Ok, a new day has dawned on IHateStarbucks.com.
I no longer want to keep hacking the old, tired php on the site, so this is what I propose. These messages will remain up for all eternity. In addition, there is a new Guest book. So if you want to share your opinons, i.e. post to the site, go here. As always, if wish to rant or rave, send me an email:
| Name: | 904jason 04757 |
| Date: | Jun 12 2005 05:58 PM |
| I always tell my parters that i think of my store like i think of my girl. I love her, i spoil her, i'm attentive, i'm driven, and focused to bend over backwards to fullfill her every need yet she turns around and spits on me, beats me, and abuses me at every turn. I've been working for my store for 3 1/2 years. Its my second home really. After working there for so long almost everybody on my side of town recognizes me whenever i go out. As a barista i really thought that working for starbucks was the greatest thing. Well that is until i became a shift. Believe it or not as a shift you really get to see some pretty underhanded things. Even going on in other stores. Its pretty amazing. I mean to see someone power and influence hit another persons store from another part of town. but that's neither here nor there. i was fired not to long ago. well actually its been exactly a week. a long week at that. i really believe that i made an impact on that store. i thought that i was a pretty good shift and i thought i performed well. i mean i've been there for 3 1/2 years so i was really good. i could call out a persons name and drink if you blindfolded me and could just tell by the smell of their perfume. but you couldn't tell that i was good if you looked at my paycheck. really i'm not at starbucks for the money believe it or not. i thought that i had something with the partners and the manager. like an unbreakable bond. like the bond that you share with your significant other. with hearts shooting out whenever you look at her. well i was wrong. wrong wrong wrong. a friend of mine and fellow partner. we've worked together for so long and she's really got my back. if i forget something, miss something, she's got my back. cleans up after me or covers for me like i'll do the same for her. well my store manager decides to throw a party for her. which i thought my store manager and i were tight. well she was able to get everyones shift covered that friday night to make it to the party. of course except for me. really that kinda sucks. anyhow i was stuck at the store with a newby and two borrowed partners. and of course it was for an eight+ hour shift on a friday night, and did i say that it had a drive thru. well it does. and i was the shift. i thought that night would never end. oh yeah before i forgeti had my review the day before and had a terrible review. imagine what would a friday like that feel like. basically you feel cheated. where is the love. well as a joke i was telling my partners that it would be great if i could have an alcoholic beverage on my break to smooth out my nerves a little bit. i mean i'm working i of the worst days in my career as a partner i just needing something to ignore that huge chip in my shoulder that i started to develope. little did i know did that chip start to be a humungous boulder. we ended up closing the store. and everything looked great. i seriously did my thing. nobody really knew where anything went so i pretty much had to do a lot at the end of the night in order to get out in time. which we did. well the following day saturday i was schedule to working another closing shift which really i don't mind. but really, think about thursday and friday. my moral was at an ultimate low. anyhow i come in and two hours into my shift my s.m. pulls me out to tell me that i have been suspended until further notice. word gets around fast down here. aparently my d.m. knows about it and she was present at that time as well. and i went home came back for a meeting in a couple of days to find out that i've been terminated according to my d.m. because some partners wanted to sell me out. why. i send you home whenever you ask. i do the chores whenever you don't want to do them. i follow through and carry the heavy things. i come in for you when you call in. i'm always there to help and provide my help without you ever asking. so why sell me out. i thought we're all homies in there. wrong. wrong. wrong. to all the partners that stood tall with me during the good times and the hard times i love you. to my old store. and if you read this you know who you are. i wish i never met you. and i promise to never come and see you again. |
