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: | ShiftKing 00960 |
| Date: | Dec 03 2002 04:19 PM |
| Tyrone, at least speaking for myself, I don't hate Starbucks really. I just hate...some of the little nagging things about it. The fact that seemingly the majority of managers are horrible. The fact that a multimillion dollar company (billion maybe?) can run out of Chai for like a 2 month period and have to ration it. Stupid little nagging things like that. All in all, I love my job I guess. My store has an awesome staff, and we all hang out outside of work and stuff, so work isn't even really like work, even when it's busy. I just hate...corporate hypocrisy and the fact that even though Starbucks wants to be this huge global brand they can't get their act together in a lot of ways. Could be a lot worse though. Could be working at say...Dunkin Donuts. |
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| Name: | ace 00959 |
| Date: | Dec 03 2002 12:47 PM |
| Starbucks coffee is gross and makes me physically ill. Every kind of beverage I've had there has made me sick. Then I tried the vanilla latte which is pretty good and hasn't made me run for the bathroom, but give me a black coffee from Tim Horton's anyday! |
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| Name: | tyrone 00958 |
| Date: | Dec 03 2002 12:47 PM |
| sounds like a lot of these posts are coming from basically pissed partners or ex-partners. being one myself, do most of you actually hate starbucks? or is it just funner to bitch at something lots of people like? |
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| Name: | ShiftKing 00957 |
| Date: | Dec 03 2002 12:42 PM |
| Agreed Saffron. I'm all for using this website to vent. I'm just saying, intellectually, that you have to seperate bad managers and what they do from corporate hypocrisy. I don't think you can say that you hate starbucks because your manager is bad. What you can say is that you hate your manager, and you hate that Starbucks doesn't do something about him/her. Or is that point a little too intellectual for a board like this? |
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| Name: | ace 00956 |
| Date: | Dec 03 2002 12:06 PM |
| Starbucks coffee is gross and makes me physically ill. Every kind of beverage I've had there has made me sick. Then I tried the vanilla latte which is pretty good and hasn't made me run for the bathroom, but give me a black coffee from Tim Horton's anyday! |
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| Name: | saffron 00955 |
| Date: | Dec 03 2002 09:57 AM |
| This is in fact a 'I hate Starbucks' website I believe, si in fact that might be why some people might get a little offended when there is a comment made that someone takes quite some offense to. Indeed, I did make some harsh comments about managers and shifts and what-not... you say it is personal problems, huh? Perhaps they are, but then isn't that what attracts people to a discussion such as this? I've read through many of the posts, and if I was someone else, how refreshing I'd find it to see someone from the company saying something negative. My first thing is I don't hate Starbucks, persay. But as far as my experience working in different stores in the PA area, it seems as though all the management has been the same. And that my friend, leaves a bad taste in my mouth about this whole company. Besides just a manager smoking weed and getting caught, there have been ones stealing money from the company, cursing at and cutting up employees in front of customers... as some one from the outside might stop and wonder to themselves, what really is Starbucks trying to say about themselves? But then maybe it's just this area that i preside... |
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| Name: | Happy Phantom 00954 |
| Date: | Dec 03 2002 04:34 AM |
| Yes, I too work at Starbucks. I will not waste your time bitching about my personal problems with the company. I do hate what Starbucks stands for, although the company has yet to wrong me personally. (Yes I am a hypocrite; try to get through life without being one.) I do agree that it is the closest thing to a monopoly in the coffee business. I also realize the absurdity of claiming social consciousness because it sells a single variety of coffee for which the workers recieved fair compensation.
It is the epitome of capitalism; this is what American ideals lead to (and the USA is a republic, so stop blathering about democracy, morons). So you hate more than Starbucks, as one might recognize from your taste in literature.
