Choices: The Expensive Coffee Debate

Starbucks on Briggate

Image via Wikipedia

I read several Personal Finance blogs, one of which being Consumerist.  I have to admit, lately I haven’t been as focused on reading all the blogs in my reader feed as I normally am, but this particular post caught my eye.  Apparently, Katie Couric interviewed Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, on CBS Sunday Morning.  In her interview she asked him questions about the price of Starbucks’ coffee drinks, and implied that the CEO and the company have, acted irresponsibly by continuing to offer expensive coffee drinks, when people could no longer afford to pay $5 for a latte.

First, I am not a coffee drinker, so I don’t typically spend any money in places like Starbucks.  Also, I tend to only go to Starbucks when I have a gift card.  So, for me, Starbucks falls into my “luxury” category of spending.  This means, it is not something I NEED to spend money on, but sometimes a hot chocolate makes me feel good so it’s a treat.  Dining out, going to movies (and getting snacks at the movie theater,) shoe shopping all fall into that category for me typically.  What I’ve learned, especially in regard to money, is life is full of choices.  Ultimately, it is the consumer’s choice to pay $5 for a coffee.   If you can’t afford the coffee, don’t buy it, there are plenty of less expensive options available to people.  I do not hold Starbucks responsible for a person’s inability to pay for a coffee.  The same way that I do not hold Christian Loubiton responsible for making gorgeous shoes I can not afford.  In my mind, any coffee made not at home, or that has flavors added to it is in essence, a “designer,” coffee, and with “designer” labels comes cost.  If you can not pay the cost, you shouldn’t be purchasing the items.  I believe that attempting to scapegoat the company is simply trying to shif the level of responsibility off the individuals.  It’s your money, people! Starbucks isn’t forcing you to shop there!

In the comment section of the post at Consumerist, one person brought up a great point. This particular commenter stated that he continues to go to places like Starbucks because he enjoys the atmosphere, but also because he knows the higher cost of the coffee goes into better paying salaries and benefits for the employees of the company.  By patronizing Starbucks he is voting with his dollar for a company that treats its employees well and offeres competitive benefits.  This was interesting to me because the reasoning was similar to friends I have who WON”T shop at places like Wal-Mart.  They don’t agree with many of the corporate policies, so they choose not to shop there. Do you vote with your dollars?

The fact that this was even an argument seemed ridiculous to me.  Why should Starbucks change their pricing if their sales are still strong? 

What do you think?  Has Starbucks acted irresponsibly in the face of the recent financial crisis?

5 Comments

Catherine, March 30th 2011 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in 2011, blogs, in the news, life, money, wtf

Office Etiquette

Cover of "Office Space (Special Edition w...

Cover via Amazon

During the holiday season and cold and flu season, I get to thinking about office etiquette.

Every office is different but the reason a show like The Office and movies like Office Space do well is because anyone who has ever worked in an office can relate on some level to the characters presented.

One of my old jobs, in our building, we shared a bathroom with the entire floor which meant all the other crazies on our floor seemed to congretate in the bathroom.  We had a woman who would sing, and not just slightly under her breath, stopping whenever anyone comes in, embarssed.  This was full on singing, scales, runs, you name it.  In the stall, at the sink, singing all the way, and sadly, not well.  There was also a woman who had long, drawn out conversations  on her cell phone while using the facilities.  She always seemed annoyed when anyone would come in to use the restroom as it was clearly interfering with her personal phone calls.

In my current job, everyone is relatively normal.  For the most part, people work together in harmony, no one overtakes the bathrooms (though, the locker rooms are another story, and dealing with members in the facility on a daily basis is definitely not the same as having unruly co-workers,) everyone seems to understand basic office etiquette.

I’ve had several jobs where people would show up to work when they were clearly ill.  Running fevers, covered in a rash that would later be revealed to be Chicken Pox, and my favorite, Pneumonia.  The worst part, is that my bosses at the times each of these things happened (at different jobs,) only halfheartedly encouraged my co-workers to go home.  They would SAY “don’t come to work if you’re sick,” but what that really meant was, “you should come in and try to tough it out, and then we’ll all think you’re really strong for not staying home.”

To me, this completely broke one of the first rules of office etiquette.  I do not want to share your germs, especially if you knowingly come into work with sick germs.  Offices are sometimes very small shared spaces, where everyone is breathing the same air, touching the same door knobs and printers and fax machines.

What is the environment like in your office?

 

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6 Comments

Catherine, January 5th 2011 | Tags: , ,
Posted in life, work