Starbucks wants to get into a high school to teach kids about coffee

A high school board is considering a three-page agreement that authorizes Starbucks to train students and teachers in the coffee business. This story says: "Students will learn how to make the perfect cup of coffee while their teachers learn how to purchase discounted supplies from the company using profits from sales, the agreement states." Starbucks no doubt calls this a good education; I say it's a way for the coffee giant to increase brand awareness among teens. (Virginian-Pilot)

Comments

[whistles]

Disgusting corporate whoring i say
http://www.schuppler.com/dwyerlogo.png

Smells kinda like bullshit to me. Starbucks does a lot of dumb things, but this isn't their forte. The fact that the company didn't comment on this makes it sound very fishy.

[eriC dragveS]

And what brand of coffee will be used in making the "perfect" cup of coffee? Suppose a student decides on bringing a can of Folgers, will the school suspend him? I remember a school which had a Coca-Cola Day and a kid was suspended for wearing a Pepsi shirt.

[Josh]

I don't think that you guys grasp the concept here, the way I understand it, it would be a student store kind of thing, except instead of soda and popcorn they'd be selling lattes and frappuccinos. Any additional business experience students can get in school is good experience.

It doesn't sound insidious or anything, I just doubt its authenticity. This doesn't sound like the kind of thing starbucks does.

[deusx]

This is as inappropriate as having soda vending machines for students. The last thing a kid needs is a jolt of caffiene and sugar before needing to sit quietly and pay attention for 55 mins.

I Guess all the Mormon kids will get an "F".

[Paxsimius]

This sounds more like a brand loyalty kind of deal than anything. All over this country, Pepsi and Coke are battling it out to provide/acquire exclusive vending rights in school districts and universities, often taking a loss along the way, just to build up brand awareness in teens and young adults. They all know that whatever brand people start using as teens can translate into life-long loyalty. Today's crop of 17 year olds can lead to 60+ years of brand loyalty. Couple that with school districts desperate for cash flow and opportunities to keep their students busy, and you have a recipe for manipulation of the masses.

This also explains why there is a high concentration of beer and liquor billboards near the local large university in my city, where presumably most of the population is too young to drink, whereas there are hardly any such billboards near my neighborhood, where a large majority of the population is old enough.

And to those that say Starbucks would never pull a stunt like increasing brand awareness by entering schools, explain all those damn Frapuccinos I've seen 10 year olds sucking on. Kids are obviously in Starbucks' sights as well.

[kt]

Business experience is great, but this is obviously a brand awareness stunt. I'm sure the school will be getting a sizable financial incentive in this partnership, and sadly they need it so badly that it's pretty understandable that they consider it.

If Starbucks was genuinely dedicated to exposing teens to business experience, they would implement a program that is more generic, not specifically Starbucks coffee. Even healthier, like a juice/snack bar or something to that effect. They would get the same business experience, minus the Starbucks loyalty brainwashing.

[reason]

Agreed - they could fund a program without require use of any of their products (coffee). I bet the teachers will REALLY love that first class after lunch if coffee gets added to the mix.

[jillian]

Corporations should stay the heck away from schools.

They're just looking for pretrained employees so they won't have to spend the actual money of training regular hires.

[corianderstem]

I dunno ... I'd like to see this verified. I highly doubt this is real.

All new hires would have to go through the same training, even if they worked at a highschool vending cart.

This really shouldn't come as a shock. When corporations buy their way into public schools all they are really doing is trying to market to kids who don't know any better.

Starbucks cares more about branding than these kid's education and the parents need to shut them down and shut them out of that school. They need to understand that this is no different than a Coke vending machine being in the cafeteria.

Starbucks is not the be all end all of every facet of peoples lives. Wake up people. Starbucks in school is the equivalent of intelligent design in school. I don't want my kids blindly ignoring evolution or blindly believing Starbucks makes the worlds finest coffee and that it treats partners with dignity or respect.

It appears the students and teachers went to starbucks not vice versa as many here are saying or assuming

[Lyra]

Can you really blame the schools for accepting a lucrative deal like this? They probably desperately need the money. If you really want to keep corporations from buying their way into public schools, make sure the schools have enough funds to run well without corporate sponsorship.

[dave]

All schools need the money, we don't do education here we do big business.

