Amtrak Chocolates Are Back!

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seat38a

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Those Amtrak chocolate squares are back but only in the Metropolitan Lounge. Not sure about the other locations but they are for sure at Los Angeles. The attendant said that this is NOT just leftovers from the cutbacks from the sleeping cars but they are ordering them specifically for the lounge now. Also, they added these giant cookies to the snacks as well! :) Giant soft cookies on top of the regular fresh fruits and chips.

IMG_0922 by seat38a, on Flickr
 
☺☺☺

Did Amtrak hire a new Manager or Promote someone with some customer service skills and common sense to reign in the Bean Counters run wild????

The LA Lounge sounds like its really contending for #1, cant wait to see it in October! (And visit Pilippe of course!)
 
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Oh BTW, according to the lounge attendant, the wine tasting is back for a fee on all CS trains. I think before we had a is it or is it not back for sure discussion on here. It is open to anyone for a fee.
 
jimhudson said:
Did Amtrak hire a new Manager or Promote someone with some customer service skills and common sense to reign in the Bean Counters run wild???? The LA Lounge sounds like its really contending for #1, cant wait to see it in October! (And visit Pilippe of course!)
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I remain a big fan of the Coast Starlight and I'm becoming a big fan of the lounge in LA. Calling it a Metropolitan Lounge seems kind of disrespectful since the furnishings are about ten times nicer and the staff were about ten times friendlier than any other Metro Lounge I've visited. After the latest round of service and amenity cuts there is no other route and no other lounge that can compete on equal footing. Even the much respected Auto-Train is really no match in my view. I suppose if you included every possible comparison then I'd have to admit The Canadian remains the preeminent route of the Americas, but dollar for dollar I think I get more bang for my buck out of the Coast Starlight than any other train.
 
The coast starlight is legitimate competition to the Canadian IMHO. The Coast Starlight is the only train that has 2 dining options (diner or Parlour Car) and also the only train that offers a dining car service at a private table for you and your party only.

Back when they offered the free wine and cheese tasting I felt it was an easy win, now it's a bit more questionable sine the Canadian does have better food quality, and much better bedding in the sleepers.

Scenery is win win, both routes are great.
 
D T Nelson said:
The last Amtrak chocolate square I had (last year) was made by Astor Chocolate. I looked them up when I got home and found I could buy the same chocolate, the dark chocolate with orange peel, here: http://www.astorchocolate.com/Product/Chocolates/Rounds_and_Squares/Astor_High_Cocoa_Content_Deluxe_Chocolate_Squares_-_1.75%22_W60054.html
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Astor's prices are reasonable, but the shipping costs are murder. They do have free pickup from their warehouse in Lakewood, NJ, though. Anybody want to pick some up and bring them to the Gathering? :)
 
The chocolates are still made by Astor, the cookies are huge, and the people running the lounge in LAUS are very nice. Perhaps they could lessons to Chicago :p What was most amazing about the lounge (the Monday after the quake waiting for a train to be made up) was the train manager (or something like that) for the CS who kept coming in and giving us updates. Actual information being given out. :hi: And to calm the crowd (it was full but seats were available for everyone) he made the wine tasting complimentary the first day.
 
Storing your luggage in the lounge does not seem to be a problem at LAUS. People have mentioned before that at the other lounges it may be hit or miss regarding storing your luggage at the lounge. All the times I have been to the lounge at LAUS, the attendant will store your luggage behind their desk area for safe keeping.

Also, I have yet to walk to the train from the lounge. They ask if I need a red cap when I check in, to which I reply no, but each time I have been driven by the red caps to the train through the back door. When its time to head to the train.
 
Before the lounge opened at LA Union Station, I read the CS sleeping car passengers would have a reception at the Traxx Bar with coffee / juice and the train manager + conductor escorting them to the train. From what I read, it was an elaborate event that was only done for the CS. Do the conductors and the train manager still do this at the Metropolitan Lounge?
 
I'm not sure if we discussed this before, but if Amtrak has eliminated the "bedtime sweet" from sleeping car's, what would happen to an enterprising (as in trying to please his passenger's to possibly boost gratuity) sleeping car attendant, if s(he), purchased their own supply of something like individualy wrapped Andes Creme de Menthes to distribute as before? Would they be subject to discipline for that?

As to the LA Metropolitan Lounge personnel being "friendlier" than Chicago....I am not trying to be an apologist for them, but they (CHI), are probably subject to an enormous amount of pressure dealing with multiple trains and daily misconnect issue's....
 
CHamilton said:
D T Nelson said:
The last Amtrak chocolate square I had (last year) was made by Astor Chocolate. I looked them up when I got home and found I could buy the same chocolate, the dark chocolate with orange peel, here: http://www.astorchocolate.com/Product/Chocolates/Rounds_and_Squares/Astor_High_Cocoa_Content_Deluxe_Chocolate_Squares_-_1.75%22_W60054.html
Click to expand...
Astor's prices are reasonable, but the shipping costs are murder. They do have free pickup from their warehouse in Lakewood, NJ, though. Anybody want to pick some up and bring them to the Gathering? :)
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Hahaha. You should just have anyone transiting LAUS grab a handful from the lounge.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if these chocolates are being paid for with some "discretionary fund" of a LA-based manager.

railiner said:
I'm not sure if we discussed this before, but if Amtrak has eliminated the "bedtime sweet" from sleeping car's, what would happen to an enterprising (as in trying to please his passenger's to possibly boost gratuity) sleeping car attendant, if s(he), purchased their own supply of something like individualy wrapped Andes Creme de Menthes to distribute as before? Would they be subject to discipline for that?
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There's nothing in the rule book that prevents a SCA from going above and beyond.

