Starbucks to close for three hours - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ilovethe80s · 02-26-2008, 05:50 PM

SEATTLE - Starbucks is shutting its doors for three hours Tuesday night, the latest drastic step in a companywide bid to improve its sagging fortunes.

The shutdown is one of several big moves spearheaded by Chairman and Chief Executive Howard Schultz, who recently took back the reins of the company amid concerns that it was losing its edge and facing increased competition from the likes of McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts.

Schultz has said the shutdown, which begins at 5:30 p.m. local time, is a way to energize its 135,000 employees and provide some barista re-education in the "art of espresso" at its 7,100 U.S. locations.

In a memo to employees and the public, Schultz said the goal of the closure was to improve the so-called "Starbucks Experience" — the company's shorthand for its mixture of service, ambience and coffee that spurred its explosive growth and success in recent years.

"We are passionate about our coffee. And we will revisit our standards of quality that are the foundation for the trust that our customers have in our coffee and in all of us," Schultz wrote in a memo titled "Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #8."

The move comes about a year after a memo was made public in which Schultz openly fretted about whether the Starbucks brand was being watered down by changes including adding automated espresso machines and using pre-ground, pre-packaged coffee in stores. Both moves have robbed the stores of some of their aroma and romance but have allowed customers to get their caffeine fix more quickly.

Max Whittaker · 02-26-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovethe80s

The move comes about a year after a memo was made public in which Schultz openly fretted about whether the Starbucks brand was being watered down by changes including adding automated espresso machines and using pre-ground, pre-packaged coffee in stores. Both moves have robbed the stores of some of their aroma and romance but have allowed customers to get their caffeine fix more quickly.

This is what happens when small companies grow. It's happened to my company. It's ironic because it's a place where people come expecting the freshest ingredients.

Courtnee · 02-26-2008, 08:32 PM

Although I'm not a coffee fan, I perfer Dunkin Dounuts lattes over Starbucks. They're too expensive for me!

TJL · 02-26-2008, 08:33 PM

That explains why there were all those confused people with laptops wandering around on my block...

PZelda · 02-26-2008, 09:43 PM

I was at the mall today. The standalone Starbucks in the mall was closed, but the other Starbucks located in Target was open. Hurrah!

Ireneparalegal · 02-26-2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

That explains why there were all those confused people with laptops wandering around on my block...

dawsongirl · 02-26-2008, 11:02 PM

1. Lower your prices.

2. Get rid of the idiotic names for sizes.

Yay...I saved Starbucks.

ilovethe80s · 02-26-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

1. Lower your prices.

2. Get rid of the idiotic names for sizes.

Yay...I saved Starbucks.

I agree i don't even really go there I just posted the article but I think Dunkin' Donuts is more popular in New England where i'm from anyways. What are the names for the sizes I'm just wondering? They don't call them small, medium or large?

ilovethe80s · 02-26-2008, 11:23 PM

Oh i understand what your talking about I just went to Dunkin Donuts website and I think they were making fun of Starbucks a commercial played and the girl said she'll have a large and the girl keeps saying Deici is that really even a word

PZelda · 02-26-2008, 11:26 PM

Whenever I go to Starbucks, I just say "large hot vanilla latte, please." -- they know what I'm asking anyway and don't correct me on what they call the large size.

I can't read in-store menus for jack, ESPECIALLY Starbuck's menu - it's MURDER on my eyes - so I just don't even bother to see what they call their sizes.

OH Nuts! · 02-26-2008, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Courtnee

Although I'm not a coffee fan, I perfer Dunkin Dounuts lattes over Starbucks. They're too expensive for me!

I don't care for Starbuck's either. It tastes like a bad version of Cafe Bustello. And yes, they are pricey. But once in a while I have one of their holiday lattes--a bit of an indulgence at $4.33 a pop. I'll take DD coffee anyday over Starbuck's. Practically anybody's for that matter.

sara · 02-27-2008, 02:04 AM

A local coffee place here was giving away coffee for free for the 3 hours that the Starbucks were closed.

dawsongirl · 02-27-2008, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovethe80s

I agree i don't even really go there I just posted the article but I think Dunkin' Donuts is more popular in New England where i'm from anyways. What are the names for the sizes I'm just wondering? They don't call them small, medium or large?

