Starbucks Gossip

A New York Times reporter wants to hear from you about bathroom problems

New York Times reporter Anne Barnard sent this to Starbucks Gossip:

This story in the NY Post got a lot of attention [Wednesday], saying that many Starbucks locations in New York are closing their public bathrooms. Starbucks denied the story — although I'm still trying to find out whether at some stores, managers or owners may make their own decisions to make bathrooms employees-only, as long as that complies with code.

I think the reason the story struck such a nerve was the quote: "Starbucks cannot be the public bathroom in the city anymore." Many readers said, that's true -- Starbucks really is the first place you look for if you're out and about in the city and you need a bathroom. You never get flack for using the bathroom without buying anything — and often, you do go ahead and buy something, once you're inside.

So — do you agree that Starbucks has in some sense become the de facto become the go-to public bathroom in NYC? In a way, it fits in with the Starbucks communitarian ethos — letting people sit as long as they want, free wireless, people watching, reinventing the coffeehouse as a kind of "public square."

To the extent that is true, is it a good thing or a bad thing for the bottom line? (no pun intended!) For the customer experience? For the employee experience? And is there any policy, written or unwritten, encouraging stores to be generous with letting the public use the bathroom? One person even speculated that the reason that New York City has not been quicker to install public toilets is that Starbucks had stepped in to, um, relieve the urgency of the problem.

On the other hand, some customers and employees have been known to complain that some people take advantage and that the stores and bathrooms have become messy and hard to navigate. Why don't they lock the bathrooms and provide a key or key code to customers like other chains do?

__________________

Anne Barnard
Reporter
The New York Times

SEND HER AN EMAIL OR POST IN THE COMMENTS SECTION.

Starbucks releases statement about New York Post story on bathrooms being closed

Here is what Starbucks' spokesman sent me in response to the Post's claim that the coffee giant is "steadily closing some of its restrooms" in New York City stores

"Reports that we are eliminating public restrooms are completely false. Starbucks stores will continue to have public restrooms available. In rare cases at large stores with two restrooms, we have converted one of the restrooms for partner (employee) use."

Christmas comes to Starbucks stores, along with higher prices

I understand that all stores are now in holiday mode, with the decorations up, etc. WHAT'S THE REACTION? Also I saw this comment posted in another thread:

Walked in this AM only to find that a TALL went up to $1.65 with no advance warning. What is up with that? regulars are annoyed.

Did prices go up in your store? How much? Please share!

Starbucks fined after it's caught charging a hidden fee for whole beans

The Boston Globe reports:

After a state consumer agency discovered Starbucks Coffee Co. was charging a hidden fee on bags of coffee beans and slapped it with a fine, the coffee giant is dropping the secret surcharge.

Starbucks was adding about $1.50 to the price of bags of coffee beans weighing less than a pound, never posting the addition to the price.

The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation discovered the practice in late August and fined five Starbucks locations with $1,575 for overcharge violations two weeks ago.

Last week, Starbucks nixed the $1.50 fee - and not just in Massachusetts. Pressure from the state’s consumer agency spurred the company to eliminate the extra charge nationwide.

Care to explain this, Howard?

Maybe we can solve this cider/no cider issue in the OPEN THREAD

In the comments section of another thread, there's a little dispute over cider:

ONE COMMENTER:
>>> Starbucks does not have apple cider - we have never had nor has it been advertised as such. We have a Caramel Apple Spice, Apple Juice, and Steamed Apple Juice.

A RESPONSE TO THAT:
>>>>>We did TOO have Caramel Apple Cider. I even remember how the cups were to be marked -- CAC. They changed it to CAS (Caramel Apple Spice) in, I want to say, 2007.

Let's settle that -- any long-timers here? -- and then discuss anything else Starbucks-related in the OPEN THREAD.

Starbucks buys juice bar Evolution Fresh for $30 million

Look out, Jamba! Starbucks has paid $30 million in cash for juice company Evolution Fresh. The coffee giant's first juice bars will open on the West Coast in early to mid-2012 under a name that has yet to be disclosed. "We are not just acquiring a juice company," says Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. "We are using this acquisition to position ourselves, in a broad way, to build a multibillion health and wellness business over time." || Starbucks Buys Juicer Evolution Fresh for $30 million || More from Reuters

Starbucks app animates holiday cups, other items

Starbucks' first major augmented reality app lets customers animate their coffee cups with their smartphones. The app -- it comes out next Tuesday -- works by pointing your phone’s camera at a holiday season coffee cups and 47 additional Starbucks items. Doing that produces animations involving five characters — an ice skater, a squirrel, a boy and a dog sledding and a fox — on your screen. There's considerable social media buzz about this, so I suspect employees are getting questions about it. True or no? Let us know what you're hearing.|| Starbucks Augmented Reality App Animates Holiday Cups (Mashable)

Howard Schultz: Sales of Pumpkin Spice Latte have been 'unbelievable'

"Pumpkin Spice Latte was a notable success, growing 44% over last year," Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz told analysts [full transcript] during this week's earnings call. He said:

I think what really surprised us during the quarter, was Pumpkin Spice Latte, which is a product we've had many years before, to have a 40% increase is just an unbelievable number. And I think all of the questions and perhaps the cynics of a couple of years ago that believed that when McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts entered the space, they were going to have a destructive effect on Starbucks has proven to be not only not the case, but I think the more money that's been spent against the category has helped Starbucks create awareness, new customers and obviously distance between them and us.