In fact, I had a SCA who just so happened to do something similar to what you described. When we arrived in our roomette he placed a blue napkin on the table (like a table cloth) and left us a signed Welcome Aboard note along with a handful of Hershey's Kisses and Life Savers. He left us more each time he turned down our beds and made up our room. He also left baskets of cookies and fruit out by the coffee pot.

Oh and it's worth mentioning that this SCA was a former high-level manager of the California Zephyr who had semi-retired after several years, but still wanted to work with customers.

railiner said:
As to the LA Metropolitan Lounge personnel being "friendlier" than Chicago....I am not trying to be an apologist for them, but they (CHI), are probably subject to an enormous amount of pressure dealing with multiple trains and daily misconnect issue's....
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There's no excuse for the situation in Chicago. SP&S perfectly described how you handle pressure... the folks in LA took a problem that was out of their control and turned it into an opportunity to provide excellent customer service.
Unlike Chicago, the managers in LA seem to be fostering a culture where all employees care about these trains and the customers on them.
 
I really hope that "LAX can train CHI", and not the other way around, when it comes to lounge attendants.....

I'd HATE to see the attitude that endemic in Chicago's Met Lounge, creep out to LAX.

Any Amtrak Mgmt personnel reading these posts, please consider sending the LAX lounge crew, and policies, EAST, to Chicago!
 
CHamilton said:
D T Nelson said:
The last Amtrak chocolate square I had (last year) was made by Astor Chocolate. I looked them up when I got home and found I could buy the same chocolate, the dark chocolate with orange peel, here: http://www.astorchocolate.com/Product/Chocolates/Rounds_and_Squares/Astor_High_Cocoa_Content_Deluxe_Chocolate_Squares_-_1.75%22_W60054.html
Click to expand...
Astor's prices are reasonable, but the shipping costs are murder. They do have free pickup from their warehouse in Lakewood, NJ, though. Anybody want to pick some up and bring them to the Gathering? :)
Click to expand...
Have to agree: $55 for the chocolate, but $49 for shipping ??? Ouch.
 
gmushial said:
CHamilton said:
D T Nelson said:
The last Amtrak chocolate square I had (last year) was made by Astor Chocolate. I looked them up when I got home and found I could buy the same chocolate, the dark chocolate with orange peel, here: http://www.astorchocolate.com/Product/Chocolates/Rounds_and_Squares/Astor_High_Cocoa_Content_Deluxe_Chocolate_Squares_-_1.75%22_W60054.html
Click to expand...
Astor's prices are reasonable, but the shipping costs are murder. They do have free pickup from their warehouse in Lakewood, NJ, though. Anybody want to pick some up and bring them to the Gathering? :)
Click to expand...
Have to agree: $55 for the chocolate, but $49 for shipping ??? Ouch.
Click to expand...
That works out to about 87 cents per slab which is higher than most cats can raise their tails :) Even before shipping the stuff is fairly pricey but I will admit is pretty good.
 
I had a similar candy experience on Acela Express First Class. BOS to NYP.

The crew managed to not hand out the hot towels but between NHV and STM came through with a tray full of (Acela) bowls of candies like York Peppermint Patties and a few other things, announcing"Its Candy Time".

I don't mind these extra steps of hospitality (I also had an excellent attendant on the Portland have of the EB who left out cookies in the afternoon) but I'm sure the attendants realize that the extra trips offset the extra cost.
 
OlympianHiawatha said:
gmushial said:
CHamilton said:
D T Nelson said:
The last Amtrak chocolate square I had (last year) was made by Astor Chocolate. I looked them up when I got home and found I could buy the same chocolate, the dark chocolate with orange peel, here: http://www.astorchocolate.com/Product/Chocolates/Rounds_and_Squares/Astor_High_Cocoa_Content_Deluxe_Chocolate_Squares_-_1.75%22_W60054.html
Click to expand...
Astor's prices are reasonable, but the shipping costs are murder. They do have free pickup from their warehouse in Lakewood, NJ, though. Anybody want to pick some up and bring them to the Gathering? :)
Click to expand...
Have to agree: $55 for the chocolate, but $49 for shipping ??? Ouch.
Click to expand...
That works out to about 87 cents per slab which is higher than most cats can raise their tails :) Even before shipping the stuff is fairly pricey but I will admit is pretty good.
Click to expand...
Have never heard the expression before, but do like it - quite classy :)
 
rickycourtney said:
There's nothing in the rule book that prevents a SCA from going above and beyond.

In fact, I had a SCA who just so happened to do something similar to what you described. When we arrived in our roomette he placed a blue napkin on the table (like a table cloth) and left us a signed Welcome Aboard note along with a handful of Hershey's Kisses and Life Savers. He left us more each time he turned down our beds and made up our room. He also left baskets of cookies and fruit out by the coffee pot.

Oh and it's worth mentioning that this SCA was a former high-level manager of the California Zephyr who had semi-retired after several years, but still wanted to work with customers.
Click to expand...
Was this SCA on the California Zephyr? I had a SCA do something very similar on the California Zephyr about 2 1/2 years ago, but I have no recollection of his name.
 
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