), it is far from enough. I am sure that if the shoe were on the other foot, and one of the staff at Coffee Bean passed away and they made tip jars for their favourite look that staff member had, their friends and family would be disgusted, especially if it was solely for the staff to gain from!!

This is not a story of greed, headline hunger or taking advantage of Paul’s death, like the staff at Coffee Bean. It’s a story that is showing others that it’s NOT okay to take advantage of someone’s loss, death for gains and that if you get caught, you should be highly ashamed of yourself and have to pay for your disgusting actions. That is why I share this.   

• 
  

I am hoping that people will take the time to read this in full, to appreciate the reason I have written this story, why I have shared it. Not because I want my name out there, not because I am asking for any money but, because I want them to really think about their actions before they do and or say something. Every action has an equal or greater reaction and everything we say and or do, especially in the public eye is intensified 100%. You can't just take advantage of the loss of someone, or of someone's loss for your own gain; it's not right, it's hurtful and inhumane. The loss of someone, even if you didn't know them is a painful loss for someone who did know them. When you take advantage of that, you may not think you're doing harm, but if it got back to the loved ones of that person you're taking advantage of and gaining from, you're hurting them. Think before you act and speak. Let's be kind to one another and not so greedy and selfish in an already greedy and selfish world. 

I honestly hope that Coffee Bean keeps their word and makes a donation on the behalf of their staff to Reach out worldwide as they said they would. I have sent an email to Reach out worldwide asking for a statement from them regarding this, and if they would let me know if Coffee Bean does indeed does make a donation. At the time of publishing this, they had not gotten back to me regarding this. 

If you would like to make a donation to Paul Walker's Charity, Reach out worldwide you can do so here: https://www.roww.org/ 

Paul Walker and his dear friend, Roger Rodas were very much into giving back to the world, helping others and making this charity a big part of their lives. It would be greatly appreciated if you can make a donation to their charity instead of making gains for yourself off their untimely passings. 

The story was written by Meagan Jeffrey on December 4th, 2013 10:39 pm. 

EDIT NOTE December 6th, 2013

I have been scrolling the net, mostly google and Youtube keeping up to date with the Paul Walker death, as many others have. I came across a bunch of stories regarding the Coffee Bean and tea leaf/Paul Walker tip jars. They are all stating that Jason Biggs had called out the Coffee shop and he's a wonderful person for doing so. Well, let me speak bluntly and very outspokenly regarding this, and it's going to seem harsh... 

Jason Biggs is most well known for his roles in American Pie, as the loveable, crazy character that stuck his penis in a pie and dated the crazy band camp geek; "This one time, at band camp"... Yeah, I'm sure you've seen them and remember the lines as millions of us do. But, have we seen or heard a lot from him since? Not really, until now with the Coffee Bean post that's brought his name back into the spotlight for a bit. Sure, it's a great thing he took the time to snap a picture, then took the added time to post it on his Twitter account with the caption "Is this exploitive and in poor taste?" Then one other Twitter post saying that he knew his photo would cause some noise... He left it at that. Word spread to the Coffee Bean franchise and they had found out what store it was that these jars were at, had them 'Ordered' to be removed and apologized. Jason Biggs then took to his Tumblr account (NOTE HERE, NOWHERE ON HIS TWITTER DOES HE SAY HE DID THIS) to take BACK his harsh words against Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and their staff. Now, to me this seems like he was told to semi-apologize for the noise his picture and post had made or he felt bad for the noise it made and took it back; but WHY did he do it on his Tumblr and NOT his Twitter where he has more followers and more attention, where more people would see it? 

I had seen the photo as many did and found it very much in bad taste and disgusting that these people would want to benefit for their own good from the death of another person. SHAME ON THEM! I knew that this was NOT okay, and having lost a loved one myself, I knew that this was not something that their family would appreciate. So, I contacted Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and wrote this article/Story, and have shared it on the social media outlets. Sure, it's been read, got some attention, but nowhere near as much attention as Jason Biggs has gotten. 

