Originally posted by redDUST:
yes, in china, this is still rampant leh.....money ABSOLUTELY talk there. when one opens his/her eyes there to start the day, they crack their brain on how to make a quick buck for the day.
actually I thought the corruption was rare these days, but after what i heard from my friend, i think i was wrong.
Originally posted by eagle:We see that troll trying to bring an unrelated thread into this topic. He does that so many times that I guess we all lost count.
Back to topic: How often do you really drink Starbucks? I don't. And only drank one cup of coffee bean coffee in the past 1.5 years.
To me, such coffee are luxury goods; there's no necessity to drink them when you can get much cheaper ones if you need some coffee fix.
for me, i kinda think starbucks as the `macdonalds of the world' when i travel. the choices are safe and predictible. especially in areas where you are not familiar with, starbucks and macdonalds offer safe choices. here in singapore, i frequent it much less as i am obviously familiar with the surroundings here, and a nice cuppa costs only s$1 here.
when overseas, i actually frequent starbucks, esp. breakfast becos it actually saves me money, more for my employer actually. the breakfast in my hotel will set me back s$35, so starbucks breakfast for less than s$10 is a good deal. my hr will be happier too. and if i eat out, it's also easier to order. real life experience in seoul, korea where it is virtually impossible to order food at food joints becos they don't speak a word of english. but at the starbucks in seoul, there will be at least 1 staff who speaks english. so, it is really a convenient factor for me.
Originally posted by redDUST:for me, i kinda think starbucks as the `macdonalds of the world' when i travel. the choices are safe and predictible. especially in areas where you are not familiar with, starbucks and macdonalds offer safe choices. here in singapore, i frequent it much less as i am obviously familiar with the surroundings here, and a nice cuppa costs only s$1 here.
when overseas, i actually frequent starbucks, esp. breakfast becos it actually saves me money, more for my employer actually. the breakfast in my hotel will set me back s$35, so starbucks breakfast for less than s$10 is a good deal. my hr will be happier too. and if i eat out, it's also easier to order. real life experience in seoul, korea where it is virtually impossible to order food at food joints becos they don't speak a word of english. but at the starbucks in seoul, there will be at least 1 staff who speaks english. so, it is really a convenient factor for me.
yeah, the main barrier when you go to such countries is the language.
Shucks, I didn't try speaking only English at the Starbucks in Germany.
Originally posted by redDUST:for me, i kinda think starbucks as the `macdonalds of the world' when i travel. the choices are safe and predictible. especially in areas where you are not familiar with, starbucks and macdonalds offer safe choices. here in singapore, i frequent it much less as i am obviously familiar with the surroundings here, and a nice cuppa costs only s$1 here.
when overseas, i actually frequent starbucks, esp. breakfast becos it actually saves me money, more for my employer actually. the breakfast in my hotel will set me back s$35, so starbucks breakfast for less than s$10 is a good deal. my hr will be happier too. and if i eat out, it's also easier to order. real life experience in seoul, korea where it is virtually impossible to order food at food joints becos they don't speak a word of english. but at the starbucks in seoul, there will be at least 1 staff who speaks english. so, it is really a convenient factor for me.
seriously, Starbucks food not that clean (when I was there), they outsourced their sandwiches and cakes from suppliers. during my time there, I have seen band aid in their puff pastry and roaches in their sandwiches. i don't know the standard these days.
Originally posted by maurizio13:
actually I thought the corruption was rare these days, but after what i heard from my friend, i think i was wrong.
if you ever have a chance to go to guangdong province, `chow si' or smuggling is rampant. officials all thru' the foodchain are `bought'. my business associates can slip thru' products to any countries outside china without passing thru' proper channels.
there, you can also buy jeans for s$1 and nice jackets for s$3-5 if you know where to look. some are rejects but there are alot also that slips thru' the backdoor of factories, etc.
it is out of control and hard to control.
Originally posted by maurizio13:seriously, Starbucks food not that clean (when I was there), they outsourced their sandwiches and cakes from suppliers. during my time there, I have seen band aid in their puff pastry and roaches in their sandwiches. i don't know the standard these days.
yup, i know about the outsourcing bit. my cousin supplies cakes to starbucks here in singapore ;-)
in china, nothing is certain. so, fingers crossed.
Originally posted by redDUST:
reckon starbucks needs the customers churns/turnover to reinvigorate the business.also, dunkin' donuts and mccafe is eating into their share with similar business model states-side.
however, i do think that they expanded too fast too soon. near my beijing office in guo-mao, there are 3 starbucks within a 200m radius. it baffles me. in china, a venti latte and a sandwich costs almost s$10, pretty ex for my breakfast when i go work there a few times a year.
dunkin Donut and Mccafe... their coffee still cannot compete with Starbucks lah.
Yes.. they expanded so fast.. it's ridiculous..
In fact some cities banned starbucks from starting up store there. Because they can't stand the invasion.
Yah, I also wonder how starbucks can survive in China.
It's crazy to pay so much for a cup of coffee.
But then again.. they pay for the novelty. And starbucks is like a place you go to be seen.
Fancy paying $50 for a tub of ice cream in China.. they call it a treat !!
Originally posted by redDUST:
yup, i know about the outsourcing bit. my cousin supplies cakes to starbucks here in singapore ;-)in china, nothing is certain. so, fingers crossed.
your cousin's shop is marly french?
that was the old supplier, under new owner Starbucks International, it might be different.
Originally posted by eagle:We see that troll trying to bring an unrelated thread into this topic. He does that so many times that I guess we all lost count.
Back to topic: How often do you really drink Starbucks? I don't. And only drank one cup of coffee bean coffee in the past 1.5 years.
To me, such coffee are luxury goods; there's no necessity to drink them when you can get much cheaper ones if you need some coffee fix.
I have $200 worth of Starbucks gift cards sitting in my purse. Birthday presents, christmas gifts etc ...
Every morning, I drive to the nearest Starbucks drive thru for my daily fix.
One cup a day....
Here not luxury goods..people give starbucks gift cards like nobardie business. People also buy other Starbucks merchandise as gifts.
USA don't have kopi like Singapore's kopi tiam or hawker center.
Their American coffee is like brown colored water. YUCKS.
That is why "gourmet" coffee has a following here...
Very different market lah...
Originally posted by eagle:Don't usually see people buying much from starbucks
The main reason might be because of the weather in Singapore. In Germany or any other European countries, the external temperature is usually very cooling. It is indeed a pleasure to buy a nice cup of hot coffee or tea, and sit outside the cafe, enjoying the cool breeze, the warm sun and the sight and view of people walking around doing their daily things.
During the colder months people drink HOT coffee..
During hot summer months.. people drink cold blended FRAPUCCINO.
Now they are also selling TEA and TEA Frapuccino for the health conscious.
Also low calorie options.