Starbucks Thailand Tells Teachers "Order More Coffee Or Get Lost"

[tomross46]

The coffee is overpriced and does not taste good. I go to Coffee World. Better coffee and service.

[kagan]

Awesome. Anytime teachers get in trouble and more importantly, learning stops, its a good day for mankind. These teachers working hard trying to do good and make ends meet make me sick, how dare they take advantage of a multi-billion dollar company.

[Morakot]

Well what do they expect? Everyone is glued to either a smart-phone or a laptop these days. Sociologists are saying that society is going in the wrong direction because of this new technology. People don't look where they are walking because they are captivated by Facebook on their mobile phones and others watch entire movies in cafes whilst sharing one iced-coffee. And the same problem is occurring at restaurants. It's time for these places to either stop offering wi-fi or to charge for it. There are so many cafes in Thailand now anyway, that I'm surprised anyone even goes to Starbucks anyway for their overpriced food and drink.

[NotMyUsualid]

Where ever there are no clear boundries set, people will always take advantage.

Starbucks need only post a flyer stating that; x purchases of y value, buys you z amount of time within the premises.

Then it is clear to all.

When a McDonalds first opened up in a precinct near my home in the UK, kids treated it as the local hang-out place.

McDonalds were quick to state, those eating in, need purchase a minimum of 1.85 GBP (If I remember correctly), stopping those buying a soda and occupying the seats all day.

Simple.

[coyoteandraven]

this should diffuse to canada where starbucks customers sit for hours without purchasing

however starbucks in thailand has gone beyond even the ripoff coffee places in canada

by charging extra not only for soymilk latte's but also for a bit of cold soymilk to cool

down an americano considering the billions of gallons of organic soymilk produced

and the fact you don't have to provide shelter and healthcare and such a huge ecological and

ethical footprint and foodprint for soybeans as you do for dairycows the extra cost is a ripoff

you can't buy a starbucks card in thailand in which the extra cost of the soy is eliminated

my partner and I boycotted starbucks for more than 10 years for its coercive business

practices and it's time to think about doing so again there is lots of good coffee

in bangkok sorry terminal 21 mall starbucks your policies are either out of line

or your employees are improperly trained we don't even drink soymilk at home

because it acts as an artificial estrogen we use organic almond milk and there are

very few places in canada that offer organic almond milk lattes and always with

an extra charge

pc

[transam]

! I did not realise that sitting for a few hours and nursing a cup of coffee was a hanging offence. Give these people a break. So that spend a few hours learning at SBs. Good. If you want to complain about something find something worth complaining about.

So your one of those one cup coffee huggers eh

[peebee]

I also think their prices are too high and twice now I have had my cup filled up with too much froth and not enough milk. Had to ask them to correct this but it should not happen. I find Wawee coffee fine and they do have free wifi.

[sheasie]

Starbucks doesn't offer free wi-fi. (Not in BKK, at least.)

I understand their desire to encourage business, but if they are really claiming to deliver "free wi-fi", they are lying.

[Genericnic]

There are Starbucks in Thailand? Must have overlooked them. I stopped going there years ago when McDonalds in the US upgraded their coffee to something that was actually better than Starbucks.

And here in Chiang Mai, I can find excellent coffee made from locally grown and roasted beens at local coffee shops.

As far as I am concerned, all the students and tutors should sit at Starbucks as long as they like. I'll stick with the local shops and buy all my coffee there.

David

[PETERTHEEATER]

They've no idea! Just start a 'Buy one, get one free' campaign. Every customer who buys a coffee gets assigned a 'freeloader' to throw out of the door.

[Maseratimartin]

Totally agree with this move!

People who do not like their products ...please just don't bother...we didn't ask for your personal coffee taste!

[nosatisfaction]

starbucks...the teachers should be happy...get a coffee in a real coffeeshop...

like Mc Donalds is real burger?

[Sateev]

It's getting like S. Florida in here - what a bunch of yentas.

"Oy, Starbucks has terrible coffee"

"Yeah, and such small portions..."

LOL

[Morakot]

Where ever there are no clear boundries set, people will always take advantage.

Starbucks need only post a flyer stating that; x purchases of y value, buys you z amount of time within the premises.

Then it is clear to all.

When a McDonalds first opened up in a precinct near my home in the UK, kids treated it as the local hang-out place.

McDonalds were quick to state, those eating in, need purchase a minimum of 1.85 GBP (If I remember correctly), stopping those buying a soda and occupying the seats all day.

Simple.

[Whidbeyboy]

I prefer Black Canyon myself, and I live in Seattle. I have no problem with this policy, they are thier to make money and they have a right to run thier business as they see fit. Maybe this will lead to a new business oppertunity for someone else, like a wifi shop that rents space. Like that'd work:)

[crazykopite]

Worst coffee in the world !!!!!! I go to my local beach coffee house which is Thai they make a wonderful coffee at half the price have free wifi and a much much better view !!!!

[Bluespunk]

Good move.

