Years ago, I wrote that Starbucks acts like it’s too big to fail. Now, by alienating people across the political spectrum, the multinational may be on course for extinction.
I'd guess convenience and ubiquity: I remember when living in New York in the 2010s, there were multiple street corners you could stand on and have your eyes on two totally different Starbucks locations. But you're right — coffee at home is better!
These accusations are based on opinion. I worked for Starbucks for a decade. They are 100% committed to their partners. Companies all over the world try to copy their business model to find out why their partners are so happy - what is their secret sauce? It's focusing on the human connection. They give benefits FAR BEYOND most other companies. Who else gives health benefits for working 20hrs/week. Who else offers 100% FREE RIDE to a 4 yr college degree? They give stock. They match 401K contributions. They hire NICE people. Although I haven't worked for them for years, I have made 6 lifelong friends. I dare say that's unusual. Also, many probably don't know this, but they have a huge convention every 2 or 3 years for all the managers. They get courted from cities all over the country with various perks to try to get them to host their convention in their city. They year of hurricane Katrina, Houston asked them to come, because they knew how much volunteer manpower and economic boost they would bring to their hurting city. And you know what they offered? Nothing. They said, "we can offer you nothing in return." And so Starbucks went. They brought their thousands of managers. They surrounded Houston with love and all their volunteer hours and spending. They helped where help was needed most. Who can criticize that?
Starbucks does All this for their partners, for making COFFEE. It's not rocket science. I think much of the hate towards Starbucks is rooted in jealousy. They single-handedly created a worldwide brand. And they created the industry that allows the small coffee shops and stands to charge just as much or even more, and make huge incomes with equally huge margins. Do those shops/stands offer the same benefits? Nope. I'm calling this out - this is a harsh reprimand of a hugely successful company. They will NOT fail. They change corporate leadership just like any other company to fix policies that aren't working. I'm against the unionizing. That is for companies that treat their employees poorly. That is not Starbucks. Those partners are just being greedy. It's so easy to make these harsh criticisms, based on opinion. Knock it off. Go pick on a company who deserves it.
As an Australian that saw Starbucks arrive with a fanfare and fall flat on it's face here, I think that Starbucks' values were very clear to our coffee drinkers. It's to push as many enshitiffied coffee confection products as they can, as profitably as they can.
"these kinds of companies—without a vision, without a mission—are the ones that fail." Amen! A business that is well organized around vision and values, whose mission is firmly rooted and deeply invested in its people, will develop a natural community with a critical mass of support. Getting too big makes it more complicated, but it doesn't make it impossible to be a good company—Starbucks lost the spirit of its purpose.
Maybe too big to fail, but not too big to suck.
New slogan!
We make our coffee at home. I don’t know why Starbucks is even a thing
I'd guess convenience and ubiquity: I remember when living in New York in the 2010s, there were multiple street corners you could stand on and have your eyes on two totally different Starbucks locations. But you're right — coffee at home is better!
These accusations are based on opinion. I worked for Starbucks for a decade. They are 100% committed to their partners. Companies all over the world try to copy their business model to find out why their partners are so happy - what is their secret sauce? It's focusing on the human connection. They give benefits FAR BEYOND most other companies. Who else gives health benefits for working 20hrs/week. Who else offers 100% FREE RIDE to a 4 yr college degree? They give stock. They match 401K contributions. They hire NICE people. Although I haven't worked for them for years, I have made 6 lifelong friends. I dare say that's unusual. Also, many probably don't know this, but they have a huge convention every 2 or 3 years for all the managers. They get courted from cities all over the country with various perks to try to get them to host their convention in their city. They year of hurricane Katrina, Houston asked them to come, because they knew how much volunteer manpower and economic boost they would bring to their hurting city. And you know what they offered? Nothing. They said, "we can offer you nothing in return." And so Starbucks went. They brought their thousands of managers. They surrounded Houston with love and all their volunteer hours and spending. They helped where help was needed most. Who can criticize that?
Starbucks does All this for their partners, for making COFFEE. It's not rocket science. I think much of the hate towards Starbucks is rooted in jealousy. They single-handedly created a worldwide brand. And they created the industry that allows the small coffee shops and stands to charge just as much or even more, and make huge incomes with equally huge margins. Do those shops/stands offer the same benefits? Nope. I'm calling this out - this is a harsh reprimand of a hugely successful company. They will NOT fail. They change corporate leadership just like any other company to fix policies that aren't working. I'm against the unionizing. That is for companies that treat their employees poorly. That is not Starbucks. Those partners are just being greedy. It's so easy to make these harsh criticisms, based on opinion. Knock it off. Go pick on a company who deserves it.
As an Australian that saw Starbucks arrive with a fanfare and fall flat on it's face here, I think that Starbucks' values were very clear to our coffee drinkers. It's to push as many enshitiffied coffee confection products as they can, as profitably as they can.
God starbucks is so bad. I go out of my way to avoid it, but had it an airport lounge this morning and was reminded how bad it was.
It's terrible when you're stuck in places and have no coffee choices!
"these kinds of companies—without a vision, without a mission—are the ones that fail." Amen! A business that is well organized around vision and values, whose mission is firmly rooted and deeply invested in its people, will develop a natural community with a critical mass of support. Getting too big makes it more complicated, but it doesn't make it impossible to be a good company—Starbucks lost the spirit of its purpose.