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See the original image at news.bbc.co.uk

Starbucks hit by US housing slowdown

news.bbc.co.uk — Starbucks has cut its forecasts for 2008 profit, blaming an economic environment that it describes as "the worst in the company's history".

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  • BCCStu, on 04/24/2008, -3/+40I haven't had starbucks since about November of this year...awful office coffee will have to do until the economy gets better :(
    • miketrin, on 04/24/2008, -11/+20I quit that over priced oil flavored stuff about 2 years ago. Coffee is still free at work so that's where I get my fix.
      • coldgirl, on 04/24/2008, -4/+9They don't flavor their coffee. If you're talking about overpriced lattes and frappuccinos, that my friend isn't coffee, those are deserts. Coffee is still under $2 at starbucks.
        • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 04/24/2008, -0/+14For 50 cents worth of coffee...
          • Light11, on 04/24/2008, -3/+6+ cup + convenience + their profit
          • Ravatar, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1+ pay and medical benefits for the part-timers
        • HoratioHellpop, on 04/24/2008, -6/+1@coldgirl ... I believe his "oil-flavored stuff" comment was blindingly sarcastic.
    • kingmanic, on 04/24/2008, -2/+11Switch to tea. Easy to make a good cup of tea in the office, harder to get a good coffee. Tea is generally cheaper too! Here in Canada Tim Hortons actually makes a really good cup of tea for under $2 for an extra. Ahh timmies...
      • blitzkriegpunk, on 04/24/2008, -3/+8I miss Tim Hortons. :(

        Soup in a bread bowl. It's soup. In a bowl. Made of bread.
        • pojut, on 04/24/2008, -2/+9If they have it where you live, I highly recommend you check out Panera Bread. They have this French Onion Soup in a Bread Bowl that is FANTASTIC. Granted, it's likely from a can, but it's still quite good...and the bread after the soup is gone is (naturally) the best part of the whole thing:-)

          Seriously though...if there is a Panera Bread near where you live, check them out.
          • didiman, on 04/24/2008, -0/+5Agreed, Panera is excellent all around.
      • funkytaco, on 04/24/2008, -5/+2Starbucks sells tea. I mainly go to coffeeshops when I need to work on something, but Atlanta has many better local choices - Inman Perk, Javaology, and Caribou Coffee is pretty good as well, but I think they're a chain.
        • lunachique, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4Just stay away from their chai. They don't use fresh brewed tea, they use the slurry in a box from Tazo. Huckapo! Revolting!
          • championchap, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Eugh, not a fan of Chai. Masks the flavour of the tea leaves too much.
            Cloves are too pungent for me in a delicate drink like that, the cinamon is a little much too.

            Don't mind tarting up my coffees though, the flavour is a lot stronger and can deal with it a lot better. Harder to overpower.
      • RudeTurnip, on 04/24/2008, -1/+5I bought my GF Kevin Rose's special tea blend from Adagio...because you give roses for Valentine's Day. She appreciated my sense of humor.
      • Ellipsys, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2I keep hearing about this magical Tim Hortons... one of these days I'll have to come up there and see what its all about. I do agree with you about tea! Though, I'm a bit of a tea snob so I really don't save any money on it. However, you can buy top quality organic loose or bagged tea and have it ready to go whenever you're near hot water! Sencha for the win.
      • yaddayaddayoda, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4Okay, you are still getting hosed. A decent cup of tea costs about $0.10 to make.
      • Avaseal, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Oh man, I spent a summer living in PEI one year and hot damn Tim Horton's is the bomb. btw don't ask for an extra extra...up there its a DOUBLE DOUBLE
    • falkonv7l, on 04/24/2008, -1/+1Free coffee at work good, good coffee at a decent coffee shop is Great! especially if you are on the clock ;-)
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 04/24/2008, -0/+24November of this year? Are you a time traveler?
      • HarryTruman, on 04/24/2008, -0/+16He's not, but I am. Greetings from the future!
        • area51x, on 04/24/2008, -7/+1LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
        • anarchyinthekr, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2I accept that you are a time traveler, but aren't you from the past Harry Truman?
          • popfrogs, on 04/24/2008, -2/+2Uh, that kinda goes without saying. He came to the future, which is now.
      • pak314, on 04/24/2008, -0/+3My name is John Titor. I'm a time traveler.
    • IdevInull, on 04/24/2008, -5/+6Starbucks hasn't made good quality coffee in a long time -- people ar catching on getting their good coffee elsewhere.

