I’m home ’sick’ today. Actaully, it’s my daughter who is sick, but we were all up half the night with her. She and my wife got back from the ER a couple of hours ago. Things are fine, but her body kept insisting on throwing up when there was nothing there.
Anyway, I ran across this article in the PI that actually made the front page on the web site. Being as it is the duty of everyone on the Internet to correct everyone else on the Internet whom they feel is wrong, it kept rolling around in my head the last couple of days. Right, not the most meaningful thing to comment on, but I have to get this out of my system.
I also have to stop writing like everyone else is going to read this . . .
Anyway, the article, What I hate about Starbucks, is a short screed from someone who stopped going to the chain years ago, and apparently doesn’t care about it anymore, but still had the time, energy and passion to write a letter to the PI nonetheless.
It starts out with vague complaint that they were at the University Village early, and “the choice before the open stores was Starbucks, Starbucks or Starbucks.” Not sure what the complaint here is:
- That there are a lot of Starbucks? Tell anyone in Seattle something they don’t know.
- That there aren’t any small, independent coffee shops in an upscale mall between Ravenna and Laurelhust, two of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city?
- or that Starbucks, which plies a lot of its trade in the breakfast crowd, is open early?
Next, he is ‘forced’ to buy a tall, because they don’t have a short anymore. They got rid of that size years ago, and any store that hangs on to sizes (and requisite supplies) that most people don’t use anymore are losing money. A chain the size of Starbucks can’t afford to do that.
“Look at this,” I said to Tom. “The cup’s not even compostable.” Look behind the counter – reusable ceramic cups!
They don’t make it like they do in Europe? Again, have to respond to the customers. If US tastes are different, and you continue to insist on doing it the traditional way, you’re going to lose people. And suggesting you might want something to eat first thing in the morning? How rude!
As for not having anything to read in a Starbucks in a bookstore – guess what? It’s a bookstore! They have to actually sell stuff. As you noted before, you have other Starbucks locations to choose from.
Here’s the part (OK, one of the parts) I like best: “I’ll take my surly independent wait staff any day,” Really? I’ve been to places with surly independent wait staff, acting like they’re doing you a favor making a cup of coffee for you in exchange for money. I think that’s a really crappy way to start my day. On the other hand, I walk in to my regular Starbucks, and I’m greeted with “Hi, Greg, double-tall mocha, non-fat with whip?” Yeah, I know she’s not my best friend and won’t be coming over for dinner any time soon, but it’s still better than attitude combine with meager acknowledgment.
“I once went into a Starbucks in Pioneer Square because I had to use the bathroom. As I was waiting in line, someone came up and told me I had to buy a coffee to use the bathroom.” Yeah, that Starbucks – nobody else does that, especially in Pioneer Square. Right.
So, to sum up, these are two people I would not want to invite to a party, since they only seem to want to complain about things, and I’m sure there’s something I’ll do that won’t be in the traditional way. And God help me if I actually offer them food.
OK, snarkiness off for now.
