Actor Everett labels Starbucks a 'cancer'

[TjW]

Again, how can VD win over the big corporations?

The same way VD "wins over" everyone else -- bacterial marketing.
Got VD?

 

[Forty-Two]

The swill niche?

The happy-employees-in-their-twenties-niche. A few of my coworkers have worked at other coffee shops before (including our direct competitors), and just like working for Starbucks better. They know how to treat their employees, and in my store at least, it leads to us all being friendly and playful. (I also have a few regular customers who are older men and like to flirt. They tend to tip well.)

As for the swill comments: again, if you don't like the coffee, don't buy it. Starbucks prides itself on its dark roast, which isn't to everyone's taste. In fact, if you ask a Starbucks barista what his or her favorite coffee is, it's very likely that s/he'll talk mention another store (I'm originally from Chicago, and I'll say that Dunkin Donuts's coffee is better than their doughnuts would have you believe). But Starbucks provides quick service and an atmosphere that the many loyal customers at my store love, which is why they come back to us.

 

[tkingdoll]

I don't like coffee. I never drink it. I go to Starbucks. Why? Their steak and cheese paninis are the greatest.

 

[Rob Lister]

I don't like coffee. I never drink it. I go to Starbucks. Why? Their steak and cheese paninis are the greatest.

I love coffee. It has been said that I love bad coffee. A matter of taste, I suppose. Starbucks is bitter and far too strong for me and I really don't have time in the mornings to waste getting (and paying far extra for) something that is available in abundant quantity and quality at home and at work.

 

[tkingdoll]

I love coffee. It has been said that I love bad coffee. A matter of taste, I suppose. Starbucks is bitter and far too strong for me and I really don't have time in the mornings to waste getting (and paying far extra for) something that is available in abundant quantity and quality at home and at work.

Yes, but steak and cheese paninis.

 

[HarryKeogh]

Actually, it's a statement of fact.

Hey Scrut, what exactly do you mean when you say "Actually, there is no evidence that Wal-Mart has ever driven a single retailer out of business."?

 

[Rob Lister]

Yes, but steak and cheese paninis...

pale in comparison to mine.

...er...

Oh, Paninis. Sorry.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Hey Scrut, what exactly do you mean when you say "Actually, there is no evidence that Wal-Mart has ever driven a single retailer out of business."?

What it says. Wal-Mart has never been the cause of a retailer closing.

 

[Rob Lister]

What it says. Wal-Mart has never been the cause of a retailer closing.

I, for one, get you. True, they have not. It has only been the people that select Wal-mart over the previous retailer that causes them to close.

That really is not wal-marts fault.

Whose fault is it?

Life's.

 

[Major Billy]

thank God i was afraid you were referring to 'Chad" Everette!!

 

[Jas]

I boycotted Starbucks a few months back when I realized that they are the only coffee shop I know of that makes you pay to use their wireless internet.
I happily tell people about my reasons for boycotting and encourage them to do the same if the idea of paying for wireless, when so many other places offer it free, bothers them.

It's not so much that Starbucks charges you for their wireless, it's that they seem to have some sort of contract with "hotspot", which is the Telus/Bell/Fido/Rogers thing. Blenz is actually the only chain I can think of which offers free wireless, and for some reason, I always have problems connecting.

While the Starbucks isn't free, it's at least easy to access, in that you can sign up via your cellular phone provider (in my case, Telus.) My favourite coffee shop (Melriches on Davie), has wireless access through Fatport, so if I actually need to go somewhere to get some work done, then I won't go there. Which is too bad, because other than that (There's no point in me paying for the more expensive option that also adds another bill to the mix), I love it in there.

The happy-employees-in-their-twenties-niche. A few of my coworkers have worked at other coffee shops before (including our direct competitors), and just like working for Starbucks better. They know how to treat their employees, and in my store at least, it leads to us all being friendly and playful. (I also have a few regular customers who are older men and like to flirt. They tend to tip well.)

I'd have to second that. I can't think of any other coffee chains that have made a point of making things better for their employees. Benefits for part-time employees, same-sex partner benefits, RRSP matching programs (I think it's called 401(k) in the States, and I'm not sure if it operates the same way there)...the list goes on. Part of it is, of course, is that being a large corporation allows them to do things that independent coffee shops can't do. But if you're going to be a barista, Starbucks offers you the opportunity to actually go somewhere with it. Not to mention, benefits in the service industry are hard to come by.

Aside from which, the benefit of Starbucks is that I can go to any Starbucks in the world, and order the same thing. While I like variety, it's not happening at six in the morning. And while their coffee (with the spectacular exception of the Cinnamon Dolce Latte), generally tastes like *ss, I'm utterly devoted to the Chai.

 

[Jas]

I, for one, get you. True, they have not. It has only been the people that select Wal-mart over the previous retailer that causes them to close.

That really is not wal-marts fault.

Whose fault is it?

Life's.

Frankly, for all this bitching and complaining, it's actually rare for people to act on what they say. Which is unfortuanate, but true.

 

[KelvinG]

It's not so much that Starbucks charges you for their wireless, it's that they seem to have some sort of contract with "hotspot", which is the Telus/Bell/Fido/Rogers thing. Blenz is actually the only chain I can think of which offers free wireless, and for some reason, I always have problems connecting.