    • mlavergn, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Amen brother, I kicked their stuff right around the same time. I have to admit I had pounding migraines for about 2 weeks ... even while drinking good old home brew ... thank you Excedrin Migraine. Now that that's behind me, I will never get hooked on their coffee again. While I'm ranting, they need to stop charging for wifi, $10 a day is ridiculous. I get the same caffeine boost from a $1.50 large at Dunkins or $1.80 for a seriously good cup at my local java place, along with free wifi.
      • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1I switched to home brewed decaf about 6 months ago.
        1st week - terrible headaches and I kept falling asleep at 7PM.
        2nd week - a little better
        3rd week completely weened off caffeine!
    • Nobi-Wan, on 04/24/2008, -0/+5When it costs the same to drive to Starbucks as it does to buy the coffee then people are going to weigh their options. I need to put that money into my gas tank
      • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1It already costs more per gallon than gasoline!
        • Monk22, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2so does milk and printer ink. lots of things do.
  • upick, on 04/24/2008, -10/+27I think that its the oil that's causing everything to go up in prices... it's going to get worse.... get ready people
    • greenlight2001, on 04/24/2008, -6/+2Oh really?
    • cowsgonemadd3, on 04/24/2008, -2/+5Its not just oil....
    • kemp34, on 04/24/2008, -0/+15The weaker dollar is making American prices rise for almost any staple.
    • funkytaco, on 04/24/2008, -4/+18Sheesh, people. Come on. It's America's foreign policy, in general. We've weakened our dollar so bad, it's on par with the Canadian and Australian dollar. Back in 2003, 1USD was almost two Aussie ones.

