Starbucks' 4Q Profit Down 97%, Same-Store Sales Drop 8%

Purely anecdotally, the service at our local Starbucks has gone downhill in the past couple of months as new staff have come and gone. A 10-minute wait for a cappuccino (and not a complicated venti sugar-free extra hot decaf pumpkin spiced latte, or whatever!) in a store with no line-up seems a bit excessive. And there I go sounding like a spoiled West Coast coffee drinker. Guilty as charged.

Seems like the whole "Starbucks" magic is fading away. Spent 20 minutes in line in Trump Builidng waiting for my coffee, and the stuff were very rude. There was a pregnant woman, and they refused to give a chair to her. However coffee is still delicious.

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I also got sick of the 'tude of the staff.  Give them an Italian name (barrista?) and they think they are something more than minimum wage coffee pimps.  And NO I don't want a Venti....I want a LARGE!  And it's a Double Espresso not a Dopio....I think the staff are smoking too much Dopio!

I have always preferred small independent coffee shops over Starbucks and the other chains.

However I find bad customer service in most businesses of any kind I go into not just Starbucks.

Since Starbucks has grown so big it would be harder to find the same level of help all the time. Even more so since the last CEO (And stock holders) pushed expansion and never ending growing profits over product and service quality.

 I would imagine the stress for someone working at Starbucks would be high with things seeming to be so shaky.

The point of restructuring is to turn things around the transition will be rocky as is any big change. Starbucks has a strong product that will rebound once they refind their place in the market.

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Here in Europe, Starbucks is still a good brand. The coffee tastes good, as well as the food. 

I hope for Starbucks to find back to its original path.

Still great coffee, wishing Starbucks to read their books and get back on service and quality.

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Patrons and locals as well as curious tourists still flock at the first established Starbucks store located at Seattle's Pike Market though. But it's sad to hear that Starbucks is loosing its grip on coffee lovers.

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For many years, Starbucks was numa1 in Kuwait, i mean its every where!

there is a mall in Kuwait that have like 5 or so Starbucks branches and they are always crowded!

i think its still number 1 in my country, but personally i prefer other cafe's like Caribou Coffee and many others.

and i agree that starbucks food terrible.

Well, I can't say that it bothers me that Starbucks is losing profit!  I tend to support a local coffee shop and any other coffee place that is Canadian owned because I want to support  jobs and economic growth for Canadians.

I <3 Starbucks

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it's funny ,

I myself louv starbucks , their food seems delitious ,

though the coffe teast different from one store to another .

notwithstanding, the high price they charge for the most treival things

for example, orang juce in Saudi Arabia's Starbucks; costs about 15 Ryals = 5 dollars N' that's for the midum size !!

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Starbucks is expending in Asia though and seems to do rather well here in Japan so far. I did have a chance to talk to a Starbucks Super Manager and he said that it may be a good lesson for Starbucks USA since they did get some what to arrogant in recent Years. This of course would be a Tokyo view point from about the Starbucks Losses in the USA.   

Have a good time =) !!

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In a down economy, it makes sense that the $7 coffee will be the first luxury to get stripped away. I be they're selling more of the cheaper drinks to the continued customers, and fewer of the pricey drinks.

I'll have to admit that I haven't been a fan of their pastries and the like, but the new spinach wrap thing is pretty good, as well as the *perfect* oatmeal.  Their regular coffee, I don't really care for, but their espresso-based confections are just Yum!  Especially the ones at this time of year!  I like that they have added value to their cards in getting you free milk and stuff (because I was getting irritated that they would *inconsistently* charge you extra for "milk" if you ordered your drink without ice), and that there is the new gold program which gives you 10% off.  Now, if only they would add the feature that tracks my exact purchases....  I would like to know what drinks I ordered throughout the year!  :)

Here in the UK, I think the opposite seems to be true.  New Starbucks stores are opening quite regularly, they always seem to be busy and the staff are polite and enthusiastic. 

Starbucks caramel hot chocolate is beaut

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.i personally love and adore starbucks.. and in any case, i am willing to help out in any chance to bring back their reputation in keeping their business much better.