Why are people so against Starbucks?

Question

I am just wondering why some people are so against Starbucks because I personally have never had anything against them. I have recently started working at Starbucks and my puzzled ness over why some people hate Starbucks so much has deepened. As a partner I know that they are truly committed to offering our customers the world’s best coffee and the giving finest coffee experience to their customers. They also treat me a million times better than all the other jobs I have had, and the benefits that I get are great! They truly do conduct business in ways that produces social, environmental and economic benefits for the communities in which they do business. They believe it’s possible to do well as a business and to do good positive things for the community around you at the same time. So please do enlighten me to the answer of my question :-)

Answer 1

I will tell you why people hate Starbucks.

How much does coffee cost per gallon (already made)? Buy the best bean you can buy and brew it up...it will probably cost you under $10 a gallon. The average bean costs $2-3 a gallon, and that's even considered among the gourmet beans.

Divide that into cups and you can brew a homemade cup of coffee for approx. 20 cents. Add a dollop of steamed milk, a dash of espresso, flavored syrup..at the most it would run you 50 cents (and that's being generous). Instead, we see scam artists, I mean baristas, demanding 6 bucks for something we could make at home for half a buck.

Do you see the justification for something marked up 1200 percent?!?!?

WHERE is this money going? To the Starbucks corporation, who can then buy out more mall spaces to sell more crappy overpriced coffee and cookies. The last time I found a muffin worth $3.50, it wasn't while standing in line waiting for my overpriced "Mint Cafe Latte" and dont let the fancy wording fool you, it tasted like McDonald's coffee with a little Splenda mixed in.

So why do some hate Starbucks? Could it be their pretentiousness, I'm-making-you-this-seven-buck drink so-be-thankful attitude, the billions of jargons needed to be learned to order something halfway decent or the herded yuppy sheep waiting in line with their self-help and Supernanny manuals?

I can't decide.

Answer 2

Its all about power. Who has it? What they can achieve with it!
Why its so important to possess it?
Then there is the whole money issue. Their products are way too expensive. Way out of my price range.
In my town where we live, work, and just survive every day, they took out a perfectly good "Arby's", and put in a Starbucks.
I do not go there, and I won't go there. Personally I'd a lot rather they would of left it an Arby's....
Then they put in a branch of Starbuck's at the local grocery outlet where I do all our food shopping. But again, I do not buy coffee there. Its much cheaper to purchase a can of "Yuban" and go home and make my own,,,, coffee, and have it how I like it. I can also go to the grocery outlet store here, and pick up a bottle of coffee syrup, to flavor my coffee any way I choose. ...
And as for being environmentally safe, ?? Well I put my coffee grounds on my grapes, my house plants, my tomatoe sets, and my strawberries..... makes them grow wonderfully well. And as for economic benefits, well I'm saving a bundle. A can of Yuban is about 5.95 on sale. and that's when I buy it.. and a bottle of "Hazlenut" coffee flavoring syrup is about 3.39!!!! And That will last me over a month. So for under $10.00 per month, I can enjoy coffee the way I like it.
While I'm thrilled you find your job so rewarding, and beneficial,,,,,and good for you personally..... then that's super.
Good luck to you !!!!!

Answer 3

Hello,

I have encountered the same thing.

I love Starbucks coffee... but my parents or people who watch their money look at me like I am crazy.

So I assume a good part of our society remembers when coffee was a nickel for a cup and all the refills for free.
To most, your job is not considered a career or a job of respect. More like a place for a teenager or college student to earn a little money until they land a real job.

People just can't wrap their brain around spending $2 to $5 for a "cup" of something they can brew at home for less than a quarter.

They just don't know what they are missing do they?

...but we do.

So be proud and keep on making that wonderful STARBUCKS COFFEE baby!

Answer 4

I have never had a Starbucks coffee since I would never pay for an expensive coffee when I can make my own at home for next to nothing.They seem too corp. for my taste.I also can't understand why anyone would want so many flavors of coffee when simple esspresso is the best.
They are trying to move in the overpriced coffee houses here in Hungary,I don't believe the locals will go for it.Too much money when they can buy one for just 40 cents from a small vendor.

Answer 5

I'd imagine the one of biggest factors is that they're a big business. People tend to envy success if it isn't theirs.

Secondly, the image they portray. The whole notion that all the cool kids drink Starbucks and order it in those weird imaginary sizes because they're too good for Small/Medium/Large because they are the Espresso Elite.

Third, I'd say the prices

Answer 6

No offense, I prefer Second Cup, but in the U.K. where I live, I go to Starbucks (there aren't any Second Cup stores here). It's because it's a big company - people like small, more individual enterprises usually, in the way that designer clothes are prized partly because they are made in smaller quantities than the department store clothes and are therefore more exclusive.

Answer 7

Here's something you might find enlightening... check out the political beliefs of those who hate Starbucks. You'll find that they tend to be the loony-left. Not just dems in general, but the kind of people that think San Francisco is too conservative.

You can safely ignore them. They really don't count.

Answer 8

I don't like Starbucks mainly for 2 reasons. 1) They overcharge for their coffee in my opinion. 2) I don't understand why "Tall" is the shortest cup. Add those to the fact that they are everywhere, and I get the impression they are pretentious and self-aggrandizing. It offends my humble, rural sensibilities.

Answer 9

Starbucks represents everything that is wrong with capitalism.

Answer 10

people in australia love starbucks, i havent heard anything negative.