      Blame it on Bush. He's just flat out unfit to be president and won't admit our economy is tanking.
      • HoratioHellpop, on 04/24/2008, -8/+4We weren't in Iraq in the mid 1970's, when inflation and unemployment were WAY higher. Also, Bush wasn't in the white house.
        In other words, pinhead, these things are cyclical, and always will be.
        • mwolfzorn, on 04/24/2008, -1/+9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War
        • AxeSwinger, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4Economic theories don't require recession. Cyclical in expansion but poor policy leads us to the bust. The chasing of higher growth and not accepting zero growth leads to busts because the risks created by chasing that higher growth. Certainly the dollar will increase eventually but it does not have to be a roller coaster ride, pinhead.
          • HoratioHellpop, on 04/24/2008, -2/+0//Certainly the dollar will increase eventually but it does not have to be a roller coaster ride, pinhead.//
            That sounds all warm-n-fuzzy, pinhead, but please tell me when that has been a reality in the pinheaded-US economy.
        • br0ck, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2But we had just finished in Vietnam at a cost of nearly 600 billion of today's dollars.
          • HoratioHellpop, on 04/24/2008, -2/+0And, like today, we blamed it on the sitting president. Which is ludicrous.
    • daschupa, on 04/24/2008, -0/+0A gallon of gas is far cheaper than a gallon of coffee, maybe people are just choosing necessity over luxury. Doesn't work for me, seeing as both are necessary for me to get through the work day.
      • johnomaz, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Yes, but how often do you drink 1 gallon of coffee a day. I dont' buy coffee anymore from starubcks because almost 4 bucks for a large, excust me, venti, coffee is insane. I'd rather get a gallon of gas so i can drive to work. I'll just suffer with coffee I make myself until something happens. Besides, starbucks is just plain expensive anyways. They need to lower prices instead of making more money.
  • Slugo, on 04/24/2008, -10/+66Ohhhh....booohooo ....poor, poor fourbucks
    • mrwells, on 04/24/2008, -1/+4What's more interesting is that Dunkin Donuts sells by far the most coffee in the US, but they're not complaining! Better yet is that you can actually buy a "Large" size there... and it's only a couple bucks.
    • linagee, on 04/24/2008, -0/+5Next thing you know, they will be begging for a govt bailout/handout.
      • IslandDog, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2And Obama will be right there to promise it to them.
    • mGARANDEUR1, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4Yeah I doubt they will ever be hurting for money considering they charge $5 for an exotic coffee-based drink.
      • popfrogs, on 04/24/2008, -1/+3The extra $4.50 is putting some snotty emo kid through college.
        • mGARANDEUR1, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Are you talking about the employees? I have a friend that works there and doesn't gets payed enough to justify paying that much money for coffee.
    • Hangly, on 04/24/2008, -1/+1Starbucks employs 66% of liberal arts, philosophy and English graduates. Who else will employ all those people?
    • CHANNELOCK, on 04/27/2008, -0/+0Fourbucks for starbucks is pretty good name change
  • mrlivingston, on 04/24/2008, -14/+13Boo-friggin-hoo.
  • fudsak, on 04/24/2008, -3/+58Bad economy = No jobs = No need for coffee :D
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 04/24/2008, -1/+18Or you can make your coffee at home for about $6 a month instead of paying $2 a cup at starbucks.
    • Tuto, on 04/24/2008, -2/+1How did you plan staying up all night on digg with out coffee?
  • umbriago, on 04/24/2008, -3/+91Yeah, those $5 lattes are the first thing to go, thank you.
    • minorthreat, on 04/24/2008, -7/+18Even when times were good, I couldn't find it in me to give someone $5 for a latte.. *proud member of the never been to starbucks club*
      • brstilson, on 04/24/2008, -1/+2"Cheap" and "latte" don't really belong together in a sentence. People complain about the prices for their overly elaborate drinks, when a regular cup of coffee at Starbucks really isn't that much more than anywhere else.
        • Monk22, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1false, i can get a bottomless cup of coffee at any diner for $1.10.
      • xexx, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I'm with you, minorthreat... have never sit foot in the place, and proud of it. Hell, I'm usually too cheap to pay for a soda anywhere else, though I indulge when I go to a place like Montana's or something. Water is free and better for you.
    • Cyrus042, on 04/24/2008, -7/+3Their lattes aren't $5. A 16oz is about $3.20. I think their 12oz is just below $3. Just a reminder too, milk isn't cheap.
      • kent1146, on 04/24/2008, -0/+6Cyrus042: Starbucks is a franchise, which means that individual store owners are allowed to set their own prices in their own markets. $3.20 might be the going rate where you live, but go to a major metropolitan area like NY, SF, Chi, LA, etc, and they will be in the $5 range.
        • PolymathicMan, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Yeah. I went to NYC and paid seven dollars for a value meal. ***** big business.
          • Monk22, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1yeah you show the man by buying his products!
          • Ravatar, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1That's too bad, you could have had awesome authentic food from just about any nationality on the planet for $5-10 bucks. Enjoy that McDonalds though.
        • hilandhall, on 04/24/2008, -1/+2I live 1 block from three different starbucks in the major metropolitan area of LA.
          A tall latte with a flavor shot costs $3.00.
          Good homework Kent.
        • jumpingbeenz, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2it's not a franchise, quotes straight from their website "Starbucks does not franchise operations and has no plans to franchise in the foreseeable future.

          In North America, the majority of our stores are Company-operated. As an exception, Starbucks may enter into licensing arrangements with companies who provide access to real estate which would otherwise be unavailable such as airport locations, national grocery chains, major food services corporations, college and university campuses and hospitals."
          http://www.starbucks.com/customer/faq_qanda.asp?na ...
      • zoesmom, on 04/24/2008, -0/+0except it's not a franchise.
    • mcla0181, on 04/24/2008, -1/+0milk is cheaper than gas!
      • Nobi-Wan, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Now it is. It wasn't before.
        • popfrogs, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Here's your chance to make a milk-powered car.
      • WiseWeasel, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Unfortunately, my car gets poor mileage with the stuff...
    • riskybeats, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Ya! Good ridance! Ha ha .. ha.. *hides Starbucks cup behind macbook* ... *sip*
  • br0wnstar, on 04/24/2008, -6/+22Luckily, the best coffee in Canada is also quite affordable.

