Starbucks Gossip

Starbucks introduces VIA iced coffee. How are customers responding?

A Starbucks press release says "the introduction of the new iced coffee builds on the popularity and momentum of the Starbucks VIA® product line." Any interest in it from your customers? (And will customers who read this blog try out this VIA?) Read Starbucks' press release and the Associated Press story. || Jump to the second page of comments.

Let's get the weekend OPEN THREAD going!

Will there be early fireworks here, or a pleasant tete-a-tete? You never know with the always-lively OPEN THREAD. As usual, anything Starbucks-related is up for discussion. || Jump to the second page of comments.

A Starbucks barista says: "Stop suggesting 'unique' drink concoctions to me!"

He writes: "Yes, I know that a vanilla bean frap with a little bit of Strawberry cream and a half pump of mocha tastes like a Neopolitan. I fucking work here. Your discovery is by no means anything new. And even if these mixtures weren't obvious, I still wouldn't want to hear your train of thought." PLUS: More things that irritate this barista. || Read "Why Your Starbucks Barista Hates You" || Jump to the second page of comments.

Starbucks CEO's multi-million dollar options package raises eyebrows

At the end of May, with Starbucks stock at $25.89, Howard Schultz's options package was worth a whopping $46.8 million. "I would question why anybody needs to receive compensation at that level in order to be encouraged to do a good job," says Doug Kilgore, executive director of the Worker Owner Council of Washington State, which monitors Northwest companies in which construction-union members have pension money invested. || Read "Starbucks' chief rises to the top"

Starbucks Gossip OPEN THREAD: Your chance to start the conversation

Have a beef? A question? A comment? Here's another opportunity to post it. Anything Starbucks-related is up for discussion on the OPEN THREAD. || Jump to the second page of comments.

Starbucks pays $80,000 after job applicant with multiple sclerosis isn't hired (or interviewed)

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says Chuck Hannay applied for one of six open barista positions at a Starbucks store in Arkansas but was never contacted for an interview. People with less experience and availability were hired instead of Hannay, the EEOC alleged. Read "Starbucks to settle discrimination suit filed by EEOC"

Claim: Starbucks' Facebook audience is worth $1.8 billion annually

Yeah, right. (Even the research firm that came up with that number says to take it with a grain of salt.) Read "Starbucks' Facebook audience worth $1.8 billion"

Starbucks to offer free, no registration wi-fi beginning July 1

Of course, most independent coffee shops have long offered free, no-registration wireless. What Starbucks is touting is content that it says you won't get anywhere else. || Read "Starbucks: Free Wi-FI at 6,700 U.S. stores" || Read "Free Wi-Fi is just a small part of Starbucks' plan" || Jump to the second page of comments.

OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: The Treat Receipt is coming back June 29

According to "Spence" in the comments section, the promotions runs until October. He writes: "After 2pm, any grande cold beverage will be $2 with a morning receipt. Gotta love it. The afternoons will be busy." Discuss this or anything Starbucks-related in the OPEN THREAD.

Is it fair that the "mayor of Starbucks" on Foursquare is a Starbucks employee?

A Starbucks Gossip reader writes:

I use Foursquare. I recently moved to a new city and went to a local Starbucks. When I checked in it showed me the mayor of this particular Starbucks. I was shocked that the mayor was the guy making my drink!

So Starbucks runs a promotion with Foursquare and gives discounts to the mayor, but at this Starbucks the mayor was an employee. If this is allowed then there's no way to become a mayor since the guy works there and can check in basically daily. So just out of curiosity I wrote Starbucks to ask about this because, although I really don't care that much, it seemed wrong. This was the response I got:

----------------------------------

Thank you so much for taking the time to write to us.

I am truly sorry to hear about your frustration with foursquare Promotions.

I want you to know that we take feedback from our loyal customers seriously. Because you know better than anyone else what you want from Starbucks, I will share this with the ------------- store Management.

However Foursquare is open to any one that can access it and it happens that the Mayor of this location is the Barista again I do apologize for any type of inconvenience that this may have caused. ....

Thanks again,

Orlando C.
Customer Relations
Starbucks Coffee Company