R.I.P.
Filed under: R.I.P.
Starbucks is closing 500 of its stores and cutting 7% of its work force.
As many as 12,000 full-time and part-time retail positions will be eliminated with the store closures all over America.
This will be just grrrreat for our economy!
Posted: July 1, 2008 at 6:46 pm
600 stores, not 500.
YES! I've been waiting for a long time to see the beginning of the end of Starbucks. I'd like a large Bustelo, please!
Re: KrissyKat – First off, well said Amanda(#165) I'm also an assist. mgr, but in CA, & I get a little offended when people talk about our job in such a demeaning fashion. I've been working for Starbucks since I graduated hs & I am working there until I finish college. I realize that bad situations have diff levels of consequences depending on the job field. I'm glad you have a degree & have a good career that you enjoy. I do realize, & agree that if something goes awry in your field, there could be a higher impact on society, but that doesn't make you any smarter or better than anyone else. I don't think of myself as 'high and mighty' but I also wouldn't sit here & say that you're any less of a person, than say a neurosurgeon, based solely on the degree of the consequence that a bad circumstance would bring about. As far as your comments on the terminology used, Starbucks decided to use some of the Italian language in their jargon because Italy is considered, by some, to be where espresso originated. It is a big part of the Italian culture, therefore was integrated into the company. I don't know why, in your opinion, that makes anyone working there any less of a person. Barista is just a job title(Italian version of bartender). Also, insulting the company's products is simply your personal preference, I'm not saying it does or doesn't taste better than Dunkin Donuts, but again, that doesn't mean you can sit here and belittle Sbux employees.
What's really interesting about the 600* stores closing is that its the corporate stores only. The licenced stores in the Barnes and Nobles, Targets, grocery stores,airports ECT will stay open…that makes complete sense right?
I work for starbucks and my store will stay open…its still sad…dont count your chickens before they hatch, howard shultz
yo, fatty, it's 600 stores, not 500. get your facts str8, you fat, greasy baboon.
I like starbucks, but if I want strong coffee, I'll just go home and make it myself! and save..save..save.. the dough and spend it on another ridiculous thing like gas…they did get greedy putting a starbucks pretty much everywhere even inside Target! like Mcdonalds inside Walmart..except McDonalds will never charge what Starbucks will for coffee.. Just look at their name..Star Bucks.. coffee for rich people..and face it we all want to be rich or feel rich! and ignore the fact that we live in a country of overspending..and its catching up to us.. If you guys don't agree..you can kiss my ass.
I live in Orange County CA and there are 10!! Starbucks within 5 miles of my house. Talk about saturation! Yes, there are a lot of people here but geez…..
they just cannibalized themselves.
Starbucks is like the big bully. Karma time.
True about McDonalds. Iced coffees there are tremendous!
(probably because of all the high fructose corn syrup they pump in them )
but still…
I love all of the "blame Bush" morons… Were you also "blaming" him when the economy was AMAZING for 6 years (after a Clinton led recession)?
The President does not control the economy, morons. The Congress has waaaaayyyyy more influence and NEWSFLASH: We've had a Democrat majority in Congress for 2 years. Oh yeah, Blame Bush! Obama is fo change and hope!
Morons!
Okay, you are right. its the economy. But its very good for starbucks to close those stores. They need to reallocate their resources and focus on importnat marktes. They out-grew themselves too fast too soon. If you are smart, but SUBX NOW!!!!! Its their stock. Jumped 1.23 today. Currently trading at 19, will double in one year.
whatever only 500 out of 15,000 plus stores… and still plan to open more in other locations worldwide…
aw man!!!! our locally owned shops are SHITTY and way more expensive than Starbucks. i paid $6.50 for a MEDIUM iced mocha at a local crap place. i was like WTF THAT IS RETARDED! man, the economy sucks all the way around.
I prefer the taste of Biggby's, formerly Beaners, but it's still 5 bucks, plus the poor Baristas are trained from the second they take your order to work on you for the tip…
Re: hot mommy –
ughh fuck you!!! i got hired as a barista and let me tell you the training process is very extensive and there is manuals after manuals about coffee and teas and all the drinks. part of your training is making dozens of drinks that you all try and making sure everything is good.. and everytime we are at work we are always tasting everything and making sure our quality is top notch so really don't speak without knowing so.
