Thumbs-down: Reviews of MyStarbucksIdea.com are already coming in

New York magazine says the "possibly worst" idea to come out of today's Starbucks annual meeting is the company's social-networking site, MyStarbucksIdea.com. "We checked it out, and it looks like a virtual suggestion box to us," write the editors. "What's truly astounding is that many of the 'suggestions' posted there yesterday were announced as new initiatives by the company today. Talk about being heard!" In other words, it's simply a corporate propaganda site. (Read the New York Magazine review)

Comments

[StarbucksRants.com]

Fully agree. It seems to be an extended comment card. I thought it might be a cool idea, but poking around so far seems very lame. You can't even post comments on Howard's initial message.

[AmericanoMan]

For a site the "just launched" at the start of the shareholders meeting, it sure is full and has a lot of "votes". Seems they backfilled it with a lot of comments that have been gathering dust.

[Alex]

On the positive side, it's a great way of illustrating to skeptics that yes, some of our customers really are that stupid. ( Emphasis on "some"! )

[Sparky]

There are already 1,300 pages of comments! And because they're displayed in order of most votes to fewest votes, people are overwhelmingly likely to vote for those that already have a jillion votes, and therefore show up on the first page; any good ideas that lag a few pages back will get lost in the shuffle.

[Torontoguy]

I agree it's a dud -- a suggestion box with voting.

True social networking would have connected customers with EACH OTHER on many topics -- including those that are not coffee related.

Instead, we get separate partner and customer sites. And the customer site is led by partners!

Arrrgh!!!

Boys and girls, can you say: "clueless newbie"?

The other initiatives are great, but this one sucks.

My guess is that whatever the original social networking proposal was -- it got waterered down to the meaningless nothingness unveiled today.

It would have been better to nothing at all.

[Vicki Verona]

I really don't think anyone can judge the site until we can see how much of it that Starbucks' implements in the stores.

[Melody]

Americanoman, As you walked into the shareholders meeting at several different points you were offered an "idea card" - Those idea cards were the first ones posted. There were thousands and thousands of people there. They quickly had access to a ton of ideas from shareholders.

[egan]

I think you have to give it more than a couple days. I'm not a fan of it so far because I can't even change my darn username. Facebook wasn't an overnight sensation so why would a corporate social "feedbacking" site be?

I'm guessing they will sort it all out after the dust clears. There sure are some wild ideas out there.

[Vicki Verona]

Melody,
I'd love to hear your take on the meeting love. I was doing a live-blogging based on the webcast, but you have to let us all know what it was like to be there. Any interesting stories before and after the actual event?

[Torontoguy - Danfreedmn@earthlink.net]

Let me clarify.

Long have I labored in the vineyards of social networking. (I do this stuff for a living.)

True social networks begin with a shared passion -- and then branches out into other areas. The original sponsor gets the halo effect. The brand is thereby strengthened.

So, for example, the passionate fitness site www.crossfit.com has political debates on days its members aren't working out.

An airline site provides opportunities for people sitting next to each other on planes to interact f2f on topics in person OTHER than air travel.

And so on. An online suggestion box is fine.
But so much more could be done....

I tried 5 times to create an account, it didn't work so I'm sharing my idea from here:::FIX THE SITE!

[IVL]

I love the site. Plus it has a partner site which is great too. Let's look at the cup half full instead of half empty. I don't see other companies do this.

[P.R.I.D.E.]

I'm laughing as I read the comments on this thread, as pretty much this site (starbucksgossip) has probably now lost those partners who are actually willing to offer solutions, and get involved. I read some of these comments above, and I'm not surprised that all that is left to do here is whine and complain.

I guess that's what a gossip site is for. I sure am glad I have a place to go now that will allow me to be part of the solution.

I may come back, once in awhile, to bring a healthy dose of optimism to this site filled with pessimists, but I guarentee I'll be a much happier partner for it!

[praxisguy]

P.R.I.D.E.

That is definitely one of the goals of the company, I'm sure.

Time will tell how honest a conversation one can have there versus here.

We know one thing. Pat's site posts no more wisdom or angst.

