Ripped off in Starbucks?

[Sooner Steve]

I love Starbucks but not at those prices. Maybe that is why our new Starbucks closed last weekend.   

[Pshrynk]

I hit a Charbucks occasionally...

What kills me is the requisite tip jar -- the "barrista" (bwaahaaahaa ) can barely make the effort to smile or even be polite, glares at me if I don't order in the exact starbucks weird coffee language and has only helped me for 2.5 minutes and then they expect a tip? 

 -- for what?!?!?!?!?!? 

[D.A.L.U.I.]

I got tired of paying $3 & $4 at the coffee bar in the building for cappacino and latte, so I dug out our expresso machine that hadn't been used since before Katrina and got a can of Italian expresso coffee at the Italian deli--I now make my own--after 4 uses of the  machine, I'm now ahead of the game.  Plus, it's a consistent product I control.  It's really not hard to do.  But--no money in the tip jar so far!

[BaldBear]

I guess I am definitely in the minority here. I really like the drinks at Starbucks. I go once or twice a day. Now if I was just a "plain" coffee drinker, I guess I wouldn't waste my time going there, but I order all those "foo-foo" coffee drinks, and really enjoy them. Their oatmeal is yummy too!

Here in SOCAL, you can be waiting in line at one Starbucks...and be looking at the line at another. There are WAY too many of them, and I am sure some will close.

[Antimidas]

Antimidas' rules of tipping

If I order food to go at a restaurant and they either deliver or bring to my car, I tip.  If I go somewhere and have to go in to pick of the food or in any way serve myself, I don't tip.  I never tip at a drive through of any kind.  When I go some place where I have to serve myself and they have a tip jar prominently displayed, I inform them that to earn a tip they must serve me.  Tips are for good service not self service, and I have no problem explaining that to them.  I also refuse to go to places where they calculate the tip into your bill unless it is a large group and not my decision.  Then I only tip the required amount or simply don't go.  Tips are merit based and not an expense line item.  Besides, we are already way over-paying for mildly flavored hot water at coffee shops.  They should tip me for placing my order, drinking it and disposing of my own trash.

But to all the cheapskates out there that don't like to tip altogether, when you sit down at a table and the wait staff is serving you, you tip them.  I never leave a place without tipping $5 at the least.  Most of them have diminished wages because the employers consider tips part of their compensation.  To not tip is rude.

[Sooner Steve]

I love Starbucks but not at those prices. Maybe that is why our new Starbucks closed last weekend.   

They took down the sign today.  Sorry to see it go.  Tough for the economy of a small town trying to play with the big boys.   

[xnewyawka]

I love Starbucks but not at those prices. Maybe that is why our new Starbucks closed last weekend.   

They took down the sign today.  Sorry to see it go.  Tough for the economy of a small town trying to play with the big boys.   

Time to open up a Dunkin' Donuts Steve, it would probably do way better.   

[RyanJP]

Within the vicinity of my house and around the university, we have 7 starbucks, I don't waste my time because I have Peets coffee near my house.

[Antimidas]

Caribou Coffe is just as plentiful around here.  Then there is also Dunn Brothers.  Until it falls back to a nickel a cup, I think I will stick to Diet Coke or the cheap stuff at home for my morning caffeine supplement.  Gots to have me my Diet Coke intake of two liters per day. 

[Timmay]

I do not do the Starbucks thing...well for one, we do not have one located in this town..it wouldnt survive anyways.  We already have a great locally owned coffeehouse, Cherry Ghost Coffeehouse.  On Friday and Saturday nights you can even go there and enjoy local talent playing their music.  Y'all come down for a visit and we will go.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Our family supports the local home team, PJ's over the Starbuck's guys, when we don't make our own. 

[tomgallagher]

Starbucks coffee always seemed a little on the burned side to me.

[Ollie_Boy]

When ever I go in I feel like my masculinity has been pulled out from underneath me - the coffees not bad just abit overpriced for my student pocket, I dont understand how they can charge £3-4 ($4.80) for some coffee beans and hot water!

[marty22]

overpriced and I switched to tea.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Starbucks coffee always seemed a little on the burned side to me.

Dark roast is hard to do right, many times they seem to miss.