Starbucks Gossip

Happy New Year to Starbucks Gossip readers!

Thanks to Starbucks Gossip readers for a great 2011. Your "news tips" resulted in at least three stories breaking here, going viral and becoming headlines across the U.S. After 8 years, Starbucks Gossip and its readers still have the power to push SBUX-related issues into the national spotlight.

Three Starbucks Gossip posts that went viral in 2011:

* Starbucks confirms it's covering power outlets at some stores || Is this still happening? Please update us!

* Starbucks barista fired after his rant song goes viral || What are you up to these days, Christoper Cristwell? Let us know.

* Meet the grossest Starbucks customer in New York City || Is Mr. PeePee still masturbating in Starbucks bathrooms? I don't want to know!

DISCUSS YOUR 2011 OR ANYTHING ELSE STARBUCKS-RELATED IN THIS OPEN THREAD

Should 'Suzy Coffee' work at a licensed Starbucks?

A woman who calls herself Suzy Coffee writes to Starbucks Gossip:

I was a store manager for Starbucks in the bay area for over 3 years. During that time, we had an 80 percent store manager turnover. Some stores turned over managers 3 times. The pressure was awful, and we were never acknowledged for what we did or how hard we worked.

I ended up quitting a job I could have loved had there been some stability in upper management. Our DM’s were leaving and our RM was an emotional wreck. No one liked or trusted her.

I still feel this might have been a great opportunity for me.

How is working for the licensed stores? Do they differ in the politics, the pressure and the high manager turnover? I am considering a District Manager position.

Are they more or less supportive of their people?

Just curious.

Suzy Coffee.

Paging current and former licensed store employees! What advice do you have for her?

Court tells Starbucks to pay man $7.5 million for slip-and-fall accident

Here's what happened: Anthony Zaccaglin, 51, ordered his drink and walked to the other end of the counter to pick it up when he fell, hitting his head on the tile floor. The floor had just been mopped, and a store manager contends she had put out three "wet floor" cones. Other witnesses claim there was just one cone. The accident left the man with a brain injury. Starbucks says it's sorry the man was injured, but...

"We are disappointed with the size of the verdict as we made every effort to reach a mutually agreeable and reasonable settlement with Mr. Zaccaglin. We are reviewing the decision to determine what, if any, steps we may take in response."

* Man wins $7.5 million suit against Starbucks (San Diego Union-Tribune)

"This year the ones who work on Christmas day get a 'bonus' shirt"

Will it say ONWARD!? Tell us more!

The same commenter wrote in the thread below: "I'm hoping [Christmas Day] tips will be $12.50 per hour like 2007 (hint, hint Santa baby) but either way, it's a great day to work."

#12.50/hour! How's that compare to your store on holidays?

Dear church music director: Some of us *want* Starbucks to be open on Christmas day!

Another holiday season, and another person complaining that Starbucks stores (or some of them) will be open on Christmas. The headline on Florence Baptist Temple music director Jim Symons' rant:

CHURCH CLOSED, STARBUCKS OPEN ... WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Nothing, I say. You church has the right to be open on Dec. 25, just as Starbucks does.

I've frequented the Lake Geneva, Wis. Starbucks on Christmas Day for years, and will be doing it again this year. The place is packed -- and for a reason: People suffering Christmas/family Overdose want a place to escape for an hour or two, and SBUX is a good to place to do that. So, Mr. Symons, go ahead and find a church that's open, while millions of traveling American search for Starbucks that's opened on Dec. 25.

* Church closed, Starbucks open ... what's wrong with this picture?

OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: 'Why working at SBUX was the toughest job I ever had'

Freelance writer Aimee Groth planned to pay her rent by putting in some hours at Starbucks. "My initial idea of working a leisurely part-time job was completely false," she writes. The young woman quickly learned that "this was going to be hard work. And a lot of it." Of course, that's probably no surprise to a good number of people who visit this site. Read her essay and discuss it -- or anything else Starbucks-related in the OPEN THREAD.

How are the Christmas tips this year?

I'm always a bit reluctant to mention tipping because it brings out the haters -- longtime readers know that -- but I'd like to hear how the holiday tips are going in this allegedly improved economy. Are you getting non-cash tips, too? What are they? (Homemade cookies?)

We've discussed this in the past -- but what do you do when a customer wants to "reward" a specific barista? Toss the tip in a pool jar, or let that person pocket the bill?

Customers: How much are you tipping this year?

Haters: Don't bother with the "why should I tip for coffee?" comments. We've read them before!

Thanks, Starbucks! I'll be drinking free brewed coffee in January in my 16 oz tumbler

My neighborhood Starbucks -- a fairly large store -- had only 6 of today's "12 Days of Gifting" special: the $19.95 tumbler that can be used for free coffee all of January. (I was up early, and got the store's first tumbler. The six were still in boxes.) How many did your store get? How fast did they sell out? || UPDATE FROM THE STORE: "There's only one tumbler left," the barista tells a customer at 6:38 a.m. || Jump to the second page of comments

OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Which '12 Days of Gifting' specials are hits with customers?

I did the two VIA 12-packs for $11.95 on Thursday, and the Christmas Blend/VIA deal on Friday. What are the big movers at your stores? Customers: Which ones did you go for? Discuss SBUX's Christmas specials or anything else Starbucks-related in the OPEN THREAD.

PLUS, a note from Starbucks Gossip reader:

Just purchased a grande latte and an oatmeal at Starbucks this morning for the devilish price of $6.66. The barista wouldn't even read the total aloud. But she did say that the Number of the Beast is a fairly common total she rings up.

Is that true?

Has anyone tried to buy drinks at your Starbucks using food stamps?

A Fox affiliate in Oregon discovered that customers at a licensed Starbucks store could buy drinks using food stamps. The coffee giant's reaction:

Starbucks, as policy, does not accept food stamp cards for payment at its company-operated stores; however, some of our licensees, particularly those within grocery stores, may accept these for payment. The acceptance of these programs as a form of payment is common within the grocery industry and our licensees are committed to following all laws and rules of the individual programs. When this topic arises, Starbucks continues to communicate to our licensees that we do not recommend this practice.

Baristas: Have you accepted food stamps? Customers: Have you used them for your SBUX drinks? Food stamps are used for Starbucks; outrage ensues