Starbucks coffee for a buck

[Fred Zed]

They have to get rid of the laptop carrying crowd who use Starbucks as their second office..they buy one coffee and spend all day in Starbucks so people who want to spend money have nowhere to sit.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/01/23/starbucks-for-a-buck.aspx

I for one don't go there anymore. At Tim Hortons there is almost always sitting space.

 

[papasmerf]

all be it good coffee Starbucks is over priced....a small for a buck is a fair deal.

 

[21pro]

i use my laptop at Tim Hortons, now that I have an affordable aircard.

cheap internet, cheaper coffee. wow, the self employed emerges back to profitability in a bear market.

 

[tonypro]

Lol.

 

[Keebler Elf]

Starbucks is for snobs. And all you need for proof is to look at what's happening in the States. As the economy slides, they're leaving in droves for cheaper coffee shops. And that shows you it's a luxury item.

 

[hairyfucker]

I would have to agree Keebler, but I purchased my Starf*cks stock in 1999 and bailed at the 2001 pullback as I thought the same and classified it as a luxury item. I did make a few $$. BUT if I had stayed on I could have made 4X rather than 2X.

I think the current pullback is less economy based again and is a pure play of reduced growth rates due to saturation.

 

[Keebler Elf]

I based my comments off an article I read online from one of the Toronto papers. Might have been the G&M. Sales are down in the States due to increased competition from fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Wendys (who are diversifying their coffee blends offered to compete with Starbucks at cheaper prices).

 

[hairyfucker]

and Dunkin Dounuts

 

[Edifice]

Unless I'm mistaken, didn't there use to be a few Dunkin' Donuts locations in Toronto a few years back?

 

[ig-88]

There is a Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins at the Eaton Centre in Montreal.

They take credit cards, and they sell smoothies.

 

[spatial_k]

Unless I'm mistaken, didn't there use to be a few Dunkin' Donuts locations in Toronto a few years back?

Yeah- there used to be one at Yonge & Eglinton. That's the only one I remember.

 

[FOOTSNIFFER]

Starbuck's is miles ahead of most chain coffee joints here in the frozen north.
If you buy the 'tall' normal coffee at 1.75 it's only 30c more than the same size at Tim Horton's crap. You can actually taste the butter in most of the pastries too, unlike the petroleum film that coats my mouth after I eat anything from Timmies. I think people who talk shit about Starbucks are reverse-snobs...and canada is a place where 'quantity' always trumps 'quality'....you just have to look at what people used to eat around here before immigrants arrived and taught people how to cook (yeah, I was around then).

 

[ig-88]

Of course, there is a nostalgic patriotism with Timmies.

But in these days of multinational corporations, mergers, outsourcing, offshore banking, etc., I wonder how realistic or outdated those notions are.

As a consumer, I think you should simply buy whichever product pleases you the most, without such considerations. Let the market play itself out.

I'm not a big coffee drinker, so this really doesn't affect me too much. I've had both Starbucks and Timmies coffees, and enjoyed both. I will say that it's been my experience that Starbucks seems to have more specialty drinks, such as more creamy, sugary drinks. But OTOH, I'd rather have Timmies donuts than Starbucks pastries (just my preference).

 

[lickrolaine]

star bucks,whats that a character from some sci fi movie.Timmies rocks,at least for this brown bag lunch carrying blue collar worker.Oh yea,bought their stock when they were spun from Daves house,and it rocks too!Thankyou Tim,Ron and the other guy that is rich!(forgot his name)

 

[sarasota]

...Shitacinos..etc etc etc..

Mmmmmm...Shitacinos.

There was an article (within the last two weeks) in the New York Times (a fancy-folk newspapers) about how Starbucks has lost it's neighborhood feel and quality because of expansion (difficult to find good people who can manage, serve, and I guess, make quality coffee). That is why the original CEO (or whatever) has returned to the helm.

I personally like Starbucks, but have seen a decline in service and quality in some of the stores I have visited. It seems like this was a recent development for me, but I paticularly don't like how they ask if you want 'room' and then fill the cup only four-fifths full (it looks low). It seems like they are getting cheap. I now always say no 'room' unless I don't want a full cup. It seems that the quality of the coffee has declined; and the pastries, too. These things were also pointed out in the article.

I don't go to Dunkin or Tim's, but I was surprised to hear that the coffee there was only 30 to 40 cents cheaper than Starbucks after hearing so many people complain about the cost of a Starbucks. Maybe they are referring to the latte/chino drinks.

 

[OnTheWayOut]

There is a Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins at the Eaton Centre in Montreal.

They take credit cards, and they sell smoothies.

There's 2 Dunkin Donuts along the 417 between Ottawa & Montreal ..... at the Casselman exit and another exit about 20 - 30km east (forget the exit). Used to be a DD in Ottawa on Bronson but it's now a Harveys

Not that anyone really cares 'cept my SO who thinks the DD boston creams are way better than Tims ..... gotta agree on that one. Odd thing in Canada DD you put in your own cream and suger, in the states they do it for you, like Tims .....

 

[Keebler Elf]

I don't go to Dunkin or Tim's, but I was surprised to hear that the coffee there was only 30 to 40 cents cheaper than Starbucks after hearing so many people complain about the cost of a Starbucks. Maybe they are referring to the latte/chino drinks.

That's for the regular coffee. All the Starbucks snobs I know go for the ridiculously priced latte/chino drinks you refer to.

 

[trisket]

I've never liked Starbucks, it's all too bitter tasting.
I like a strong coffee but it has to be smooth at the same time. The prices are fine since they have a classier atmosphere than Timmies.

Also, the names given are idiotic - why is the smallest cup called a "tall"?

 

[r_s426]

I prefer Starbucks coffee over Tim's simply because they have much better quality control. Tim's can be really hit or miss depending on which location you visit. I'm around the airport a lot, and the coffee is usually horrible (often to the point where I have to throw it out after a sip or two).

Also, I haven't been to a Starbucks yet where the employees aren't fluent in English. I don't know if they pay better than Tim's or treat their employees any better, but they certainly put a lot more thought towards customer service when they hire people.

You need to be fluent in Punjabi or Hindi to order quickly (and actually not have your order fucked up) at most Tim Hortons now.

I only drink coffee, not the expensive drinks.... but for me the $0.30-0.50 premium per cup is well worth it for the better overall experience.

 

[dajodo2]

Starbucks has never impressed me with their coffee, overpriced for what is is.

I used to like the coffee from a smaller donut shop chain called Cross Country Donuts but it looks as if they have all disappeared so maybe it was just me.

The coffee at McDonald's even is decent now.

One thing I hate about Tim Horten's is they don't take Interact.

I ordered some coffee and lunch once, went to pay with debit(didn't have cash on me) and the woman says sorry we don't have Interact, only cash, Tim Horton's pre paid card and Mastercard.

WTF I thought, we are 7 years into the 21'st century and the biggest coffee chain in town doesn't have Interact yet.

That pissed me off to no end that I stood in line for nothing because they are stuck in the early 90's.

Tim Horton's, fuck 'em, fuck 'em in the ass.

You bastards, I was hungy.