Starbucks copycat catches attention of coffee giant

Penland Star Coffee's logo, composed of a green circle and white English words surrounding a red pattern with Chinese characters in the middle, is said to be similar to the Starbucks logo. Starbucks is collecting info about Penland Star, but "there is no concrete legal action underway for the moment," says a PR person. (Taipei Times)

Comments

[joe m]

How do you post a question on this board??? I am curious to get a count of management related divorces. That is to say, SBUX insists their managers work such ungodly hours that there is no way to have a marriage and raise kids. But make them a manager, give them a canned congrats speech and there they go. It's a cult!!

[ashley]

what?!

Wow, Joe. If your significant other chooses long hours for SBUX over your companionship, perhaps the Mermaid addiction isn't the real problem. I'm just saying, y'know?

[Coffee Boy]

Obviously someone doesn't know what they are talking about. Managers have to work 40 hours per week. In a bad week I might work 45, make it 46 with a couple emails and voicemails from home. Name one service industry job where they don't make managers work at least 50 hours a week? The compensation? Is excellent. If you want to work only 35 hours a week, don't go into management!

[Loy Eugene Williams]

Honestly, I always thought Caribou Coffee was a Starbucks rip off. This logo is awfully similar tho'

[Ex-Caribou employee!]

I worked at Caribou Coffee in Michigan for 7 years before moving back to Oregon. In the 7 years I spent at Caribou, the 7 MONTHS I have now spent at Starbucks are One-hundred percent better!
Caribou Coffee is inconsistant and they have a false sense of "high employee moral." The Claim "that people are the most important thing." They hire uneducated and unqualified people in their management and market managemet departments. Managers at Caribou do not realize how over worked and run down they are.
I would work 9-10 hours per day with NO breaks of ANYKIND! 55-60 hours per week. The idea that managers need to work that long in crazy!
Managers at Starbucks are only required to work 40-45 hours per week. And the market managers make sure that they are keeping to that standard.
Caribou used to be a neat company to work for. Then they stared hiring from outside the company and that did not make for company loyalty. The market managers (at least in Michigan) are uneducated and never seemed to know what the names of new employees were. They were more concerned about their precious secret shoppers then the fact that a minumum wage employee is working on his or her feet for 8-9 hours per day with no lunch breaks or rest times.
Stories from management: My goal for labor was 16 percent. I got it to 15.5!! You would think that would be cause for a "great job" right? Nope. I was told "15.5 is great, but, why not 15? Let's see what we can do to improve this." ??? What is that all about.
Managers and employees are not terminated for major issues. Eg. major cash shortages, chronic tardiness. But are terminated for stupid things like "NOT OPENING A STORE THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CLOSED DOWN DUE TO POWER OUTAGES!!"
They put employees in danger by requiring them to open stores alone if other team members are late or close alone for similar reasons.
Caribou just passes out propoganda because they know that they will never be as good as Starbucks. EVER! Starbucks gives part timers FULL time benifits and stock options. PART TIMERS!! Caribou-Are you crazy!
Now this may just be Michigan, but, I doubt it.
I have already encouraged some managers from Caribou to jump ship and get their skills and talents to Starbucks.
My first month in management training were so good. I DO NOT WORK UNGODLY HOURS. In fact I was surprised how much work I can do in less time. The most hours I have worked is 41 so far. At Caribou I was working over 50 hours with little appreciation. Thats what Starbucks does. They appreciate their employees and train people who are having trouble.
So, Caribou fans I say drop the whole "Life is Short, Stay awake for it" crap and realize that Starbucks statement: "Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity" rings true. Stop drinking Caramel High Rises and get a Caramel Macchiatto instead.
The only person in the entire company that has been consistant and professional is Doug Horter. That is the only name I will drop as good.

[Laura]

I am looking for the names of Corporate Marketing Managers at Starbucks. Can anyone help?

[-m]

Laura,
Each region has a RMS (regional marketing specialist). The best way get in touch with them is through your local store manager.

Seems like working at caribou is almost as bad as drinking their coffee...

[Rochelle]

Does any one know if Star bucks is hiring in michigan

[Rocky]

Starbucks is so much better than caribou! The ppl @ caribou are mean! If n e 1 else lives in beverly hills u know what i mean! starbucks is also cheap and affordable. only 4 bucks for a great cup of coffee! YA! well i live in Beverly Hills CA and Starbucks here rocks

[Rocky]

Starbucks is so much better than caribou! The ppl @ caribou are mean! If n e 1 else lives in beverly hills u know what i mean! starbucks is also cheap and affordable. only 4 bucks for a great cup of coffee! YA! well i live in Beverly Hills CA and Starbucks here rocks

[Bob Debes]

By now, I'm sure you have heard about the overtime wage claim filed on behalf of assistant store managers nationwide. My law firm, together with a few other firms here in Houston, are handling that litigation. Last week, we mailed out 11,000 notices to those current or ex employees that served as ASM during the previous 3 years.
If anyone has any questions about the suit, or how to join, feel free to visit my website, www.debeslaw.com. In the alternative, you can visit my co-counsel's website, www.eeoc.net.
Time is of the essence. In order to recover your unpaid overtime wages, you must join this lawsuit by filing a 'Notice of Consent' which can be downloaded on my website.