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| Name: | itsnotamermaid 04746 |
| Date: | Jun 12 2005 02:28 PM |
| iced cappuccinos are the subject of much speculation. here in CA we make 'em in socal but not in nocal. my dm would have a fit if she thought we made them. the bacteria thing is false and the only "decent" explanation i have heard is "quality control"--whatever that means. it is a just say yes policy, but the wrath of my dm is much worse than that of a customer. |
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| Name: | Scrutmonkey 04754 |
| Date: | Jun 12 2005 02:27 PM |
| To start off, i love this site...it\ enterains me in a strange but anti starbucks way. not to meantion the section of "not so clever rebuttals." it's just funny how some people have the inability to use spell check or are so in touch with their emotions that their fingers can't function properly. Yes, Starbucks tastes like crap. I do believe the funniest coment is, "this is the best job I have ever had." Wow, for some strange reason, that makes me very sad. thanks again and keep up the work. viva la Resistance!!!!! |
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| Name: | SSinthe ATL 04755 |
| Date: | Jun 12 2005 02:11 AM |
| Gryphen~ Even though we are in totally different districts (Long Island vs. Atlanta) it seems that the same variety of pretentious upper-middle class people and spoiled obnoxious teenagers tend to frequent SBUX no matter where the store is located. Your vent was everything I have been dying to get off of my own chest for quite some time...and I can even add a few more complaints of people I hate to your list, if you like: any person who gets extra whip on frapp lights or nonfat lattes and thinks it "evens out" in the long run, parents who let their ADHD children run rampant around the cafe to dismantle the RTD case and entire retail displays, customers who don't seem to notice the "grounds for your garden" sign and walk right past the other trash cans to put their empty cups inside, people who come through the dt and insist that I count the giant pile of change that they pull from their car console and dump on the counter, people who drink their extra-ice frappuccinos inside instead of out on the patio in the sunshine but then complain about the AC being too cold, anyone who corrects me by demanding that whip actually comes standard on caramel macchiatos, people who can't seem to remember if they prefer room for cream in their drip coffee...I bet I'll think of more later. |
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| Name: | Sorry I 'accidently' spilled this drink on the sid 04753 |
| Date: | Jun 11 2005 11:14 AM |
| I work at a drive thru in AZ. If one more person pulls up to the window after ordering a ridiculously complex drink, has been waiting 20 mins, and then says: 'Oh, I wanted that iced' I think I'm going to die. What is wrong with people?! Yes, I want to get your drink right, but sh*t! Can you see the sweat beads running down my face from working next to a permanantly open drive thru window in at LEAST 100 degree weather! I could never see myself handing back a drink if I knew I didn't order it right. Big WHOOP! Oh, my second favorite drive thru customer-"Hi I'll have 13 frappucinnos," then I'll get pissed b/c I had to wait in line, and then still wait at the window, and also hold everyone else up who is getting one drink!!! Stupid a$$. THe last customer that did that to me, made me wash my hands, then unwrap every straw and put them in for his 50 million kids in the van! and then no tip...lovely... |
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| Name: | mike 04752 |
| Date: | Jun 10 2005 07:37 PM |
| So...another payday another pay period getting jacked .25/hr. Called payroll, told to call my PRM. No answer. Called my s.m. She's not in. Called the d.m. No answer. Did I mention before they told me to just go ahead and quit b/c I was messing up my beautiful wifes opportunity with the co. I've also been told, "You shouldn't take a job unless you can work what you're scheduled." This in reference to my 2y/o son. Anyone direct a trampled abused barista to an attorney in e. tenn? The Knoxville market. Holler back. Did I say I love the hell out of this website? Well, there you go. Thanks, y'all. |
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| Name: | Hendri 04751 |
| Date: | Jun 10 2005 07:33 PM |
| hi guys can you help me out. can u give me an advice for SWOT analysis (strength,weakness,Opportunity and threat) of starbucks. it doesnt mind if you all only state the negative side.
