Community Chat

[Reba055]

I met a designer at Starbucks once, just long enough to look over some things she had drawn out. Maybe 10 mins. It was about the same scenario as the OP described. Luckily she was there before me and had a spot. 

What a friggin nightmare!  It was so loud and crowded. The baristas were excellent, really moving along quickly, but it was just nerve racking. And so many people were just hanging around that were obviously finished. I don't know why you would want to just hang out there when it's so loud and busy on a Saturday morning.  

I don't go to Starbucks often but when I do I run in and get mine and go or do the drive thru. If I want to hang out and socialize it wouldn't be at Starbucks.  I'm funny about that.  I prefer a restaurant where you can get waited on at the table. It's calmer and more relaxing. Not that manic mess at Starbucks. 

[sidsmom]

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@foundinlv wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@Pearlee wrote:

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@foundinlv wrote:

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@biancardi wrote:

these types of places cater to people lingering.  They aren't going to spell out rules because they want people to hang around - they will refill their coffee and purchase more.  It is part of a community as well. 

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Starbucks has been closing hundreds of their stores in recent years. 

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She's right!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/28/starbucks-to-close-300-mo_n_161979.html

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That's because there just too many of them! There may only be one in small towns, and people in small towns may be thrilled to have them, but in larger towns and large metropolitan areas there can be one on every block. Just like grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants - too many is too many. Stores that never were needed or should have opened will close.

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No, if their business model was working they'd have more of them not less. 

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Regardless if they're closing or not, they are still making a ton of money.  

Making the stockholders very, very happy.  Yay! says someone who is invested.

[NYC Susan]

I go to Starbucks all the time.  I was there today, actually.  Sometimes it's crowded and there's no place to sit.  No big deal  - I just see that all seats are taken, and I take my coffee and leave.  It's not that different from anywhere I want to sit - in a park when there are no available benches, or wherever.

I don't assess the situation to the extent of determining who is sitting there, what they're doing, how long they've been in those seats, and if it's time for them to leave.  All I notice is whether or not there are unoccupied seats.  If there aren't, then there aren't.  That's the way life goes sometimes - Not a big deal to me at all.

[SydneyH]

Businesses now encourage the lingering.  It generates sales believe it or not........

[child prodigy]

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@pattypeep wrote:

I just go through the drive-thru and drink on the run in the comfort of my car.

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Distracted driving is dangerous.

[child prodigy]

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@MyGirlsMom wrote:

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@Pearlee wrote:

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@MyGirlsMom wrote:

 Buy a Keurig, QVC has several.

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Had one, returned it, didn't like it.  So much for that.

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Nespresso

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I'm smiling.

[GSPgirl]

I agree with you.  I actually don't go to Starbucks anymore because their service is bad. Maybe it's just the ones where I live, but they don't always yell your name when the coffee is ready and very few smiles when you order their very over priced coffee,  

[biancardi]

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@Moonchilde wrote:

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@Pearlee wrote:

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@foundinlv wrote:

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@biancardi wrote:

these types of places cater to people lingering.  They aren't going to spell out rules because they want people to hang around - they will refill their coffee and purchase more.  It is part of a community as well. 

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Starbucks has been closing hundreds of their stores in recent years. 

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She's right!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/28/starbucks-to-close-300-mo_n_161979.html

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That's because there just too many of them! There may only be one in small towns, and people in small towns may be thrilled to have them, but in larger towns and large metropolitan areas there can be one on every block. Just like grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants - too many is too many. Stores that never were needed or should have opened will close.

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exactly!  We have new ones opening up here, because I work in a major college town.   Even though MA loves its Dunkins, Starbucks is very popular out here. 

They close a store where doesn't have a lot of traffic and open it where it will have traffic. 

Dunkins doesn't have the same setup as Starbucks and they are closing stores as well http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/01/investing/dunkin-donuts-store-closings/

So, oohhh, let's see what that MEANS now, hahaha....

[jackthebear]

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@Pearlee wrote:

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@HB glamma wrote:

Kind of off-topic, but kind of a similar pet-peeve for me....people in Barnes & Noble sitting in the chairs like it was their house, literally reading magazines & books. They arent spending a nickel or dime there, but occupying the chairs and making magazines and books look used.  I see people who obviously come often and read novels this way. I think management should monitor this activity also.  These folks should be directed to the nearest library!  And I agree about Starbucks!

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Those people should definitely go to a library.  You are right about them making raggedy items that are for sale.  

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B&N  near me, I see the same peeps camped out there, they need to use our library system, which acutally has better wifi. 

[biancardi]

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@Pearlee wrote:

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@Deanie wrote:

Very interesting topic.  I seem to see that it less about Starbucks and more about common courtesy.  

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@Deanie You are exactly right - it is an issue of common courtesy.  These people sit there for hours, see others looking for spaces to sit and not finding any easily, and don't care.  That really is the issue, and why the lingerers don't bother me at all when the store isn't filled up.

Yes, getting rid of WiFi would be a step in solving the problem.  

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@Pearlee wrote:

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@Deanie wrote:

Very interesting topic.  I seem to see that it less about Starbucks and more about common courtesy.  

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@Deanie You are exactly right - it is an issue of common courtesy.  These people sit there for hours, see others looking for spaces to sit and not finding any easily, and don't care.  That really is the issue, and why the lingerers don't bother me at all when the store isn't filled up.

Yes, getting rid of WiFi would be a step in solving the problem.  

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no, they aren't going to do that.  This is how Starbucks operates and they are doing just fine.  

"Revenue for the quarter jumped 17.5 percent, to $4.9 billion, up from $4.2 billion in the same period a year ago. Profits grew even more, to $626.7 million, or 41 cents a share, a 22 percent increase from $512.6 million, or 34 cents a share, last year."

They don't have a losing business model and whereas I don't use their tables, as I am a "to-go" person with my coffee, they wish to encourage a sense of community and a bistro setting.   You might wish to talk to managment about having more seating available, but they aren't going to get rid of WiFi - it is part of their image and business model.  All major places like this has wifi, even my dmv has wifi, why would you throw starbucks back into the stone age, just because you can't find a seat? 

It isn't just starbucks - my local coffee shop is always packed and you know what?  If one person is taking up a whole table, and I need to sit down and eat, I will sit down with them.  No one cares, it is a sense of community.