That's the question on CNBC's website, and the vast majority of people taking the survey said NO. The UK's business secretary is upset with Howard Schultz for saying the UK is in an economic spiral. || Read "Should Starbucks have said 'Sorry' to UK?"
Well, doesn't really matter, uk ppl never liked when they were told you think they're not as good as they think they are. Especially concerning everything even remotely related to their economy and _the great british pound_ (or not so great any more)
Posted by: flo | February 19, 2009 at 05:20 PM
At this point would anyone be listening to anything Howard had to say??
Posted by: expartner | February 19, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Howard, for all his so-called PR skill, is really quite inept at being tactful. He could have made his point without overtly slamming a foreign country.
Does anyone remember his incompetence with the whole UK Oxfam / Ethiopia mess a couple of years ago? Didn't Starbucks get called to task by both the Ethiopian president and the UK parliament?
Posted by: beantheredonethat | February 19, 2009 at 05:57 PM
Well, I buried my Howard Schultz fan merchandise a while ago, but why would a "country" be upset by anything the ceo of any given company has to say? Howard Schultz is not a diplomat and doesn't have to act accordingly.
If he would say the UK sucks than this is his opinion. If the people in the UK then stopped buying his stuff, that's okay as well.
But it is not a political issue. This politician is just another guy who likes to listen to himself and who takes himself a bit too serious.
Posted by: Me | February 19, 2009 at 06:08 PM
Howard should just say "yes", and give him a Recovery Coupon. :o)
Posted by: BusyBean | February 19, 2009 at 06:54 PM
Haha busy bean...
Posted by: Christinschu | February 19, 2009 at 06:59 PM
Ooops....
Kinda kills any goodwill towards the London Fog Tea Latte, doens't it? Sbux will have to rename it once again...
Posted by: cactusmush | February 19, 2009 at 07:17 PM
Like I said before, I guess Uncle Howie won't be having tea with the Queen anytime soon.
However, the Brits shouldn't talk about having a bad mouth. Something about Prince Harry comes to mind. Oh yes, something about towelheads and Paki's.
Posted by: BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL | February 19, 2009 at 08:18 PM
Busybean, that was very funny! LOL...!
It's silly that one would even consider HS needing to apologize for his remarks. Well, the UK economy IS in an economic spiral! Perhaps the truth just hurts a little bit, Mr. UK Business Secretary. (Eyes roll)
Posted by: Jack the Corgi | February 19, 2009 at 08:42 PM
"Hello, would you like to try our Freedom Fog Tea Latte this afternoon?"
Posted by: Noor | February 19, 2009 at 08:44 PM
boston starbucks rebel--you are really one to talk about racial comments after some of the things you have said on here!
Posted by: lolita | February 19, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Mandelson's one of the most loathsome members of a discredited regime. He should be the one doing any apologising.
Posted by: DAVE | February 19, 2009 at 10:47 PM
sbux corporate lives in a bubble and they forget the world operates outside that bubble with different logic. come on, why do you think seattle is always reinventing the wheel with things that have been done better before?
akeelah!
Posted by: coffeeguy | February 19, 2009 at 11:51 PM
What, was business in the UK going too well? Maybe Howard just didn't want them to feel left out so he has to kill their sales too.
How about just keeping your mouth shut and sending them VIA!!!
Posted by: Burned@SBUX | February 20, 2009 at 05:44 AM
When I get in to work today this will be an exchange between a customer and me,
Me: Hi, How are you?
Customer: Great, Can a try one of those London Tea Lattes?
Me: No, sorry...England has stripped us of the right to sell it.
Customer: (will look confused and sad)
Me: BUT...(in the spirit of JSY)...How about I make you an Earl Grey tea misto with a couple pumps of vanilla?
Posted by: Coffee Soldier | February 20, 2009 at 05:49 AM
Um... it is kind of true, unfortunately.
Of course, the US is in lousy shape too. As is everyone else. At tfis point it's not a judgment; it's an observation.
Posted by: Mal Carne | February 20, 2009 at 07:31 AM
Coffee Soldier,
Good thing the London Fog was invented in Vancouver, Canada! Otherwise, we might have a problem :p.
