Remember about a month ago when Starbucks was the target of a boycott after a store manager in Philadelphia called the police on two black men who were allegedly loitering in the cafe? That call led to arrests, and those arrests led to angry protests and a promise by Starbucks to close 8,000 stores for one afternoon to roll out an anti-bias education session for all employees.
It seems Starbucks has decided to take things a step further to make amends. According to a company email, “any person who enters our spaces, including patios, cafes and restrooms, regardless of whether they make a purchase, is considered a customer.”
Starbucks tells employees in a letter that everyone is “considered a customer” https://t.co/NnSwMLYct0
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) May 19, 2018
So, it seems that not only restrooms are open to all now — if you want to hold a staff meeting there, you’re welcome to, and you shouldn’t feel compelled to buy anything … you’re a guest.
1000's of new state of the art homeless shelters open across the US https://t.co/OZgXR1vMIt
— Mitch Hallford (@MitchHallford) May 19, 2018
Correction: "Non-paying freeloaders now considered customers and should have full access to our facilities." https://t.co/PUTb0f3Zpj
— John M. Winstel (@JMWinstel) May 19, 2018
Cool, I know where to tell my son to live for a month in between apartments at college https://t.co/zmTgTabj8C
— Lisa Can (@lisacanhave) May 19, 2018
Starbucks is now a public toilet that sells coffee on the side:https://t.co/jAAHcHS5lu
— varifrank (@varifrank) May 19, 2018
I will bring my own coffee then. Probably even selling it at Starbucks.
— Youth Zen (@yuedizhang) May 19, 2018
I don't defend any of Starbucks' recent incidents, they have to be condemned. But I don't think this is a good move. Paying customers would like to use the space. Not many would like to go to an overcrowded cafe. https://t.co/f0OES555ZN
— Sachin Gowda (@sachingowda) May 19, 2018
You have to believe that they thought this through carefully, and are willing to take the hit on financials and customer satisfaction. And there will certainly be a hit. https://t.co/Pfvgqr4JTV
— Dean Frazier (@DPFrazier) May 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/michellejgen/status/997898057126699008
I haven’t been in a @Starbucks for a year because of their moronic policy of allowing non paying customers to occupy multiple seats with laptops and paperwork, talking on cell phones, and conducting meetings. DUMB POLICY from a bunch of LIBERALS.
— DanME (@DanME) May 19, 2018
This is ridiculous. Those of us who have spent hundreds/thousands on Starbucks products for many years will be paying for loitering, essentially. Not good. I predict that business will suffer enormously.
— Debrah (@TheDivaWorld) May 19, 2018
The Wall Street Journal reports that during a talk about corporate responsibility earlier this month, Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz told attendees, “We don’t want to become a public bathroom, but we’re going to make the right decision 100% of the time and give people the key.”
https://twitter.com/mariah_legs/status/997870664672530432
Related:
'No sympathy AT ALL'! Starbucks keeps BECLOWNING itself with new plan to combat 'racial bias' https://t.co/gPEpzbtCz3
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 17, 2018
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