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP WEBMASTER]

>>this site filled with pessimists,

P.R.I.D.E. -- Try "site filled with REALISTS" -- people who raised red flags about Starbucks' problems long before Starbucks corporate acknowledged them. Funny how the problems that Starbucks PR pooh-poohed a while ago were brought up time and again at today's meeting.

You want an honest assessment of the company? You're sure not going to get it at the Starbucks rip-off of this site.

[AmericanoMan]

Melody--they sure had some folks with fast fingers to get all those ideas posted to the site by the time Howard announced its launch.

Noticed that many "ideas" had a date of 3/18.

[RalphZilch]

why should it be any surprise that they tested their site prior to launch. for all we know they marketed the site to a group of college students on march 18th and threw some free coffee their way.

does that make the site overly embedded with the company?

i love this site, but as a customer i feel the chances of my "voice" being heard is kinda low.

also, the search function will help buried topics become more popular.

[Disappointed Shareholder]

I was at the meeting today and I agree with New York Magazine. This was a dud idea like the "so-called" training event held several weeks ago to spin up some PR.

By the way, Howard looked like "death warmed over" at the meeting. He is not the same happy, enthusiastic Howard Schultz from past shareholder's meetings. Looks like he's pulling at straws to save the company by re-hiring his past cronies and this may be the beginning of the end for the not so unique Ubiquitous SBUX. I'm going to unload my stock tomorrow.

I don't like the idea of a "partner only" area. WTF...As a customer I love to hear what the partners are saying...I will stick to S.B's. Gossip.

[Melody]

Regardless of whether you think the ideas went up today, or yesterday, or whatever, so far, I'm not very impressed with what I'm see on that site. I believe that it suffers from the problem that it will be too repetitive. I think a wiser internet move for Starbucks would have been a message board!

Give it all the benefits of a message board: You have to register, you can exchange PMs, a comment system, a report post system, good moderators, gallery space in the profile, sig and avatar space, fast servers, post icons, and a well-organized layout. That would be a hit. :D

The site is just a big gigantic comment card that will get old real quick. And it is extremely repetitive.

[Jennifer Mathews]

As and search engine optimizer I have to say that the site is keeping up with the Starbucks standard for search engine optimization.
There is a redirect from the URL to a subdomain - which will in effect never allow the bots to index to the site. What does this mean? It means that the site won't rank on Google, and they will loose out on all that great search traffic.

As the founder of the savethebreakfast.com site - it's just another win for me since save the breakfast sandwich ranks higher and gets mre search traffic for Starbucks terms - like "starbucks breakfast sandwich" on Google

Seriously - when is Sarbucks going to do something about their SEO?

Jenn

I would have to disagree that this site is full of realists...

For the most part, the fringes of partners have been showing up to this site. Those truly passionate partners sticking up for the green apron, and then the other side of the continuam- those that are frustrated with their local work environment, and broadcast it as if it were representative of our company.

My point is that in both cases, these types of partners (myself included) wouldn't be the reality of a typical partner you might encounter in a store. These are probably the true realists. And then you have the optimists, and the pessimists.

And the optimists, other than occasionally coming in and spiking the thread with positive perspective, will probably be more inclined to go to our new site and actually posts solutions, vote, and see them put into action.

And we are complaining about the fact that we now have an opportunity in real time to recieve comments back from our customers? Sheesh...for some, Starbucks can do nothing right, no matter if it is, or if it isn't. There will always be whiners....

HAHAHA... this is so funny. Lame.

[bj]

I agree with Jen and covered their SEO way back about my own experience.
http://www.gooruze.com/articles/9/Search--Its-All-In-The-Grinds/

[Jennifer Mathews]

Checked the link today - and it's under construction...

Bad enough it had a ton of bugs last night while I attempted to make a comment, and their optimizatione fforts are lame at best, but now it is under construction?

c'mon people...

At least I have the common sense to make sure people are aware that my site is still under beta (still working out the kinks)

This site should is the proof that Starbucks is now, and will always be, a 20th century company with no understanding of anything to do with social media or anything that's remotely relevant with the "inter-webs".

This site is another, spectacular, example of companies who don't get it.

It truly provides Legendary Lameness.

