I’ve actually never been to a Cold Stone Creamery before, but they seem to be everywhere now. Are they really that good? I personally prefer the $2.50 pints of Ben & Jerry’s when they go on sale once a month at the grocery store.
Anyways, if you sign up for their Birthday Club and the accompanying mailing list, you’ll get an e-mail for a free Ice Cream Creation on your birthday. I imagine proper ID is required… what a sneaky way to get your real birth date! Found via an e-mail forward from my parents, of all places.
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I actually never heard of this chain ice cream place; and thought maybe it’s just one of those West Coast shops. But, nope… it’s in the East too, and, I may give them a try. (if your’ worried about giving them your ID, get a fake id and show them that! — just kidding.)
They normally have tip jars out at this place. NO THANKS!!
they’re ok. i’m with you, the $2.50 ben & jerry’s is much more tasty to me. but who would reject free ice cream?!
My wife and I just found out about this. We are suckers for free stuff. I don’t recall having to use and ID when we redeemed ours last. We simply printed out the free ice cream email that came on my birthday and that was it. Pretty fun. I just learned that Baskin Robbins has a similar deal.
I think their ice cream is incredible! They use freshly made ice cream and hand mix your add-ins. For instance, if you get their black forest (my favorite) you can taste each individual flavor; the chocolate ice cream, the fresh cherries, the chunks of fudge, etc.
Ben and Jerry’s is good, but I would bet it too would taste better if you ate it 7 months ago when it was first made…;)
Most places that offer these promotions end up only giving you a very tiny cup of ice cream. But then again, it is free 🙂
-Raymond
Coldstone is amazing! Try their “Chocolate Devotion” or their “Birthday Cake Remix.” Both are incredible. Some of the best ice cream you will ever eat. We have to try to limit our trips there in order to save on money. We’re lucky that at our location we always order the medium size cups, but they almost always end up mixing too much of our order and giving it to us in large cups at the medium price. Good for the wallet, but not so good for my diet!
I thought the same thing as MONEY BLUE BOOK: that I would receive just a tiny bit of ice cream like they do at BaskinRobins, but was pleasantly surprised when the employee said I had to get not a small, but a regular, creation. I did tip her because I thought she did deserve it. The Ice cream was more than enough for both me and my wife.
Their medium size (called “love it”) is a meal.
I’ve only been to Cold Stone once or twice (it’s in the Midwest, too!), and I’ve liked it. Naturally, my birthday was yesterday and I just learned about this today…
Yes………….it IS good ice cream!!!!!!!
BTW………….you would be VERY surprised to see how close your generic, grocery-store branded ice cream is to the real stuff.
I used to be a B&J’s fan, but they lost my business the day they failed to put more than 3 or 4 chunks of cookie dough in an ENTIRE pint of their CCD ice cream!!!!
My current favorite is Dreyer’s (Or Edy’s for your east coast folks) and their “LOADED” versions of ice cream.
I like Cookie Dough, so that’s what I get, but they have different stuff.
I also like their seasonal “Apple Pie” ice cream around the holidays. 😉
GORGEOUS ice cream! Strawberry cheesecake is a winner. make sure you get the waffle cone though… these things are no fun in a cup…
too bad my birthday is in the dead of winter 🙁
Coldstone has great ice cream, but it’s not exactly the healthiest dessert out there. Don’t get anything larger than a small for one person, trust me, it’ll be enough. Thanks for the heads up on the free ice cream.
Yes, they do have tip jars, and they’re required to sing whenever someone leaves a tip (regardless of how small), so it’s up to you whether you want to tip… (my sister used to work there, she wasn’t very happy with the people who would drop in a nickel) 🙂
There Icecream is pretty good but its very expensive! I wouldn’t take the whole family. Also their icecream is loaded with sugar. It taste like a cup of sugar.
Hmm… that does sound good in this 85 degree sun. From a little online searching, it seems that Coldstone ice cream has 14% butterfat, not bad. I think Ben & Jerry’s has up to 17%. I prefer the high density stuff.
I printed the coupon this year, but wasn’t able to go before the expiration date! That place is good, but I only go there with a coupon. It isn’t good enough to pay the same price as two half gallons of ice cream for one serving.
When the hell does Ben and Jerry’s go on sale for 2.50 a pint? Man… I’d like some of that 🙂
In regards to Cold Stone, they’ve been popping up all over. To be honest, I am not all that fond of their ice cream. Although it is freshly made, I do not like the fact that it is already melting when they give it to you – although I suppose this is how they are able to do their mix-ins. Their mint chocolate cookie ice cream cake is pretty decent, although would much rather have the Baskin and Robins version.
