Part of the reason Starbucks is tanking so badly is that less fancy chains (Dunkin Donuts, even McDonald’s) now make a decent cuppa joe that’s 1/3 the price of a “tall.” Most of my coworkers switched to Dunkin a long time ago.

Nice work on Stephen Kron’s part, though. Priceless insight. No wonder he works for Goldman Sachs.

Dude,
Are you crazy? A person who cannot afford to keep his/her house safe from the bank, better not be getting $5 latte. I am employed, and able to keep my house, I still cannot afford Starbucks’ pricey coffee, and that being a coffee lover.

I think it is a natural response to the economy and competition. McDonalds has poured a lot of money into their advertising of both coffee, McCafe, and this summer their $1 sweet tea and sodas. Starbucks is fun however a family of 4 can spend $16 just for a few drinks and snacks.

I suppose you’d have to think that Starbucks is really the best cup of coffee around to view this as a true tragedy.

I agree with all of you guys. Many other places have coffee that is just as good or, if you’re not addicted to mind-melding, stomach-bending strength, better than the cuppa Joseph you’ll find at Starbucks. In order to spin a 250 word conceit, however, I adopted a strategy of treating the Starbuck’s thing as if it was a tragedy. I will say that I have a tough time drinking diner coffee now, however. It’s like anything else. Once you get used to horse, it’s hard to scale back to home grown buds.

Why do the comments appear in reverse chronological order?

Wall Street no longer emanates a sophisticated business model since “PROGRAM TRADING” came into being.

The article on “AMERICAN AXLE” in today’s news headlines “NARCISSISM, NEPOTISM, and GREED” that represents today’s computer business model with hyper button pushers.

Wall Street runs on “HYPE”: disregarding their targets well-being, they rush to put a time stamp on their trades no matter what their case may be.

Long and short sales are he name of the game. As the market goes up and down the programs rake in the profits–if the market is stagnant, no dybamics, no profits.

The Wall Street “AUCTIONEER” bark’s out the hype to prompt “MARKET DYNAMICS”.

There is another wrinkle to be considered, and that is the current proximity of locations to each other. Near where I live, there are two pairs of Starbuck, one on either side of the freeway. And the two freeway intersections are only two miles apart. Do we really need four outlets in that one area? Cut 50% here and no one would be so inconvenienced as to stop drinking the stuff!

Starbucks please how about ONE store in India. Indian branded Coffee shops serving small over priced cups are almost on every corner in Bangalore. Philippines Starbucks are packed (lower prices than US) but not one Starbucks in Bangalore or all of India.No wonder the stock is down.

I have never drank coffee; it’s a horrifying beverage (and I don’t drink soft drinks, either). I just don’t get the fascination. It couldn’t happen to a more useless company.

I heard on the business news there would be continued foreign expansion to leverage those hungry markets – such as India…where I am certain it would not be $5 for a 20 oz latte but I suspect pricing would be more aligned with the incomes of those who hold all of the US outsourced jobs. Hang on, it’s coming!

The execs with their bonuses for achieving a successful outsourcing strategy will continue to have domestic access to McCafes and Starbucks just down the street from the MCmansions.

It is capitalism and like life…it is just not fair that some of us will be splurging on non-fair- trade, non-organic, diner coffee in the unemployment line.

All this over a cup of coffee. Are we soft or what?

I hope the one right across the street from my house at the safeway doesn’t shut down. Of course I can only afford to go there twice a week at the most. Maybe if they cut costs their expensive coffee will be more accessible to me. Four bucks plus for a cup. Good thing I get free coffee at work.

This is wonderful news!

I believe that Starbucks needs to close 1,000 stores in the U.S. and open up 500 in Asia. Asia is the place to be. Their middle class is growing and their appetites for conspicuous consumption is increasing. There are far too many Americans that are too busy complaining and not busy enough buying stuff.

Good to see the market react to overpriced hot water, Starbucks and their kind are history, the swill they offer for the price they charge is outrageous, anybody with a half functioning brain should know better than to become a Starbucks groupie.
I classify those types in the same group that have themselves plastered with loser labels (tattoos).