[John C Abell]

And the site is down now (already)? Coincidence?

[sold all my SBUX options]

Starbucks became "LAME" when it lost it's uniqueness and transformed into a cookie cutter chain store with its goal of 40,000 stores.......

Today, it's just an overpriced coffee shop selling everything and anything it can to avoid ever-decreasing sales levels while the fast food giants are selling premium coffee for half the price without the long lines and superficial "service" attitudes.

[Vicki Verona]

While I agree with many of you on the (lack of) functionalities on the site, I wanted to share something positive with you that gives some hope for all of us.

As I wrote earlier in this thread, the only way you can judge the effectiveness of this site is seeing how many ideas really get implemented.

Well I'm happy to announce that one of the ideas already made to the stores! Someone posted an idea of giving partners the option of asking a customer if they want their receipt or not.

The next time you go into work, and someone uses a credit card/SBUX card, it will prompt you on the POS if you want to print a receipt or not.

[TORONTOWYLD]

It seems to me that the parter site regurgitated a number of mission review submissions to get votes and comments started, pushing out the new ideas without so many votes. The customer site is regurgitating customer comment card submissions to get votes and comments started. (MissonR and CustIdea are obviously fake accounts made by Starbucks staff for that purpose.) Thus you get the propaganda pats on the back for accomplished goals after the site's only been live a few days.

[Sally Wu]

Who do you really think is going to use mystarbucksidea??

My thoughts...
http://webpoet.wordpress.com/2008/03/23/a-venti-for-your-thoughts/

TWL

[Tim Wheatley]

You're starting to sound like a complete whiner.

If you have an 'idea' - put it forward there! You comment that it sounds like a virtual suggestion box? So what!?

Are you afraid of losing some of your fellow 'I hate because I can' commenters to the virtual suggestion box?

[Jim Malloy]

Today I received a complimentary card for a free cup of coffee at starbucks. Today is April 9th, and the free coffee card says it expires May 28th. Well thanks for nothing. No wonder you're business is sliding down when you send cards that expire 11 days before receiving the card.Good public relations. For that reason alone I'll go to dunkin donuts!

[Linda Schweitzer]

Of course, Corporate Starbucks wants something "FREE" from non-stockholders. I sold promotional products for 12 years and it always ticked me off when a company took my idea for a promotion and bought the product from someone else.

My brain power is worth bucks - Starbucks that is.

Offer 10 cups of java for an idea that is used and I'll submit some.

[baristagrl]

Umm, Jim Malloy, it looks like you've got 7 weeks in which to use your free coffee card.

[budinado]

For weak, "American" coffee I can pay 30% less at Duncan D. Burger King or McDonalds. Baristas will usually not have the time to brew a "bold" cup after noon.

I was a loyal customer. No more. GOODBYE MR. SCHULTZ! If you feel like me...buy a good coffee roaster for under $100 on the web (or use a popcorn blower), buy a supply of green beans (will last over a year in your kitchen) and custom roast at home.

[yuvika]

hey guyzz ...be a sport...i think its a great idea for a company to deploy a proactive & dedicated forum for innovation & feedback....there is so much more than just ideas from your locale. I am from india and I want to sip starbucks coffee in delhi....how do my fellows here & I give starbucks a ping without such a portal? tell me, huh?

[Wylie Axford]

1. Sam Walton had it right. All employees should have stock in the company they work for. The problem Sam had is that when an employee had a need for funds, Sam had no way to prevent the employee from selling his or her stock, thus they were reverting back in fact and more importantly in mind set, to just a hourly worker.
Social Security is facing a deadline for providing future retirement income now that the baby boomers are entering the picture. Our resources are not going to be able to meet these demands without just printing more and more paper debt. If the government can guarantee certain savings in bank accounts through the F.D.I.C., why not establish a program that would require that every employee own a regulated block of stock (Retirement Account) made up of stock in the company the employee works for and, so the employee will not have all his retirement eggs in one basket, include in this retirement basket high rated stocks from other non-competing companies. It seems to me the government could guarantee these programs as they do through the F.D.I.C regulated plans. This surely would be less expensive to taxpayers than trying to overhaul and fund social security. Most young people I talk with NOW, state they don’t think Social Security will be available when they retire.