    Timmies FTW!
    • CiXeL, on 04/24/2008, -1/+5when are those bastards going to start opening stores south of the canadian border?
      • legoalert33, on 04/24/2008, -0/+3There are stores south of the Canadian border.
      • Dissonance, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1There are stores in upstate New York, MA, Connecticut and PA...there may be stores in other states too. Don't know if Tim Horton's will work in the U.S. It's affordable, fresh, no-nonsense type stuff.
    • nevaseez, on 04/24/2008, -1/+1since when is robusto, the best coffee?? Timmies tastes like *****, mc donalds has REAL coffee from Arabica beans
    • DarthDiabetes, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Oh man. I live in Canada and Timmy's is not good coffee. What the hell is wrong with you? You like extra MSG in your coffee? Besides, if you get a black coffee, it's pretty much the same price everywhere you go. Starbucks, Timmy's, Blenz, Second Cup. They're all the same. If you want good coffee, you have to brew it at home. Kicking Horse beans are good.
  • DeFex, on 04/24/2008, -1/+44Oh no! i hope starbucks doesn't go out of business that would be terrible! how a re we supposed to get a 1200 calorie sugar and coffee flavored drink?
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 04/24/2008, -0/+17And what of all those poor barristas who have no real world skills?
      • Monk22, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1they will go work at other jobs where they can smoke pot like pizza places and such.
    • peestandingup, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Kool-Aid + Kahlúa = OH YEAH!
  • tmaiden, on 04/24/2008, -8/+16I still won't go to starbucks until the phrase "medium extra extra" returns a "medium" "regular coffee" with "extra cream" and "extra sugar". Sorry but I still haven't caught on to the exotic coffee wave.
    • flooger847, on 04/24/2008, -1/+2what about a medium double-double?
      • Nobi-Wan, on 04/24/2008, -0/+3Oh man... now I want In-n-Out but there isn't one within 30 minutes of me. Thanks a lot, *****.
    • funkytaco, on 04/24/2008, -3/+1http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-127702847 ...
      Is it French? Or is it Italian?
    • boner79, on 04/24/2008, -1/+2When I have the displeasure of going to Starbucks, to meet up with people or whatever, I refuse to order coffee using their stupid coffee lingo.
      Me: "Give me an extra-large coffee"
      Starbucks-Baristard: "You want a venti?"
      Me: "WTF is a venti? No I want an extra-large coffee"
      Starbucks: "So you want a venti?"
      Me: " WTF part of extra-large don't you understand?"
      Starbucks: "So you want a venti?"
      Me: "I'll tell you where you can put your venti GET OVER HERE!!!! "
      Starbucks" So you want a venti?"
  • CheeseburgerBro, on 04/24/2008, -1/+24Starbuck is a Cylon.
  • cubicledrone, on 04/24/2008, -7/+6Oops! Someone didn't get enough money! Now they will throw a tantrum and fire all their good people, furthering the economic slowdown for everyone else while they cry and gripe.

    Remember when we had bosses who acted like adults?
    • bandomac, on 04/24/2008, -3/+1I have never had a boss who acted like an adult. That is why I work for myself.
  • jedisushi, on 04/24/2008, -10/+15I hate Starbucks. Thank you, that is all.
  • PyroChan, on 04/24/2008, -10/+2Man, i want a large, er excuse me, "Grande" cup of coffie right now.
    • JCLutz54, on 04/24/2008, -0/+8it pretty much sucks when you can't even make an accurate joke.

      Medium=grande
      Large=venti

      Try again next time.
    • FlyingSpaghetti, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Here, have a grande cup of fail for your efforts.
  • imLissy, on 04/24/2008, -2/+31Maybe if they stopped charging crazy prices...
    • oo00mige00oo, on 04/24/2008, -2/+2daing i was gonna say that...but true they are expensive!!
    • coldgirl, on 04/24/2008, -2/+8Don't buy $4 desert drinks full of sugar. It costs too much, isn't coffee and are terrible for you. Coffee and teas is still pretty cheap at starbucks.
      • alliekins619, on 04/24/2008, -0/+6But... my Venti Raspberry Mocha Latte!
      • Nobi-Wan, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1My Orange Mocha Frappaccino!
      • mt4055, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Gag !!
        Just say, Venti drip. TwoBucks and go.
    • MindTrigger, on 04/24/2008, -0/+6The economy isn't their main problem, but it's a big part of it. The other issue is a stale product line that eveyone is stick of. I love cofee, but startbucks just seems like the McDonalds of cofee shops, and the quality of the procuct has not been up to par for a long time now.
      • alliekins619, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1The quality of your spelling hasn't been up to par lately either.
    • brstilson, on 04/24/2008, -2/+3I made a comic about this a few weeks ago:
      http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs28/f/2008/101/7/1/Exp ...
      • popfrogs, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Is it difficult to draw with an etch-a-sketch?
      • PolymathicMan, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Was that supposed to be funny?
  • dagwood, on 04/24/2008, -3/+28Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks.
  • moolaismyfriend, on 04/24/2008, -2/+63You mean all those middle aged woman drinking their 4.50$ lattes two to three times a day that they paid for with their credit card that was paid off with the money they pulled out of their over valued house on a line of home equity credit?

