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| The Starbucks Meeting heard all around America | |
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| Topic Started: Feb 27 2008, 04:51 AM (293 Views) | |
| Light Yagami | Feb 27 2008, 04:51 AM Post #1 |
Time is money and money is power. So, of course my ultimate goal is to have power over time
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So, today was the day of the big meeting. Every Starbucks in America was closed form 5:30 PM to 9 PM for a meeting to re-train "and energize partners". Basically, we're doing things better now. Question up for debate Do you believe that a store-wide meeting set in a possative tone with a hint of dissapointment from Howerd Stern, the CEO of Starbucks, will really get Baristas to work harder at delivering the "Starbucks Experience"? This also applies to any other workplace. Do you feel that if your workplace, being Wal-Mart or even a Dairy Farm, had a meeting that required 3 1/2 hours of lost buisness would inspire you and/or the people around you to put more effort into what you do? I know I feel a little bit more inspired to "be legendary". I've also learned some new things and after watching videos made by customers about how they feel about Starbucks and its partners. I had no idea how big a deal it was to have some sort of connection to the customer, be it a small conversation or even having their drink ready for them BEFORE they even reach the register (if they're a usual). Stern hopes that the newly inspired partners will earn back the money lost. Hopefully, we do, but some of the partners have that "whatever" attitude about it. Still, I feel that big meeting like that CAN make a difference in any workplace. how about you? |
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| Soja | Feb 27 2008, 08:25 AM Post #2 |
Gentle Water, Crashing Waves
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Barista. What a joke. Pardon, but I don't much care for pretentiousness. That's the majority of my problem with Starbucks and its frothing fans. There is no "Starbucks experience." I drop in on occasion for a frozen mocha drink once in a while, but I hardly consider it more than a mundane purchase and something I won't care about long after the brainfreeze subsides. This "experience" must be something urban folks with lots of time on their hands can entertain, because I certainly don't spend more than five minutes in the store. I work for Cracker Barrel now. That's the kind of place that's an experience -- a sit-in restaurant with regulars that have been coming for dinner for almost the 30 years of its existence. Starbucks to me is just a coffee joint that seems to have overstayed its expensive welcome in tight times. The money loss was inevitable; Starbucks has had ridiculously annoying growth in the last few years, and believe it or not, there is a limit to gain. The loss probably isn't employee fault; it's probably people making smarter choices about where every dollar goes. And while some losers think that they "need their Starbucks in the morning," a McDonald's coffee will hit the spot just fine for 500% less money. Off-topic, Panera's coffee is much better in my opinion, and it's less expensive. The company's a local upstart, so you probably haven't heard of it. Jeez. I didn't think I had such strong feelings on the matter. Bottom line: I don't give a fuck. |
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| Merk | Feb 27 2008, 08:47 AM Post #3 |
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ザワザワ
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Yes, I do. Meetings like this are a way for stores to measure their own ability and adjust accordingly. By involving all the employees of the store, the meetings gain more insight.
Unfortunately, most Starbucks customers aren't as wise. The "experience" may not be something "authentic", but it definitely exists; it's the reason why Starbucks can charge its exorbitant prices in the first place and still walk away with profit. Even if you don't intend to sit down for an hour while guzzling coffee, you're paying a lot for what is associated with the coffee: - cool-looking artwork of sirens and other hip things - carefully chosen "indie" music - big, comfy chairs - coffee smells - an type of comfortable atmosphere Is it all bullshit? Yes. But it's all still part of what goes into the brand; when you get your drink, you look at the cup and think "This is Starbucks, it must be pretty good". Then you remember all the sights, sounds, etc. that you took in while you were in the store and associate it with that coffee. |
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| Psiwri | Feb 27 2008, 09:10 AM Post #4 |
Too Many Words
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Oh, Coffee. About the same sentiments as Soja, overpriced junk. Then again I've never been a coffee person, either, so I really don't feel anything from this other than the "lol overpriced" part. |
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| Soja | Feb 27 2008, 11:04 AM Post #5 |
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Gentle Water, Crashing Waves
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You do have a point, Merk. When I see Starbucks, I think of my experiences at the places I've been to. Then again, I, and probably every person, does that with any kind of symbology. Psychology calls it "association." By that token, I associate Starbucks with pretentiousness. People with holier-than-thou attitudes and a serious addiction to brand, sipping their exorbitantly priced, exotically named coffee from cups with idiot names for "small, medium and large," and generally following a trendy fashion. I have nothing against conformity. It's inevitable, as even the notion of individualism is a form of conformity. I do have a problem with the trends one can conform to, however. Starbucks is stupidity gone critical, a big deal made out of something the average citizen in reality doesn't give a crap about. This is getting a bit off topic and into personal opinion. In further response to the question at hand, yes, I believe that carefully selected items of bullshit can inspire individuals or groups to great feats of pseudo-importance. Just keep this in mind, Light -- regardless of whatever inspirational crap or whatever was fed into you and your peers, all you need to know is that you are a service professional. Please, thank you, and a smile go a long way, and that's all that's absolutely necessary. People remember that long after some crap coffee's gone diuretic on you, regardless of the joint. Let's just say I don't remember San Marino's Starbucks in more than a pale light because of its lack. In my opinion, this "meeting" was a last-ditch intervention by a greedy man coerced into it by greedy stockholders whose greatest fears encompass solely the definitions of these words: loss, money, limits. |
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| Crysta | Feb 27 2008, 01:45 PM Post #6 |
yay for conformity!