If you go there, my advice would be to split a ‘gotta have it’ with one or two others, or else only get the smallest size for one person. Otherwise you’re eating a sickening amount of ice cream. I saw one guy devour a ‘gotta have it’ by himself the other week and I was quite disgusted.
Just to add my two cents: No, they’re really *not* that good. Or maybe my expectations are just too high. In any event, I’ve decided that Cold Stone doesn’t taste as good as B&J or BR, and it’s waaaaaaaaay too expensive for the amount they give you (though that’s the same at the other places).
Lot’s of places offer free stuff for birthdays. We signed both of our kids up at Toys R US and they sent gift cards for the kids. Now granted it was only $3, but you take it when you can. Many restaurants in our area (Atlanta) offer up free meals on your birthday. Even some of the local attractions have free passes!
I ate at Coldstone once and I felt that the quality isn’t that great and the price is very high. I like Haagen Daaz icecream, which you can find in most grocery stores. It is sometimes on sale at 2 for $5 or $6.
I like the pineapple coconut and dulce de liche flavors.
Agree with Jenn… Lots of places will offer free meals on your birthday. It makes good business sense. You get a free meal, but your friends and family pay for a meal. I’m personally a huge fan of the free dinner buffet at Todai. Mmmm… all you can eat crab legs, sushi, and soft serve..
Not to be rude, but why don’t you ask yourself why cold stone creamery is insanely booming, they have high quality product. The ice cream is great,the service is pretty decent. If you’re poor then you will think it’s too expensive, but if you have a job then it’s a nice relaxing desert to split with your beau for around 4 bucks.
Good stuff, but definitely stick to the small. I made the mistake of ordered a large once and had to throw some away.
It is criminal what some places charge for everything nowadays (think $5 for a cup of hot water run over some Starbucks coffee grounds) but this isn’t the type of place you are going to go everyday.
Save it for that occasional special treat. The best part is getting to choose whatever fresh toppings you want, and the little jingles that they sing sometimes.
Interesting to see so many people talking about my former employer. I worked at Corporate office and they offer free ice cream to employees when new flavor are introduced and I agree, their serving size is pretty big.
This is one walk-up pay-and-go counter place where I think the tip jars are justified… as a friend of mine said, “I’d rather die than deal with all those trophy wives who ask for ‘just a little more’ peanut butter or brownie in their ice cream”.
Seriously, the tip is always optional at a place with a tip jar – you shouldn’t feel obligated, but above-and-beyond customer service warrants one. Extra peanut butter warrants at least a little tip from me.
Cold Stone is pretty good. The deals that I haven’t heard mentioned yet are the other “lesser” holidays. I was in for Father’s day and they were giving all fathers free (Medium/”Love it”) ice cream. What I normally get is ~$4.50 so, it’s well worth it. We also have M-F deals at our Cold Stone. I’m not sure if it’s just a local thing though….
Worth the trip, IF you have a coupon or plan to take advantage of the daily deals.
Don’t forget, Free is free. (and yummy too!!!)
Here’s the tip: People who make their own creations tend not to like it so much. The ice cream is just “ok” if you add 1 or 2 mix-ins. I used to think it was just “ok” because my creations weren’t that great. Then one time I decided to try one of their signature creations which has 4-5 mix-ins and WOW! It was so much better. Definitely give it a second chance with their pre-chosen Signature Creations. My pick = Mojo Pie! Excellent. (Coffee Ice Cream w/ Oreo Cookies, nuts, peanut butter, fudge, whip cream… mmm).
My first experience with Cold Stone was not a pleasant one. I bought an ice cream cake (20)$ and brought in hoome in the trunk of the car, about 9 miles in temperature of 24 and wind chill of 14. Going into the garage and opening the bag to put in the freezer for cimpany the next night, I found the ice cream had melted and the top layer of the cake slid off to the side. Needless to say it was not served. What would have happned if it had been 90 outside?
I gave you a comment on my first experience with Cold Stone which was not a favorable one. After contacting the store about the problem, I was contacted by the manager and given as most fair and rewarding solution to the problem, a selection of my own for a bigger and more expensive product. Hats off to the Avon store which cares about their customers.
I love coldstone its not something you eat everyday, coldstone is a special event treat. I go to college near one in Royal Oak, MI when I pass a test or finish my finals thats my number one treat to myself.