    Thats a bitch.
    • crapmatic, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4Exactly, that was my first thought.
    • mGARANDEUR1, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4Homeowners that cannot properly spend their money have a scapegoat - the economy.
  • tdishman, on 04/24/2008, -3/+11I can't wait for Starbucks to start closing their little stores that inject unneeded traffic into places where traffic was never an issue. I can't stand when some dumbass holds up smooth running traffic just because Starbucks decided to plop a franchise on every other corner.
    • skuba21, on 04/24/2008, -2/+2Starbucks is not a franchise, they own all of their stores.
    • sgtpapi, on 04/24/2008, -2/+1Starbucks doesn't franchise (http://www.dreamfranchises.com/starbucksfranchise. ...
    • tdishman, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Thanks for the clarification. The added traffic still sucks.
    • Bodhinature, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I can't wait for Starbucks to start closing stores so I can has a little ***** variety in this ***** city. Really, does Manhattan really need a goddamn Starbucks in every mother ***** corner?! They don't even make espresso with an espresso machine. Its just an high-cost version of the automatic cuisinart you can get for home. I want a ***** espresso coffee made by someone who knows how to make a ***** espresso coffee and not some monkey pushing a button marked 'espresso.' And its still 5 bucks! Its an unskilled 5 bucks!
      Hmmm... Maybe I don't need any coffee at all.
  • markbrown, on 04/24/2008, -5/+46Maybe it's because people only want their coffee in regular sizes. You know, like:

    SMALL
    MEDIUM
    LARGE

    Not whatever the ***** sizes Starbucks has going on. One time I ordered a "tall" -- I swear, I could've pissed more than cup they gave me.
    • crapmatic, on 04/24/2008, -1/+3Well said. Even McDonalds went back to small-medium-large after trying to reinvent the English language to fit their cup sizes.
    • miket, on 04/24/2008, -2/+4i can piss and fill a 1L soda bottle
    • mGARANDEUR1, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1I think the tall is pretty big. Of course I normally only drink one cup of coffee a day ( fairly large mug)
    • mt4055, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2you can go to Wendy's and get it "Biggie sized"
    • NoDitchDigging, on 04/24/2008, -0/+0The Starbucks I go to has the empty cups stacked right by the register. I just walk up, pick the size I want, and ask for drip coffee in it.
  • kemp34, on 04/24/2008, -1/+31Yeah, $4 lattes are pretty quick to go when the economy goes sour.
  • kingUssop, on 04/24/2008, -1/+22So there is an upside to the economic problems...
  • MrErr, on 04/24/2008, -1/+6i guess the economy must really be bad if people stop buying coffee!
    • sgtpapi, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Not just any coffee highly priced over-rated coffee :)
    • mGARANDEUR1, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Maybe people will get smart and just make it themselves instead to save money.
  • falkonv7l, on 04/24/2008, -0/+6Can't be No. 1 forever
    • leerayIG88, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Nope....America is number 1. (in my heart)
  • prleet, on 04/24/2008, -15/+20sturbucks + the people that go there=Morons of society
    Dugg me down...I know I will..
    • falkonv7l, on 04/24/2008, -3/+2Hey even the morons have to go somewhere, and that way we know where they all are.
    • mcla0181, on 04/24/2008, -1/+2society is largely based on morons... similar to poor folks...
    • Malevolant, on 04/24/2008, -3/+3digg.com + most of the people that go there=Morons of society
      • popfrogs, on 04/24/2008, -1/+3Do you realize you just included yourself? Ouch.
        • leerayIG88, on 04/24/2008, -1/+1maybe he wasn't really here? Maybe....we don't exist. Maybe....made up by someones imagination?
  • Benjaminperry, on 04/24/2008, -3/+2Shame the coffee from Starbucks tastes OK here! Keeps us awake when showing tenants around property late at night.
  • Enron1985, on 04/24/2008, -2/+37If anything Starbucks should be blaming themselves for over expansion.
    • daemoncel1, on 04/24/2008, -2/+2This is the one comment on here i will agree with. It may be over expansion for sure.
    • mcla0181, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Wait wait wait.... Are you telling me that a starbucks across the street from a starbucks is considered over expansion? (comment inspired by Lewis Black's notes on The End Of The World)
    • mt4055, on 04/24/2008, -0/+12,150 [new Starbucks] stores for fiscal 2008, down from a reduced target of 2,500. That includes closing about 100 underperforming stores in the U.S. and opening about 75 new stores abroad. As of Jan 1st, 2008 Starbucks had a total store count of 15,756 (including frachises). By 2009, Starbucks hopes to open more stores abroad than domestically. -Source: CNNMoney
    • chemdiva, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1I also think they have really diluted their brand - adding too many foods and different drink choices. In my experience their increased automation has also resulted in increased consistency from store to store - but now it's consistently ok instead of sometimes great and sometimes awful.
  • blitzkriegpunk, on 04/24/2008, -6/+15Can't say much about their ***** coffee, but for the same price as a grande caramel latte, I get an awesome breakfast:

