Starbucks is the best example of a phony status symbol that means nothing, but people will still pay 10 times as much for because there are French words all over the place.
You want coffee in a coffee shop, that's 60 cents. But at Starbucks, Cafe Latte: $3.50. Cafe Cremier: $4.50. Cafe Suisse: $9.50. For each French word, another four dollars.
Why does a little cream in coffee make it worth $3.50? Go into any coffee shop; they'll give you all the cream you want until you're blue in the face. Forty million people are walking around in coffee shops with jars of cream: "Here's all the cream you want!" And it's still 60 cents. You know why?
Because it's called "coffee."
If it's Cafe Latte -- $4.50. You want cinnamon in your coffee? Ask for cinnamon in a coffee shop; they'll give you all the cinnamon you want. Do they ask you for more money because it's cinnamon? It's the same price for cinnamon in your coffee as for coffee without cinnamon -- 60 cents, that's it. But not in Starbucks. Over there, it's Cinnamonnier - $9.50.
You want a refill in a regular coffee shop, they'll give you all the refills you want until you drop dead. You can come in when you're 27 and keep drinking coffee until you're 98. And they'll start begging you: "Here, you want more coffee, you want more, you want more?" Do you know that you can't get a refill at Starbucks? A refill is a dollar fifty. Two refills, $4.50. Three refills, $19.50.
So, for four cups of coffee - $350.
And it's burnt coffee.
Read the rest @ goodasgold.com
This was TO true to pass up, and funny. -Ed
p.s. Thanks for the link Skywalker
Where outside of iowa can you buy coffee for 60 cents a cup?
Posted by: mooseboy84 at March 24, 2006 04:07 PMJust about any roadside diner.
Besides dont forget it was Starbucks in NY who would not give away bottled water during 9/11. No, the Startbucks manager charged for it knowing it was for those injured. They ended up refunding the money, but none the less.
It was also Starbucks who received a letter from our troops in Iraq asking for coffee. Starbucks replied that since they did not support the war, they would not give them anything. Its one thing to not give away free coffee (that I understand) but to actually write back to the troops saying you dont support what they are doing is another. Even if its true, have SOME respect.
Those are the reasons why I will never step in another Starbucks. They dont deserve my 3.50....
Posted by: cwilli at March 24, 2006 06:18 PM"Besides dont forget it was Starbucks in NY who would not give away bottled water during 9/11."
I don't know about that one but I did a little google search on....
"It was also Starbucks who received a letter from our troops in Iraq asking for coffee. Starbucks replied that since they did not support the war, they would not give them anything."
http://suvalleynews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=331
Actually, in the short "research" that I performed, this is the only link in which I found that clames it is a rumor. Where did you come by your information?
Posted by: mrs. muddy at March 24, 2006 06:49 PMI actually emailed Starbucks on the both items at seperate times. They replied on the 9/11 rumer and told me that it was true, thats how I know they refunded the money; they blamed it on the store managers bad decision.
On the Iraq thing, I actually heard that from a Marine friend of mine who said that it was a Marine who had send the request for free coffee to Starbucks, I emailed Starbucks again asking them if this was true, but they never replied. Based on the lack of a response and past experience, I assume it to be true. So that one I am not 100% on.
But the 9/11 issue I am 100% sure of and that alone is worth my boycot.
Posted by: cwilli at March 24, 2006 08:26 PM"On the Iraq thing, I actually heard that from a Marine friend of mine who said that it was a Marine who had send the request for free coffee to Starbucks,"
I've read a few websites with that statement. Considering I not a coffee drinker (with the exception of an occational *de*cafe in the morning to warm me up) then this will be an eaisy boycot for me. Besides, muddy would never allow me to go to a starbucks anyway (and I would never pay those ridiculous prices!). As much pride and care and art that goes into his coffee making, he should open his *own* coffee shop.:-)
Thanks for the confirmation on the 9/11 part.
Posted by: mrs. muddy at March 24, 2006 08:52 PMThe thing about IRaq is actually true...I've talked to more than one guy who mae such requests to starbucks.
And btw, you can get a fairly large cup of coffee at Chick-fil-a for 99 cents with free refills all day long. Pretty much the same at any fast food place. Most restaurants give complimentary coffee with your meal and it's usually pretty cheap if you jsut want to get a cup of coffee at a random diner.
Not that I care. I think coffee always tastes burnt.
And I have personally witnessed muddy make coffee. Seriously, who puts that much effort into a beverage like coffee? Maybe into a martini or a bloody mary or jello shots or some other random cocktail. But coffee?!
Posted by: skywalker at March 24, 2006 10:15 PM"And I have personally witnessed muddy make coffee. Seriously, who puts that much effort into a beverage like coffee?"
Haha....See! Once you witness it, you never forget it. I'm tellin you guys. If muddy's coffee (and especially his computer) were a woman....she'd give me a HUGE run for my money.:-D As a matter of fact, I believe the only reason he hasn't had an affair with either is because one would burn the crap out of him and the other would electrocute him.
Posted by: mrs. muddy at March 24, 2006 11:21 PM