SCHULTZ ALSO SAID:

* "Looking ahead we plan to open at least 200 net stores in the U.S. in 2012 and to remodel approximately 1,700 existing stores, that's the most stores we've ever remodeled in a year."

* Blonde roast will be available in whole bean and ground starting in January in retail stores and through our grocery channels. Blonde will also be brewed in stores, available in K-Cup portion packs in January and as a Starbucks VIA variety.

* In fiscal 2011, over $1.1 billion in purchases was paid for by the use of the Starbucks Card. And today, a Starbucks Card is used in 1 in every 4 transactions.

* The NYC Times Square store is "a roaring financial success delivering over twice the revenue on a 70% increase in traffic compared to last year."

Go ahead and discuss Schultz's earnings comments, or anything else Starbucks-related in this OPEN THREAD.

Starbucks raises dividend while reporting profit up 29% in the last quarter

For the quarter ended Oct. 2, Starbucks earned $358.5 million, or 47 cents a share, up from $278.9 million, or 37 cents a share, in the same 2010 period. Comparable store sales rose 9%, while the number of transactions rose 6%. Starbucks said it will a pay a 17-cent dividend on Dec. 2 -- up from 13 cents a share. Starbucks shares rose 3% to $42.65 in after-hours trade. The stock is up 29% for the year. || Starbucks Profit Up Despite Economic Jitters (Reuters) || SBUX's press release has details || Check the latest stock price.

Are Starbucks customers donating to get their wristbands?

Last month, Howard Schultz and the Starbucks Foundation unveiled a plan to jump-start job growth by donating $5 million to a new program created with the Opportunity Finance Network to make loans for small businesses and community organizations On Tuesday, customers were invited to give money -- and get a wristband -- with the promise that every $5 they contribute will result in $35 in loans in communities across the country. CUSTOMERS -- ARE YOU DONATING? BARISTAS: WHAT'S THE REACTION TO THIS? Let us know! || "Starbucks cranks up its own jobs plan" (Seattle Times)

OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Howard Schultz for president? (PLUS: Halloween at Starbucks)

News reports say a group called Americans Elect is looking to add a third party centrist candidate to the 2012 presidential race, and one of the names being thrown out as a possibility is Howard Schultz. (Americans Elect is a collection of Republicans, Democrats and independents who have had it with the direction of American politics.) The Starbucks CEO would have more appeal than any of the GOP candidates, in my opinion, but I'm skeptical of businessmen who jump into government. YOUR THOUGHTS? Discuss this or anything else Starbucks-related -- including your store's Halloween fun -- in the OPEN THREAD.

See how Taiwanese animators portray 'the grossest Starbucks customer in NYC'

Meet the grossest Starbucks customer in NYC

A guy who calls himself Mister PeePee set a goal of masturbating in every Starbucks in New York City, then photographing the results. Don't believe it? You can listen to this self-described "big fan of Starbucks" discuss his plans -- in detail -- on a podcast, and read his results on Twitter.

"I've got to rate the bathroom on cleanliness," Mister PeePee said on The Glory Hole podcast, "and [note] if a person knocked on the door and interrupted me." One of his associates wanted Mister PeePee to also rate "how hot the chicks were in the location -- customers and baristas" and "how frequently did someone try to open the door when you were trying to jerk off." "And lastly, how was the coffee?" added the podcast co-host. (Mister PeePee tweeted at least one of his store ratings: Today's Starbucks visit is rated as a 4 Boner. Spacious, clean, excellent coffee, strong wifi, no interruptions & 1 hot chick)

Listen to the podcast; the Starbucks conversation starts at 1:12 (1 minute, 12 seconds into the podcast).

Scanning Mister PeePee's Twitter feed, we learn that the Starbucks stores he frequents include those at 4 W. 21st St.; and 41 Union Sq. W, at 17th & Broadway. He mentions more of his SBUX hangouts on his Foursquare page.

Does anyone out there know Mister PeePee? If you do, tell us more about him.

