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From the lens Starbucks in Decline: The Slow Sad Death of a Beloved Mega-Brand.

This is not for ideological Starbucks bashing. Please share stories that will help get the powers that be to focus on the error of their ways!

  • RL Oct 4, 2006 @ 3:22 am | delete
    Starbucks brand has been hollowed-out. See my blog on this at http://richardlipscombe.spaces.live.com They started making Seattle coffee served with ambience and passion. They are now trying to build a global brand with dubious quality coffee no atmosphere and robotic styled interaction.
  • bonus-hunter Oct 3, 2006 @ 3:28 pm | delete
    If you come to Europe or London go to Costa Coffee. Starbucks doesn´t even come close.
  • JAYDEBACA Sep 20, 2006 @ 12:30 am | delete
    A Seattle fan of Starbucks for many years, I too am dismayed with the service. I no longer order lattes or anything barista related as the espresso makers are not what they used to be. I was in Biejing China a few weeks back, and whoa and behold! An original!! The best Latte I have ever had! Jay
  • swasilik Sep 18, 2006 @ 10:57 am | delete
    It's amazing to me how much the quality differs from 'bucks to 'bucks. I've switched to Caribou, or I visit the only Juan Valdez Cafe in the District. While they may not offer as many combinations, the staff is friendlier and the shops far cleaner.
  • MrLewisSmile Sep 11, 2006 @ 7:58 am | delete
    I agree! The Starbucks has become the McDonalds of the coffee shops. Nice lens!
  • ScottStratton Sep 1, 2006 @ 4:24 pm | delete
    Love my Soy Chai Latte and LOVE my beautious Mocha Coconut Frappachino.Hate waiting 19 minutes for ANY Mocha Coconut beauty (MCB).Really hate being told "Oh, it does that" when there's a table that wobbles so much it chucks my MCB onto the floor. Oh, Sbux!systmtizd prsnlizatn, bt nt enuf tim 2 care~
  • Elaine_Corvidae Aug 31, 2006 @ 8:42 pm | delete
    Starbucks drove me away because at one point they were constantly out of soy milk. They were next to a grocery store, but of course not allowed to go buy any. This went on week after week, until I finally gave up on them altogether.
  • mattnunn Aug 31, 2006 @ 7:59 pm | delete
    I just wanted to stand up in defense of my local starbucks. My store is in the Leschi neighbourhood of Seattle, WA and the baristas and manager are great and I think of them as friends, I even invite them to parties.
  • daoine Aug 31, 2006 @ 6:52 pm | delete
    It's not much better here in Australia - we've tried two different Starbucks (yes, only two) and have decided there are far better places to get much nicer tasting coffee. As you say the talented baristas have left and the McDonalds employees are in. They have no idea how to make real coffee.
  • burnsautoparts Aug 31, 2006 @ 6:16 pm | delete
    I recently posted my own Starbucks horror story on my biz blog here:
    http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2006/08/11/listen-and-bend/
  • SEOr Aug 31, 2006 @ 6:04 pm | delete
    It's great that Starbucks has hotspots - but Panera's wireless is free. It means I'm in Starbucks a lot less now that there are Panera's popping up everywhere. Also dissapointing - the yummy low-fat blueberry coffee cake isn't in all locations. =(
  • flaneurs Aug 24, 2006 @ 11:38 pm | delete
    Starbucks that sucks: Marina Del Rey, CA
    4724 1/2 Admiralty (Lincoln
  • aquaken Aug 4, 2006 @ 4:28 pm | delete
    I'm always glad to find a Starbucks on the road, when I have few choices for decent coffee. Close to home, I steer clear and stick with local gems like Cafe Noir in Monterey: great coffee, great staff attitude, wifi, clean
  • meganbc Aug 4, 2006 @ 12:56 pm | delete
    In addition to the bad service, Starbucks has let the housekeeping go a bit. I hate it when my newspaper sticks to the table.

by

MJRovner

I am a passionate coffee lover.  I love Starbucks and dedicate this lens to its rescue.

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