Thanks alot |
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| Name: | Learning Coach 04738 |
| Date: | Jun 10 2005 12:24 PM |
| Actually, Mary, you cannot make an iced cappuccino because the foam will disintegrate on contact with the ice, hence, creating a slushy mess... I see where you are coming from--I have never heard of any type of bacteria coming from iced cappuccinos but i know that it would be a waste to try to make one... |
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| Name: | schmoopy 04750 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 11:31 PM |
| dear mole,
i made out great in the cal lawsuit and it was settled quickly. i don't remember the total $ but it was at least 10,000. bucks admitted no wrong-doing, of course. i hope this one goes as smooth. pay up starbucks!! |
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| Name: | John Summers 04747 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 11:27 PM |
| I, until recently worked for Starbucks in the northeast Florida mrkt. I was a cheerleader for the company extolling all there virtues. Then I moved into a management. The immidiate change in the way I was treated was very disconcerting. Being an ASM you expect to be in a learning, transitional position. Well that wasn't really the case. I was transferred to a store with a manager that was never there, so I was in charge of something I couldn't handle and it was my fault that the manager wasn't there. So I addressed the issue with my District Manager and amazingly enough (ha ha) she did nothing about it. So then my job was on the line because my boss wasn't doing what he was supposed to do. God I love middle management positions. So I beat them to the punch resigned and sent a nice letter to my RDO extolling all the virtues of my DM and SM.Peace out suckas. |
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| Name: | Mercedes 04749 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 11:26 PM |
| I recently quit working for Starbucks after 4 years because I could not fathom the level of stupidity that came from both the DM and RDO of my district.
For alomst a year, beginning last spring, I had begun the process to have a partner investment educaion program put in place. It was originally to be for one store, but I was branching it out to the district.
THe idea was to have partners fully learn about their financial opportunities while working and supporting the growth of a globally successful corporation.
This plan took into account the diversity of folks within Sbux, lifestyles, really, and I wanted for my partners the same successes and access to the lifestyles that our customers have. Why shouldn't we have dreams and aspirations? And I was tired of the bs line that Sbux ran about their great company when their partners live below poverty level.
Anyway, I proposed the idea, in a formal written proposal to my DM. He sat on it for months. I approached him again, in person, and he asked for the credentials of the person teaching the seminar. Mind you, I had the VP of Fidelity @Rockefeller Center work with me on this personally. And this came out of my own time, and I worked very hard on it. I emailed my DM,on the context and goals of the program, with full blessing of my store manager (who was incredibly supportive!!). After receiving this email from me, the DM had the nerve to go back to my SM and ask him if I had personally written the email I sent him!! What a loser!!
When I complained to my RDO about this ridiculous assumption, she asked me if I was imagining this personal smear. She was so patronizing and she even said, "well, we didn't think a partner could come up with such a complex idea."
We sell the NY Times in NY, are we NOT supposed to read it and learn about the world and issues effecting us personally, globally?
Needless to say, I kept my investment program documents safe, and even sent them on to a VP of a very successful financial corporation for safekeeping. I thought my DM and RDO would try to steal the program idea as their own, so I figured if they challenged me on those grounds, fighting a VP of a financial corp. would not be easy for them to do. Many of my customers work for companies like Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and financial giants.
Anyway, I just finished my first month on the job @ one of those financial giants! It is working out very well and I am being trained on so many software systems and financial networks. Who'd a thunk I had a brain?!!
I plan on bringing on some of my old partners,sharing the knowledge and wealth.
Can you imagine, I make a living wage now...
My annual earnings went up by $22,000 dollars.
You know I'm sharing with my former co-workers.
How could I not? The upper echelon may suck, but the workers in the trenches are some of the best and greatst people in the world!!!
May all you current partners find a great career spot in this world! You deserve it, and I know it!! |
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| Name: | pissedshiftgonnaburnthemotherdown 04748 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 11:26 PM |
| just tell them it is against heath code to take the trash then direct them to the trash can at the end of the drive-Thru. Javier it happens all the time don't let them think it is you. Try sending in a complaint to starbucks.com at the contact us section, at least it will scar the record of the store and go in the managers file. I hope all the managers who are involved in legal issues take them down and in the words of Lucas in Empire Records "D#mn the man." |
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| Name: | Maverick 04745 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 06:27 PM |
| I can not stand the snobbish attitude if you walk into a starbucks......