6.50 a medium frapuccino?
here in argentina they opened a store last month, prices are outragerous, mcdonalds, freddo, aroma, the coffee store here does the same fucking thing for almost half the price, and still, starbucks has a 2 block line to get a freaking coffee, and there is just ONE store. i can see the 600 that closed in the USA coming here hahaha…
a medium frapuccino here is priced 14 pesos, that's like… 4 dollars.
a frapuccino at the other ones is like 5-6 pesos, thats like a 2 dollars.
i can't understand why people do buy their things just because its trademark.
starbucks is the devil, less is best
Shows that the 1990's are finally dead, buried, and long over.
Starbucks "workers" are so G-dammed prententious, they are all 'artists waiting for big break' or something. Get a real f-ing job!
And that F-ing 'tip jar'?? NOw they are everywhere! I leave pennies in them when I see 'em at shops.
Re: KrissyKat –
KrissyKat - you should do your research before you make false accusations. Starbucks has donated an INSANE amount of coffee for our troops. You're clearly referring to an outdated internet email that was forwarded stating that they didn't donate to troops. Even that original military guy ended up apologizing and trying to undo the damage he did with his statement but it was too late because his email was forwarded on to people like you (or just talked about) and so people believe it. It couldn't be more wrong and you should be ashamed for perpetuating it when just the opposite is true.
Re: norma – Your too dumb to realize it's the democrats in the Congress. It wasn't Bush who said we can't drill for oil in certain parts of the county, it's the democrats. It's the democrats supressing supply that's making gas prices high. There is a direct correlation between gas prices and coffee consumption. People don't have the extra cash to kick down on coffee anymore. Please take an economics course rather than opening your uneducated mouth. T
Re: ICU – Number 129, let me break this down for you.
Step one : Eat my pu$$y.
Step two : Jump up my black ass, n!ggah bitch.
Now go to hell.
Actually, it's 600 stores that are closing…
Ok, all of this talk about Starbucks being greedy and throwing mom 'n pop shops out of business is BS! How do you think Starbucks started out??? They had a great product with great marketing strategies and became HUGE! Show me a mom 'n pop shop that wouldn't take the same opportunity to turn corporate. Starbucks had the opportunity and took it. This isn't the start of the end of Starbucks… its only going to get bigger. They haven't come this far by being stupid– they know exactly what they're doing, and so far their strategies have worked tremendously! It is a GREAT company to work for. Not many companies offer FULL benefits to their part time employees, not to mention the stock options, other investment plans, tuition reimbersment for college students, and soooo much more. Theses 600 stores closing are not going to make the least bit of a dent in their profits. It's a marketing strategy that I believe is unbelievably smart! And for those of you who prefer McDonalds' iced coffee over Starbucks', you're obviously NOT a coffee drinker and have the taste buds of a 12 year old (not that there's anything wrong with that).
Starbucks sucks nard anyway. Their coffee is so low grade I wouldn't give it to a homeless man.
good. fuck that place
Perez, this is a RESULT of the current state of our economy…cause and effect, my friend…
It will be good for the economy, Im sure they are closing the 500 Stores & 7% of their work force ( which works out to about 7500 stores, Trimming the fat) In areas that cant afford $5 for a cup of coffee! People can stop paying 20% intrest charging that $5 cup of coffee they cant afford, Starbucks is a label gone wrong, Driven by wall street earnings till it choked itself with short a short sighted vistion!
Re: Gonna –
Yeah, and so does the DEMOCRATIC Congress….they're doing a great job.
Re: tomca – You don't know what a real job is UNTIL you work as a barista, or any other job that involves working with the narcissistic public for that matter.
P.S. Thank you for those pennies you leave in our tip jars! They actually add up fast!
"I need to be constantly moving and on the go and have interaction with people. This doesn't make me an idiot who can't handle a typical 9-5 job, this makes me one of the millions of Starbucks partners who has found a job that works for me and I love. "
Wait till your 29-30 and you will be a has-been begging for more tips. I bet they will say "sorry you are too old, here's your severenace". Surely you dont think you can build a next egg and buy property working at the 'fun' job forever.
Keep thinking you will be mid 20something forever, it will bite you in you candy ass when you hit 30 Peter Pans and Wendys.
thats weird…. i live in ontario canada and starbucks are just getting big here… in the last year we are gone from having 2 in our town to about 9
Re: Leyla – You're so right…I can't afford my chai latter everyday. On top of that, it's more expensive in Canada. I love Starbucks for certain beverage, but the coffee's overpriced.
that's too bad
Their prices are outrageous and they are one of the most liberal institutions in America. Maybe if they didn't keep high prices and put their money into such worthless causes they might be somewhat efficient in the modern economy.
Economy was fine until the dems got control of congress now all hell is breaking loose.
