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: | HereComeDeempire 01961 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:12 PM |
| Crap, crap, crap. I'm in Tallahassee, FL, a medium-small city that actually is blessed with several very well-run, high quality, independent coffee houses that cater to the various lifestyles here (one shop is mainly student oriented, one is a true coffee "bar", one is an internet cafe w/ wifi, etc.).
Enter Starbucks, effective three months ago. We only have one Starbucks location shilling their overpriced bitter brew so far. However, the Starbucks jackasses have already approached the management team of the shopping center housing my favorite coffee shop. They are inquiring about the feasability of denying lease renewal to the shop (as in, how much bribe money would it take). One of my colleagues is the manager of this shopping center, and has advised the Starbucks idiot to go pound sand - but the fact that this crap has started locally ALREADY is somewhat discouraging. |
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| Name: | Lucy 01960 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:10 PM |
| Let me just say that I enjoy reading these post its. They can be rather insightful...but, sad to say, I am addicted to the place...Please pray for me, because as I gulp down every Venti Caramel Frappaccion and Caramel Macciato, I drink myself into poverty!!! It's a sick habit, and it must be stopped...SPEAK!!! (oh and Mr. Web Master dude, where outside of the country have you wandered? I'm just curious :) ) |
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| Name: | Jim 01959 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:10 PM |
| You say your site is "ihatestarbucks.com not ihateeverything.com or even ihatetomatoes.com" but a lot of the posts are merely complaints about customers, not Starbucks.
Maybe you should start a new area for comments specifically about Starbucks the company and direct all the customer complainers to IHateWalMartShoppers.com or IHateAmericanConsumers.com or ILikeToComplainAboutEverythingBecauseIAmASimmperingSelfindulgentMoron.com. |
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| Name: | WADE 01958 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:09 PM |
| Just before thanksgiving, 2003, Starbucks in Delaware (USA) was hiring for a Barista position. This position everyone starts at, at least thats what we were told. My wife wanted to apply to the job because she had been a manager of a major competitor for many years and had the know-how and will to be a go getter among a bunch of young BMW & VW driving yuppies. She had her interview with the main dude and from what I heard and saw (I sat three feet away having a skinny latte), everything was just perfect. My wife approached me with pure excitement that she was going to get the job. She informed me that the dude was going to review her crudentials a little more and call her the following day to go over her hours etc. He introduced himself to me and I was happy to great him and go buy a $4.00 latte for my wife who just was full of joy. Well even today many months later my wife has never been called back to start her first day of work. We do not kow why. She is only 36 and was looking for evening and weekend work which is what Starbucks was also looking for. She is attractive and in shape. With all this working for her, we can't understand why they never called her back. We still go there to get some drinks, but the dude acts like we are see through, so he does not pay attention. I still like Starbucks, but the dude who we delt with must have been an air head. We were loking foward to the extra money to help pay for some debt, but I guess we won;t be working. We did notice they hired other people. And from my dealings with them, I must say my wife makes a better latte! |
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| Name: | bill 01957 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:08 PM |
| i dont have anything to say, i just want to see what everyone else said. |
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| Name: | Mary Moser 01956 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:08 PM |
| Starbucks used to be part of my everyday life. Now I can't stand ever setting foot in one again. I have spent three years of my life handing people drinks they can't even say. Why does this company exist but to cause me pain. " Um that's not what I ordered." Um kiss my ass." |
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| Name: | James 01955 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:08 PM |
| This is all so poor. The Fu***rs invaded Germany a year ago and it is so frightening, that people run to Starbucks, as if we didnīt have any coffee-culture in Europe before.
There are so many nice local places. It is totally overpriced and only the oversugared drinks are selling good, because they donīt taste like coffee.
I think we cánīt blame a company for itīs good sells, we can only blame the stupidity of men ( and women) kind.
Whoever is going to pay more than 3,80 Euro for a simple hot drink, deserves nothing better.
How can we stop people from buying medium quality at a high price?
How long will this work? |
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| Name: | Brooke 01954 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:07 PM |
| Food illness can come from a lot of places in the stores.If you have a milk product, odds are the steam wand or the pitchers aren't properly kept. If you have Mint or any syrup in your drink, odds are they pumps are not cleaned properly or, at all. Same with the Mocha/white choc/chai pumps.Recipes - they won't let us give that out.Only the nutritional value.$50 bills - We can accept bills over $20.We just can't give you back any $20s.Howard was held up by his own employees.So the safety issue of not being able to take $50 from customers holds no weight.It is only the employees who were causing the problem.Probably because they were being treated like crap by Howard.As you said, we can give back change and if we say we won't, then you get your drink for free.