[nosatisfaction]

Its a valid comment, regardless of what the outlet sells, if you are going to spend time on the premises then you should purchase an appropriate amount of their goods or services... Common sense really

Thais tend to do it another way as I've experienced in various upmarket hotels for Sunday brunch. They attack the buffet like a plague of locusts, take all the lobster, caviar and other expensive items (Even if they don't like the taste) and then disperse as quickly as they arrived.

that is the purpose of a buffet any where in the world, i start to think Thai: if u dont like it go back home

[kingstonkid]

They have this in Canada and the rule is if you are there for more than 30 minutes they will come and ask you would mind leaving so that other customers may use the facility. I agree that there are not enough places but tutors can use homes or other areas. If not then just buy more than one coffee. I used to run a real estate business and did most of my work at a coffee shop. They loved me every hour or so \i would order something else.

It is the least you can do for cheap rent of a space. That or switch locations there are usually more than one coffee shop inthe area.

[Kilgore Trout]

! I did not realise that sitting for a few hours and nursing a cup of coffee was a hanging offence. Give these people a break. So that spend a few hours learning at SBs. Good. If you want to complain about something find something worth complaining about.

Agreed. Maybe Starbucks should make their coffees more affordable to the average Thai.

Public places are not just for hi-so Thais and foreigners. And they wonder why there is class strife in Thailand

Myself and many others have studied and tutored at Barnes and Nobles, Borders etc. in the US, have never heard any of them complain (although one of them is now defunct). I suppose they would rather have people sipping coffee and reading rather than having an empty store. I think it's called thinking long term with regard to customer service/satisfaction.

Edited July 25, 2012 by Kilgore Trout

[toenail]

A reply to this forum was right on. Bangkok (and other cities) need to have libraries where the community can go and use their Wi Fi and /or computers available for the public.

[mrbiggwigg]

Might be a good Idea to write it in English

[nosatisfaction]

Where ever there are no clear boundries set, people will always take advantage.

Starbucks need only post a flyer stating that; x purchases of y value, buys you z amount of time within the premises.

Then it is clear to all.

When a McDonalds first opened up in a precinct near my home in the UK, kids treated it as the local hang-out place.

McDonalds were quick to state, those eating in, need purchase a minimum of 1.85 GBP (If I remember correctly), stopping those buying a soda and occupying the seats all day.

Simple.

people dont have any education or respect anymore?

i never even went to toilet in a bar without ordering anything

[blazes]

Well what do they expect? Everyone is glued to either a smart-phone or a laptop these days. Sociologists are saying that society is going in the wrong direction because of this new technology. People don't look where they are walking because they are captivated by Facebook on their mobile phones and others watch entire movies in cafes whilst sharing one iced-coffee. And the same problem is occurring at restaurants. It's time for these places to either stop offering wi-fi or to charge for it. There are so many cafes in Thailand now anyway, that I'm surprised anyone even goes to Starbucks anyway for their overpriced food and drink.

Has anyone ever seen a Thai person walking from Point A to Point B?

In Chiang Mai, I frequently walk down Huay Kaew (trying not to breathe in traffic fumes) and the only other people I ever see walking are farangs like myself.

[FritsSikkink]

How can this be enforced? Are they going to call the police? If there is no official allocated time for drinking your coffee i really don't see how anyone could be evicted.

You are not in a public place. The owner can tell you to go.

[nosatisfaction]

! I did not realise that sitting for a few hours and nursing a cup of coffee was a hanging offence. Give these people a break. So that spend a few hours learning at SBs. Good. If you want to complain about something find something worth complaining about.

Agreed. Maybe Starbucks should make their coffees more affordable to the average Thai.

Public places are not just for hi-so Thais and foreigners. And they wonder why there is class strife in Thailand

Myself and many others have studied and tutored at Barnes and Nobles, Borders etc., have never heard any of them complain (although one of them is now defunct). I suppose they would rather have people sipping coffee and reading rather than having an empty store. I think it's called thinking long term with regard to customer service/satisfaction.

i dont like this kind of Companies, but business is business, so sponsor them yourself for the space

[BookMan]

Wow, the mention of Starbucks really fires up the posting numbers!

[Curt1591]

I am surprised more establishments haven't started to clear out these people. It's not just Starbucks, but many other restaurants and food courts also. Anywhere there is air conditioning, tables and chairs is a prime study spot.

[jerrysteve]

Screw Starbucks. Their coffee is over priced anywayt and there are indeed better coffee places here.

[theajarn]

From my experience it usually a bunch of kids studying on their own, with one drink between them. True Coffee opened up areas with big tables specifically for these groups. Maybe Thailand should get some librarys/study areas going.

I like to get my Starbucks to go anyways

They did have such a library/study lounge in the city a few years back...

... and it closed after a few months in operation.

The market is just too weak. Oh yeah -- it wasn't a free lounge. Membership required. And then again... you had to go all the way to the place... unlike Starbucks at every major shopping mall....