    1 low fat blueberry muffin
    1 banana
    1 organic vanilla milk

    ***** WIN!
    • BetterOffEd, on 04/24/2008, -2/+6How do you get a JOLT off of ANY of that stuff?


      '
    • theneb29, on 04/24/2008, -2/+1I am not entirely sure how to get a JOLT off any of that, but i think its something sexual
    • Narcism, on 04/24/2008, -3/+4Does that order come with anal sex?
  • employeeno5, on 04/24/2008, -3/+3Better article on NPR this morning.
  • dvda2, on 04/24/2008, -1/+27housing slowdown? Try McDonalds cutting into their market by offering cheap iced coffee using real words like medium and large. None of this stupid grande crap ...
    • Zalyster, on 04/24/2008, -4/+1McDonalds iced coffee is coffee with ice in the cup, Starbucks blends it.
      • Railz, on 04/24/2008, -1/+5Tastes the same when all you're really after is the caffiene
    • evanfrey, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1or just uses crushed ice.....
    • kemp34, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4I think it is a combo of more competition (i.e. McDonald's), the housing/economic slowdown, over-expansion and somewhat crappy coffee. Their fall has been predictable.
    • Malevolant, on 04/24/2008, -0/+3McD's iced coffee is ***** horrible, but a much better value.
      • flclfan22, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Agreed, they taste like piss, and I'm not just saying that because I'm some Starbucks fanboy I really thought it was bad!
    • NoDitchDigging, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1I must admit that I'm tempted to try Mickey D's coffee. My boss (who's a hardcore Peets fan) has been coming to work with them, so they can't be all that bad.
      • hilandhall, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1in los angeles, their drinks are about $1 cheaper than their starbucks counterpart.
  • Lubinski, on 04/24/2008, -2/+17Dugg for the fall of starbucks!
  • Suzilla, on 04/24/2008, -3/+6Wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that people are finally getting over the novelty and realizing that their coffee is bitter-tasting, scorched swill and that better (though not much better) can be had at just about any other chain or one-off coffee shop.
  • Asberry, on 04/24/2008, -3/+9If you need to wake up, eat an apple instead. It's cheaper and it does a better job of waking you up.
    • TotalDouche, on 04/24/2008, -2/+2My Venti coffee disagrees.
    • Dumbledorito, on 04/24/2008, -2/+1But how do you get the provigil into the apple?
  • o0joshua0o, on 04/24/2008, -0/+16They need a dollar menu.
  • zmigliozzi, on 04/24/2008, -0/+3White Castle coffee has always tasted better and is much for wallet friendly. Never really liked starbucks and their stuck up mentality, so I hvaen't been there for about 2 years. I drink coffee black no sugar, something that starbucks people look at you like u have a third eye.
    • bandomac, on 04/24/2008, -3/+1I haven't ever had to deal with a stuck up Starbucks employee. In fact, almost all of them have been extremely nice. I think you are making up a scenario in order to fit in with the Starbucks bashers. Now if you want to talk about Wal*mart employees...is it possible to be stuck down?
    • Cyrus042, on 04/24/2008, -2/+1No they don't. Any serious coffee drinker at Starbucks would probably encourage you to drink it black so that you can enjoy the blend of the coffee. You should try their Pike Place blend, which they are starting to bring back into their stores. (It was originally only available in Seattle) White Castle probably uses robusta beans.
  • ronaldmonster, on 04/24/2008, -1/+6Thats what happens when you feel the need to live beyond your means.
  • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 04/24/2008, -3/+18Dunkin Donuts coffee is much better.
    • BetterOffEd, on 04/24/2008, -3/+3Sure--if you think of coffee as candy.
    • mt4055, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Gag!! (Hey, didn't I say that in an earlier post?)
  • LogicBomB, on 04/24/2008, -0/+10Seriously, buy a bag of good quality beans and load it up into the office coffee machine. If you served 2 giant pots of coffee to your office every day you'd:

