Some coffee fans get grim delight in Starbucks woes

[Catty1]

Hey - and maybe it will each the labour crunch up in Canada where there are MANY MANY Starbucks stores.

AND - let's have some new coffee places open and hire those people...hopefully for better wages.

[shais_mom]

Hey - and maybe it will each the labour crunch up in Canada where there are MANY MANY Starbucks stores.

.

'huh'?????

[Vela]

I'm with you Staci in thinking its NOT funny at all. Those people lost their jobs, it's not even remotely funny. Just what this country needs, more jobs lost, whatever they may be. It's SOMEONE'S income now gone.

[RICHARD]

There is a 'counter culture' ideal about big business that some people have.

The same big businesses that gave their parents the ability to raise them are now the enemy. Betcha the people who are laughing would have a different view if they were getting canned.

I am not a real coffee person and think I am the last adult in the U.S. that has never been inside one or bought a cup from that chain - I'm not a fan of Starbucks, but I do feel badly for the people that are soon to be unemployed.

All in all, the same people who are cheering the closings are the same kind of shallow people who really don't see the economic, personal and familial impact on each of us.

If they owned a building where three or four renter's worked there to make the rent, would they feel any better? What happens to the kids that are working there to pay for school, book or rent?

Seriously, they would have the same bad attitude if they were the ones losing their jobs, "I hope they go bankrupt", "eff Starbucks"....It's just a matter of where you are in the chain of events.

[shais_mom]

There is a 'counter culture' ideal about big business that some people have.

The same big businesses that gave their parents the ability to raise them are now the enemy. Betcha the people who are laughing would have a different view if they were getting canned.

I am not a real coffee person and think I am the last adult in the U.S. that has never been inside one or bought a cup from that chain - I'm not a fan of Starbucks, but I do feel badly for the people that are soon to be unemployed.

All in all, the same people who are cheering the closings are the same kind of shallow people who really don't see the economic, personal and familial impact on each of us.

If they owned a building where three or four renter's worked there to make the rent, would they feel any better? What happens to the kids that are working there to pay for school, book or rent?

Seriously, they would have the same bad attitude if they were the ones losing their jobs, "I hope they go bankrupt", "eff Starbucks"....It's just a matter of where you are in the chain of events.

very well said Richard.
and I doubt you are the last one, remember those farmers out in the midwest who don't go anywhere near big cities, prefer their coffee, black and unsugarered, uncreamed and hot, have probably never been in one. My dad's one of them, fancy coffees give him indigestion!

Starbucks is like an overpriced McDonald's in the coffee world. So would it be funny, if 600 McDonald's closed?

[Medusa]

There is a 'counter culture' ideal about big business that some people have.

The same big businesses that gave their parents the ability to raise them are now the enemy. Betcha the people who are laughing would have a different view if they were getting canned.

I am not a real coffee person and think I am the last adult in the U.S. that has never been inside one or bought a cup from that chain - I'm not a fan of Starbucks, but I do feel badly for the people that are soon to be unemployed.

All in all, the same people who are cheering the closings are the same kind of shallow people who really don't see the economic, personal and familial impact on each of us.

If they owned a building where three or four renter's worked there to make the rent, would they feel any better? What happens to the kids that are working there to pay for school, book or rent?

Seriously, they would have the same bad attitude if they were the ones losing their jobs, "I hope they go bankrupt", "eff Starbucks"....It's just a matter of where you are in the chain of events.

My sentiments exactly. And, if for no other reason, I would be ashamed to delight in the downfall of someone, whether it's a corporation or an individual. It's no different from what we do w/celebrities. We put them on a pedestal and can't wait to find something so that we can kick that pedestal right out from under them. Makes some of us feel superior, I guess.

I've only been inside a Starbucks twice w/a friend and I can take it or leave it. I'm not a big coffee drinker; I have one cup in the morning to keep from bouncing off the walls and that's it. When I lived in Sedona, there was a wonderful small coffee shop that I went to nearly every day, not for the coffee but for the sense of community. There was entertainment there, good entertainment, not just locals who wanted their 15 minutes. As a matter of fact, celebrities who lived in the area would sometimes come by and perform. And still this place closed down because they couldn't keep up w/inflation. I was so sad to see it go and Sedona seemed to change after that. So I imagine that if a Starbucks's closing is going to affect people in that way, it's sad indeed, aside from the fact that it's affecting our economy in a negative way.

[Cinder & Smoke]

I am the last adult in the U.S. that has never been inside one or bought a cup from that chain ...

No, now there's at least three of us.

But even if you don't like their product; it's a bit nasty to cheer for the company's
demise and the resultant loss of jobs.

[shais_mom]

No, now there's at least three of us.

But even if you don't like their product; it's a bit nasty to cheer for the company's
demise and the resultant loss of jobs.

well said.

[RICHARD]

How many Home Depots do I need in my area?

There are at least 4 within a 15 mile circle of my house-with a Lowe's being put in about 3 miles from the pad. I don't mind driving a few miles to get what I need but, there when is it enough? It's a double edged sword-there are neighborhood groups that are protesting the building of another home center in their area.....they are more concerned about the day laborers, traffic, littering and all the other stuff that happens when a new business come to town.

I see their point, but I also see the economic benefits of businesses-jobs, other businesses want to build in the area, other nearby businesses gain customers!

I used to go to a Thai food restaurant on paydays, I'd walk in the door and the woman who took food orders would yell at me, "SAME?" I'd nod, answer, "SAME!" pay for my food and go to the gas station, get a lottery ticket at the 7-11 and come back for my to go order. Perfect every time.

