Comments on: Wake up and smell…no coffee

By: Red, Dover, NH

Red, Dover, NH — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:07:45 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:04:40 +0000

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.

By: Java Joe no latte

Java Joe no latte — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:05:26 +0000

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.

By: John, Houston, Texas

John, Houston, Texas — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:34:55 +0000

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.

By: jamie jax florida

jamie jax florida — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:34:32 +0000

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.

By: Ivan, Washington, DC

Ivan, Washington, DC — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:35:03 +0000

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.

By: Leroy Jenkins, Sumatra

Leroy Jenkins, Sumatra — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:29:43 +0000

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.

By: Rudi. Dallas, Texas

Rudi. Dallas, Texas — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:21:35 +0000

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.

By: Q, Madrid, Spain

Q, Madrid, Spain — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:02:34 +0000

Good coffee at Starbucks? You Americans are nuts.

By: sawyerspeaks

sawyerspeaks — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:34:17 +0000

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

By: Bob Upton, Baltimore, MD

Bob Upton, Baltimore, MD — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:59:54 +0000

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.

By: Fern, Fair Lawn, NJ

Fern, Fair Lawn, NJ — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:55:53 +0000

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.

By: Jack Hammond Canada

Jack Hammond Canada — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:33:19 +0000

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).

By: Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX

Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:51:12 +0000

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.

By: Josh, Tucson, AZ

Josh, Tucson, AZ — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:58:05 +0000

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.

By: tony nj

tony nj — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:41:20 +0000

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

By: AC Portland, OR

AC Portland, OR — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:41:39 +0000

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.

By: Curmudgeon, Nashua NH

Curmudgeon, Nashua NH — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:00:43 +0000

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.

By: Steve Bangalore India

Steve Bangalore India — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:37:44 +0000

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.

By: JAy., Houston, TX

JAy., Houston, TX — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:26:43 +0000

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!