Boycott "Holiday". Send donations to the ACLU, PBS, Amnesty International, NPR etc. in someone else's name, then send them a card (Hallmark, of course) to let them know. Go to heifer.org. Don't spread more useless crap around. |
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| Name: | ShiftKing 00953 |
| Date: | Dec 02 2002 11:34 PM |
| Saffron, you should come work in my store (location undisclosed, in MA somewhere). I'm definately not that kind of shift, in fact I end up doing most of the work. And I hafta say that my manager is probably I'd guess among the top 5-10% of SM's that I've seen in the 4 years I've been with the company. |
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| Name: | saffron 00952 |
| Date: | Dec 02 2002 09:23 PM |
| As a former employee of Starbucks, I am most likely among the thousands of people who would revel in giving Starbucks a bad name. I do love their coffee (and why not? I've still got about 20 1lb. bags in my pantry),and the customers were usually pretty nice. I worked in a store that had a drive-thru, and that got horrendous. I worked with a bunch of kids who obviously thought they were there to just hang out, and I was usually the one stuck doing all the work. At that time, I didn't care much, I was just happy working to make some extra money. But then we lose our manager, because it was found out that he was smoking weed in the back room (along with some other employees)... We went thru a month with a replacement, until we got our permenant manager. He was nice at first, but maybe he just wanted to be accepted. Then it was all down-hill, first off he could not make a drink to save his life, yet found it necessary to correct me on my technique because I only have 5 years experience. Most of the time, he would just sit in the back watching all of us on the monitors, go on endless cigarette breaks, or give out free drinks to the people he knew (whereas, he'd check the recent transactions on our tills, if he suspected that we were doing the same.). He was also downright insensitive towards people's illnesses or personal needs, such as my brother was rushed to the hospital for a rare heart disorder,so I asked for off. The next day I was written up, and told that that situation was not important enough to ask off for. There's actually more to add, but then I'd be here forever. Starbucks from a distance is great, meaning as a customer, it's a great place to go. As an employee though, you get treated like dirt, and you get paid dirt as well. As for the 100 best in Forbes, I remember that page being emailed to our store, printed out, and displayed for all to see, right next to our sign introducing the new creme frappuccinos! The problem with Starbucks, is that they do have a great product, and they have a wonderful idea of what they want to become, they just need serious help in finding people to manage their stores for the company that aren't there to continuously cut you up and step all over you, and then promote then next idiot who walks thru the door to shift lead, who uses the cups, and a tennis ball to go bowling in the back room when the managers not there... and then says to the person who's actually doing their job"great job today, i appreciate your help"and then passes them by as usual. Yeah, so this has been nothing but a loving response from a former Starbucks employee. What a true Starbucks Experience! |
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| Name: | bb 00951 |
| Date: | Dec 02 2002 04:43 PM |
| seattles best coffe is better |
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| Name: | bob 00950 |
| Date: | Dec 02 2002 02:46 PM |
| ok who loves STARBUCKS |
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| Name: | Coffee in Canada 00949 |
| Date: | Dec 02 2002 02:23 PM |
| Thanks for your website. It is refreshing to see a place that provides a forum for those of us who do not like the domination of one company in an industry.
However, I have to give Starbucks some credit. Here in Vancouver, prior to Starbucks first outlet opening in the mid-1980s, there was little options for coffee drinkers with the exception of the Italian district along Commercial Drive. Through the 1990s as Starbucks began an explosive opening of coffee outlets in the Vancouver area, many people entered into the coffee business offering their own stores and what has transpired is a wide selection of coffee joints around town.
Sadly, there are those people who feel Starbucks is the one and only coffee to consume. Take Winter. His website -- http://www.starbuckseverywhere.net – documents his obsession to visit every Starbucks location in North America. While he is entitled to his pursuit in life, I feel that he is missing out on the individual coffee joints that are everywhere. Many of them roasting their own beans. It is amazing when people have such a mania with one company as Winter has, but I feel what is fun about going to same chain in New York, Vancouver, or Seattle. Is not life about exploring the differences that makes each place on earth unique? Starbucks is really about providing the same cup of java in every neighbourhood throughout the world. What is exciting about that?
I say coffee drinkers should ignore Starbucks and visit the independent coffee shops that are everywhere but struggle as Starbucks convinces the masses that they are the only coffee company to head for a caffeine fix. |
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| Name: | ShiftKing 00948 |
| Date: | Dec 02 2002 01:06 PM |
| CAManager, I understand what you're saying. We usually run with two openers and a third person who comes in the moment the door opens. I have no problem per se with staffing at my store, I just have a problem with my manager celebrating cutting labor while sales are increasing. My point was simply just that he's never on the floor when it's really busy, because he always overstaffs his shifts. And when he doesn't...he's hopeless and he'll call me and beg me to come in and bail him out. It's kinda funny really. I get good laughs from it. Not to say he's a horrible manager, of the maybe 7 managers that I've had he's #3. He just has...problems with people skills. All in all though...I like my job say...90% of the time, which I think is a lot better than most other companies can hope for. |
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| Name: | curious 00947 |
| Date: | Dec 02 2002 10:54 AM |
| I only stumbled upon this site because I had to do a research paper for something business related. I was looking at the Forbes site and noticed that Starbucks was listed as #58 on the 100 best companies to work for. This intrigued me so I decided to do my report on Starbucks. I personally love the coffee and the atmosphere, but wanted to try and be objective in my research. I see that not everyone is fond of the coffeehouse chain. It seems that most who are not were previous or current employees. This seems odd since they are listed on as one of the top companies to work for. I guess not everyone can be happy with their job in a company thier size. They must be doing something right though. |
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| Name: | Beano 00946 |
| Date: | Dec 02 2002 12:01 AM |
| True that Dan! |
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| Name: | Dan 00945 |
| Date: | Dec 01 2002 11:57 PM |
| First off, this is my first time ever to this website, and it does look promising. Like you all, I think I'll share my story about Starbucks. I've worked in 6 different stores in 3 major markets over 4 years, as a Barista for 2 years, and a supervisor for 2 years. For the most part, life at starbucks wasn't too bad. Got paid pretty high for what I did, was good at it, and developed pride in the company's values and mission statement. Sad to say they are a crock of boiling sh*t. After 4 years, I was terminated as a supervisor for giving away a hot chocolate (that I even marked out)to a Salvation army bell ringer one week before Christmas. Nice guy standing in the rain trying to help others. If Howard Shultz new what the hell was going on in his stores, he'd blow a puylp. Starbucks has simply turned into a dump. Customer service is sacrifed for the bottom dollar, employees are valued as payroll numbers only, and machines are used to brew "premium coffee". Starbucks needs to get back to it's morals and start treating their "partners" and customers like the people that earn their paychecks for them. I want to hear the person who thinks Starbucks does not have the money to pay their employees their worth. You will get better employees if you pay them more, and give good raises where credit is due. 3% is a slap in the face. Most importantly, get good managers and DM's. I've had 9 store managers, and only two of them were any good. Take the politics and fear out of working for Stabucks and treat your people like you would like to have been treated when you had a bum job for minimum wage. Starbucks has made enough money, now it's time for then to make a difference. |
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| Name: | DA Harmon 00944 |
| Date: | Nov 30 2002 10:52 PM |
| George was that you talking to me. By the way the DM of the Citrus heights store says that he is making Cat Angel take me back as a customer. In spite of the fact that I have another coffee shop that I like hanging out at I feel compelled to visit at least once a day to feel triumphent over something.