I don't know of any other major coffee place who will refuse your money.Why?Because their employees don't hate them to the point of robbing them at gunpoint.Being nice to your employees would be a great, cost-effective preventative measure.Barista for life, you won't get promoted.Go to another company or get a second job.It's sad, but it's the truth. |
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| Name: | Competitor 01953 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:07 PM |
| Hey Scott! What city are those two locations where you can get a good cup of coffee? Obviously don't be too specific, but I would like to check them out. I also know some myself. |
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| Name: | *$ SLAVE 01952 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:06 PM |
| Compeditor- why do you keep trying? Don't you realize that starbucks is too big too fast to take the time to train its employees? Also, why should starbucks spend the extra $10 to train its employees? The customers that go in there don't care what they drink- as long as they can walk around, proudly showing off their starbucks cup, they don't care. I often said that if starbucks served dirt- flavored water (which the coffee is not too far off), people would buy it, because its from starbucks.
real coffee drinkers go elsewhere |
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| Name: | HEHEHEHE 01951 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:05 PM |
| My store is always having a new manager when I decide to return to Starbucks. They always how much money I made last time. I always decide to give myself a little raise only about 4%. The funny thing is that they never seem to catch onto this tactic. Oh well. They have plenty of money already in the company so what is a 35 cents for every hour I work. The company is not going to go bankrupt or anything. HEHEHEHE |
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| Name: | Q Madp 01950 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:05 PM |
| I hope that all the small coffee shops hang in there.
It's amazing that pathetic starbucks doesn't claim all rights to the word coffee.
They use their money to abuse people and slap around small businesses until they run out of money to defend themselves or get scared and leave.
We need to support all small businesses and help keep them alive. This world will become very dull with only 3 or 4 companies running it all.
Recently starbucks has muscled its way into Paris, what a shame. Paris will not be the same.
http://www.SamBucksCoffeeHouse.com |
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| Name: | Rob, Vancouver, BC 01949 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:04 PM |
| Last month I was fired from SBUX - I am sooooo happy!
All the crap they filled into my head went out the day I
was fired. I no longer have to care about the stupid friggen ten minute timer - or snapshots - or was the mocha made last night? waaaah! Life is good - I get my coffee organically grown from Capers (Wild Oats) because Starbucks laughable organic coffee selection was disgusting - And I really don't care about the name of cup sizes (I can go back to calling them Small, and Large).
I was a Shift Supervisor with this lame company making $9.85 - for all the crap we deal with - $9.85 - now I have a new job and I am making $12 and there is absolutley NO responsibility. So word of advice - get fired! that way you can collect Employment Insurance too. Trust me the air is so much sweeter now.. and you can tell those stupid customers what for without having some pimply idiot squeaking "Star Skills! Star Skills!" |
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| Name: | marlo 01948 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:04 PM |
| i never liked coffee, then they came in 2 my life...starbucks from hell. it's ridick u less, dare r 2 freekin star%ucks on the same block less then 2 min walking distance it's krazy, and 2 make it worst my girlfriend is addiccted to da stuff, i think they r trying to be the next disneyland ( don;t get me started on that place) but now 3 years later i am now a fiend for white chocalate mocha machiatto, i am ashamed to say but what ever i still hate the place but there drinks are like crack once you have a taste u want more......HELP ME. (909)SKUM |
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| Name: | gladimout 01947 |
| Date: | Jan 24 2004 08:04 PM |
| TO SHIFTSUPERVISORFOR LIFE - Maybe if you sleep with someone in power you can get promoted to Assistant Manager - if that's really what you want. These days it seems to be more important who you know, or "do" than how hard you work or how talented in the job you may be. |
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| Name: | henderx 01946 |
| Date: | Jan 15 2004 10:47 PM |
| I also hate star bucks and I am creating a petetion to kick the sons of #%*$ out of stockton. |
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| Name: | X 01945 |
| Date: | Jan 15 2004 10:45 PM |