I think they should ALL be CLosed down and reopend under new owners............. |
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| Name: | CoffeeSpec 04727 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 06:27 PM |
| Gryphen is it true that you can not take people's trash from the dt window? i also work at a dt so let me know any tips you have! |
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| Name: | mole 04744 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 06:26 PM |
| lela,
Any idea how the mgrs in CA made out on the lawsuit? |
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| Name: | mike 04743 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 06:26 PM |
| Javier-I sympathize with you, man, regarding your situation. Did you try the partner standards of business conduct hotline? 1.800.611.7792. Also try calling payroll services @ 1.866.504.7368. Starbucks' ass is getting in the sling because they are not adhering to their first guiding principal: To provide a great work evironment and treat others with respect and dignity. yeah right.When I called payroll they gave me a number to the partner resource manager for my region(atlanta). I don't know what region you're in, but give it a shot, if you haven't already closed the door on this chapter of your life. Sbux wants to open 30,000 stores in north america but it will never happen if they don't get the arrogance of their store mgrs and assistants under control. Peace. |
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| Name: | SBUXSS 04742 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 06:25 PM |
| Javier ---
I have a LOT of problems with Starbucks, but "embracing diversity" is not one of them. They usually go out of their way to be PC in these matters, and I suspect that in your case the problem may be you, not Starbucks. Our store has black, white, and everything in between --- partners and customers. Latino, Indian, Italian, Portuguese, and Irish, we are a virtual Starbucks rainbow of ethnic diversity. Same thing with our customers. Our present manager is Cuban, the last one was Afro American, and the one before that was Puerto Rican. Starbucks SUCKS for a lot of reasons, but from my experience, social discrimination is not the norm. In fact, seems they'll happily serve anyone an over-priced drink, and accommodate all who want to join the cult of over-worked and underpaid "partners". |
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| Name: | Hendri 04741 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 06:24 PM |
| Hi guys... phew i really love this website.
hm..i would like to seek advices from ya guys. I am currently doing my marketing project based on Starbucks and I would like to know the weakness and threat to starbucks. Why I choose strabucks as my project? Because I simply just HATE STARBUCK and I really know that Starbucks has more NEGATIVE than positive.
I really hope that ya guys will help me
thanks |
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| Name: | Javier 04739 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 08:40 AM |
| Social Discrimination at StarBucks. I have been going to SB since 1997/98 and I can remember that the way I felt my first visit was a little uncomfortable, since it seemed to portray an atmosphere of sophistication and politicalness. I got used to it though. It was the strong coffee that got me hooked and a place to study or read and chat...the whole "third place" thing. When I became employed at a Colorado Springs SB, in 1999, that was when things started to unfold in a negative light. I realized how judged I felt, where I just wasn't treated like the other people. I began to sniff the politics and liberalism a mile away. Everything seemed controlled and I felt it hard to be myself. I am also hispanic and no offense to white people, since I am not racist, but I began to realize that I was treated as a sub-humanoid compared to the white employees and customers...I wasn't properly trained and always felt tension in the air. I was being falsly accused of things and I began to feel like not being there, which showed up in my work habbits, being late, etc. It's difficult to give my all when I feel like I'm treated unfairly...I didn't want to quit but it was either that or they were going to fire me. In 2003 I decided to give it another shot when I became severely ill the first 2 weeks and although I communicated with the manager and she said see you on the following Sunday. I was fired for not calling in to give my status everyday, and she didn't voice that. Then it clicked...I rarely ever see a colored person working at a SB. Recently it has been uncomfortable even being a customer...I see almost no diversity, instead upper class yuppie people and less minorities as customers. Like I said I have nothing against skin color myself, it's just that I feel tension in the atmosphere and I feel judged, as if I don't belong, due to my race and personality and class background. More and more customers have this 'I am better than you' attitude and act like robots. All I want is a nice strong cup of robust bean water and a place to relax. But because of