When Russ Herriott took control, Marsha Cruz stopped working for Captain's Reserve due to lack of payment. At that time, Captain's Reserve Coffee was in several Ray's Markets in Oregon and Northern California as well as most QFC Stores in the Pacific Northwest. Online sales were ever increasing and things were looking up.
In the absence of Ms Cruz, Ray's Markets opted to discontinue the relationship with Captain's Reserve. Slowly but surely regular QFC customers noticed increasing empty space where once proudly stood Captain's Reserve Coffee. Below is a photo narrative from two QFC stores that tells the very sad story.
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| QFC Seattle - Stocked shelves with coffee at regular price. September 2009 |
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| QFC Seattle - Taken October 11, 2010 - Shelves half full, closeout prices |
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| QFC Tacoma, WA - Shelves half full, close out prices August 21, 2010 |
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| QFC Tacoma - October 10, 2010 - Shelves full one last time Note: This happened about the same time the shelves at the Rutledge Corn Maze were finally stocked with Captain's Reserve Coffee that was promised for it's Grand Opening On September 11, 2010. Click to read "In Response - Then and Now - Big Difference" |
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| QFC Tacoma, WA - Marked down for close out November 14, 2010 |
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| QFC Tacoma - Last two bags - November 14, 2010 |
On November 20, 2010 at approximately 2PM, three phone calls were made to QFC stores in the Seattle Area.
- QFC Mountlake Terrace - When asked if the store carried Captain's Reserve Coffee the clerk said they had problems with ordering it and that the coffee was being discontinued.
- QFC on Broadwway in Everett - Clerk said it was on closeout for $5.54 and all they had left was a little Midnight Sunrise and the Italian Roast
- QFC Mukilteo at Harbor Point - A gentleman named Brian said they had no Captain's Reserve Coffee at all.
During the downward spiral of Captain's Reserve Coffee, nothing at all was heard from Russ Herriott. There were no updates on Captainphilharris.com since the last one on August 1. Mr. Herriott had been so proud to grab the reins of the shiny new website and the newly vacated position at the helm of Captain's Reserve Coffee!
He seemingly did nothing. There was little or no response to inquiries on the website about when online coffee orders would be filled, if ever. Fans and customers were just left out in the cold. If forum members asked too many questions their posts were deleted. Links for the online store and other site information no longer worked.
Apologies to customers for previous poor treatment (read last paragraph) were no longer believed and disenchanted forum members left the website in droves. Those who remained, rattled around the deserted website looking for signs of life and someone to connect with. Forum threads were started by the handful of hangers on, but no one was there to type responses. Captanphilharris.com became a dry, neglected, parched ghost town.
Just a couple days ago Captainphilharris.com went offline. Click to view - Being updated please check back. Hopefully it is being updated. Captain's Reserve Coffee company is seemingly no longer in business. When Captainphilharris.com came on line in June they advertised a cross country roll out for January 2011. That seems highly unlikely. The only place coffee rolled was off the shelves.
Links to buy the last of Captain Phil's Original clothing were disabled months ago and now there is no dedicated site to link Customers to Eskimo Joe's where they can be purchased. The man who eagerly took control is all but M.I.A.
It's been 10 short months since Captain Phil passed away. Nothing is left of the business he proudly started but a shell. If Mr. Herriott could once again gather together the now widely dispersed members of the "Captain Phil Nation", it would be interesting to hear his attempt to explain What the fuck happened...
He seemingly did nothing. There was little or no response to inquiries on the website about when online coffee orders would be filled, if ever. Fans and customers were just left out in the cold. If forum members asked too many questions their posts were deleted. Links for the online store and other site information no longer worked.
Apologies to customers for previous poor treatment (read last paragraph) were no longer believed and disenchanted forum members left the website in droves. Those who remained, rattled around the deserted website looking for signs of life and someone to connect with. Forum threads were started by the handful of hangers on, but no one was there to type responses. Captanphilharris.com became a dry, neglected, parched ghost town.
Just a couple days ago Captainphilharris.com went offline. Click to view - Being updated please check back. Hopefully it is being updated. Captain's Reserve Coffee company is seemingly no longer in business. When Captainphilharris.com came on line in June they advertised a cross country roll out for January 2011. That seems highly unlikely. The only place coffee rolled was off the shelves.
Links to buy the last of Captain Phil's Original clothing were disabled months ago and now there is no dedicated site to link Customers to Eskimo Joe's where they can be purchased. The man who eagerly took control is all but M.I.A.
It's been 10 short months since Captain Phil passed away. Nothing is left of the business he proudly started but a shell. If Mr. Herriott could once again gather together the now widely dispersed members of the "Captain Phil Nation", it would be interesting to hear his attempt to explain What the fuck happened...
No Kidding, WTF HAPPENED RUSS??? President and CEO of what? All of Captain Phil & Marsha's hard work to make that coffee company a success and it is all gone... I repeat WTF HAPPENED?
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