Corporate America has a new ally in the war to spread unseasonable holiday cheer. Thanksgiving may be two weeks away, but according to one sharp-eyed reader, that isn’t stopping the coffee behemoth Starbucks from bludgeoning consumers with Christmas.
Just last year, the Seattle Times wrote: “Something [consumers] don’t want — and which Starbucks will hold until after Thanksgiving — are the holiday tunes.”
Well guess what, you can’t celebrate Christmas in November without Christmas songs, so along with its sense of time and decency, Starbucks is chucking the pre-Thanksgiving ban on annoying holiday music. From Cajun Boy:
When I entered the store, I immediately noticed a change in the environment that both stunned and slightly horrified me. Everywhere I looked, it was Christmas. Christmas songs were playing on the store soundtrack. I immediately glanced down at my watch to confirm that yes, it was indeed November 8th and still something like 7 weeks until fucking Christmas.
Please, don’t tell Louis Black or his head will explode.
holy s*#t it’s christmas!!! [Cajun Boy in the City]
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@taney71: That’s deeply disturbing that you’d blame Christmas itself for something silly Starbucks has done. If you only like your Christmas music on Christmas day then stop patronizing Starbucks till the New Year. Let them pay for it by not getting your cash.
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The person in the original post who was “horrified” upon walking into a Starbucks should have just left. It’s ridiculous to buy something at a store which has “horrified” you. Also on the List of Ridiculous is that this person put “fucking” right next to “Christmas.” Wow.
Stores and corporations simply take advantage of Christmas and quietly rape it of its dignity so they can make a buck.
Just wait till Starbucks starts celebrating Christmahannukwanzakuh, you’ll never escape the holiday music. Maybe they can play the Dreidel song over and over. That’s sure to make people happy, right?
@Buran: Thank you, at least my sarcasm is not totally wasted here. Now I must be off to Tar-zhay to purchase more Christmas decorations
I used to love Christmas, but I just don’t give a crap any more. Instead of Christmas carols, I turn on the radio and hear some whiny billionaire ass griping because the holiday retail numbers might not meet expectations. Screw Christmas and the rich jerkoffs who have turned it into just one more money grubbing scheme.Bah Humbug!
@Mojosan: “I enjoy the Chritmas season and will gladly take 6 weeks of it.”
Me, too. It’s 16 weeks that pisses me off!
I find it impossible to take anyone seriously who goes on a rant about Starbucks while calling it “starfucks” or “whorebucks.” If you have a problem with the company, state it, and stop being so juvenile. Just because this is the internet doesn’t mean you’re required to argue like a child.
Starbucks ALWAYS rolls out the holiday decor/beverage lineup in early November.
Two weeks ago I went to McDonald’s and they were playing Christmas carols, I saw Target setting up Christmas trees, etc.
Basically, this is the norm.
I’m a SBUX employee, it may seem annoying, but it’s really not. It’s just some displays and stuff…the music doesn’t start until after Thanksgiving, or that would get on my nerves.
I have my shopping completed, I don’t get why people are so bitchy about the holiday season, start early, finish early. So few people do this.
I get sick of hearing about how Christmas starts earlier every year, when I used to work for Kirkland’s, we started getting Christmas stuff in June. That’s asinine. I think that November is pretty much fair game, before Halloween is not. Why isn’t there a post about Target having Christmas Trees out beside the Halloween decor?
There is so much wrong everywhere else, why can’t we enjoy Christmas for 2 or 3 months, without the bitching?
I’m not cheerful at Christmas time. Not even a little.
Pffft. Starbucks. My girlfriend loves to get something from there… last time she asked me to go get it for her I had to ask her to write it down. White chocolate, peppermint, mocha frappachino. I thought it was coffee but what I received looked like a friggin sundae. I have coworkers who daydream about going to Starbucks.
I like a hot cup of coffee, but the best part of waking up is Folgers in my cup.
PS – Tim Horton’s and their donuts…. you guys can set up shop in Georgia any time y’all feel like it.
I live in Philadelphia and some day last week I walked into our main train station, 30th Street Station, and was amused to see a whole bunch of Starbucks employees dressed as elves handing out free coffee and treats. I was less amused to walk into the commuter rail part of the station and find carolers singing what I think were modified Christmas carols (presumably with a Starbucks theme). The best part was the amazing number of Philly residents swearing at them – we’re an outspoken city. The main comment theme of passersby was the fact that it was before Thanksgiving and that they didn’t want to hear Christmas music.
I agree.
On a related note, as someone who isn’t Christian, I find the Christmas music and advertising overwhelming at times. It makes me feel like I don’t belong. Do I think that my minority opinion should be catered to? No, but sometimes I wish I had a mute button. Especially early in November.
@sciencegeek: I don’t find Christmas music overly religious in nature. I am a Christian, and I hate the repetition in holiday music, but the music itself for the most part doesn’t bother me, as long as I only hear it during the holiday season, which for me, starts after Thanksgiving and ends the day after New Years.
I love Christmas, but really…what happened to Thanksgiving? (Or for that matter, Halloween?) Why the need to rush and extend the season? A month seems like enough time to make it special without the overkill and “is it over yet” feelings this Christms creep inspires.
I refuse to listen to all-Christmas radio, and, not that I go to Starbucks often as there are none near me, will try to avoid stores that over-do the early ho-ho-ho.
NEWS FROM THE STREETS:
I saw a W subway car in NYC plastered with S-buck’s “On With the Tradition” gingerbread latte posters this past AUGUST THE THIRD. I am absolutely positive this was not a hallucination. But was it a mistake? A diabolical mind game? Or, just another sign of the impending SHOPOCALYPSE?
Yaayyyy! I love Starbucks and I love Christmas. I’m really in the spirit now for decorating/parties/shopping. Some people need to lighten up and just enjoy!
@sciencegeek: Thank you. I live in New York and do not celebrate Christmas, and it gets really, really old really, really fast. If I were in charge, I’d make the month of November all about Thanksgiving (a holiday that anyone who lives in the United States should be able to celebrate) and ban Christmas merchandising until December.
I got a cup from Sbucks last Friday with the Xmas decor on it, and my reaction was “Mmmmmrurughhh”, because it was my first cup of the day. It’s just a caffeine delivery system to me.
I went into Starbucks like 3 weeks ago and they were already using the Xmas cups. I’m pretty sure it was even before Halloween.
That’s funny. In Grand Rapids MI there is a radio station that a lot of businesses play that started playing Christmas music Nov 1! It’s not just an occasional song here or there. It’s 24/7. New songs, old songs, it doesn’t matter. On the morning show they actually had people call in the last day of October to say if they should or not. Most did not. Surprise!