Want a comment about Starbucks (or anything else)? Just ring up a professor

** "I'm coming to believe that this sort of moment where Starbucks is a great cultural reference doesn't exist any more," says Bryant Simon, a history professor who is working on a book about Starbucks.
** "The brand promise has changed from being this artisanal coffee offering to this very standardized commodity," says marketing prof Douglas Holt.
** "In the old days you walked into a Starbucks and the first thing that hit you was the smell of the coffee," says marketing prof Michael Solomon. "In the process [of automation] you kill off the very thing that made you distinctive in the first place." (Read the Globe & Mail story)

Comments

[:-)]

I think we need a comment from a sociology professor, they would know what's up!

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Starbucks is still an amazing organization. It will always be remembered for innovation of creating an experience for people based around coffee. I think alot of people have come to expect the kind of service they get at Starbucks, in other service and retail locations but this isn't true. The individualized customizations at Starbucks has allowed for every person to express their uniqueness in a singular way.

[Deborah]

The Vanila Frap 4 pack has gone up from $4.98 to $6.98 at the local Walmart. And what is up with the 4 Pack any way? Soda comes in 6, 12 and 24packs!

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Deborah,
I think the reason why it went up in price is because of rising dairy prices.

Deborah...I'd take the price hike up with your local Wal-mart but it is distributed by PepsiCo.

[ledog3]

OH BOY!!! A receipt survey. One transaction/one drink equals FIFTEEN INCHES of receipt tape. Tree huggers are gonna love one. Those 07 numbers must have given ol' Howie whiplash. Whats next, people in clown suits walking the sidewalks and holding up Starbucks signs??

That's totally incoherent... what about all the times the receipt automatically prints out and a small majority of ppl. don't want their receipt... we need to lower our "carbons" footprint!

oops, i mean very few ppl. actually want their receipt...

[Tim]

LEDOG3, our till paper (at least in my area) is 30 percent recycled material, and 40 percent synthetic materials; so in the end it's only 30 percent new paper.

I don't know what the till paper is like in other regions.

so in that case wouldn't 100% paper be best as it is biodegradable? Hmm.

[I. Am. Legendary.]

I'm a sociology major, as well as a barista. My sociology professors are constantly busting out Starbucks references because a lot of people know about it, and grabs the attention of the class.

YES!! We need Starbucks in our education system... and not just the two Starbucks' franchised cafes on campus.

[gian]

And am I the only one who realizes that when you walk into a starbucks, like I do for 40 hours a week, it smells like freaking coffee?!! The fact of the matter is when a product becomes very popular it will become a comodity. coffee beans are a comodity. But the work the company puts into each partner so that each customer recieves great service is terrific! Changes are occuring. It doesn't act like a neigborhood coffee shop. If somebody can define what that means, then they can apply that statement to starbucks.

Each and every person has the ability to improve our company. Write mission reviews about recycled till paper, about customer voice reciepts, give better service day in, day out, get re-energised!!!

Like they say...just do it

[bhill]

I am thrilled that Howard is back in the captain's seat. The idea of getting back to our core, re investing in partner training, closing over 7,000 stores at the same time to give EVERY partner with the company a chance to reconnect with the coffee and our quality standards, and the guts to quit serving a popular item (warmed breakfast sandwiches) to reinforce our commitment to coffee and the Starbucks Experience. All this has been done in a matter of weeks, not months, because he has the vision and the know how to get things done NOW, not later.
This is truly an exciting time to be working at Starbucks. Thanks Howard. I for one will be supporting every decision that you make.

[Mark Harris]

A few more excerpts from the article ...

** Initially, going to Starbucks meant you were separating yourself from the mainstream. Starbucks delivered what Prof. Simon calls a "class bang." Toting a Starbucks affirmed class. It was, he says, a "performance of self."

"class bang" and "performance of self". Sounds like Prof. Simon has been taking in too much caffeine lately. Maybe from Starbucks.

and another ...

** As the chain solidified its position among the upper middle brows, the middle-middle joined in. And so on. "Starbucks called itself 'affordable luxury,' " Prof. Simon says. "But I think what it was, was affordable class making."

I had to listen to college professors when I was in college. Fortunately, once out of college, I don't have to listen to this sort of drivel anymore.

"Affordable class making", and then the "upper middle brows", followed by the "middle-middle" joining in ...

That's why college professors don't build great companies. They just comment on them (usually while sipping on a cup of coffee from Starbucks), and then they write books about them (always careful not to stain the manuscript with coffee from Starbucks).

