Maybe he was riding the high of Ben & Jerry’s launching the “Schweddy Balls” flavored ice cream named after the famous SNL sketch he was in? Whatever the reason, Alec Baldwin turned his 100,000 megawatt star power and 323,235 Twitter followers on a Starbucks barrista Wednesday who apparently left him with a burnt taste in his mouth, tweeting that the guy was “uptight” and had “an attitude problem.” The tweet named the coffee worker by name and gave the cross streets of the Starbucks location he was at. Kind of like killing a gnat with a RPG, no? [More]
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Starbucks CEO Emails Customers, Recruiting Them To Stop Washington Gridlock
By 9.6.11
The CEO of Starbucks emailed customers on Friday asking them to join hands with him and other business leaders to urge Congress to stop the nihilist political gridlock and get on with fixing our country. Tuesday night at 6pm he will host an online townhall meeting. At the same time, he’s also set up an online petition where businesses can “pledge” to withhold campaign contributions as well as promise to start hiring employees. Is this the start of the “Coffee Party”? [More]
Pumpkin Spice Lattes Aren't On The Starbucks Menu Yet, But You Can Get One If You Ask
By 8.29.11
Fans of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Lattes may not be as rabid as McRib worshipers, but that’s probably because the seasonal beverage comes around for a short time every year before being heartlessly taken away until the next autumn. The drink isn’t scheduled to go on sale until next week but the scuttlebutt is that you can get one now if you just ask for it. [More]
Home Depot, Starbucks To Make A Pile Of Post-Hurricane Cash
By 8.29.11
Reports state that Hurricane Irene could have done anywhere from $3 billion to $10 billion in damage during her brief trip up the East Coast. That’s a lot of plywood, nails, plaster and everything else that will be needed for repair. It’s also a lot of coffee for beleaguered consumers. [More]
Starbucks Pays $75,000 To Settle EEOC Lawsuit Over Barista With Dwarfism
By 8.18.11
Here’s an update to a story we brought you in May about a lawsuit brought against Starbucks by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of a former barista with dwarfism who claimed she was fired during her training period after she requested the use of a step-stool or stepladder because of her small stature. Starbucks announced today that it has agreed to pay $75,000 to settle the issue. [More]
Starbucks CEO Urges Business Leaders: Create Jobs Instead Of Lining Politicians' Pockets
By 8.16.11
Over the weekend, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz spoke to the NY Times about being fed up with partisan politics in Washinton, D.C., and how big business needed to stop feeding the beast with campaign contributions. On Monday, he reached out to a handful of other top execs to join him in his boycott. [More]
Starbucks Shuts Down Jonathan's Card Over Fraud Concerns
By 8.15.11
The Jonathan’s Card social experiment is over. The experiment proved that someone will always come along and ruin anything that’s fun. Since July, the entire world has shared one Starbucks stored-value payment and rewards card, which originally belonged to a guy named Jonathan. People from all over bought coffees using the card, sneaked part of its balance over to their own cards, refilled the card, and followed the card’s fortunes on Twitter. It’s all over now: Starbucks deactivated the card on Friday evening over fraud concerns. Specifically, an automated script that steals from the card. [More]
Man Finds Camera Hidden In Starbucks Bathroom, Doesn't Even Get A Free Coffee For It
By 8.12.11
A plumber is pissed after finding a camera hidden inside a Starbucks men’s room. First it was the camera, then it was the employees’ blase attitude, then it was the police seizing his laptop. And he didn’t get a thank you from Starbucks for his deed, not even a free coffee. [More]
Want A Starbucks? Use Jonathan's Card
By 8.9.11
Jonathan is letting anyone who wants to use his Starbucks card. He’s posted a scanned copy of the mobile-app code on his Starbucks card and invited anyone who wants to to have a cup on him. The crazy thing is that it’s working like “leave a penny, take a penny,” with some people adding onto the card’s balance after they grab a brew. [More]
Starbucks Goes Extra Mile To Make Up For Employee's Ignorance
By 7.28.11
We’ve all had experiences with store employees who have a unique interpretation of company policy. And while it’s nice when the customer is proven to be in the right, it’s even nicer when the company goes above and beyond to apologize for an employee’s behavior. [More]
Xanthan Gum Is The Secret To Making Your Own Frappuccino At Home For $.32
By 6.16.11
If you’ve ever tried to come up with your own version of the Starbucks Frappuccino at home, you may have run into this problem. It separates. That lovely smooth texture and consistency you enjoy at the Sbux emporium just seems unobtainable on your own. But it turns out the secret is a simple and cheap ingredient you can find next to the flour in the supermarket: xanthan gum! [More]
Starbucks Responds To Alleged "Attack" On Gay Worker
By 6.15.11
After a woman’s story about a Starbucks worker she allegedly saw getting forced to hand in his keys while being told by a shift supervisor his co-workers didn’t want to hear about him being gay anymore went viral, the coffee giant has pledged to investigate. [More]
EEOC Sues Starbucks For Firing Dwarf
By 5.17.11
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against Starbucks, alleging that the coffee chain violated federal law when it fired a barista-in-training who is a dwarf. [More]
Not Even A Trenta Can Hold This Many Starbucks
By 5.10.11
What happens when one Starbuck collides with a second Starbuck inside of a Starbucks? One huge cup of caffeinated awesomeness. [More]
Pickpockets Target Starbucks Customers
By 5.2.11
While you’re taking a break with a relaxing Trenta of Pike’s Peak Roast coffee at Starbucks, a thief could be silently snagging your wallet, reports the New York Times. [More]
Video Evidence That Rats Like Starbucks Too
By 4.26.11
Lest you think that rats are only fans of garbage, cheese and fine French cuisine, here is proof that they are addicted to the sweet, sugary beverages at Starbucks. [More]
Sorry, Your 3-Month-Old Starbucks Mug Is Out Of Warranty
By 4.12.11
Mark has a warning: it’s fine if you want to hand over your money for a venti Java Chip Frappuccino, but don’t buy durable items at Starbucks if you expect them to be, well, durable. He bought a mug back in December, and the mug now has a defect that makes coffee drip on you while you drink. Not liking this feature, he contacted Starbucks and learned that their warranty on mugs lasts only 60 days. “I was shocked that Starbucks would only stand behind their products for 60 days,” Mark writes, “specifically because those same products come at a premium price and sold with overpriced coffee.” [More]
Debunking The Creation Myths Behind 5 Huge Companies
By 3.30.11
It might be shocking to you to find out that some companies have lied about their own creation, but hey, who doesn’t like a good story? From eBay to YouTube, tall tales have been spun to consumers for various reasons. Let’s take a walk down liars’ memory lane, shall we? [More]