DA |
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| Name: | CaManager 00943 |
| Date: | Nov 30 2002 03:29 PM |
| oh and "Honest Barista" Its sad to hear you talk about things you don't understand like the Starbucks card LOL Name one company that doesnt take gift certificates??? We make no extra profit of the card. Its free and theres no charge to use it or reload it. Its just like cash. So what the hell are you whinning about.. oh yeah you might have to push and extra button on the register !!! Your job is so difficult!!! LOL |
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| Name: | CaManager 00942 |
| Date: | Nov 30 2002 12:41 PM |
| Hi all.. Ok well I am a manager of a busy store in CA and Shiftking and Babybat have several points. However you guys may not understand that your stores can have 3 openners and more labor if you guys made a few changes. If you guys are using the deployment correctly you can increase your managers labor. Im not standing up for just the manager, I have been with Starbucks for 4 years and I was a Barista fore 2 and a Shiftlead for 1 so I do understand. Your manager may not be using the labor correctly if you guys are overworked call you Partner Resource rep. I have a high volume store and I have 3 openners and 4 closers everynight and I have 29 partners and none complain about the amount of hours they get. So my partners are fouced on the labor. Hopefully your manager can get some help on increasing your labor. They may not know that they can... So seriously call your PR rep for help!!! Good luck to you!!! |
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| Name: | ShiftKing 00941 |
| Date: | Nov 30 2002 01:34 AM |
| Babybat- DEFINATELY not fair. At all! Ummmn, that's about all I have to say about that. Managers can REALLY suck. It's kinda like any other retail job though, luck of the draw. Either you get a good one, or you get a HORRIBLE one. And it seems to me that the good ones, the ones who actually care, get burnt out VERY fast by the company, especially by the DM's, and all the corporate-BS. REALLY unfortunate, although I do know a couple great ones who are making it through. Labor...UGH...don't get me started. You're totally right babybat, opening with two people in half-an-hour is HELL if even the littlest thing goes wrong (which we all know it does more often than not).
Anyways, fight the good fight y'all. Hope "Black Friday" didn't claim any casualties. I (luckily) had the day off, traded the day before Turkey Day and Turkey Day to get today off.
Saw the new Bond movie...it was okay. |
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| Name: | althea 00940 |
| Date: | Nov 29 2002 07:59 PM |
| Used to work for Starbucks for six years. It felt like eternity. I love the coffee though when people make it right. But I busted my butt for my regulars and the people that worked for me. People above did not give a shit................ |
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| Name: | althea 00939 |
| Date: | Nov 29 2002 07:56 PM |
| Used to work for Starbucks for six years. It felt like eternity. I love the coffee though when people make it right. But I busted my butt for my regulars and the people that worked for me. People above did not give a shit........................................... |
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| Name: | A Cup of Joe 00938 |
| Date: | Nov 29 2002 04:43 PM |
| Starbucks is a strange place. Don't like the coffee. Don't like the atmosphere. Don't like the people who frequent the stores. Silly kinda business, really. Don't go there anymore, and don't think I will ever again. |
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| Name: | Mari 00937 |
| Date: | Nov 29 2002 12:49 PM |
| Hey, love the site. Yea, starbucks coffee is pretty gross, especially the foamy ones. I used 2 work at a local starbucks and i tried one, and i barfed when i got home. |
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| Name: | Coffee Bean 00936 |
| Date: | Nov 29 2002 11:38 AM |
| Oh gr0up13s boo who |
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