Just as we provide student loans to help provide a college education, once the student graduates we should consider providing employment loans that would start the employee ownership package rolling. The employee would pay for the start up plan through a regulated payroll deduction. When the startup package is paid for, it would be mandatory that the deductions continue and the employees startup/retirement package would continue to grow untill retirement. If the employee’s is terminated prior to retirement, the government could establish policy for an escrow holding account pending re-establishing or tranferring the fund with a new employer. Including cases of no employment available or disability.

Provisions could also be made in the G I Bill program earmarking a part of the package to provide the funds for the purchase of the stock package for those leaving the military in search of employment.

Think about the effect this would have on startup businesses, where each employee hired is bringing not just his or her skills, but also bringing investment capital.

Think how customers would be treated by employee owners, and the respect customers would have for employees when they know this person actually does own the company.

Why would a corporation want outside investors electing CEO’s and board members? I feel all corporations should have at least 51% employee ownership.

2, The Peter Principle is the principle that "In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence. This now seems to also apply to Corporations. The bigger the Corporations the harder they fall. One way to reduce the devastating effects of a giant corporate failure would be to break it down into smaller component production ficilities. In the automotive field, this would be the perfect time. Rethinking in the industry is ongoing due to the high cost of energy. More fuel efficent vehicles, alternative power source and hybreds are the future. Retooling will be required whether the production facilities are the same central mega factories or smaller compact units. Why not construct mini assembly and fabrication units at each local Dealership. Engine production could be spread out all across the country in units such as , Piston plants, crankshaft plants, every part a mini production facility. I believe the reduction in labor cost alone could cover the cost of constructing the mini ficillities. The technology is available to monitor and supervise each facility remotely from a central location. The employee owners would be bringing in investment capital to help put it all together.

3. Vegas & Wallstreet. Wall Street is the BIG APPLE CASINO. Vegas has been ahead of Wall Street gamblers (Traders) for along time. For instance, if you’re a card counter ( a system that gives the player an advantage over the house ) playing Black Jack in a Vegas casino, even though card counting is legal (like selling short or certain other option trading is legal), when the pitt boss catches on to you, the casino has the right to ask you to leave and even ban you from coming back. Why can’t Wall Street take the same position with their trading (gambling) When it is determined that any spicific type of trading action, legal or illegal is detrimental to the overall health of the stock market, it could and should be stoped.

4. Fiduciary responsibility & Golden parachutes, It’s a well known fact that institutional and private fund investors, by virtue of the scale of their collective investments, have enormous influence over financial markets and the global economy as a whole. In 1999 United States public pension funds alone had assets representing 46 percent of the gross domestic product and 33 percent of the New York Stock Exchange’s capitalization. Additional holdings by religious, educational and public institutions, unions and foundations further increase these numbers.
As a result, these institutions’ financial decisions have a huge impact on society. The collective power of these institutions could be limited to 10 to 15% holding in any one corporation thus reducing their power to control the election of CEOs and board members along with their outragous contracts that include multi-million dollar bonuses and golden parachutes.This action would tend to secure the short and long term interests of employee owners beneficiaries, and other shareholders and stakeholders alike.

The realities of the 21st century require fiduciaries to be concerned with the impact of financial, social and environmental factors on the performance of their company to fulfill their legal obligations and maximize shareholder value. In addition, as employee owners, fiduciaries have the duty and the opportunity to promote good corporate governance to protect the assets under their care, and because the corporation is at least 51% employee owned the focus of the CEO and board is not just the bottom line,

The employee owner concept asserts that the integration of prudent financial management practices with principles of environmental stewardship, concern for community, labor and human rights, and corporate accountability to employee shareholders and stakeholders – which have not been considered relevant in the past by the financial decision-making process of professional investers, will now be the primary fiduciary priority. These outside investors with no other relationship to the company or employee, other than ownership of its stock, tends to constitute in fact a single bottom line concept. In order to guarantee long term sustainability, to minimize long and short term financial risk, the definition of fiduciary responsibility has to evolve.

Thank you for your time.

Any comments may be sent to

Wylie Axford

propawn@otelco.net