Comments on: Pouring My Heart Into It…An Open Letter to Starbucks http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/ The Story of a Mortgage Lender Turned Freelancer Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:57:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: ryan http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/comment-page-1/#comment-37 ryan Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:54:45 +0000 http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/#comment-37 McDonalds is basically Starbucks. With the coffee bars they have added in our locals ones they are nearly as expensive and have a worse appearance. McDonalds is basically Starbucks. With the coffee bars they have added in our locals ones they are nearly as expensive and have a worse appearance.

]]> By: chris http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/comment-page-1/#comment-36 chris Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:46:36 +0000 http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/#comment-36 Coffee Mistress » Well, I think it is for me. My thinking about this (and the people that looked me up/emailed/whatever) made me think a lot. And my conclusions? Well, I think that starbucks has no place in my life... Coffee Mistress » Well, I think it is for me. My thinking about this (and the people that looked me up/emailed/whatever) made me think a lot. And my conclusions? Well, I think that starbucks has no place in my life…

]]> By: chris http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/comment-page-1/#comment-35 chris Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:45:37 +0000 http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/#comment-35 MyStarbucks » Thanks for stopping--I don't know how much sense that makes, because I'm usually a "to go" kinda guy. And, I don't want to be one of those pricks. I have usually said something like, " Can you be less into your job?" MyStarbucks » Thanks for stopping–I don’t know how much sense that makes, because I’m usually a “to go” kinda guy. And, I don’t want to be one of those pricks. I have usually said something like, ” Can you be less into your job?”

]]> By: chris http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/comment-page-1/#comment-34 chris Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:44:22 +0000 http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/#comment-34 Nikki M. » The real answer is not insult the money we earn, and not waste it on crap. Go to quicken sometime, and see how many under $10 food/drink transactions there are. And then go to bluebook.com and pick out a car. Nikki M. » The real answer is not insult the money we earn, and not waste it on crap. Go to quicken sometime, and see how many under $10 food/drink transactions there are. And then go to bluebook.com and pick out a car.

]]> By: chris http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/comment-page-1/#comment-33 chris Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:43:36 +0000 http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/#comment-33 Rob » Thanks for stopping! I think that this has caused a major shift in my own values. Rob » Thanks for stopping! I think that this has caused a major shift in my own values.

]]> By: chris http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/comment-page-1/#comment-32 chris Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:43:12 +0000 http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/#comment-32 Awkward Jimmy » Buddy--i don't know. Starbucks will--as any RATIONAL company will--only offer the minimuim necessary. Have you checked the stock price? These "extras" are diluting the brand, cannibalizing the experience, and sending the company down the drain. And--it's MY third place, and i'm not going back, probably ever. Why? 1.) It's a waste of money, and an insult to the cash I earn. To spend it often on $2/coffees, is stupid. 2.) It's pretentious. It's not helping me connect with or influence people. 3.) It sets my expectations high, so I have stupid, crabby posts. Anyway, more to come, as is always the case on the internet. Thanks for stoping. Awkward Jimmy » Buddy–i don’t know. Starbucks will–as any RATIONAL company will–only offer the minimuim necessary. Have you checked the stock price? These “extras” are diluting the brand, cannibalizing the experience, and sending the company down the drain. And–it’s MY third place, and i’m not going back, probably ever.

Why?

1.) It’s a waste of money, and an insult to the cash I earn. To spend it often on $2/coffees, is stupid.

2.) It’s pretentious. It’s not helping me connect with or influence people.

3.) It sets my expectations high, so I have stupid, crabby posts.

Anyway, more to come, as is always the case on the internet. Thanks for stoping.

]]> By: Awkward Jimmy http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Awkward Jimmy Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:38:04 +0000 http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/#comment-31 If you received the same type of customer service, beverage quality, and location to hang out, the cross-marketing and promotional stuff would be far far less overbearing. All of that extra "clutter" generates revenues, very LITTLE of which is reflected in the paychecks of those partners waging war in the coffee-ground trenches. Up the wage of the barista. Up the required minimum AGE of a potential barista (wage increase would help this). Starbucks - you might want to vacation in the Hamptons, ride the company jet, or whatever other extravagant methods you have to pat yourselves on the back, but damnit, open your eyes! The REAL people who fight the fight to put Starbucks out there, in the minds of my customers, my partners, and my family, are those of us actually working in a store. There are many perks that come from working at Starbucks, but the core needs improvement to bring in and retain quality personnel, who will more honestly and readily respond to and connect with the people who keep this company going - our CUSTOMERS. If you received the same type of customer service, beverage quality, and location to hang out, the cross-marketing and promotional stuff would be far far less overbearing.
All of that extra “clutter” generates revenues, very LITTLE of which is reflected in the paychecks of those partners waging war in the coffee-ground trenches.
Up the wage of the barista.
Up the required minimum AGE of a potential barista (wage increase would help this).

Starbucks - you might want to vacation in the Hamptons, ride the company jet, or whatever other extravagant methods you have to pat yourselves on the back, but damnit, open your eyes!
The REAL people who fight the fight to put Starbucks out there, in the minds of my customers, my partners, and my family, are those of us actually working in a store.

There are many perks that come from working at Starbucks, but the core needs improvement to bring in and retain quality personnel, who will more honestly and readily respond to and connect with the people who keep this company going - our CUSTOMERS.

]]> By: chris http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/comment-page-1/#comment-30 chris Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:19:45 +0000 http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/#comment-30 <p>Jon, UK »</p> John- Sigh. if we don't expect more, we don't get more. Jon, UK »

John-

Sigh. if we don’t expect more, we don’t get more.

]]> By: Jon, UK http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Jon, UK Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:14:25 +0000 http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/#comment-29 Starbucks == Mcdonalds == minimum wage grumpy f*** serving low-value, medium-price americanised rubbish. Leave your expectations at the door! Starbucks == Mcdonalds == minimum wage grumpy f*** serving low-value, medium-price americanised rubbish. Leave your expectations at the door!

]]> By: Rob http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Rob Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:14:06 +0000 http://genuinechris.com/2007/11/09/pouring-my-heart-into-itan-open-letter-to-starbucks/#comment-28 (I want to respond but I've got to leave soon - so excuse the grammar): Clutter, oh yeah! Lost experience, you betcha. Nasty, unclean stores - oh, yes! (10th and Girls School, Indianapolis - the worst). Originality - gone! Rewards program and acknowledging the "old-school" users like me (since 1994 in Seattle), how so easy. McDonald's like - yup. I miss my old, original Starbucks. (I want to respond but I’ve got to leave soon - so excuse the grammar):

Clutter, oh yeah! Lost experience, you betcha. Nasty, unclean stores - oh, yes! (10th and Girls School, Indianapolis - the worst). Originality - gone! Rewards program and acknowledging the “old-school” users like me (since 1994 in Seattle), how so easy. McDonald’s like - yup.

I miss my old, original Starbucks.

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