SUPPORT MOM AND POP ESTABLISHMENT. SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES!
noooooooooooooooo me quiero morir
we have like 10 starbucks here were i live. thats what happens when they build so many starbucks.
Starbucks had crappy coffee, is a corporate giant, puts mom and pop shops out of biz, and basically is the problem with our society today - mainstream conglomerates. - good riddance i say. Sorry ’bout the lost jobs, but hey, there is better jobs than Starbucks, perhaps those ppl will now go back to school!
Oh man!
They are closing so much Starbucks' in the US but in Switzerland where I live, they are opening a new one almost every week!!!! An no my favourite shop is closed because a new SB opens there! Sad world!
la neta a mi se me hace muy caro ese cafe, aca en tijuana hay creo ke 4 starbucks y va pura gente estirada, puro mendigo estriloso ke solo trae 10 dolares en la bolsa, se compran su cafe y ahi se la pasan medio dia tijeriando gente, chale, una marca de cafe muuuuy cara, yo me compro mi cafe en el costco y me dura muchos dias y no tan caro, ni modo soy de la perrada pero prefiero ser asi ke ir a estrilar un cafe carisimo, (como si no lo fueramos a orinar)
Re: Julia – estoy deacuerdo contigo, pero la gente se deja llevar por la mercadotecnia, un cafe es un cafe, starbucks se volvio un accesorio, asi ke kienes kerian ese accesorio paragan por el, al tomar starbucks, estaban comprando un status de vida superior a los ke toman cafe en samborns o en mcdonals, lo siento por toda esa gente ke se va a kedar sin trabajo, pero asi es la vida, cuidate y ke estes bien
Never liked their coffee anyway. Way too strong/ burnt tasting.
Got bad heartburn from their coffee - thanks SB!
They opened too many locations too!
Very bad marketing strategy!
gosh now all those poor people will have to walk to the other side of the street to get the same cup of coffee. how do people in america cope?
RIP my ass! They ripped us off for years!
The worst coffee in history and everyone bought into it… no matter how bad it tasted!!! That's what the history books will state years from now.
The most burnt coffee beans ever and that's what they get for taking does poor folks beans overseas and not paying them the amount they deserve!
What goes around comes around… and visa versa…
coedbs.com
What the fuck for!!???? Who the hell in this country doesn't go to a Starbucks every fuckin day, sometimes twice?? And if you don't then you want to cause like it or not, these "mom and pop" shops aren't as widely dependable for good coffee. Starbucks has standards and the numbers to keep up to those standards. I frequently bypass the local coffee shop in my town cause their coffee is shit. Stbucks has good coffee so let's get over the backlash because they are now virtually everywhere (my town, w/ a pop. of over 100,000 just got a starbucks this fuckin year). What's really going on????
Woohoo! I literally hate Starbuck and their anti-competitive business practices, they are BULLIES (and they are everywhere, so much for choice…) And their coffee is NOT coffee. So finally we can go back to normal cafés, with real coffee and real atmosphere!
Sorry for the staff though, but if cafés finally manage to take back their position on the market, that'll be new jobs created!
Krissykat
You prove that new englanders are assholes.
It is a tough job, coming from someone who went IVY LEAGUE and works a better and higher paying job than yours.
STFU
UGH. This is why I live in SF and not NYC.
Maybe the US will start drinking real coffee from decent independent coffee shops now, instead of the junk in a cup Starbucks serves.
I am very proud to say the Starbucks closed down stores in New Zealand because most NZers know they serve crap coffee from overroasted,old beans.
Coffee beans need to be roasted and used within a week, not thrown on a ship and sailed around the world for months before being used.
Only Americans get into the ridiculous flavours and add ons into what should be a stand-alone quality drink eg a espresso, if you need to add caramel, whipped cream and flavoured syrups, that should be your first clue as to an inferior product. Good quality cofee has an aroma, volatile oils and crema, to be appreciated as much as wine. Good quality wine doesn't have crap and additives, it can stand on its own merits, so should good, quality coffee.
Americans must get a big shock when drinking coffe in Europe or New Zealand, because it has flavour, body, intergrity and heart, more than I can ever say about Starbucks.
Starbucks regular coffee blows, along with McD's iced coffee. That stuff tastes like shit, even if it's the flavored stuff.
If you want really good (AFFORDABLE!) coffee, go to Dunkin Donuts!
haha i'm british so we still have starbucks
hmmm i wonder if all the ones in california will be closed down.. "hint hint" britney……
It's because all of the entertainers are over paid pre madonnas.