    - Be saving a tremendous amount of money
    - Be the office hero
    - Not be the moron who spends $4.00 a day for a single cup of joe

    The taste isn't so different that you should bend over daily for their prices.
    • Cyrus042, on 04/24/2008, -2/+2No one is spending 4 dollars on drip coffee. It's usually less than 2 bucks. Plus the cost of cream and milk are associated into that cost.
    • theneb29, on 04/24/2008, -1/+1ok, to be the office hero u fill the machine, who cleans it up later?
    • mt4055, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1A cup of Joe at Star$ is only 2bucks.
    • LogicBomB, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Who cleans it up? Seriously? Are you 12? Everyone in the office should be lending a hand in cleaning the community kitchen. If they don't then just be a man, take 30 seconds, and ***** clean it...

      Is the world really *THIS* lazy? God forbid the garbage get full or you run out of dishes.
  • Ratking, on 04/24/2008, -1/+10Hmm. Maybe they should think about adding booze to the coffees. Everyone knows when times get tight, people like to drink.
  • leopardflames, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4eh, it takes less time to brew your own coffee than to wait in a starbucks line. and no point in buying coffee there if i just drink it black anyways.
    • mt4055, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1no point in buying coffee there if i just drink it black anyways.
      .. other than taste.
  • JAGUART, on 04/24/2008, -2/+6I guess when the "ecomony" is bad, the first thing to go are those $5 handjobs with extra froth.
    • serif69, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1If I could get a $5 handjob at Starbucks I'd go to Starbucks more often.
  • scottperezfox, on 04/24/2008, -2/+3Another quirk of economics that doesn't apply in New York City. Starbucks is still going strong here.
    • daemoncel1, on 04/24/2008, -1/+0The Starbucks next to my job (Downtown NYC) is packed daily. It's always funny when you read about economic downturns and i look around NYC and see nothing of the sort.
    • PHiZ187, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4It's doubly funny because of the concentration of financial businesses in NYC, this is where recessions originate from. I guess NYC is kinda like the eye of the hurricane. You're insulated from the destruction surrounding you.
      • postalblowfish7, on 04/24/2008, -1/+1unless that destruction is in the form of a plane crashing into the side of a skyscraper.
        ...
        too soon?
  • Aidenf77, on 04/24/2008, -0/+6So finally, overextending themselves has caught up to them. Well, at least they have a scapegoat to blame for their declining sales.
    • mt4055, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Yea, they are over extended. They are only opening 2000+ new stores this year.
  • dunderballer, on 04/24/2008, -0/+15Starbucks problem extends beyond the economy. They based their strategy on an unsustainable trend. Compared to other coffee shops, Starbucks are small, impersonal, and wreak of the now stale brand image. I don't think I can enjoy another cup of coffee staring at a douchebag barista in a green smock, the standard rack full of acoustic CDs, nor the shelves filled with mugs, bagged beans, and consumer model espresso makers.
    • h4k0r, on 04/24/2008, -1/+1Dugg for dbag barrista's
    • daemoncel1, on 04/24/2008, -4/+0I know i can. if it bugs you that much, then don't go. It's not that big a deal, get over it.
    • JCLutz54, on 04/24/2008, -1/+4From the "douchebag barista in a green smock":
      Most of the time, I am very personal, very friendly, and make your coffee how YOU like it. Although, there have been days, where i have been in a bad mood. LIke any normal person.
      I have made old ladies ask to see my managers because they have never had a teenager be so sweet and conversational, I have people come back and ask for me by name, and we love our customers.