** Prof. Simon is at work on a book on Starbucks. In fact, he had just finished a draft "when all this stuff happened." Now he's rethinking. "Starbucks' growth is really about culture, so its fall has to be about culture," he says.

Careful Prof. Simon. You might want to hold off publishing your second draft, and start planning that third draft ... just in case Starbucks starts moving the culture back up the incline.

Goodness, these business cycles are hard to nail down sometimes.

Mark

Thanks everyone, y'all have been a lot of help. Be sure to cast your vote at Starbucks Drinks - Love 'em or Leave 'em. Are you a fan or naysayer?

Those who can...do

Those who can't....teach

Their opinions aren't worth any more than any one else's. My guess is their using the current Starbucks story to get some badly needed ego stroking for themselves.

[Ryan]

for the receipt issue...starbucks is required to comply with the Credit Card companies, which require each transaction with their cards MUST have a receipt. It annoys me too, I wish there was a prompt but its out of our hands...on a different issue, is anyone else annoyed with the lack of a word processor on our BOH computers? I'm always forced to make signage through email!

wow, college professors waxing poetic about theoretical fantasies? shocking!!

"wow, college professors waxing poetic about theoretical fantasies? shocking!!" - starbucks probably became more of an established & corporate company because of a vast right wing conspiracy, right professors!

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

I wish there was the full Microsoft Office Suite in the backroom. It would be so amazing if I could use excel for analysis. The BOH MWS is so stuck in the Stone Age as in the early 1990's. Its still a DOS environment people.

[asmgirl]

OK, Starbucks has been the punch line for snobbish rants for years. Anybody remember Tom Hanks' dialogue in You've Got Mail? We've been made fun of for being elitest and snobby about the coffee. The cache of the white cup with the green logo has been written about in several books and in thousands of articles. What we are not most famous for, but hopefully will continue to get back to is our people and how we take care of our people. Howard got an award from President Bill Clinton over ten years ago for part timers getting health insurance. We are given bean stock annually. It would be very interesting to see some of these ivory tower intellectuals spend a little less time waxing poetic on the decline of the branding and spent a little time researching how working at Starbucks through college has made so many students better time managers, has paid unbelievable medical bills with nominal copays and has taught so many managers who have switched over from mainstream corporate America into people who have learned that people are not assets or staff, that they are actually people. Let's see a little emphasis on what we do and what we do well, and a little less navel gazing about what they THINK we are.

[Northern Latte]

Happy Valentines Day fellow partners!

[ledog3]

ASMGIRL's last sentance on that last post mostly says it. Stop overthinking every little damn thing.
Re-teaching employees how to pull a cup of coffee out of a nozzel is all a waste of time if the customer service and the attitudes that go with it aren't in evidence. I see way too many posts from sbux employees who need to find another career that doesnt involve politics, people, bosses, irregular working hours and the potential for personal hurt feelings. Maybe a paper route or one of those jobs where you can wear headphones all day would do them well. Howard and company are not going to react to every little whimper and whine. His first order of business after reading the 07 numbers and being given oxygen on January 1st was to begin to turn the SBUX battleship around and re-learn basics. The next must be to FIRE or convince to quit those employees and managers that being a part of his company are not in their best interest. Forget the medical plan and free coffee, if you hate your job or its just an ongoing pain in the ass to you...get out. Now.

[imabarista]

Geez, this professor is really hip to changes in society. NOT! He makes Faith Popcorn sound profound.

Does he know that they have the internet on computers now??

[sbuxnewbie]

Ryan-

I filled out a mission statement about that very thing 3 weeks ago!

And I, too, use the email for in-house signs or notes that people need to be able to read (my penmanship is abysmal at best, excretal at worst, and just plain bad on average.)

"closing over 7,000 stores at the same time to give EVERY partner with the company a chance to reconnect with the coffee"

Well, except the partners in those 7000 stores.

[Sarah]

Sort of off topic but I guess I'll ask it here anyway.
What is with the Bucks's whipped cream? Here's why I ask.
Today I went into a Peet's Coffee and got a cappucino. I'm a bit of a cappucino snob, but we all need our vices I guess. I got it made with non-fat milk (like I always do at Bucks) a little bit of whipped cream on top.
Peet's made the best cappucino I've had in probably 2 years (since coming back from Russia). The foam was creamy and 'tight' (only way I can think to describe it) instead of soapbubbleish, and the whipped cream was rich and actually stayed on the top of the drink for most of the time instead of melting into it after 2.3 seconds. Any thoughts? Have I just been going to a bad Bucks? Did I just get an awesome Barista at Peet's?