[angela]

We get asked all the time at our store by schools if they can sell starbucks! i doubt starbucks would ever say yes.

Starbucks won't say yes. This isn't the kind of thing they do.

[Rick James]

I'm a barista and someone told me today about this ridiculous website. Seriously people, who cares about any of this. Order your stupid drink, shut up, and leave. Practically all of you customers, if you even deserve such a dignity, are rude, IMPATIENT, childish, and have no clue how to respect other people in social situations. If you are an asshole, let's just hope that your local barista has the wits to give your stupid ass decaf. You deserve it and it is funny as hell. There are of course a select handfull of customers who are decent people and treat us with respect. Everyone else is clueless about how to treat people. If you are stupid enough to get worked up over something as simple as coffee, then don't ever come back.

[Lyra]

Gotta love that legendary service.

[Patrick]

First of all, I agree that acquiring basic business skills is crucial to any teen growing up.

Second, Starbucks, although a completely new angle with this, is going to create brand awareness and brand loyalty. Teens tend to be loyal with quality first impressions of brands up close and personal.

Thirdly, who ever decided to do this is probably looking at both sides 1) increasing awareness among a underrepresented market, and 2) to teach basic business skills (at least I hope).

However, teens are so wired anyway, is giving them access to more caffeine a good thing?....hmmm that doesn't look like it balances...

Nonetheless, I think if it is true that it is going to be a good idea if executed in everyones best interest.

Thanks

[Rick James]

Oh Lyra, this is quite funny isn't it. I love giving legendary service, to people who actually deserve it. A lot of people deserve it of course. Trust me, everyone doesn't deserve it. In these cases, I am polite and get there order done as quickly as possible so they can promptly leave. I smile and say thanks. There is a reason why we finish some people's drinks before they even get in the store, so we don't have to deal with their rudness. Some people, we start their drinks because we like them, but a lot because we know they will always complain about something. I'm not your shrink. That is how I treat customers who show no respect. If they are a complete asshole, then it is ok to show them who the boss is every once in a while and give them decaf. You are not entitled to whatever you want. You are entering my store and I am the authority. Just because you tip us, or have been a "regular" for forever, doesn't mean you can treat us like a punching bag. If only these people could see the way they act in public, maybe then they would get a clue about how to live a good life. When I first started at my store, the customers couldn't handle the fact that God forbid, they had to actually remember what they ordered until I caught on. Comments like "who are you?" in snotty voices. "She knows my drink." That is great, but I am the one who is ringing you up, so maybe you should tell me. It happens everywhere. They thought I was just some loser who they could insult and get away with it. Funny thing is, when they found out I was in graduate school and going for a Masters degree, they decided that I was ok to treat with respect. Why you ask? Because I wasn't one of "those" kinds of people who only work at Starbucks. How pathetic. There are plenty of customers who I love to chat it up with, because it is obvious that they care about people in general and treat people with respect. Blah, blah, blah, you are paid to work there, so you should be able to handle it without getting all worked up. That isn't the point. The point is, I go to bed at night knowing I am a better person then all of the assholes who walk into a Starbucks thinking they can treat people like shit. I know how to socially interact with people and not get pissed just because I had to wait 2 minutes to get my drink, or because new coffee is being brewed. How about some patience. If you are having a bad day, don't you dare take it out on some kid who is working to put himself through college. There is a reason why many Starbucks employees come on this sight and speak their mind. All we want is for people to respect us and treat us as a person. It really isn't that hard to ask. You don't have to kiss my ass or be overly nice to be, you just can't act like a child and expect the world to roll over so you can have your way. All we want are people who are polite and understanding. I would love it if that were the case, then there would be no reason for any of these rants whatsoever. I like my job a lot, it's great to have a flexible schedule and health insurance while being in school, and getting good tips.

That is legendary service Lyra, whether you can comprehend it or not.

[Lyra]

Don't they teach people how to write in paragraphs in grad school?

All joking aside, Mr. James, if you really want to make your point to me, you are going to have to be a little bit more concise. I understand the whole "some people are asses so I'm going to give them curt but polite service" point just fine; some people ARE bad/rude/offensive/hypocritical customers, but why are you spewing so much vitriol here?

A couple more questions for you while I'm at it.

