tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034970.post3065704525575743819..comments2023-12-25T16:51:01.726-08:00Comments on Cromely's World: I don't see any crystalsCromelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02220177112637075263noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034970.post-12147438289351292832009-02-22T00:19:00.000-08:002009-02-22T00:19:00.000-08:00@Jack Comics Legends and Lore: The Wifi business i...@Jack Comics Legends and Lore: The Wifi business is an interesting one. SBUX has been using T-Mobile for service for a number of years with that 9.95 per day rate. Their starting to do it differently now. They are slowly rolling out AT&T service. And they are offering free service in some cases. To get free access, I think you have to use the SBUX Duetto card to pay. But it hasn't been quite clear to me from the POP. Which is another problem.<BR/><BR/>@Exaggerato: That's great.<BR/><BR/>@phuckpolitics: I can relate. It's one of the many reasons I'm glad I don't go into an office every day.<BR/><BR/>@sir jorge: That's a shame. Thanks for that, though.<BR/><BR/>@Stephan: I wouldn't say their in a dire situation. Same store sales have declined year over year, and they have closed some underperforming store, but they are still profitable. The stock has taken a beating, but so has everything else. Even before the economic troubles burst on to the news front, the stock was probably a bit over priced. The fundamentals of the business are good. It's growing that business that's a problem.<BR/><BR/>It may cheapen the brand, though. I wish preserving their brand was a higher priority. The stand alone store are company owned and controlled, but the locations in Barnes & Noble, airports, and similar locations are licensed. And while many of them do a good job, I'd still rather have my Starbucks beverage prepared by a Starbucks barista than by an HMS Host barista.<BR/><BR/>I think it would be better if they branded those locations as something like "Star-Light" or something else to draw the distinction.<BR/><BR/>@Dr. Lauren: I'm willing to give it a try. It wouldn't be the first time I was surprised.Cromelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02220177112637075263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034970.post-84649511258815242452009-02-20T16:00:00.000-08:002009-02-20T16:00:00.000-08:00I love the fact their trying something new, but no...I love the fact their trying something new, but no matter if the name is stamped on the package, I'll never drink it.Cruiselife & Cohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09587257784329180930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034970.post-35600731577287002352009-02-20T14:46:00.000-08:002009-02-20T14:46:00.000-08:00While it may supplement their existing coffee sale...While it may supplement their existing coffee sales, I think it cheapens the brand. Granted I don't like paying $4 for a cup of coffee (and have since bought my own espresso machine and rarely visit a coffee shop), but instant coffee just seems, well blah, regardless of brand. Maybe I'm a purist, or maybe I just am not a fan of throwing money at an average coffee at Starbucks. I know they're in dire straits, financially, but still...<BR/><BR/>Nice write up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034970.post-10667638739952706272009-02-20T05:43:00.000-08:002009-02-20T05:43:00.000-08:00i am drinking it as I type this, a difficult task....i am drinking it as I type this, a difficult task. It's bland. It's light, it doesn't taste like starbucks it tastes like "instant" coffee. <BR/><BR/>Lame. <BR/><BR/>It'll still make money though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034970.post-69276035695353166192009-02-20T04:58:00.000-08:002009-02-20T04:58:00.000-08:00I can't wait till I can buy these so I don't have ...I can't wait till I can buy these so I don't have to drink the shitty work coffee.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034970.post-17994251825391067852009-02-19T12:58:00.000-08:002009-02-19T12:58:00.000-08:00I'm reminded of something I saw on Engrish.com som...I'm reminded of something I saw on Engrish.com some while back about a Korean brand of instant coffee sold under the name "Marxism--God's favored coffee!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034970.post-21938823405159572242009-02-19T04:16:00.000-08:002009-02-19T04:16:00.000-08:00I agree with your statement "And it distracted fro...I agree with your statement "And it distracted from the atmosphere. A Starbucks isn't a store. It's a coffee shop. And there is an ethos surrounding coffee shops through the ages." In my neck of the woods Starbucks is empty when the real coffee shop is booming. It's really a big Mom and Pop, but it only serves coffee, coffee drinks and pastries. It has free internet access. Plenty of seating. Starbucks lost its way. I brought my computer to a Starbucks in Boston and they wanted me to pay $ 9.00 for a connection.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com