feeling uncomfortable and nervous, I have been covering it up by being a bit of a wise guy and having a dry sense of humor and trying to make people laugh. I must be retaliating unconsciously for feeling so judged. So, yesterday without warning at the SB location I have been going to for a whole year...I was approached by 2 managers who told me that I am not allowed to come back and that they are losing customers and an employee feels physically threatened but failed to give me examples or offer any proof at my request. I called them on it. I was never warned about it nor do I believe it. I am just a bit arrogant at times and am outspoken, and I like to hold my chin up. I always tipped and thanked the barista and my jokes are never directed at them or vulgar, nor threatening to anyone. Anyway, my experience of starbucks establishments here is about dicrimination and prejudice towards social class, freedom of diversity, and race. Even a fool can see that it is very political filled with corporate fascism and social alienation. Thanks for reading. |
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| Name: | mike 04740 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 08:39 AM |
| So much for the loving starbucks partners/mgrs. I just stopped going because of all the gossip and hassle because I have a 2y/o son and very little dependable child care. My mgr shafted me on .25/hr, telling me she'd pay me 6.75/hr (wow) but it turned out to be only 6.50. She didn't get my cup fund put in, she purposely schedules me against my availability and after 8 weeks of working there, I'm still not certified. My wife is being treated like dirt by her worthless s.m., all because we have a son. They all want to piss and moan b/c I call in b/c of child care, but nobody does anything to help. Gossip gossip, gossip. I am so burned on the corporate world, and their lip service, but in reality, no one gives a damn. The last person was right. We live in fear. I am sick as s**t of this crap, I almost got treated better working for McDonald's. If anyone out there knows or any program where a small business can get guaranteeed funding without to much credit hassle etc., please holler. My wife and I are working to set up a small place in W. North Car. Object: great food, good prices and a decent wage for those who work. Down with the corps! |
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| Name: | lela 04737 |
| Date: | Jun 09 2005 12:28 AM |
| mole, you are absolutely right. rumor does have it that this thing will settle and rather quickly. the law requires for managers that you are scheduled and work one half of your time performing management duties, that does not include picking up money off the floor because some idiot customer shoved it a little too hard at you, making mocha or blending your soul away in the summer time. the only ones who are going to be screwed by this are the managers who don't know the laws and don't read the job description. motherbuckers is alot like communism, it looks great on paper but in reality, is a disaster. starbucks breaks not one but many laws of employment. they would be wise to hire attorneys who know the law and establish "non-negotiable" (how many times have you heard that one?) job descriptions for managers and "present corrective action" for the dm's who choose to create their own. they do have their place as a good company to work for but not at a store level. these managers who are participating in this lawsuit have every right to do so under u.s. law. they are not the ones in the wrong, the evil, bastard company is. store manager for this company is the worst job out there these days for a number of reasons. the stress alone is enough to take you down. you have no availability, no sounding board
and work in an environment where you are used and abused in as a glorified barista-at least part-timers (which if you punch in and out-that's you) can choose when to work or not. i gave 50 plus hours of my time for 7 long years to the evil empire, and was paid for 40. i signed that piece of paper and encouraged everybody i know who has worked or still works for the company to do the same. this same suit was filed and won in california state court a few years ago, take the lead from your west coast "partners"
and do the right thing. the only way this terrible treatment of good people will end is to participate and put a stop to the flesh eating machine. |
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| Name: | Annoyed Barista 04736 |
| Date: | Jun 08 2005 05:58 PM |
| HowDidIEndUpWorkingHere: I have complete empathy with you on that one. No customers have ever ruined my COW sign, but they have ruined the whole experience of the "third place" by acting as if me taking her order is 'bothering' her. Talking on the cell phone and apologizing to whoever she was talking to prior to ordering. Then she whispers inaudibly her order to me. I purposely acted as if I was unable to hear her and politely asked her to speak up. I almost burst out laughing as she furiously excused herself from the call and gave me her attention and I resumed my full attention. That was annoying but so funny.
