Some coffee fans get grim delight in Starbucks woes

[jennielynn1970]

I don't really understand the whole counter culture idea that Richard discussed. I just don't get going against something cause it is 'big', a chain, commercialized, etc. To me, it is as odd as the people that want to dress differently than the "norm", just to be different.

I totally understand supporting the mom and pop places vs. the chains. I will go to a mom and pop restaurant/coffee house, whatever really, as opposed to a chain restaurant.

I like to support the small business owner, and I like the quality of service I receive, as well as the variety on their menus that will normally change weekly, as well as the quality. They normally buy their ingredients fresh for that day, and that makes a huge difference. I think the only chain I support is 7-11 for their slurpees and their hotdogs, lol.

[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.

[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.

[dukedogsmom]

I totally understand supporting the mom and pop places vs. the chains. I will go to a mom and pop restaurant/coffee house, whatever really, as opposed to a chain restaurant.

I like to support the small business owner, and I like the quality of service I receive, as well as the variety on their menus that will normally change weekly, as well as the quality. They normally buy their ingredients fresh for that day, and that makes a huge difference. I think the only chain I support is 7-11 for their slurpees and their hotdogs, lol.

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.

[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.

[dukedogsmom]

See? Even Dasher likes Starbucks

[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.

[CountryWolf07]

See? Even Dasher likes Starbucks

This made me giggle.

I love Starbucks, but I don't go as often anymore. I also love small coffee shops, they're the best kind, I think. But however, coffee is coffee to me. I don't have any near me, but when I am at Mike's 20 miles away, there are quite a few, so we always go and grab a cup.

[CathyBogart]

I love Starbucks, and it's the only place near me that brews fresh coffee every half an hour. If I go to the two mom and pop shops nearby, I get stale coffee unless it's 7am. Not cool to me, because I AM picky about my coffee.

[jennielynn1970]

I see your point with the coffee. I'm not a fan of coffee, but if I were, I'd want it fresh and not stale.

I like chai, but I'll make my own at home and take it with me if I want it at school. OR I'll buy Pacific Chai powder and make it at school. I've had chai at different places (mom and pop shops and chains) and was never thrilled with it. Always too sweet. Always too fake. When I make it at home, I can regulate how long I steep the chai and how much milk and sugar I add. Maybe if I made decent coffee at home I'd like it. I love the smell, but coffee itself just seems to upset my stomach.

I do like the house latte at Panera. It's mostly milk, has maybe a shot of espresso in it, not sure what exactly is in it, but like I said, mostly milk. And honey. If I have anything other than tea there, that's what I get. I've taken to making my own paninis at home as well. I can put on what I want, and it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg.

I guess what a lot of it comes down to is really quality of what we want and quality of service. If the one of the local mom and pop places doesn't suit me, I can always find another one. The Lehigh Valley has a ton of options, thankfully. That may not be the case in other areas I guess.

I am still a fan of a really good diner though, lol. My favorite here was just renovated and made into a regular restaurant. It ticks me off. It was the best place to go at 2am to get breakfast or whatever you were hungry for. Are diners as prevalent in other places as well?? We have a TON of diners in the Lehigh Valley.

[Medusa]

I am still a fan of a really good diner though, lol. My favorite here was just renovated and made into a regular restaurant. It ticks me off. It was the best place to go at 2am to get breakfast or whatever you were hungry for. Are diners as prevalent in other places as well?? We have a TON of diners in the Lehigh Valley.

We had a great diner in the town where I grew up in PA. I think it's still there. My best friend and I would order hot roast beef sandwiches w/real mashed potatoes, pile on the salt and pepper and play the table side juke box. My selections were always "Dream On Little Dreamer" by Perry Como and "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers. What bittersweet memories! Good grief, am I old!