10-09-2006, 07:58 PM
If Starbucks was really concerned, then they'd either adjust the price of an Americano, or serve them in a smaller cup.
But the practice of making a Ghetto Latte isn't quite the same as taking a handful of Equal packets and tossing them in a pocket or purse. Nor a customer pouring their own drinks at a fast food place where no refills are allowed, but they stand there, pour and drink, pour and drink, pour and drink, after purchasing a small drink.
It's more akin to watch somebody put a ton of mustard and ketchup on their french fries, several packets of sugar in their coffee, or seven or eight little creamer cups (along with that sugar).
A woman at a local Safeway took one of the 1qt. plastic salad containers, put it under her arm, and began shoveling in handfuls of cubed cheddar cheese samples. The toothpicks were inefficient for the task. Although Safeway didn't have a sign that said "SAMPLES- ONE/TWO TO A CUSTOMER", neither did they have one that said "ALL YOU CAN EAT/ALL YOU CAN TAKE".
There is no doubt a lot of "get over on Starbucks" with this twist, and it really may not have a single thing to do with "ghetto". The baristas are on the front line and see this, and feel that Starbucks is being ripped off, long before Corporate is aware of it, so they say something. Corporate says it's OK, so I imagine the word trickles down.
Starbucks can deal with it easily enough. If the Ghetto Latte becomes a widespread practice, I imagine they will revisit portion control. Easy enough to do.
Saying "We're cool with that" makes Starbucks look magnanimous and takes the pressure of baristas, and saves SB the trouble of printing up thousands of signs that say "NO MORE THAN 6oz OF CREAMER PER CUP" for those who live by The Rule of the Explicit.
And if shareholders are concerned about current Corporate policy, I'm sure they'll say something.
As a by-the-by, there are a LOT of silly-ass threads here. This isn't the worst, and even if it were, it wouldn't be for long.
Such is the way of a coffee klatch.
But the practice of making a Ghetto Latte isn't quite the same as taking a handful of Equal packets and tossing them in a pocket or purse. Nor a customer pouring their own drinks at a fast food place where no refills are allowed, but they stand there, pour and drink, pour and drink, pour and drink, after purchasing a small drink.
It's more akin to watch somebody put a ton of mustard and ketchup on their french fries, several packets of sugar in their coffee, or seven or eight little creamer cups (along with that sugar).
A woman at a local Safeway took one of the 1qt. plastic salad containers, put it under her arm, and began shoveling in handfuls of cubed cheddar cheese samples. The toothpicks were inefficient for the task. Although Safeway didn't have a sign that said "SAMPLES- ONE/TWO TO A CUSTOMER", neither did they have one that said "ALL YOU CAN EAT/ALL YOU CAN TAKE".
There is no doubt a lot of "get over on Starbucks" with this twist, and it really may not have a single thing to do with "ghetto". The baristas are on the front line and see this, and feel that Starbucks is being ripped off, long before Corporate is aware of it, so they say something. Corporate says it's OK, so I imagine the word trickles down.
Starbucks can deal with it easily enough. If the Ghetto Latte becomes a widespread practice, I imagine they will revisit portion control. Easy enough to do.
Saying "We're cool with that" makes Starbucks look magnanimous and takes the pressure of baristas, and saves SB the trouble of printing up thousands of signs that say "NO MORE THAN 6oz OF CREAMER PER CUP" for those who live by The Rule of the Explicit.
And if shareholders are concerned about current Corporate policy, I'm sure they'll say something.
As a by-the-by, there are a LOT of silly-ass threads here. This isn't the worst, and even if it were, it wouldn't be for long.
Such is the way of a coffee klatch.