Mary: It isn't that we won't make it for you, because there is a 'just say yes' policy. Some managers are complete idiots and will lash out at partners for preparing a drink that is 'not to standard' or they believe causes bacteria. If the customer orders it, they customer should get it. The manager at the Starbucks where you ordered was probably an idiot. |
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| Name: | Incognito Bob 04732 |
| Date: | Jun 08 2005 01:49 PM |
| Well this story goes back a few years to 2000. I was a chief engineer of a well known and large Hotel chain, As such I was expected to attend numerous "meetings" both on property and off. The off property outings were generally business related but included some "play time" as Hotel management positions can be stressfull at times. One of these unscheduled stopovers was at a Starbucks at 8:30 AM.
I had never been inside one till then and my only impression of it was it sounded like a Gay superhero comic book character. Needless to say I wasn't too far off when we ( 9 of us ) shuffled inside to get our morning jolt of caffiene. i did not get in line right away, I was too busy noticing how out of place I looked in my Engineers uniform, I usually wore street clothes to work. The clientele wasted no time shooting me looks to confirm what I was feeling. Wearing flip-flops and sweaters with the sleeves tied around the necks, most of the guys were alone ang reading while sipping their poison, which spoke volumes to me. I finally gave up telling my co-workers I didn't want anything...( "Oh but it's SOOOOO GOOD " ) I ordered a black coffee. The snickers from the flunkies behind the counter almost made me want to hop the counter and take out every smug little turd in the place. But when he said "Excuse me?" to my order I asked him if he was hard of hearing? At this point the females in our group started getting nervous as I am 6'2 and weigh 285lbs. He replied in the negative, he could hear fine but wanted to know if I wanted to try something different. I assured him that I did not and just give me my damn coffee. Well I got it alright, about four or five times what I normally pay for the same amount. And get this, The little C smoker tried to short change me !! P.S. it sure comes in handy when you know how to shut off natural gas to a business right before they open. Cheers |
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| Name: | Mr. mole 04734 |
| Date: | Jun 08 2005 01:16 PM |
| SB is just another example of what's really happening, or has already happened in America. We're no longer citizens, we're subjects. America has been heading in the direction of corporate control for a long, long time. I'm not talking about small business, I'm talking about the uber- corporation. Many of us are now waking up to the fact that the U.S. Has become a corporate feudal state. Managers, shifts, or baristas, and the majority of Americans working in cubical sweat shops, have been silenced. Silenced by fear. Fear of losing our jobs and not being able to pay our mortgages, our credit cards or endless other debts. Debts brought on by the same corporations we're working for.
Stop complaining and bickering, about how you "hate the mochas because...bla..bla...bla!
Money is strength and these ubercorps have plenty of it. Now is the time to stand up to their crap. How? Don't let them get away with anything. Quietly report every violation of health codes, labor laws, fire codes or anything. File lawsuits against them! Don't just take it! In other words, go corporate on their ass! Gather evidence, photos of violations, records etc. Hell, they watch our every move with their cameras, its time we watch them with ours. Cell phone cameras are great for that. Do to them what they're doing to the rest of us. Know the law and know your rights! |
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| Name: | Cin 04733 |
| Date: | Jun 08 2005 01:11 PM |
| I just wanted to applaud you for standing up for what you believe in. If the whole world stood up for themselves, then I think we would be in a better place! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I absolutely do not see anything wrong with your website...It is awesome!
As they say... "Keep at it" and Good Luck. To all those losers (loosers!!) that can't spell, go to h***! |
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