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OPEN THREAD conversation-starters: Craig Ferguson and Starbucks bathrooms; your big Halloween plans

CBS late-night talk show host Craig Ferguson said the other night -- and I read he's said it before -- that the Starbucks at 7624 Melrose Ave in Los Angeles doesn't have public bathrooms because of prostitution problems. Can someone confirm? Are there other stores that have given up on bathrooms because of prostitution, drug or other problems? Discuss this or anything else Starbucks-related -- how about your store's halloween plans? -- in the OPEN THREAD.

Starbucks now gives you 30 days to use those "Sweet 15" free drink cards you get in the mail

Previously, you could hold on to the cards for several months before they expired. (I have several in my computer bag that don't expire until December -- and I've already had them for weeks.) Here's the email that Starbucks sent out:

My Starbucks Rewards fans,

We're fine-tuning a few program benefits and wanted to make sure you knew what was coming. There's a bit more information here than usual, but when it comes to understanding your rewards, we figure more is more.

Starting November 1, 2011:

FREE DRINK ON YOUR BIRTHDAY
Birthdays are special. And we're still celebrating yours with a free drink on your birthday. Hooray! As long as you're an active member (meaning you've used your Starbucks Card within the last 12 months), you'll get a postcard for a free birthday drink. And about a week to use it, in case you need it to be a day-after-your-birthday drink. (Wink.) Check the "valid through" date and come on in for a treat.

FREE DRINK EVERY 15 STARS IN GOLD
The "Sweet 15" free drink is alive and well. The only change here is that you'll now have 30 days to bring in that postcard and enjoy a drink on the house.

KEEP YOUR STARS, KEEP YOUR STATUS

If you're a Green or Gold member, the date you achieved that level is your anniversary date. To keep your Stars and your status, you just need to earn 5 Stars for Green or 30 Stars for Gold over the next 12 months (by your anniversary date next year). If you don't make it, your Stars will expire and you'll drop down a level. But we'll help-we'll send you email reminders of your anniversary date and encouragement to earn those additional Stars to keep the benefits you love. (Be sure to opt in to email.)

TUNE UP!
Now might be a good time to visit your Account Profile, note your anniversary date, track your Stars, reload a card and opt in to receive emails for special offers and announcements.

Thanks for reading.

Wishing you a year full of Stars,
My Starbucks Rewards

Starbucks introduces Starbucks Blonde (seven days after it was announced here)

Starbucks/America president Cliff Burrows says the blonde roast -- first reported on Starbucks Gossip -- "is a significant opportunity for Starbucks to gain a greater share of the brewed coffee market, both in our stores and down the coffee aisle."
> Read "Starbucks unveils blonde roast coffee"

Starbucks pulls posters from stores in France after some call them racist

The poster depicts a drawing of a dark-skinned man surrounded by a backpack, a cell phone, a day planner and a laptop computer. The text reads: “Be on guard against unusual behavior from a stranger. Don’t let pickpockets spoil your moment of relaxation at Starbucks. Keep an eye on your belongings.” Starbucks says the guy is a watchful customer, but others believe the man is the pickpocket. The coffee giant has pulled the posters from stores. I think it's a dumb controversy, but Starbucks was smart to end it quickly. > Starbucks pulls posters from stores in France after some call them racist

"PLAYBOOK IS COMING...forget the coffee; playbook will bury us all...."

That's what "Sally Sulawesi" writes in the comments section of the last thread. Is she being alarmist? Or right-on? There have been mentions of Playbook here since July and it's never been fully explained for Starbucks Gossip readers who aren't SBUX employees. Please tell us exactly what it is, and how it affects customers. ALSO: What are you hearing about the reports that Starbucks is planning juice bars? || Discuss these items or anything else Starbucks-related in this OPEN THREAD.

Is this the 'super big announcement' that's coming from Starbucks? (UPDATE: Yes it is)

A Starbucks Gossip commenter writes: "The super big announcement that is going down is about whole bean coffee and how the categories are going to change. Starbucks is going to offer three different categories -- "blonde," mild and dark roasts. (Starbucks filed for the STARBUCKS BLONDE trademark in February.) There will now be two new coffees offered that are milder than Breakfast Blend. I believe the new category system and new coffee offerings are going to start late this year with an official launch in January 2012." (A commenter says the two new coffees are Veranda Blend and Willow Blend.) Is this report accurate? Let us know.

Starbucks store in Philly is a haven for a once homeless man

"Here I'm part of the establishment -- like Norm in Cheers," 58-year-old Dennis Jones (left) says of the Broad and Pine Starbucks he frequents, up to 14 hours a day. He has earned gold-card customer status for downing up to 50 cups of Pike Place Roast a week. "This month, Jones' star shines even brighter: He's headlining a one-man art show on the walls of the coffee shop that saved him," writes Monica Yant Kinney.

At night, Jones helps baristas stack chairs and take out the trash. "He takes care of my girls," says store manager Carla Gomez. "Anytime we have an unruly customer, Dennis is right there." Does your store have a Dennis Jones-type?
> Read "Coffee shop is a haven for a once homeless man"