Their taking all the money that the "real" people work hard for..
and for what? to do something they LOVE for a living and only so many people would get that chance to do..
fuck them!
Good! I hate starbucks…they were trying to take over the world!
Who knew that overpriced coffee could be such a stupid hot topic? I agree with Re: howie –
ummmm i really think its dunkin donuts that is puttin them out not mcdonalds…but its jus the new fad, for a while…starbucks sucks anyway with all the yuppie idiots that 'neeeeeed' their coffee thats half whipped cream anyway.
no wonder, starbucks are a bunch of rip offs!!
what idiot pays 7 bucks for a cup of coffee???
Um really it doesn't seem that bad. In my town there is one on almost every corner like Walgreens.
Bet they'd get more business if their shit wasn't so expensive, I saved loads of money (and calories) in the last year because I've cut back on starbucks.
More filler? If you're going to "report" (copy) news from other sites, at least get the facts right. The number is 600 stores, not 500.
263?!?! biiitchs!!!
but thats lame. i hate it when bad things happen! lets all have peace!!!!!
peace.
WHO CARES…? STARBUCKS IS A TOTAL RIP-OFF! PUT THE PRICES DOWN AND THEN WE WOULD ALL STILL CARE! Honestly, I never even go into Starbucks in the UK, as a large latte costs the equivalent of $7!! It's a fucking joke and a shame to privately owned coffee shops who are almost put out of business by these overpriced, overrated chain coffee companies who overcharge for their drinks and think they are better than everyon else when in fact, they're shit. I really miss The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf when I was living in West Hollywood and guess where my local was…? Yes, Perez, the Coffee Bean I always saw a VERY familiar face at sitting at his laptop and writing this very page every day like clockwork. Believe it or not, I miss seeing you sitting there in front of the restrooms and most of all I miss the Coffee Bean vanilla lattes and their delicious coconut cake.
WHY DOES EVERYONE COMMENT ON PEREZ'S WEIGHT?? WHY DO PEOPLE TREAT FAT PEOPLE LIKE ALIENS??
Welcome to being a 3rd world country, America. You have all the signs towards becoming another one; businesses closing, prices going up, inflation rising, businesses blaming everything on gas, and thousands of unskilled youth ready to get into the thief profession very soon.
but great for every other country. anyone in mine (new zealand) runs to their car in shame if they have bought a starbucks coffee. your country was the only one that supported this monster that stomps all over the copyright rights of third world farmers. this news has made my day!
*
There's a couple of Starbucks in Bangkok, Thailand. And you know what? Their coffee isn't as expensive. And you know why? Because Thai people would never drop that much cash on a cup of coffee. So Starbucks has adjusted to demand and takes what they can get….
So basically, Starbucks figures out exactly how much can be BARELY tolerated by the public, and puts the price there. In other words, they fleece you juuuust enough to fuck you over, but not enough to outrage the hell out of you.
A delicate balance to strike!!
*
about time… i miss when coffee was actually enjoyable, and when my coffee cakes weren't stale.
Sooo to any of you on here talking shit about howard schultz, you need to fuck off and do your research on him!!!, I work for stabucks part time and one of the major reasons I am working there is for the health benefits that starbucks offers ; for 20 hrs/week I get full PPO medical, dental and vision , not to many other places I know can offer that unless your working 30-40 hrs a week, and the job is great for me (a person in college) I appreciate howards return to the company he's one of the reasons I came back because I quit when the other guy was in there fuckin things up… so before you talk shit on starbucks as a company , they really do take care of their employees ! As far as the coffee goes , welll your intitled to your opinions , but I agree with a lot of you, some of our coffee is pretty gross , but I'm not working there for the coffee
Our local starbucks manager told me yesterday that the reason there were *$
across the street from each other is because in busy cities it was the best way to handle the amount of customers so people could get their coffee fast.
now for the obvious joke.
WHAT WILL BRITNEY DO!!
stick to gossip you fat withered old queen. starbucks was poorly managed, way too many of them. like blaming the economy for lack of sales at hot topic for your cheesy clothing line.
SBUX - yes, i want a cup of coffee that costs 2x a gallon of gas….in declining economy entering a very severe recession.
OMG! OMG! OMG! NOOOOOOOOOOO! Yea, they DO have too many in NYC, but don't shut them down all over!!! As long as none close by me, I'll die! Lol. At least I can always go down to Giant and get my Starbucks Java Chip ice cream! lmao
Shiiit !!
i cant live without starbuxx !!
i drink it every single dayy !!
YAY !!!!! BURN THEM ALL !!!!!