Try that at a McDonald's!

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I have no problem with big business making money or opening up stores/outlets/restaurants. I just find that people who have an agenda are the ones with the biggest hatred about BB. The woman drinking her "Half soy, half salmon, latte with half foam, half and half whole vanilla bean milk, with ice at the Irving Coffee Farm House and Emporium might be a little snobby because she doesn't march in lockstep with the people who like SB?

Ms. I-Cater-And-Hate-SB doesn't like the fact that people show up at a function she caters and won't drink her coffee because of the SB cup in their hands? I can imagine the carafes of joe she has to dump after people turn down her offerings?

Media always puts a spin on the news, they won't talk to the people who liked the SB down the street because they can "joe-up" on the way to work.
They won't talk to the poor "joes" who will lose their jobs.

They just find the people with an ax to grind and no concept of how 600 stores and 12,000 workers will disappear from the economic streets of America, and the trickle down impact on you and me.

[Catty1]

OK, the whole thread seemed to carry on just fine without my answering that question....anyway, I meant that there are a lot of Starbucks in Canada also. In Alberta - we're rich with oil, have horribly expensive housing and prices, and many people (including me) need two jobs to just try and hold their heads above water.

Seems everyone has gone off to work in the oil patch, so there is also a shortage of labour. Lots of jobs for crappy pay.

I meant that a bunch of Starbucks closing would help that situation. However, the former workers there would go to another job where the wages are just as crappy and unlivable.

Smaller companies might have less to lose and stick around longer, and maybe be better employers.

I see it as a difference in aircraft in accidents. If a Cessna goes down in a open field, maybe 4 people are affected.

If a 767 crashes - many more.

So while not talking about pro or con about big businesses - people employed by the big ones stand to lose a lot more if Head Office decides to cut back.

Smaller companies don't have the 'axe' decision made by someone far away who could care less about the people who work for them. I suspect they are more able to look at various solutions to the recession or other circumstances that hit them.

[shais_mom]

How many Home Depots do I need in my area?

The woman drinking her "Half soy, half salmon, latte with half foam, half and half whole vanilla bean milk, with ice at the.

our local Home Depot (in Findlay about 30 min from me- closest one) has closed.
and I just quoted the Half soy, half salmon b/c that made me giggle but really I'm thinking - YUCK!!

I like to support local businesses, as well. But when the product is unsatisfying and below par, I go elsewhere. I don't understand the big "brew" haha about going to a big chain.

this is a good point.
I live in a small town that for many many years did without a Walmart, has mom/pop groceries and many home grown restaurants. Unfortunately, you pay for convenience b/c what you can get at the mom/pop groceries are usually more expensive than found in BB. True story I bought a package of sliced cheese at our local mom/pop grocery for $3.97 - I went to Walmart and happened to see the same product for $1.50. When this happened, the gas prices weren't as outrageous as now but even with them as high as they were then, it still paid to do your business OUT of town. We had a local store that was similiar to Big Wheel, called Pamida. I know it isn't local - b/c there are others around just not as conglomerated as Walmart. I rarely shopped there b/c 1)their prices were astronomical 2) they revamped their store and made it harder than Hades to get around in. When I was on crutches last year, I tried to shop there using the scooter, there was no way I could get where I wanted to, b/c there was no room. I left and went to Walmart where the aisles are bigger and more handicap accessible.
Pamida ended up closing in April-it just couldn't keep up with Walmart.
I do shop/give my money to the local yocal restaurants around town, (the only chain restaurants we have are fast food) but when I travel to Findlay, I rarely go to the local restaurants there, b/c they have more chain restaurants there and a lot less the local yocal ones. But there are people that live in Findlay that will drive 30+ minutes to eat at our mom/pop establishments- so that's saying something for quality.

I like to support the small business owner, and I like the quality of service I receive,

this is true as well MOST of the time. We have a well known steak restaurant here in my town that's been in business for YEARS. Its locally owned and operated. For quite a few years, my department from work had our Christmas party there b/c we enjoy the food, atmosphere, and they had an upstairs room where we could be served that was out of the public eye. When you work in the medical profession in a small town, (law enforcement and public service as well) you don't want people to see you drinking and smoking and yakking it up. At least that is the mentality of our town and my boss. Right before our Christmas party, they called my boss and said would you want to share the room with another party? my boss said "NO" they said well you don't have enough people for that room so we are moving you. ummm well we want somewhere where we will be out of the way. "yea whatever" was the response. We were seated in a corner with all these tables around us, our waitress had many other tables so our service SUCKED, (when you are up in the upstairs room - you get one dedicated waitress) so John Q Public was sitting there watching us eat/drink/smoke and open our white elephant gifts. Which for lack of room we had piled on the floor what we thought was out of the way until our waitress KICKED the gift out of her way. Come to find out the party that was going on in "our" room was from an out of county hospital. They chose to put the out of county party ahead of us, when we had reserved that room for a year in advance. My boss was livid and we haven't been back there since!
So you are right - if the product from a big business is not up to par - you won't be back, but in this instance if the product and service of a local mom/pop restaurant SUCKS as well, but I get good food/service at a chain restaurant, I'll be going there.

[shais_mom]

Hey - and maybe it will each the labour crunch up in Canada where there are MANY MANY Starbucks stores.

'huh'?????

I noticed you've successfully ignored my question here on clarifying this statement that makes no sense, I know I'm a hick American, but for the life of me I can't figure it out.