Starbucks........charred.

[marmar]

from MarketWatch:



Starbucks profit falls 77% on store closure charges
Coffee retailer plans to sharpen pricing in key markets

By Matt Andrejczak, MarketWatch


SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Starbucks late Wednesday reported its quarterly profit fell 77% from a year ago, hurt by hefty charges to close stores, and said sales were clipped by a decline in the number of customer transactions.Still, Starbucks said the steep drop in customers it had seen at the end of 2008 has leveled off a bit and that cost-cutting efforts in place since last summer are ahead of target. The company soon plans to launch a multi-million-dollar national ad campaign.

Much to his chagrin, CEO Howard Schultz has said Starbucks has become the "poster child for excess" and he wants to shake that image.

The coffee retailer said it plans to "fine-tune" its pricing in key markets as part of its effort to provide value for its customers. Starting May 5, for instance, Starbucks will sell a grande iced-coffee for under $2.

The drink currently costs $2.20 in San Francisco and $2.48 in Washington, D.C.
"There will be minor changes that will lower prices on some of our popular items such as tall lattes and slightly increased prices on our larger and more complex beverages," Schultz said in a conference call. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Starbucks-profit-falls-price-tweaks/story.aspx?guid=%7BB90697FE%2D8290%2D41E5%2DB2B8%2D4B9992071300%7D

[Mojambo]

1. Coffee. Blech.

I'll never understand the appeal.

[marmar]

2. Really? I'm a total fiend for the bean.....just not the over-roasted dirt water at Starbucks.

n/t

[Mojambo]

3. Never developed the taste for it. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. It i s the overpricing, I no longer go as much

and when I want an espresso I do it at home anymore

[madeline_con]

5. Dumbasses don't think coffee's worth $3 a cup anymore?!

Wow, people CAN smarten up! :applause:

[MissMarple]

6. Starbucks owns its image. Sorry, Howie.

I know, regular black Italian is so boring. I make my own, thank you very much. :evilgrin:

[asthmaticeog]

7. Meanwhile, my neighborhood indie coffe shop will fill up my travel mug for a buck,

and, importantly, I think, they fill it with high quality coffee that's not FUCKING BURNT by too-hot extraction. Buh bye, Starbucks. You always sucked and always will.

[CoffeeCat]

8. I love Starbuck's coffee!

I buy the ground Starbuck's whenever I get a great deal. I make it every morning in a French press.

Love it, and would seriously die if I didn't have it every morning.

I love the taste of it. Nothing compares in my opinion.

I will scream this from the mountain top, and I don't care who thinks I'm an idiot or a simpleton!

I LOVE STARBUCK'S COFFEE!

[marmar]

11. I don't think you're an idiot.....and I actually like the soy latte......

..... because it's 2/3 steamed soy milk and takes the bitter edge off the brew.

But a straight up 'Bucks brewed coffee....bleccch......But I know lots of people who love it. I think I just prefer very smooth light and medium roasts, with the occassional craving for a strong shot of French coffee.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. That is why they have now started offering a milder

brew

Which is the ONLY one I can tolerate

Now the Lattes yes, but these days I do it at home

[susanna]

14. When I go there with friends who like it...

I get their "wet" cappucino. It seems to be about 2/3 steamed milk to 1/3 espresso, and it's quite nice. Their regular brew, though, is far to bitter even for my bitter-loving palate...weird, huh?

[tammywammy]

16. I like their Shade Grown Mexican

It's not a "dark" coffee for them.

But really my favorite coffee is from a little shop in my city, a High Grown Mexican blend.

[NYC_SKP]

9. I probably caused that when I decided four years ago to boycott them.

Single-handedly took em out, I did.

Over-priced, over-bearing, WalMart tactic bastard chain, that's what I say, got no use for them.

Good riddance, StarBucks.

[aquart]

10. An affordable iced grande? That's so thoughtful.

It's all I ever order from them.

[Fuzz]

12. Peets FTW

Starbucks coffee is burned

[FredStembottom]

15. This is good to see........

I've been having an "is it just me?" moment for years now that whenever I tried Starbucks coffee, I thought "this tastes burned".
Apparently, it's not just me.:hangover:

[tkmorris]

20. Not at all, it IS burned

Of course, there are some folks that like it that way and that's fine too.

I love a good strong coffee, and the dark roasts can be excellent, but when you cross the line to charring the beans I think you lose something. On the other hand if the choice is between Starbucks and the local Dunkin Donuts or 7-11 I am heading for Starbucks. You can't get a Cappo at the DD.

[Fuzz]

21. Try the anniversary blend that peets is selling right now. Incredible.

I got 3 lbs right now and just ordered another 3 before they stop selling it.

[Norrin Radd]

24. If I had to pick a chain, I'd go with Tully's over Peets.

[rucky]

17. I get my coffee on the inside:

[LuckyLib]

23. Love me my Bustelo! Made in a stove-top cap maker, 1/2 heated milk in the cup.

Yum!:donut:

[FredStembottom]

26. Thatt's the default coffee for the espresso maker at my house!

Shhhhhhh.... don't tell everyone how cheap it is! There might be a shortage!

[Hannah Bell]

18. "store closure charges" = fake losses for tax purposes

[anigbrowl]

25. nope

There are penalties for breaking leases, severance pay for employees who are let go, and a bunch of other expenses associated with closing a stores. And having expanded way too much, they are closing quite a lot of stores. I have no problem with them taking deductions that are legally available to them.

and no, I don't buy my coffee at Starbucks. I'm a 7-11 guy myself, because they have those hazelnut shots for free.

[AnnieBW]

19. Yep, that's what their coffee tastes like

Charred. Oh, how I wish we had a Caribou Coffee around here!

[me b zola]

22. Above and beyond the overpricing

...is this insane idea about "growth", that there had to be a Starbucks on every freaking block. They bought out Coffee People just to corner the market.

Long live indy small business.

[walldude]

27. Yup.. over saturation

There are at least 6 of them within a mile of my house.

[demokatgurrl]

28. Oh I thought you were talking about the taste of their coffee. n/t