We understand sbux benefit to its workforce but pple not willing to pay
for your benefit via coffee prices.Your "boss" will not pay for your benefit
out of his own packet he is distributing it to the costumers by sbux high price.
Good luck to you.
I work in Central America, and Starbucks is incredibly important, that $5 latte you paid for lets them pay impoverished rural families the best wages they've ever had - they can get corrugated zinc roofs for their homes, send their kids to school (Starbucks fair trade coffees build schools), buy antibiotics when they get sick; sometimes $5 makes the difference between life and death. I swear, Starbucks saves more lives, and helps more people, than Doctors Without Borders and Brangelina combined. No one forces people to buy that $5 latte, it's a voluntary tax that helps the poor. I guess now that the Fed has turned us into a Third World country (the IMF is even auditing us! Fuck fuck fuck!) we are the poor. Great.
.
Anyway, hopefully Starbucks will open new stores in China and India and the EU, where they don't have such crappy leaders who are so busy making money for their cronies in the oil business that they forgot their own citizens. By the people and for the people? Hah. By the rich corporations and for the rich corporations, they ought to just change the Constitution. Without real money, without a strong economy, without a freed up military, the corporations can rape us just like they rape Latin America. God I need a latte to even deal with this.
The US economy does NOT "suck dick." It's still the most thriving economy in the world. Ignorant people piss me off! Suck it up…it's not the Great Depression. Our (great) grandparents had it way worse…and look how they turned out. Way better than this damn MTV generation. People today are too reliant on "immediate gratification". So sorry you can't have your $5 coffee every morning. And to those who lost their jobs: they're always hiring at McDonald's.
Thanks…have a nice day!
Wait. Perez…you must be kidding.
To say "This will be grrreat for our economy" is implying that Starbucks is responsible for the economy.
Please Perez. For your own sake, stick to commenting on things you know about.
baristas need to get real fuckin jobs maybe this will spur them on. do these closings though include the stores inside barnes and nobles' thats where i go
Now I will only have 4 within a mile of my house. What will I do?? Soooo sad!! Well, not really!!!
They treat their employees well. They also offer great bebefits. Companies like that are few and far between in this country.
Re: mark – Democrats…ha! I see what the Dems did to my city. And ignorant people keep on voting them into office.
hm…in europe they open one shop after the other…
thanks god. was afraid they're gonna take over the world one day.
It 's easy to see why so many American idiots are "buying" Obama's BS after reading some of these comments.
Since 2006, Starbucks is on every freaking corner in some U.S. cities. Starbucks saturatred (go look up saturated) their own market; they took business away from their own stores each time they opened another store.
In other words, Starbucks management - not the Bush administration - screwed up.
And Perez Is a stupid biased fuck.
the reason they have so many is because everybody wants some, now that the buisnesses are closing they wont get as much, and then the only ones that are open will close. its basically the start of disaster.
Their coffee is bitter and expensive, their pastries are stale, and their bathrooms are all filthy.
Yeah, "fuck big business", huh, Perez? THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS when big business doesn't do well — they close some stores, and people lose their jobs.
i live in ireland and starbucks arent as common where i live as they are in other parts of the country or world, but when im on holidays they are EVERYWHERE!!! why does there need to be so many of them??? i find their mochas really powdery i waaaaaaayyyyyyyy prefer independant coffee houses that dont fill the cups with ice and milk and put in a nice tasting coffee!!
it's about effing time, Fuck starbucks! Support your local small business. coporations can eat the big one.
What? Does that mean we'll be left with 86,000 stores in the continental United States?
I'm not suprised with the economy being what it is. The first thing that people are beginning to cut out is "little extras" throughout the week….such as your $5.00 lattes. I've seen it first hand with many middle-class (to upper class even) people around me. Unfortunately people don't NEED those $5.00 lattes twice a day, so that's gonna be the FIRST to be cut out! Sad, but true. I had to cut them out when gas hit $4.00/gallon. I miss them, but gas, food, etc…CAN'T be cut out.
Yeah, cause nobody saw this coming, haha. The $5 per coffee ripoff wasn't going to last forever.
CNN says 600 are closing!
Have you ever heard of transfers people?!? The media are the ONLY ones saying that people will lose their jobs! There are other stores to staff so people will simply be transfered!
best news all day
how ironic just that Starbucks gets really started in germany it gets closed down in the US. also i wish it would be only 4 $ but its actually more like 7 $ here
WHAT?????????????????
THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE MY LIFE.
for the love of god it's so disgusting how people are actually SAD about this.