Bob Debes
Houston, Texas

Bob-

It's a stupid fight brought about by whiny crybabies. Get out while you can

[Chris]

Its funny. Caribou Coffee doesn't have to have a board like this to convince themselves that they are a great company. We just know it.

Is that why Caribou has never posted a profit???

Plus this board is not run by Starbucks.

Come back when you turn a profit.

["john"]

i currently work at caribou coffee and i am a loyal starbucks customer. there is a reason for this i go to starbucks to get drinks i like that caribou doesnt have but also,i see the workers at starbucks happy i see that they get a break during a shift. i have never had a break at work and that is ridiculous. starbucks i salute you.

[PortCityJava]

STARBUCKS SUCKS! (Hey, that rhymes! Must be a reason!)
And remember, FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS DRINK STARBUCKS!
The Mermaid is a WHORE!

[nicole Niesen]

i would like to say that caribou knows how to brew a GOOD, not burned, not BITTER espresso shot. everytime i go into startbucks they are jerks to me, and their coffee is gross (i'd go to caribou but they close 2 hours earlier). i prefer caribou beans and espresso (when they use a traditional machine) much more, and i am a coffee connoisseur of many years. i do love independent shops, but sometimes people don't know what they're doing. unfortunately, caribou needs to get their shit together and give employees breaks (illegal!) and then they will soar with their delicious coffee!

[Laura]

I am curious to know what educational background is required to become a manager of a Starbucks or do they have their own management training program? I ask out of personal interest as I have no college education but am interested in a career with this company.

[Susan]

I work at Caribou as a Shift Supervisor and it is absolutely ridiculous what is expected for the low pay. We work 8 - 9 shift without getting a break or even being able to sit down or go to the bathroom. The shift supervisors are expected to take care of everything while the little teenagers run around and talk to their friends. The managers are not support or help at all - crappy job!!!

[Jenn]

I would like to state that Starbucks roasts their espresso to a crispy, burnt Italian roast, when in fact it should be roasted at a Vienna roast. That's why Starbucks tastes like crap. Yay for Caribou and Dunn Bros!

[Nicole]

Just simply... wow.
Seriously.. is that all you guys could come up with? Sit here all day and rag on Caribou?
Meh...

That's pathetic..

[CASEY]

Why is CARIBOU better than starbucks?

Two Words: RAINFOREST ALLIANCE...

Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee is grown on farms where forests are PROTECTED, rivers, soils and wildlife CONSERVED; workers are treated with RESPECT, PAID DECENT WAGES, properly EQUIPPED and given access to EDUCATION and MEDICAL CARE.

On the opposite side of the spectrum what can starbuck's "beloved" fair trade coffee say? "We trade fair"? Well congratulations on not ripping people off.

CARIBOU GOES BEYOND JUST TRADING FAIRLY AND MAKES A TRUE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES AND VILLAGES OF THEIR FARMERS http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/

[sad to say]

I was just let go from Caribou.I am sad to say, this is not a good companie to work for. The training is poor. The benifits are minimal. Vacation pay is not paid out for staff. People are fired for political reasons and unfounded gossip. Most staff at Carribou is not happy. A reasent artical stated Dunken dougnuts coffee has been rated hire in quality.Also about Rainforst Allience, if anyone saw the wast from a carribou, they would e more consernd with there own community! Stock has gone from $12.00 a share to under $3.00. Need I say more!

[Betsy]

ok... i work at caribou nd i get 2 have a break whenever i want! ive only worked there for a month nd its the best job ive ever had. when i go 2 starbucks their coffee is cold. at caribou we brew new coffee ever hour.

Actually Starbucks brews fresh on the half hour. It has been that way for several months. It was an hour before that.

Interesting comment.

If coffee is COLD, something is mechanically wrong with the burner or someone forgot to put the urn on the burner.

Coffee is not cold because it's old, it's cold because it was not being heated. I'm surprised I have to tell a coffee shop employee that.

[Danielle]

okay, soo I've been working at caribou for about 6 months now and recently became a shift supervisor..I get to have breaks whenever I want and time goes fast so it's not like it's a huge deal to be there for 7-8 hours, plus by law you are required to have a break past 7 hours, most people don't work this much and when they do they can have their own breaks, we enforce it. the shitty part about my job so far is i went from 7.25 regular employee to 7.25 shift supervisor...what the hell.

[Gardenwife]

Whether you work at Bux or Bou, the quality of your work environment is directly affected by the quality of your manager. I have a great manager. We have no issues with being able to sit down and rest when customers have all been served and there's a lull. We all pitch in and do what's needed. We have fun. I love my job and have a great manager.

[Latecustomer]

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