Why is it that Starbucks is takeing over the world?

imported_Tick

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
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Why is it that Starbucks suceeds so well, when their product is inferior, and more expensive than, many of the smaller joints? Is it just that their a chain? If this is so, then why haven't any of the other botique coffee chains suceeded?
 

acemcmac

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
13,712
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When I'm smoking cigars at the cigar club next to the local starbucks, sometimes I go over to get iced tea as I can get pretty parched. Done it twice so far and it was pretty good. Fair price... about $2. I will never make a habit of going over there, but if their coffee is anything like their iced tea, I can see why they're going places.
 

UNCjigga

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
25,616
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They burn their coffee on purpose...because burned coffee tastes better when you add steamed milk.
 

imported_Tick

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
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Originally posted by: acemcmac
When I'm smoking cigars at the cigar club next to the local starbucks, sometimes I go over to get iced tea as I can get pretty parched. Done it twice so far and it was pretty good. Fair price... about $2. I will never make a habit of going over there, but if their coffee is anything like their iced tea, I can see why they're going places.

Their iced tea is ok, but $2 is a little overpriced for iced tea. Their stuff isn't bad, it's just not priced according to what it should be.
 

Shortcut

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2003
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partly because they're selling a "lifestyle". it's not just any old coffee...its starbucks =(

iirc, they also took the gamble of building stores like a madman when the current ceo took charge. it paid off as more folks bought into the starbucks hype.

I'm not a big fan of starbucks either. the taste of their regular brews don't appeal to me, and their other concoctions just taste too sugary. So I'm happy with Mcdonald's and Peet's in the meantime.
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
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Originally posted by: Tick
Originally posted by: Kaervak
Trendy++

But how in the hell did it ever get to be trendy?

that's a good question. how does anything trendy becomes trendy? I mean they are rarely actually better
 

imported_Tick

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
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Originally posted by: Shortcut
partly because they're selling a "lifestyle". it's not just any old coffee...its starbucks =(

iirc, they also took the gamble of building stores like a madman when the current ceo took charge. it paid off as more folks bought into the starbucks hype.

I'm not a big fan of starbucks either. the taste of their regular brews don't appeal to me, and their other concoctions just taste too sugary. So I'm happy with Mcdonald's and Peet's in the meantime.

Mcdonalds has always had remarkably good coffee for the price. What I wonder thought, is how they ever got people to buy into it as a lifestyle? How did it become trendy? What did they do different, other than build lots of stores? Mcdonalds builds lots of stores, and their not trendy.
 

imported_Tick

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
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Originally posted by: Baked
Originally posted by: Tick
Originally posted by: Kaervak
Trendy++

But how in the hell did it ever get to be trendy?

They hire Goth cashiers.

I think that may be it. They hired all the cool teenagers to man the counters, and that made people think it was trendy, even when it wasn't. Also, coming from the northwest might help you come off as trendy and cool.
 
Dec 4, 2002
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When will you people realize that the public really couldn't care less about quality? It's painfully obvious to anyone with half a brain. Instead of complaining about it, you should exploit it.

1)mass manufacture invention
2)must be trendy
3)export labor to china
4)import product
5)profit
 

brxndxn

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2001
8,475
0
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Originally posted by: fs5
welcome to like 2 years ago?

Seriously... Starbucks is past trendy.. It's common now. Every podunk town has a Starbucks..

IMO, I think it's cause' the stores are fairly clean, the atmosphere is nice and relaxed, and the coffee is consistently decent.

Local joints never offer that consistency.. Here in Gainesville, some local coffee shops are excellent - better than Starbucks.. Others, they're total and utter sh!t that makes you sad you ever stepped foot inside.. For most, I can see why they'd pick Starbucks on average.

I doubt one could ever really call Starbucks coffee bad.. unless sad person only drinks $45/lb Kona coffee or something. For the rest of us, Starbucks is better than average.

IMO, Burger King coffee is underrated though..


 

PhoenixOrion

Diamond Member
May 4, 2004
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the science of technology transfer in food/beverage franchise industry.

i read a lengthy (10-page) article a few years ago on how its the businesses that can consistently transfer the same quality from one store to the next are the ones that meet success.
 

B00ne

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
2,168
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Originally posted by: Tick
Why is it that Starbucks suceeds so well, when their product is inferior, and more expensive than, many of the smaller joints? Is it just that their a chain? If this is so, then why haven't any of the other botique coffee chains suceeded?

Godd question - but why was McDonalds taking over the world their products are inferior and overpriced (well thats debatable for what get it is). I think alot of it has to do with the America Bonus. Despite Americas bad reputation politically - Economically everything coming from the US is the next big thing, hip, modern, whatever it seems to work for all kinds of stuff including diets, aerobics programs, strange ab trainers and what not....
 

rocadelpunk

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
5,589
1
81


I'm loving it!

I mean...

well, I don't drink coffee too often, but I do purchase starbucks: sumatra at the grocery store.

I think it's pretty obvious why they are so popular, their name is synonymous with *above average coffee* for the average consumer.

Most likely, it has to do with there being a store on every block, it's the idea of "oh they're doing well if they can open a million stores."

 

Shortcut

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2003
1,107
0
0
Originally posted by: PhoenixOrion
the science of technology transfer in food/beverage franchise industry.

i read a lengthy (10-page) article a few years ago on how its the businesses that can consistently transfer the same quality from one store to the next are the ones that meet success.


i can empathize. as a consumer, i would prefer to patronize a chain i know is consistently ok than a chain that's a real mixed bag
 

DaWhim

Lifer
Feb 3, 2003
12,985
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one word: Specialized

coffee is a comodity. starbucks changed it to a product of their own that people will pay more for.

I was reading this book called coffee paradox. it was an interesting read.
 

sunase

Senior member
Nov 28, 2002
551
0
0
I was reading this story about opening a coffee house:
http://www.slate.com/id/2132576/

It sounds like it is difficult to make a profitable one. You have to charge high prices and try to encourage the sort of people who come in, get their coffee, and leave rather than the people who sit there all day. So packaging a successful business setup like Starbucks does is the way to go business wise.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,387
14,786
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Personally, I don't get it...their coffees suck, their baked goods aren't very good, and their "accessories" are pretty poor quality...no better than you can get for a lot less at Target or some other place that sells similar stuff...

I really don't get why they've made such a bang in the biz...I have nothing against coffeeshops, but they need to have a decent product, which IMO, UpChucks doesn't. Peet's makes a much better cup of coffee to my tastes...