      Don't be hatin' on the green apron.
      • dunderballer, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Fair enough. The douchebag comment was not warranted. I was more getting at the way that the thick branding robs the coffeshop atmosphere of its individuality right down to the individuality of its baristas which appear to be masked by the token green aprons. Seriously though, people who work in coffee shops are some of the nicest and most personable people I have come across. Hats off to you.
        • JCLutz54, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Understandably. It would be pretty rockin if I could wear a pair of chucks with some neon laces. There are rules about not wearing purfume or cologne, no nail polish, no black socks, any headband or ribbon in your hair must be black... You are right about limiting individuality. I think the point of it all, is to look professional. But come on, its coffee, not government.
    • lunachique, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1You forgot the dusty Cranium boxes and frowning plush bears dressed in stupid costumes.
      • JCLutz54, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1You must have spent a lot of time in a starbucks cafe to notice the "bear"istas and Cranium.
    • olbap, on 04/24/2008, -2/+8I wouldn't call the Baristas douchebags. I'd call all those "self-important" hipsters with their noses buried in their macbooks the real douchebags. I can't stand Starbucks because of its customers. I feel like every time I go into a Starbucks, I am in the middle of a pageant parade of faux intellectualism and designer hipsterism that just makes me want to puke. Every woman looks like a snotty bitch and every guy an wimpy metrosexual.
    • mt4055, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1I agree with everything you say but I still gotta have the Venti Drip on the way to work.
      • flclfan22, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2ventis are way too much coffee for anyone
    • jmontana66, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1reek. not wreak.
  • uruururr, on 04/24/2008, -2/+9bad news for starbucks, good news for humanity.
  • BetterOffEd, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4BETTER COFFEE for CHEAPER:

    [ http://www.CommunityCoffee.com/ccc/CoffeeHouse.asp ... ]

    (Too bad only available in the southeast)


    '
    • shauncorleone, on 04/24/2008, -1/+1Community Coffee is weak AND terrible. Double threat.
    • ExSlashdotter, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Hmm. I live in FL now, but I've only ever seen CC when I lived in Louisiana.
  • area51x, on 04/24/2008, -2/+7Good riddance.
  • h4k0r, on 04/24/2008, -4/+3I don't speak fritalian
  • soupdawg30, on 04/24/2008, -1/+6I always thought Starbucks was more of a fad. Doesn't surprise me their business is slowing down.
  • sensualspace, on 04/24/2008, -2/+8Good. They where over priced crap. Dunkin Dounuts coffee all the way baby!
    • NonLeftistDiggr, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1That is some awesome stuff. Dunkin Dounuts regular black is better than a frappucino, let alone Starbucks regular black. Pike's Place Roast is total garbage too, I was hoping that new formula would be more Dunkin dounuts like so they could compete.
  • MrFurious2k, on 04/24/2008, -3/+17I still think "Tall, Vente, and Grande" is stupid. It's ***** "small, medium, and Large."
    • h4k0r, on 04/24/2008, -0/+6but... but.... but...., how can I call myself classy and sophisticated with such layman's terms
      • yournamehere, on 04/24/2008, -2/+9Buy a Mac, same elitist satisfaction over nothing.
    • NonLeftistDiggr, on 04/24/2008, -1/+1I couldn't agree more! That's so FKing retarded!!!!
      That's what "elitism" is about. I order my coffee like a dumbass every time I do go, uh, what do you call medium?...... yeah that one, one of those please.
  • bobblekabobble, on 04/24/2008, -0/+0Winter must be so sad right now...
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