| I worked for the company for over two years. Not once were my reviews on time or did my DM follow throgh with anything he said I could expect as far as pay and promotions. I chose to work for the company because I am a NW native and I belived that this was a great company that really cared about its employees, customers, communioty, and environment. I was hired as an external retail manager trainee, and was told that I would have my own store as soon as 3-6 months. I never got my one year review and was still strung along by my DM that I was next up for a new store. This never happened and when I gave my feedback I was consitered disgruntled and told that I was never promised a store. What the hell was I doing there then. I did not pursue this to be an assistant manager. I find this company to be hyporitical to their entire mission statement and truly belive that they have to treat people better and be open to feedback from below. This is how they opperate here in Seattle. I worked in over 12 stores in my two+ years with the company and always developed great relationships with my customers and baristas, but never managers and DM'S. They care about profits, not people. When I finally left, my vacation was forfited along with my bonus for that quarter. Now I am uneployed and looking for a company that will really embrece divesity and treat people with dignity and respect. I have four kids to support and regret investing so much of my time and seeing nothing in return. Soon people will see how their greed superseeds their fake image. You can only treat people so bad for so long before you hang yourself, so lets all give them plenty of rope. We have been BAMBOOZELED, HOODWINKED, and if we keep embracing and suporting this company we will lose our integity as AMERICANS. We deserve better. |
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| Name: | Matthew 01944 |
| Date: | Jan 15 2004 10:45 PM |
| First of all, the company does not follow its anti-discrimination policy. And when they violate it, deliberately and defiantly and a female management crew physically and verbally harass a male coworker, they get away with behavior which would have landed a male coworker in jail if not just merely unemployed. |
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| Name: | Mr. Beans 01943 |
| Date: | Jan 15 2004 10:44 PM |
| I am from a store in California, that has decided to give tips to its baristas, not as whole dollars, but rolls of coins. What kind of crap is that, who wants to walk down the street on their lunch break and hand over a roll of quarters to pay with. Granted yes that its still money and that we should be thankful, but come on WTF. I heard that this idea came from the distract manager, but come on. I am sure that other baristas could vouche for me on how much this idea sucks. Once again another lame ass idea, from Starbucks. If anyone has any contact information on getting in touch with a Regional Manager, please let me know. |
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| Name: | Scott 01942 |
| Date: | Jan 15 2004 10:44 PM |
| I worked in stores in the Los Angeles area in the early 90's. Back then there were only 2 districts in Southern California & less than 15 stores. The quality of the coffee was excellent, almost the best coffee could be. I recall making an espresso for Howard Shultz one morning in Pasadena as he strolled in at 6 a.m. donned up in a suit that would cost me a month's wages. That's a great cup of coffee, he said emphasizing the word "great" exactly as he did in the training videos. In '95 I left to work a job for less hours, less stress and more money. Though the excellence was waning a good cup of coffee could still be had. The quality went steadily down hill until the drip coffee became consistently bitter. The nail in the coffin of my days as a customer came when Farmer Brothers office coffee rose in comparison to became a superior brew. And the first shovel full of dirt on that coffin was when I ventured north on vacation and had a cup of coffee in a local coffee house. (I dare not name them for fear Howard & the Java thugs will search out & destroy this small & skillful establishment.) I ordered a cup not realizing what was about to happen. I took a sip & with the mingling of peace & passion I had discovered a rare & lost treasure. I remembered why I once loved coffee. I had forgotten how good it could be. Now I know of only 2 locations to get great coffee in Southern California. There used to be so many more. |
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| Name: | Katie 01941 |
| Date: | Jan 15 2004 10:43 PM |
| It amazes me how many people say they hate Starbucks, yet you see them at their local Starbucks store sipping thier over priced, non-caffeinated, over sugared concoctions with light whip cream and recycled java jackets (which actually costs more than a paper cup).
As a barista for the "original espresso bar" in Seattle(yes, before Starbucks was an espresso bar, with Dave Olsen-high ranking Starbucks officer, the original owner until he decided to leave for the soon to be giant) I dare everyone to ONLY support your local coffee shops. Don't support the Wal-mart of coffee, the retail giant has already done enough in this world. Support your community businesses and your independent coffee house baristas, the ones who do not have health care or a 401k program. Ask how they are doing for a change, tip them well (lords known they deserve it, especially when you are caffeine deprived and are in a foul mood) and please do not order a tall non-fat caramel macchiato with no whip cream. We know when you are a Starbucks loyalist when you come to our counter and fill our ears with those crap for words, it ruins our day.
