'They assured us they are sending new checks.' 'We contacted their consumer service helpline probably 30-40 times that day,' Jesse said. The first round of checks, however, bounced. Jesse said they called the local store and the district manager and were assured it was a mistake and that they would issue checks immediately. Immediately, Deedee and Jesse began frantically reaching out to Starbucks. The couple didn't realize they had been charged until days after the January 7 pickup.ĭeedee told KOKI that she only noticed the charge after the card was declined while she was shopping with her four children. 'If it wasn't the barista then it's definitely your network, which is a really big issue,' Jesse told McClatchy News. At the time, Jesse said he selected the 'no tip' option during checkout at the drive-thru. 'I know how to press buttons. Additionally, squadrons are employing airmen ingenuity and looking to develop new solutions for less expensive repairs and replacements." He continued, "Work is already underway to refine processes for identifying and reporting unreasonable costs. The new handle design is more ergonomic includes a fully curved handle and, since 3D printing allows the user to print in stacked layers, it is also stronger than other designs," Karns said. "Travis is currently awaiting delivery of the certified 3D printer. The new handles cost of about fifty cents each, Wilson said in her letter. "The Air Force Life Cycle Management at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, has both the printer and the materials that can manufacture airworthy parts," Karns said. Karns stressed Wednesday that it was airmen who identified the handle breakability issue, "delivered an alternate solution, brought it to light and were already in the process of bringing about change." The Air Force continues to emphasize the savings the service realized on the pricey cups through 3D printing. "Government officials have the responsibility to use taxpayer dollars efficiently. "It remains unclear why it cannot find a cheaper alternative to a $1,280 cup," Grassley said in his Oct. So it's unsurprising pilots and crew operating these fleets may have a backup way to keep caffeinated.Īdditionally, the cups need to be FAA-certified because they connect to the aircraft to heat the water, Wilson said.īut when Wilson responded with a breakdown of the costs, Grassley was still unsatisfied. The airlift and refueling planes are used by aircrew for hours-long missions, transporting troops, supplies, equipment as well as aerial refueling to U.S. Wilson said the cups, made to heat water for tea or coffee, are used across 59 KC-10 Extenders, 52 C-5 Galaxies, and 222 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. In a letter addressed to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson earlier this month, the Iowa Republican questioned why the service spent tens of thousands of dollars over the last three years on cups in the first place. Chuck Grassley was decidedly not impressed. The purpose of the service's announcement was to tout how it had begun saving on cup costs by using 3D printing to replace flimsy handles that frequently broke when dropped, but Sen. The Air Force said $326,785 has been spent for the purchase of nearly 400 of these hot cups since 2016, which brings the average unit cost across the purchase period to roughly $800 per cup. The price for each cup surged from $693 to $1,280 in 2018, resulting in a cost of $32,000 for 25 cups - a price jump of $587 per cup. In July, the Air Force said that the 60th Aerial Port Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California, purchased 10 hot cups for $6,930 in 2016.
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