You claim in your second post that a "lot of people deserve" legendary service, and yet earlier you mention that "practically all of you customers...are rude". So, which one is it?

"If they are a complete asshole, then it is ok to show them who the boss is every once in a while and give them decaf." So, by your philosophy, if you're a complete asshole to me by belittling my intellegence, I am allowed to do the same to you?

And lastly, if you really think this is a "ridiculous website", why are you still here?

If Rick James is who I think he is...Matt, I'm wrting your ass up tomorrow.

[Rick James]

First of all, I can write on a website or blog however the hell I want. I am spewing this "non-sense" because people who are "customers" need to realized that they can't do whatever the hell they want and treat people poorly. You don't have that right, no matter how much you payed for your coffee. I am never rude to other workers in the service industry. It makes no sense to take your problems out on someone who unfortunately can't say what they should back to you. Starbucks should allow us to put people in their place, but alas, the customer is always right, blah, blah, blah. I'm not talking about saying nasty things, I'm talking about not being able to tell people to chill the fuck out, or they won't be welcomed back.

Let me clarify, it is hard to get an exact percentage about how many people are extremely rude to us. Let's say 25% or so, maybe more, I don't know exactly. Even if it is part of my job to talk to rude assholes, the fact of the matter is, there is a problem out there, that would be great to solve. It would be hilariously to have to send people to a class about they way they treat people. It probably would make things a lot better.

I am not belitting you or treating you like an asshole. You were the one who decided to make a snide remark about the comments I made. I am telling you the truth, whether you are blind to it or not.

I am at this ridiculous website to tell you people that you should not treat us like shit. It's really not that hard. You people are the ones making things harder for good customers.

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP webmaster]

Hey Rick, Why do you bother to visit this website if you think it's "ridiculous"? (You've mentioned that twice.) FYI, you've now been banned from further postings -- because I don't like your attitude. STARBUCKS GOSSIP webmaster

oh, and it's "paid", Mr. I'm-in-graduate-school.

I'm Rick James

Rick James is one of my Baristas. He has mono, so he can't really leave the house. Matt, be good.

[brittany]

Rick James, sounds like you have missed class 101
due to your slang, if you talk that slang at your
starbucks then i quess your good tips that you speak of , must be your co-workers money not yours.
Since your going for your masters or should i say
attempting it, I think you should know by now the
world isn't at your feet nor never will be. FYI, I sure hope your not going to deal with customers in what ever your degree may be. Because you'll be knocked down your first day on the job.If your giving customers other than what they order, think about this one RICK, ever heard of heart patients, diabetics, preddi -willi, give some one something they can't have because your a stupid kid, and you'll going to be a grown up real fast , because someone will slap you and your company with a major law suit, wake up you rodeo clown because thats about the league of a job thats down your highway your on it. I hope your boss has read what you do and make sure they take the proper steps which is really only one step , hit the door jerk.

[R. James II]

Brittany Spears, thanks for that wonderful, yet incoherent comment. There are plenty of customers who are just tipping me because they know me. There are plenty of customers who are tipping for someone else who is working. Just like there are the people who tip no matter who is working.

Of course the world isn't at my feet Brittany Spears. We can't all be a closet slut that has no musical talent and marries a shitty dancer- wannabe rapper. No one will ever knock me down in whatever job I do, because I won't allow it to happen. I really have no idea how to respond to that rubbish that you call a thought.

My name is Brittany, ye haw, I'm from da South. I'd like one of dem der Frappes.

The only people who don't get what they ordered are the select few jackasses who don't know how to behave in a socially acceptable way. They are the kind of people who don't understand what respect and dignity are. So they sure as hell aren't getting it from me. And what do these fools get...DECAF. I'm not killing any idiot that is already hopped on caffeine by giving them decaf.

The beauty of this sight is that no one knows who I am. Trust me, practically every barista has given an asshole decaf. Let me repeat, practically everyone of us has given you decaf if you deserved it.

Hit me baby one more time.

[-m]

Brittany,
Before you start correcting the grammar/spelling of others, learn the difference between your and you're.

[Adriana Vazquez]

Hi. At the high school i go to we are doing a project on what we like to change. My idea was to put a starbucks in school. I think thats a good idea and i would like to have one. hope you write back.... :)