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I live in Starbucks now and I still buy most of my stuff from everywhere around it unless I'm really lazy.  I think my title pretty much says it all. I <3 the comfy chairs, though. I'd just like to say the baristas don't have much to do with the whole experience unless they're hot, which most of the time they aren't. |
~ Crysta, Zombie Queen
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| Pendant | Feb 27 2008, 05:48 PM Post #7 |
Praetor
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From a family of coffee-addicts and connections to a coffee store, plenty of quality stores use the same Tall, etc., system and the "exotically named" coffee. The latter is actually of some use when your tastes start to get a little more picky, and while that's your opinion, I personally don't really see any reason to get worked up about alternate names for a size. It's less of a "trendy" thing and more of a general coffee thing. But considering Starbucks is not high quality coffee, none of that really matters, I suppose. I love cafes/coffee store atmospheres because it's usually warm, quiet, full of comfy chairs, and the smell of coffee is amazing. If anything, what annoys me most about Starbucks are the flocks of high schoolers that feel the need to talk very loudly while ordering their vanilla fraps. I also feel bad if I use that atmosphere without paying, so I usually buy a mocha or something when I do go. All these statements are personal reasons though, so not much to debate on. Also, I don't feel like Starbucks baristas are any different from any other service professionals. From my rare Starbucks visits, I've been lucky in that I've met some incredibly charismatic workers who are easy to chat with and make my trip much more worth it, but I haven't had any major issues. I think a "chat" like that may help for about a week before people fall back into their old habits, but hey, it seems more like reassuring the stockholders than actually trying to get better service anyway. |
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| Light Yagami | Feb 27 2008, 11:57 PM Post #8 |
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Time is money and money is power. So, of course my ultimate goal is to have power over time
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Well our Starbucks is f-ing awsome when it comes to customer service. I'm surprised I'm still there because everyone is fucking h4x at what they do o___o' But, back on topic (not about how you feel about starbucks, but meetings in the workplace) |
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| Laharl | Feb 28 2008, 02:00 AM Post #9 |
Narcissistic Bastard With A Hint Of Mental Insanity Or Mentally Insane With A Hint Of Narcissism
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Starbucks is overrated. Why can't you just go in, order your coffee, and leave? Theres no need to make such a big deal over it. Its just coffee. BTW, Howard Stern the CEO of starbucks? lol |
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| +Harmato | Feb 28 2008, 02:25 AM Post #10 |
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There are people who go in for more than just coffee i.e studying for a test with a friend while drinking a latee or something. |
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| Feez | Feb 28 2008, 02:35 AM Post #11 |
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Ebullient Future
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Yeah, even some college interviews (notably some IVYs) are held at Starbucks. |
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| Soja | Feb 28 2008, 02:37 AM Post #12 |
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Gentle Water, Crashing Waves
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Starbucks recognizes the financial stupidity of most high schoolers and college children, and so they strategically position their stores within walking distances of many campi. Lounges in Starbucks' style aren't unique. They can be found in almost any coffee or tea house, including one in my town that has been doing just that for near 20 years. That said, what makes the place so unique? Nothing in my opinion, but if I had to say something, out of observation it would be that it's fashionable. Few things blatantly proclaim "sophisticated" like a Starbucks cup with obscurely-named contents. I really have nothing to add besides further amplification of my ranting. |
Fusion Universe - FEF Fanfic Slayers Forth - Slayers Fanfic Smartest Member '06 & '07 & '08 & 'o9, Favored Debater '07 & '08 & '09, Most Popular '08, Manliest '08 & '09, Author of Nightmares, Scourge of the Luxon, Rules Lawyer, Nick's Former Hero, Crysta's Lover | |
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| Crysta | Feb 28 2008, 05:44 PM Post #13 |
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yay for conformity!
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Personally, I have a better time at Borders. They have the same comfy chairs, a coffee place inside, and they have books. It just needs to be in walking distance and I'm all set. |
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~ Crysta, Zombie Queen
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| Yzarc | Feb 28 2008, 06:13 PM Post #14 |
Coxian
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I don't think this is so much a "Do you think Starbucks is awesome?" topic as much as a "Do you think it makes sense for companies to have efficiency meetings and whatnot?" I think yes, it is good to retrain your employees once in a while. People develop bad habits and they don't even know they're doing that. Companies like UPS are awesome in that they constantly get you to move quickly and efficiently, with tiny things like multitasking starting the truck and putting on your seatbelt. |
  
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| Soja | Feb 29 2008, 04:49 AM Post #15 |
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Gentle Water, Crashing Waves
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lol @ efficiency meetings during peak business hours |
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2:47 PM Nov 24