Yes, that's right. I remember sitting down in there and when you open IE you are taken right to a Hotspot web page asking you to purchase a plan. And from what I recall, it wasn't at all cheap.
I usually go to Blenz on Granville and Davie and their free connection works just fine. Similarly, there is a independent coffee shop a block from where I live that has free internet so I frequent that as much as I can. I figure if an independent place can offer free internet, the why on earth can't Starbucks?

While the Starbucks isn't free, it's at least easy to access, in that you can sign up via your cellular phone provider (in my case, Telus.) My favourite coffee shop (Melriches on Davie), has wireless access through Fatport, so if I actually need to go somewhere to get some work done, then I won't go there. Which is too bad, because other than that (There's no point in me paying for the more expensive option that also adds another bill to the mix), I love it in there.

Exactly. I already pay for the internet at home, and won't be adding another such expense in my life.
Of course, unlike you, I don't do work on my laptop when I'm surfing in a coffee shop. It's purely recreational.

 

[Regnad Kcin]

I don't like coffee. I never drink it. I go to Starbucks. Why? Their steak and cheese paninis are the greatest.

I don't like coffee. I think I've had all of a dozen cups in my life.

What I do like is coffee ice cream (Ben and Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch being a good example). On some occassion I can't remember I tried a Starbuck's Java Chip Frappucino, which is near enough to coffee ice cream through a straw (perfect for on-the-go) to result in my forking over the $4.60 for one once every couple weeks or so.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I, for one, get you. True, they have not. It has only been the people that select Wal-mart over the previous retailer that causes them to close.

You would be amazed how many people cannot grasp this simple concept.

 

[Foolmewunz]

This is why I don't like Wal-Mart and a number of other companies mentioned below (and why I actively avoid them and their products).

Katana - maybe for another string? But your cites are either out-dated or somewhat selective. I'm not a CT nut with 'special powers', but I'm not allowed to name names because I am in "logistics" and I ship for quite a few major retailers, and I'd probably get my skinny butt fired if I mentioned specifics.

So, just generically, .... Some of my favorite visitors are the Social Compliance teams from the retailers in the USA. Any evidence of child labor, unpaid overtime, forced dormitory fees (the old "I Owe My Soul to the Company Store" syndrome), etc... and the vendor is banned if they do not show distinct improvement in the follow up visits. Yes, quite a few have been blackballed. The SC teams are all stripes - one of my clients had an arch-fiend conservative for a while; he quit and was replaced by a Left Bank coffe-shop greenie from Europe.

Motives? Money! They don't want to be picketed or boycotted! Is this altruism in its highest form - not nearly, but if it improves the conditions for the workers, then the results are what I care about. Further, the fact that they're even doing this now is purely the result of pressure, so PLEASE don't read this as me feeling contrary to your concerns. (Someone once described my politics as just slightly to the right of Pol Pot - an exaggeration from a conservative, but a cute turn of phrase.) If you want to, PM me with the brands you think are okay. I'm a regular (under "a shipping industry source" type of byline) contributor on these and other less significant issues to a few newsletters.

 

[CFLarsen]

From the information provided it appears they have a winning ticket. They're thriving while their competitors in the area (large franchises) are going under.

Voodoo Doughnut has only been around a few years. If you could cite a local retail store that grew from one location to be bigger than the global market retail leaders in a few years that would be impressive. How long did it take Gap, McDonald's, Starbucks and Wal-Mart to be on top? Not five years, that's for sure. Also, I don't know of their expansion plans. Some businesses have ambitious growth plans others prefer to concentrate on one (or a handful of) locations.

How many stores has VD opened in the, what, 3-4 years they have been in existence?

They've only been in business a few years. Dunkin Donuts didn't start out with 1,000 stores in the first year.

No, but when do we start recognizing that a concept, popular on a local scale, is not going to be a success on a national scale? It does take the wind somewhat out of this "winning ticket" thingie...

They have products that people want.

How long can you sell sh*tty products?

A lot of things. And nothing.

What are those things?

I assume by you mean to imply that Betamax was a "superior prouct" to VHS. Do you have any evidence to support that claim?

Of course:

...albeit Beta has superior video quality to VHS.
Source

http://technology.guardian.co.uk/online/comment/story/0,12449,881780,00.html

Historical revisionism by a Luddite. Feh!

 

[SteveGrenard]

Beta format was used for professional television news and location work for many years after it lost in the consumer market to VHS. Sony stopped making beta gear in August, 2002. No idea if it was technically superior but VHS had market share and features going for it that
eclipsed beta.

 

[CFLarsen]

You would be amazed how many people cannot grasp this simple concept.

Evidence?

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

How many stores has VD opened in the, what, 3-4 years they have been in existence?

How many stores did Wal-Mart/Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts/Pizz Hut, etc open in their first 3-4 years?

No, but when do we start recognizing that a concept, popular on a local scale, is not going to be a success on a national scale? It does take the wind somewhat out of this "winning ticket" thingie...

Did it occur to you that some people are perfectly happy running 1 store and don't wish to expand nationally?

How long can you sell sh*tty products?

I don't know. A long time perhaps.

What are those things?

You tell me.