Cheers to those who already only support their local coffee houses...you are what makes my day! =) |
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| Name: | monstra 01940 |
| Date: | Jan 15 2004 10:42 PM |
| I worked for this company for a degrading number of years thinking that I wouldn\'t be able to do anything else but stand in as a corporate drone. Thank god I went back to school. I started when the company was still only in three cities and you knew most of the people that worked in the entire company by name. As soon as the company went public and had to answer to stockholders the *culture* so to speak, degraded rapidly. Promotions from within--HA HA HARDLY. Only if you want to get a cruddy position making 1/3 of market value. I can\'t even walk in a starbucks without getting a hive. I now live on the east coast and have to contend with Chock Full of Nuts and Dunkin Doughnuts coffee but at least those companies don\'t try to make an add on sale of BS about how many servings of dignity and respect they dish out. |
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| Name: | ShiftSupervisorForLife 01939 |
| Date: | Jan 15 2004 10:42 PM |
| Hey Everyone- first of all, I just wanted to say thanks to whomever keeps this site going. Even though I somewhate enjoy working for The Buck, its nice to come and read things that I can relate to.
So. I have been with the company over three years, have been Partner of the Quarter three times (different stores), was promoted to Shift Supervisor after only three months. Let me ask you- who do I have to KILL to become an assistant manager? My second store experience was done over a year ago and I cannot take this anymore. Talked to my DM, talked to my SM and my ASM- they all say the same thing "just keep doing what youre doing and it wil happen". Any suggestions? |
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| Name: | Me 01938 |
| Date: | Jan 15 2004 10:41 PM |
| lids do not only pop off when they are put on incorrectly. Our store had to send back 4 cases of defected cups, the lids kept coming off because the rim of the cups we made improperly. dummy. Tom is an idi0t. So is miKe cuRro. I give people like you deCaf instead of regular espresso. Or if you ask me fiVe times for deCaf, i give you regular. you people act like I owe you something because you waltZ into my place of employment and expect me to lick your shoes. Pizz-Off! I will take your 50 or 100$ bill, but i will give you 5's and 1's in change, because we do not/are not supposed to have access to larger bills to give change, its a safety and security issue. GRind Girl: i did check the label, starbucks fontana syrups are made with aspartame not "splenda" which is formally known as sucralose, which is like ingesting small amounts of chlorinated pesticides. Side effects of sucralose include shruken thymus gland (inhibited growth) and enlargement of the kidneys and liver. Long term effect are not yet known of sucralose because the testing has yet to be done. years of use (similar to other artificial sweeteners) will contribute to immunological and neurological disorders. I'll stick to my small amounts of sugar thank you. i don't know whats worse sucralose of aspartame which has been proven to accumulate formaldehyde on the brain as well as other organs and tissues. formaldehydes effects are KNOWN to damage the nervous system, immune system, and cause irreversible genetic damage in humans. 100% of independant studies have found problems with aspartame.
If your diabetic use something else for crying out loud. Isomalt and Stevia are great alternatives. People who just watch sugar, use fructose, honey, rice syrup, maple syrup or just anything natural beside the chemicals at your local condiment bar. use your head while you still have it. |
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| Name: | Wesley G. Gonzales 01937 |
| Date: | Jan 15 2004 10:38 PM |
| When I first started working for the 'evil empire,' the company was still relatively obscure, there was only one location within the local area, which was near the local shopping center. People who worked there were very friendly, amiable individuals who wore all black, had several earrings in one ear, and the guys usually had hair that went past their shoulders. It seemed as if expression was allowed, almost pervasive in this atmosphere. Unfortunately, the stricter dress code almost indirectly points toward uniformity, and hiring practices single out 'non-conformists'. It's sad. I miss the introverted artsy type crowd that used to be ubiquitous at Starbucks locations. Now, the staff at Starbucks resembles the unsophisticated typical non-coffee drinking crowd that you'd expect to see working at Wal-mart. Don't get me wrong, I'm not an elitist, but like a lot of other people I miss the good-old-days when the company actually had a subculture, instead of being infiltrated by individuals who just want to work their 20 hours to get their health benefits, or these DM's that want to apply the standard business model in order to compromise customer satisfaction. I don't hate starbucks, but on the contrary, I think the company has lot of the appeal when everyone is tearing away at the company, at the VISION that Howard Schulz originally had. I loved his book when I read it about five years ago, but it is definitely disappointing to see the direction the company is going. It seemed that he also inadvertently imported the Gramscian, Fascist mentality that comes with the espresso.(Sigh!) |
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