[Leica] Re: starbucks

[jon.stanton at comcast.net (Jon)]

"My experience has been that Starbuck's service is indifferent and
impersonal at best and downright condescending or rude at worst. This, I
believe, is typical of businesses where the personnel is either untrained or
poorly trained.  Starbuck is a trendy hangout where the trendy are more
welcome than the average. I patronize businesses where I am treated like a
human being, not a walking wallet.    Joe"

I am not a Starbuck's fan, but I have never experienced anything but great
service at any of their outlets. Trendy hang-out? I lived in as about a
trendy area as can be imagined San Jose, CA. The usual crowd at the Hamilton
Ave. location would include a cluster of students discussing problems in one
corner, housewives with babies enjoying a cup with friends, a couple of
homeless guys (with their shopping carts outside) getting some warmth. Then
their was always the "Yuppie" who would drive up in his/her Hummer or Ford
Exploder, park in the handicap space and walk in the store cell phone in
hand talking loud enough that Helen Keller wouldn't miss a word and yes they
were always in a hurry and would anyone mind if they went to the front of
the line? I had a client last week that is a Starbuck's manager....she is
well compensated. She told me all about the different employee
benefits....impressive! It is a good outfit to work for, someplace unlike
Golden Arches, Starbucks does offer a career. The biggest gripe I have heard
about Starbucks is whether or not their coffee is "Fair Traded" She said
that Starbuck's makes every effort to assure they are buying Fair Trade.  We
have a local roaster here in Olympia Batdorf & Bronson that has spectacular
coffee! She said she loved their coffee too but then Batdorf could buy the
exceptional small productions. Starbucks had to buy sufficient beans for
20,000 locations