It is sad when companies get too big too fast, then they have to lay off a ton of employees. You would think someone would learn from all the other companies mistakes.

There are 4 Starbucks in my town, meanwhile we are HUGE Tim Horton nuts. Everytime I am in a Starbucks it is empty.

Part of what annoys me about Starbucks is their prices ... I mean here in Houston they are moderately "normal" but when I lived in Paris (before this recent crazy Euro hike) it was like 5euros for the drink I like so that's getting to be upwards for $7 for a drink . . . not that I want to see people lose their jobs- Starbucks totally overdid themselves and now the employees have to pay for corporate mistakes!

Haha. That is exactly what I said yesterday. Every other corner instead of every corner. The sad fact is there will probably still be one on every corner in some cities since some have 2 or 3 per corner!

I think the saddest part of this story is that Starbucks is one the better companies to work for. Its employees make a better wage than most in retail, receive benefits and can accept tips in company run stores. I'm not necessarily a fan of big business and chains, but it's sad to see one like this fail. Although imagine their savings if they stopped using paper cups for lounging drinkers like me. Can't a girl get a latte in a ceramic mug?

Oh, man...I'm actually drinking a doubleshot on ice as we speak and I STILL only got 1 out of 5.

Oh, man...I'm actually drinking a doubleshot on ice as we speak and I STILL only got 1 out of 5.

It's about dayum time!

Made top scorer - woo hoo! Although I'm not a fan of SB, overrated. I'm into Rockstar Coffee/Energy drinks now. Love them. Sorry to hear about all the people out of a job.

From what I understand, part of SB's success is the fact that there is one on every corner. If it wasn't there, people are not likely to go out of their way to get it. Sort of, "if you will build it, they will come." Their real downfall is their pricing, and now that money is tight for most American's SB is no longer in the budget. Times are rough man. Sorry SB employees.

I remember after one all-night project, I still needed to get through the day, so I got a quad-shot and a mocha chaser. I really didn't feel right after that...
I'm a Dunkin' Donuts coffee man, m'self.

I knew the first answer so I thought the quiz was going to be a piece of cake, but then I didn't know the rest of the answers. 2 out of 5. Sad!

I'm actually glad to hear they're closing stores. I was a big Starbucks fan but then they completely lost site of their vision. The stores became streamlined and they got rid of the couches and big chairs. The bathrooms are disgustingly dirty a lot (at least in New York), and they sneakily made the cups more narrow, thinking no one would notice.

I'm now anti-Starbucks, and that's their own doing. They had to push me to turn off to them, and they successfully managed to do that over time.

I mainly drink the fraps so i like Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf better. However I give them credit for doing what they've done business wise. And closing stores is the right thing to do in this economy.

Oh well, little coffee shops may stand a chance now. I love my dunkies anyway lol

They've had a lease on a building in the city where I work. No work has been done and I'm assuming it'll be axed before it's begun.

I'm actually pretty happy. I love all things coffee, but I can't stand Starbucks. I prefer local, independent places for taste & economical reasons.

On the downtown in my city, there's like 5 starbucks on the same street. How stupid! and there's ZERO near my house. :mad:

well, if there was ust one in my town i would be the happiest girl ever, yes the prices may be high, but idk, id go to nee lengths for the goodness!!!!

For as much as I llove SB, I only got 1/5.

The ironic thing, to me, about this is that when I found out at home I had just been at SB's 5 minutes before.

lately I have been getting my java fix from Dunkin Donuts. I can get a 16 oz iced coffee with hazlenut for $1.99.

I work from Starbucks and you know, I dont like the taste of the coffee. And I do think prices are high for some items.

BUT.

As a company, they are great. My car was broken into when I was working one night and I talked to a team in the corporate office who added 1,000$ to my next paycheck. They pay well and give excellant benefits to managers and hourly employees.

A perfect example to me of Starbucks doing good is the island of Sumatra. This island was destroyed by the tsunami, but Starbucks went to the country and helped everyone get back on their feet and started growing coffee again there (which gives everyone jobs and boosts the islands economy). They also do something for every community they grow coffee in, such as build schools.

Im not a brainwashed employee, and I actually only work 2 days a week for the benefits, but they do good. They really do.

i guess i just don't know too much about the situation - just that i saw it on CNN yesterday and it's just a shame to hear about how things are happening. they were talking about how a lot of the stores that are closing haven't even been open for 3 years - that's really a shame, since the cost of real estate there - and the scoping out locations etc....

i hope that things turn around for the company - it's always a shame to see an iconic brand go through troubles.

Right down the block from the Starbucks (up until a month ago) AND in the hospital where I work there is a Higher Grounds where coffee is $1.00 if you bring your own mug. A dollar...I haven't bought coffee in that Starbucks in a really long time.

I love starbuck's and have tried many other coffees but they for my money are the best-and another thing they treat their employees right-not many other co. do this- they may have higher prices but their employee's have medical insurance that is paid for-that is a reason for higher prices that I am willing to pay for!!

For all that I have some issues with Starbucks and their uppity image, I definitely respect the company for providing medical insurance for their employees.

I hope they close the secondary ones and not the main ones. I hate that there is a starbucks at the mall, one in target and then the main one which is it's own building. No wonder they don't do well. All 3 of these are within 1/2 mile of each other.

I'm glad they are doing this. They used to be good, but the coffee quality has just gone down. I prefer Illy coffee.