Posted by: Richard | February 20, 2009 at 08:46 AM
What's the big deal? Starbucks is in an economic death spiral, too.
Howard is just trying to blame the fatal company misteps on the economy there (and in the USA for that matter).
That's like a gunshot victim with a hole in his head saying that he is dying from lead poisoning.
Posted by: Power Barista | February 20, 2009 at 09:51 AM
The particular web address pertaining to Lord Mandelson's disrespecful remarks regarding SBUX should be provided in order to allow anyone to provide a polite, diplmatic, poignant response.
The opportunity should be afforded in speaking for a proud, honorable, Amercan company not feeding off of US government funds.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/02/18/u-k-politician-was-right-to-curse-out-starbucks-founder/3#comments
Posted by: rbblum | February 20, 2009 at 10:48 AM
It's just coffee... people are on edge these days & look to other people to blame...just play nice and sit down with a cup of coffee & have a civil conversation AND don't talk about politics!
Posted by: energybolt | February 20, 2009 at 10:51 AM
energybolt, I won't disagree that it IS best to stay away from politics, by all means - especially in public or on a public board such as this one. However, my interpretation regarding Lord Mandelson's comments is they are focussed on 'business'; specifically the business of SBUX and the quality products offered by SBUX and served by well-trained, polite employees.
What I find unfortunate and fair game in responding to is the blind, negative SBUX-bashing that is following in the shadows of Lord Mandelson.
Being able to respond in a sincere, kind, polite, accurate, diplomatic manner is a form of art that should be celebrated when speaking on behalf of an honorable, successful American business . . . such as SBUX.
Posted by: rbblum | February 20, 2009 at 11:15 AM
I know that some of my comments in the past may be considered provocative. I have clarified that they were not intended to offend people.
You make it out like the time when Ann Coulter Jonathan Edwards a fag when in fact he was just an adulterer on a cancer ridden wife.
And besides I might be crass, not my fault that I'm a White Anglo Saxon Protestant, but you might expect something more from third in line to the throne of the once powerful British Empire. I'm afraid when they say the sun never sets on the British Empire, it maybe sunset.
Posted by: BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL | February 20, 2009 at 05:03 PM
I think the sun literary didn't/doesn't set on the British Empire. While Canada/Hong Kong/India/UK were all part of the empire, there was daylight in at least a few of thoes places all the time.
The same holds true today, but doesn't mean as much when the empire is summed up with a few carribean/mediterranean/indian ocean/pacific ocean territories :(.
Posted by: Richard | February 20, 2009 at 05:48 PM
Listen to what the Brits have to say about "Lord Mandy". He has a long history of flying off the handle and blowing things way out of proportion. Plus, he was at least one sheet to the wind at a cocktail party when he said those things.
Credit to the guy for later "standing by his sentiment if not his words", but really... This is all blown way out of proportion. He immediately assumed that what Howard said about the UK was about the entire country, not necessarily Starbucks business there... Some people (especially on here) just need to take a Xanax and just chill out.
Posted by: quityourbitchin | February 20, 2009 at 09:34 PM
Read hilarious piece about this "controversy" in the Daily Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/4742640/Starbucks-The-choc-chip-frappuccino-that-conquered-the-world.html
Posted by: Nikki | February 22, 2009 at 09:30 AM
Nothing unfunnier than an angry Limey.
Remember, without England well America would be....nothing! At least thats what the Limeys keep telling themselves
Posted by: TBer | March 20, 2009 at 01:23 AM
Its true nothing is permanent. Starbucks is a fad that will one day be out of favour and will die. The world will simply move onto something else. Re the British Empire, Sure its gone and the Uk is now only 4th richest nation in the world but ecconomists predict in only a generation the US will slip down to number 3 after China and India and the UK to 6th or lower.
Posted by: David | July 23, 2009 at 07:10 AM
After the UK business secretary lashed out at Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz's assessment of Britain's economy, Starbucks said it had "no intention of criticizing the economic situation in the UK" and was committed to the market.
Should the company have apologized?
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