Starbucks deserves to fail - rant.

[dan_bo]

Never been in one in England as far as I remember but have in Thailand and Hong Kong.

Now youre just showing off. Cafe nero is my preferred chain if i was going into town, but I would rather go in a proper caff any day of the week.

 

[Jaguar]

I went in my local Starbucks y'day (8 mile trip) for the bags of free coffee grounds, and they didn't have any left

I had a nice "flat white" (small cup, 2 shots with milk). Two chuffing quid though, I ask you

 

[hackbike 666]

Now youre just showing off. Cafe nero is my preferred chain if i was going into town, but I would rather go in a proper caff any day of the week.

Probably because I was desperate was the point I was trying to make.

I went in my local Starbucks y'day (8 mile trip) for the bags of free coffee grounds, and they didn't have any left

I had a nice "flat white" (small cup, 2 shots with milk). Two chuffing quid though, I ask you

It's a license to print money.

 

[bobg]

Hack, that bloody fly is driving me crazy

 

[BlueDog]

+1

It's really bugging me

 

[mangaman]

Starbucks will never go bust, IMHO. Our local branches are fine (one in a renovated Victorian building with a Waterstones on-site, bliss!). The place is clean and the staff are lovely & friendly.
I agree that the sizes can be a bit much, but you can always take out what you don't drink in store. I prefer their coffee over Costa, but I also like Cafe Nero.

When they can sustain a shop literally on every street corner in NYC, and they are still in private hands, I think they will be safe for some time to come.

Having said that, there is no excuse for filth in a foodstore and I can understand why you would never want to set foot there again.

Exactly. Starbucks will never go bust, it is a provider of overpriced pap worldwide.

Why not just not go there/ Cafe Nero / Pizza Hut etc etc

My attitude is to only go to places that make their own food/drink locally and are owned by locals so my money doesn't go back to Seattle or wherever.

They are always friendlier (as you get to know them) and produce the better product, as they have to compete with undercut stuff at places like Starbucks. If something annoys you - eg cleanliness - they will quickly sort it out as well as they need to keep a loyal, local customer base.

 

[hackbike 666]

Hack, that bloody fly is driving me crazy

 

[Bay Runner]

I Love the Starbucks exprience

 

[rich p]

I Love the Starbucks exprience

Yeah, but their coffe's crap!

 

[cyberknight]

No idea i drink black coffee only all this fancy overpriced stuff i mean come on i want a fix not a cup of muck

 

[downfader]

Starbucks is run the same way as my company bosses run my place.

Underpaid and over worked employees pushed around trying to get an impossible job done. Dont judge the employees to harshly if they appear miserable or unable to help, complain to the company instead. Most employees dont even get the training they need, at best they'll get a days quick run down from another, stressed and pushed, worker and pretty much will have to cope on their own as a result.

 

[Danny]

Then the drinks - the Starbucks menu give three sizes and even the smallest, a "tall" coffee is too much. When I moaned that I didn't want that much and why didn't they do a smaller size the cashier showed me a "short" mug, which isn't advertised.

Agree. Why can't these coffee places offer sensible size mugs, and then allow people who want more to have a free refill like they do in the States.

 

[downfader]

Agree. Why can't these coffee places offer sensible size mugs, and then allow people who want more to have a free refill like they do in the States.

Because they're not restaurants, they're based on the fast-food business model. They want you in, spend a typical amount and back out again for a high rollover of custom.

 

[Fnaar]

Now youre just showing off.

First Starbucks I ever went to was in Santa Monica, California in early 90s (was there on a work trip for a few days). I was mighty impressed then, you could take a book or newspaper, sit down and read it for however long you wanted over a really nice coffee. Now I think they're sh!te

 

[Twenty Inch]

Bewleys used to be THE only place in Ireland to buy unground coffee beans. My mother used to buy hers there and it was the most exotic experience of my young childhood (that and Green Acres healthfood shop opposite the Gaiety on King Street). The smells of the beans, the glimpses of, and occasional treats in, the big cafe at the back, all steam, clatter, marble, black-and-white waitress-goddesses running around....aah, childhood...