Why does this upset me? Because when the story is being published and posted, it's NOT being told in full. It's NOT stating that Jason took his statement back on his Tumblr, it's NOT stating that Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf had said they would make a donation to Paul Walker's Charity ROWW (Reach out worldwide) and if they stuck to their word). It's NOT stating WHY this is newsworthy and disgusting. It's simply giving him a pat on the back so to speak for posting a photo and causing a bit of an uproar. 

I am a freelance writer, having various stories published in a magazine and three short horror stories published in three separate anthologies, I work hard for my name to be out there, I don't benefit from it other than having my name in print; at the time I have done the horror stories for free!! And I respect the loss of a loved one, of a person, even if I haven't ever known them. So, for these people to make money off the death of a celebrity, it makes me sick to my stomach. His family would be highly hurt by this; Paul would be disgusted I am sure. That's NOT who he was, he didn't TAKE from people, he GAVE to them. I hope this story, MY story gets out there because it's correct and more detailed than the one being spread around now. It's a shame that we as a society are so desensitized that we find it perfectly fine to gain from someone else's loss. 

Meagan Jeffrey December 6th, 2013 1:37 pm

ANOTHER UPDATE December 8th, 2013 

I contacted Coffee Bean and tea leaf this afternoon at 12:20 pm asking if they would let me know if they had made the "charitable donation" they said they would make to Paul Walker's charity ROWW, if so, how much. I am awaiting a response on that from them. When I get the information, I will add it here. And here is what they said regarding making a donation: The company whole-heartedly regrets the incident and extends our deepest apologies. As a gesture of our condolences to the Walker family, friends, and fans, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® is making a charitable donation to Reach Out Worldwide.

Meagan Jeffrey December 8, 2013, 12: 25pm 

FINAL NOTE REGARDING THIS STORY: December 10, 2013, 8:35 pm

I had contacted Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf back on December 8th, 2013 asking if they had indeed held up their word and made a donation to Paul Walker's charity ROWW. They got back to me tonight with this very basic and simple statement: 

Hi Meagan,

Thanks for the follow-up.  There was indeed an undisclosed donation made to ROWW from The Coffee Bean on December 4th.

In observance of privacy for all parties involved, I am not able to provide any additional details.

I appreciate your understanding and thank you again for sharing your thoughts with us.

Have a wonderful rest of the evening.

Katie Rockin 

Senior Manager of Customer Relations

International Coffee & Tea, LLC 

dba The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

1-310-237-7232, Direct Line

1-800-832-5323, Customer Relations 

   Option #2 for Coffee Bean Cards 

   Option #3 for Store Related Concerns/General Info

1-888-520-2285, CBTL Customer Relations

This tells me they made a donation, they kept their word, which is great!! I am very glad for that, but I was really hoping they would have been more detailed in this statement. I guess less is more to some. 

I have also made a donation to ROWW, I donated a sum of $500. Not much, but when I am a freelance writer, mother of 4, with a son's who's Birthday is this month, Christmas, New Years and my daughter's Birthday January 1st, it is a lot. I was more than happy to donate it, and this is the more detailed information I was hoping to get out of Coffee Bean and tea leaf. 

I thanked them for their statement, adding that when they have been publishing their apology to the world, a simple thank you to myself in their statement as they did with Jason Biggs would have been appreciated. As he posted a picture and 2 Twitter posts regarding it and 1 Tumblr post taking back his Twitter statements. I, however, took the time to contact Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf many times, wrote a story about this and never asked for a thing. I did it because I was thinking of how Paul's family and fans would feel when they saw these tip jars, how hurt they would be. I just wanted a simple thank you from them for making sure they were aware of these jars, and how bad it made their company look, and how it hurts to see things like this. I wasn't wanting any fame... Just a thank you that  I never got. 

So, as an avid coffee drinker, I think I will stick to Tim Horton's and Starbucks and pass on Coffee Bean and tea leaf, as their manners are lacking in (obviously) many areas.