[jane]

if you get a cappuccino with nonfat and whip, you are NOT a cappuccino snob.

[imabarista]

Jane
LOL!
Except Non-Fat does make the best cap.

[Sarah]

Oh Jane, give it a rest. I like my cappucinos the way I like them. Non-fat *does* taste better and why the hell not put whipped cream on it if I feel like splurging?
Here's some candy hearts. Try and have a less sour day.

[Bella]

"closing over 7,000 stores at the same time to give EVERY partner with the company a chance to reconnect with the coffee"

Well, except the partners in those 7000 stores.

----

?? does this even make sense?

[imabarista]

Sarah
You cannot be a snob with WC on a Cap.
It is, as the Brits say, "Non-U".

A prole orders wc on a cap.

[CeeJ]

Calling Starbucks "Bucks" is corny.
It reminds me of that scene from "Best in Show" with Parker Posey. LOL

"Workin' on my MAC!"

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

I know this has been covered before but I was just wondering if Starbucks has an official policy concerning partners who are HIV positive? Also, should a partner inform the store manager if they believe they are at risk for being HIV positive after engaging in high risk behaviors such as bareback sex? I know from stories at my store, some of the partners get regularly tested for HIV because of their lifestyle choices. They confide in me but I'm not sure if I should tell my store manager. Recently, their hands have been cut or covered in some bodily fluids. The store management does not know and I didn't want to say anything.
What would be the best course of action?
BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL
PRIMUS INTER PARES
STARBUCKS REBEL ALLIANCE
AIM SN: BOSTONSTARREBEL

you can have your cap any way you like it, but you are NOT a cap snob if you get it with nonfat and whip. you might be a regular snob, but in order to be a cap snob, you need to drink and appreciate an actual traditional cap that is done well.

[Johnny]

sounds like what our cappucino lover is saying is that she's a snob about liking them a certain way. nothing wrong with that. it seems to be the purpose of starbucks. giving people what THEY like.

no one actually answered her question though. so i'll give it a go.

Sarah-
you probably had a combination of a really good Barista at Peet's AND that i've yet to find a starbucks barista that can actually foam milk properly. all that talk about "getting rid of the spoons" in an earlier thread and how many people freaked out about it. for god's sake people, learn to free pour. or don't call yourself a barista.

[Perky ASM]

Sarah's question was:
What is with the Bucks's "whipped cream"?

I don't know about Peet's whipped cream, but ours is actually real heavy whipping cream that we make in whipped cream dispensers with vanilla syrup (to sweeten it) and then charged with NO2 chargers.
Anyone know about Peet's?
Does that help?

[jane]

peets is the same, but sweetened with simple syrup rather than vanilla.

[beanqueen45]

i just wish stbux would even out wages, pay the people in small towns the same pay rate as in the city, you just cant keep GOOD help at 6.30 an hour. That is below poverty level according to the US government.

[beanqueen45]

theres a technique to making beautiful micro foam, and nice shiny mousse like micro foam makes the best cappiccinos, especially for those customers that like dry cap's, we have one of the best micro foam barristas in the state of texas rite here in our little spot in the boondocks
kudos to candeeman he taught me well.

[Tara]

Seriously....Why all the foam on my Latte!!!! I don't order Cappucino yet I am stuck with half a cup of foam!!!!??? What gives, and can you drop the foam on Lattes? It's just not right!

[corey]

here's one for ya.
they keep their restroom keys on those big fobs. people use them all day long and some don't wash their hands. then they hand it back to the employee and lo and behold the employee goes right on handling your food and beverages. ewwww anyone?

[Bryan Langeneckert]

To Starbucks: I'm sure I'm not the first to say so but hearing it often enough may make a difference. With all of your competition out there, I'm not going to pay for wifi after paying almost $5 for a latte. You'd do MUCH better business if you make the wifi accessable with little more than an email and agreeing to terms of service. Until then, I won't be back.

[Melody]

@Bryan Langeneckert - I'm not passionate about the issue of WiFi but definitely lots of people are. If you want to make your voice heard, you might want to join in the conversations around this at mystarbucksidea.com - By the way, the way that site works, you'll be much better off looking for existing threads on the topic and voting them up, rather than starting another new thread on it. Good luck.

[bart]

hey

I went to villers street in London the other day, and I have to say this was the most friendly, best coffee that i ever came a cross and I think I've been to all sofar..

The atmosphere especially during christmas now is amazing and really warm.

Once again; Great location, really good coffee and the best staff I've seen!! well done to them!

[supra shoes]

Agree with your point of view