One of them is Venti. Small maybe? No, they call a small Tall. Venti must be bigger.

I feel like an idiot ordering a tall hot cocoa. It just sounds stupid. So I go to a local convenience store chain here, get a small hot cocoa for 99 cents, and I don't have to say a word.

PZelda · 02-27-2008, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

One of them is Venti. Small maybe? No, they call a small Tall. Venti must be bigger.

I feel like an idiot ordering a tall hot cocoa. It just sounds stupid. So I go to a local convenience store chain here, get a small hot cocoa for 99 cents, and I don't have to say a word.

Grande, I think. Venti is medium.

OH Nuts! · 02-27-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PZelda

Grande, I think. Venti is medium.

The fancy schmancy words @ Starbucks are probably part of a subliminal marketing ploy - doesn't work on me. I prefer places that keep it simple and CHARGE REASONABLE PRICES (E.G. not Starbucks). And as I said earlier, their regular coffee is not all that to me anyways.

02-26-2008, 05:50 PM	#1
ilovethe80s Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 28, 2002 Location: MA Posts: 6,973	Starbucks to close for three hours SEATTLE - Starbucks is shutting its doors for three hours Tuesday night, the latest drastic step in a companywide bid to improve its sagging fortunes. The shutdown is one of several big moves spearheaded by Chairman and Chief Executive Howard Schultz, who recently took back the reins of the company amid concerns that it was losing its edge and facing increased competition from the likes of McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts. Schultz has said the shutdown, which begins at 5:30 p.m. local time, is a way to energize its 135,000 employees and provide some barista re-education in the "art of espresso" at its 7,100 U.S. locations. In a memo to employees and the public, Schultz said the goal of the closure was to improve the so-called "Starbucks Experience" — the company's shorthand for its mixture of service, ambience and coffee that spurred its explosive growth and success in recent years. "We are passionate about our coffee. And we will revisit our standards of quality that are the foundation for the trust that our customers have in our coffee and in all of us," Schultz wrote in a memo titled "Howard Schultz Transformation Agenda Communication #8." The move comes about a year after a memo was made public in which Schultz openly fretted about whether the Starbucks brand was being watered down by changes including adding automated espresso machines and using pre-ground, pre-packaged coffee in stores. Both moves have robbed the stores of some of their aroma and romance but have allowed customers to get their caffeine fix more quickly.

02-26-2008, 08:32 PM	#3
Courtnee MAN VS SAMMICH. Forum Star Join Date: Mar 23, 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 16,413	Although I'm not a coffee fan, I perfer Dunkin Dounuts lattes over Starbucks. They're too expensive for me!
	__________________ Whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection A freckle on the nose of life's complexion The Cinderella or the shine apple of its eye I gotta fly once, I gotta try once, Only can die once, right, sir? Ooh, life is juicy, juicy and you see, I gotta have my bite, sir. Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer" I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer Don't bring around the cloud to rain on my parade

02-26-2008, 08:33 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	That explains why there were all those confused people with laptops wandering around on my block...
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

02-26-2008, 09:43 PM	#5
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	I was at the mall today. The standalone Starbucks in the mall was closed, but the other Starbucks located in Target was open. Hurrah!
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

02-27-2008, 02:04 AM	#12
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	A local coffee place here was giving away coffee for free for the 3 hours that the Starbucks were closed.
	__________________ Help stamp out and eradicate superfluous redundancy!

02-26-2008, 11:02 PM	#7
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	1. Lower your prices. 2. Get rid of the idiotic names for sizes. Yay...I saved Starbucks.

02-26-2008, 11:23 PM	#9
ilovethe80s Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 28, 2002 Location: MA Posts: 6,973	Oh i understand what your talking about I just went to Dunkin Donuts website and I think they were making fun of Starbucks a commercial played and the girl said she'll have a large and the girl keeps saying Deici is that really even a word

02-26-2008, 11:26 PM	#10
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	Whenever I go to Starbucks, I just say "large hot vanilla latte, please." -- they know what I'm asking anyway and don't correct me on what they call the large size. I can't read in-store menus for jack, ESPECIALLY Starbuck's menu - it's MURDER on my eyes - so I just don't even bother to see what they call their sizes.