They should open up a lower-end franchise called “Ishmaels” and that’ll solve all their problems.
Ishmael will try anything to make a good cup of Joe.

Did anyone really think “four bucks” could go on selling overpriced coffee and tea drinks indefinitely while continuing to add stores ad nauseum? Perhaps all of this is a come-uppance to a company that I am told often took the “my way or the highway” approach when dealing with vendors. Anyway, if you are going to pay four bucks for a drink, you might as well get something with a little juice in it, like a beer.

3 words, friends: Diet Pepsi Max. Never had a cup of coffee in my life. Of course, it hasn’t been much of a life. – sawyerspeaks.wordpress.com

Good coffee at Starbucks? You Americans are nuts.

To close underperforming 600 stores and eliminating 14,000 employees is the best cost cutting process needed to boost future earnings. Ask any seasoned Accountant and not the Analysts who are paid to squawk to earn their day’s pay.

As soon as the shamelessly trendy and tragically hip realize that Fourbucks is no different (nor more chic) than Dunkin’ Donuts, its game over.

I’ll miss the blank looks I can get by walking in and simply ordering “coffee” though.

It’s no big loss as far as I’m concerned because I never touch the stuff. My wife, on the other hand, is going to be a little upset but she’ll get over it …and so will my wallet.

most of you people are stupid and dont know what you’re talking about. 1. a cup of coffee is 2.10 at the most. and thats the biggest size. the more you want in it the more it costs (just like anything else). and i bet most of you are assholes as customers anyway.
i work at a starbucks which will be shut down. all of our customers are pissed of and will be telling corporate that they are. even though it wont change anything.
these closures are drastically changing peoples lives. like mine. have some sympathy for us.

Some people like Starbucks, some don’t. Some people like cofee, some don’t. Some people like a calming moment, music and sip of esspresso, and some don’t. Some people have 4 dollars and are willing to spend it for a bit of
pleasure, and some don’t. Some people like the environment of a
Macdonalds, or donut hut better.
I personally, make my cofee, esspresso at home. It is away from the world. Starbucks, is somewhat ‘away’ from the world. It will be missed in the U.S. Asia is truly up and coming on coffee.
There were just too many Starbucks, for the demand changes, with places like burger joints making finally decent coffee. But, I sold my sbux a good while ago.

Starbucks needs two lines. One for jackasses who want to go in to speak Starbucky and stand in line behind other jackasses who order grande decaf tall vanilla soy caramel latte w/whipped cream, and whip it a little, but not so much, just a little frothy.

Another line for people who want to get a cup of coffee and get to work.

All the Barrrrristaaaas could work one line, and they could hire Mabel away from the Donut Hut to work the other one.

Starbucks coffee drinks are overpriced however the groupies are addicted to the variety of drinks that is available. They cater to the “coffee lover” and coffee lite drinkers. It is the hip place to get your coffee.
Now that main street is in trouble I guess Dunkin Donuts will be the new hip place; now if only they would add soy milk to their line up all would be well in my coffee world until such time I am a groupie of “the coffee man’” Starbucks.

Sad, so much comment about preference.

I don’t believe that anyone who has purchased coffee from a favored vendor ever had a gun to their head doing so.

I also believe that you may certainly have a choice in how you spend your income.

I began drinking coffee at age 10 in 1967. The first good coffee I ever had was in a hole-in-the-wall joint in nowhere, Germany in 1981. That is when I realized that coffee in the US is just brown piss-water.

When I finally tried my first cup at Starbucks in 1996, I was restored. By in-large, I prefer the “bold” flavors to the other, weaker categories (if it won’t strip paint…). I buy packed coffee at the supermarket and make it at home. When I buy at a store (about twice a year) I have never paid over $2 for a large coffee and zero for biscotti (is there really such a thing as a “fresh” biscotti?). I see the competition sells coffee at about the same price.

Again, you are welcome to your preference, but do not disparage what others may prefer.

Starbucks definitely over-saturated the US market and is paying for that success. Every successful corporation eventually hit a barrier due to oversaturation.

I am interested to see whether there is still any leadership left, or they continue to crawl on their knees before the Street.