Some coffee fans get grim delight in Starbucks woes

[RICHARD]

SM,

LOL, The reason I don't go into SB's is the fact I don't know what to order. A ventral cerebellum half foam and half lactic acid? (little hospital humor there..)

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I try to support my local businesses, when I can afford them!

What Shai's_mom said about pricing is true.....Unless it's a product like a bag of chips, that has the price printed on the bag or some other pre-priced item.

Of course, small biz (I have to abbreviate-as much as I don't like to do it!) do not do the volume sales that a larger market/store do-the prices have to be higher. There are the five "top sellers" that are pretty overpriced. But what can you do?

Top sellers=TP, milk, sanitary nappies, diapers and ciggies.

If by some reason you forget or run out, the closest store will do. You do have to pay for convenience! I went to the corner store for a beer. I thought I'd buy a quart, as opposed to getting a couple of cans. A 32 ounce beer was 2.50. I went to the warehouse super a few days later and priced a quart at 1.38!


ON the other hand sometimes BB is the way to go when you run into a service/quality problem.

Sam's Sewer Service or Roto-Rooter?
Tony's Towing or Triple A?
Timmy's Tires or A Goodwrench Service Center?

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The only big biz that I have a problem with is entertainment-namely, sports, movies and concerts.

One of the last concerts I went to cost me 50 dollars to stand for three hours and when I bought a drink at the bar it cost me 15 bucks for a serving the size of the paper cups you use in the bathroom.

Today you have to be a smart consumer, know how much you want of an item, where to buy it and how to find it at the price you are willing to pay.

In the original article there were only two people who were 'concerned' about the SB chain cutting back. So obviously it's a hatchet piece on SB.

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Also, there is the Fad Aspect of Products. The cool factor of "all things needed" is very laughable and shows how gullible the consumer is.

I want an iPod, I want a IPhone, Tickle me Elmo, Xbox.....

I get serious giggles when I see IDIOTS standing in line to buy the item du jour. They pay 300 dollars for the latest phone, only to see it sold for 59.99 a year later.

By that time everyone has one and it's not the status symbol/cool thing to have. Sad to say, but it's happened to SB-it's not cool anymore!

We are all status conscious with our cars, clothes, food and electronics.
When everyone has or gets one, we all have to find something else to put us back on top of the status pole.

[RICHARD]

Since I am not on top of the current offerings from the 'Gods of all Things Battery Operated" I did not know that there was a new iPhone offered this week.

According to the news, It's cheaper than the original but the monthly service cost more.

You have to love fashion, fad and the consumer mentality.

[Cataholic]

LOL, The reason I don't go into SB's is the fact I don't know what to order. A ventral cerebellum half foam and half lactic acid? (little hospital humor there..)

Try this: "Hi, coffee of the day, please, with room for creme". Works like a charm everytime, kind of like ordering in a restaurant. That seems pretty easy to me, but, I will confess I am a huge coffee lover.

ON the other hand sometimes BB is the way to go when you run into a service/quality problem.

Too true. I cannot stand small businesses with a return policy dictating that things must be returned, unopened, original box, reciept, etc., all within 22 minutes of leaving the store.

Also, there is the Fad Aspect of Products. The cool factor of "all things needed" is very laughable and shows how gullible the consumer is.

I want an iPod, I want a IPhone, Tickle me Elmo, Xbox.....

Course, you do have to factor in technological advancements, too. How lovely and light to run with an ipod rather than the discman. Does it make a difference? At my age, and my outofshapeness, ALL things make a difference. I love the ipod (or mp3 player) for its portability, convenience and function. Am I necessarily an "idiot" cause I like that? Guess that is up to the labeler.

By that time everyone has one and it's not the status symbol/cool thing to have. Sad to say, but it's happened to SB-it's not cool anymore!

I think SB 'demise', if in fact it IS a demise, is more about discretionary spending than it is 'faddiness'.

We are all status conscious with our cars, clothes, food and electronics.
When everyone has or gets one, we all have to find something else to put us back on top of the status pole.

Leave me out of the status conscious group referenced above. I buy things based on their usefulness to ME, not someone else's opinion of me using it. I gather most working people feel the same way???

Anyone here buying SB, or other things, to impress the masses?

[RICHARD]

Leave me out of the status conscious group referenced above. I buy things based on their usefulness to ME, not someone else's opinion of me using it. I gather most working people feel the same way???

Touchy today, ain't we?


I don't run anywhere anymore.

I was late to work one day and saw a nurse sprinting to the elevators.
When she stopped to catch her breath I asked her if the building was going anywhere....

We can get GPS on a cell phone, but are still using pulp paper to clean our rear ends.

That's what killed the sears catalogue. I can't even read a magazine in the BR anymore. Playboy makes me go online to find out what the 21st question is.

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I strongly urge people to avoid my posts. Sometimes people can't tell wheat from the chaff.