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Americano To Go (Away from Forbidden City)
Following up on Neil's post, the Starbucks in Forbidden City is in fact, closing. The Chinese have gathered 500,000 signatures that caused the management to shut it down.
Is that good or bad news?
Tim Footman of The Guardian expresses a concern in his column today that "in a global market of implied cultural signifiers, absolutely any product - even a cup of mediocre coffee - seems to have the potential to challenge socialism with Chinese characteristics."
He points out what we all know: it is not coffee that Starbucks sells. They sell "a lifestyle, a feeling, a brand, a corporate reimagining of bohemian leisure." Although the Chinese are perfectly willing to sell the fancy coffee, they refuse to sell the name and lifestyle. It was either changing the name or closing shop.
If you change the name, you end up with mediocre coffee. Closing shop, I guess, made perfect sense.
Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Food and Drink, Asia, China
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 5)
disappointed Jul 21st 2007 11:40PM
I used to like Starbucks until they got greedy. I went in there and asked for a $1.75 coffee with the 50 cent shot of flavoring. When I asked where the cream was, (which is free to anyone who has a simple coffee), the clerk said she would add it. My simple coffee with a shot of flavor and cream then became some fancy named latte and they charged me $4.75. This happened twice so I know it was not a mistake. I now go to 7-11 (some formerly White Hen) and some of the gas station places that have the best coffee you can imagine.
Steve Jul 21st 2007 11:54PM
STARBUCKS SUCKS
Steve Jul 21st 2007 11:54PM
STARBUCKS SUCKS
CR Jul 21st 2007 11:53PM
I agree with a previous poster.. Chinese products can overrrun the United States, so why not have a Starbucks in China? This makes no sense.
Steve Jul 21st 2007 11:53PM
STARBUCKS SUCKS
Steve Jul 21st 2007 11:54PM
STARBUCKS SUCKS
Bob Jul 22nd 2007 12:03AM
I buy Costco's Kirkland brand Roasted by Starbuck's and brew it at home. I brew it at home have a good tight travel mug so I don't spill it save a bundle. It tastes pretty damn good, the folks who grow it receive a living wage and growing conditions are better regulated meaning a safer product.
Bob Jul 22nd 2007 12:07AM
I forgot to add the reason they recieve a living wage is that Cotco's Roasted by starbucks is Fair Trade coffee
LdyD43 Jul 22nd 2007 12:22AM
Here's the worse scenario folks.....if ya'll read the newspapers, if you'll note, we are receiving all kinds of crap from China and I'm about sick of it due to the fact we keep getting stuff such as recent recalls on their toys which are laced with lead, our pet food which are laced with killing chemicals and crap NOT for human consumption, and tires which are total junk causing wrecks due to their missing components to hold the tread together....etc...etc...
I could say a whole lot more, but my point IS, WHY IN THE HECK IS CHINA FREAKING ABOUT STARBUCKS BECAUSE CHINA CLAIMS Starbucks IS "a lifestyle, a feeling, a brand," and wants to close it because of that. H-E-L-L-O........If I were in charge I'd cut China off and tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine. I mean c'mon. The USA needs to buck up.
Linda Jul 22nd 2007 12:24AM
They don't want Starbucks because of the lifestyle it portrays? Well then, how 'bout we bring our jobs back to the United States? We sure wouldn't want to offend the Chinese by having them work for our American-style companies!
Bill Jul 22nd 2007 12:24AM
Annie #7 is right on the money. Starbuckd did in fact refuse to send any coffee to the troops because their official policy was "They don't support the war effort in Iraq"
Bill Jul 22nd 2007 12:30AM
I agree 100% annie, I wouldn't go to Starbucks for any reason
Chaz Jul 22nd 2007 12:34AM
Starbucks has to charge a big price for their coffee just to keep the riss-raff out,and China told them to take a hike,So there!
Lee Jul 22nd 2007 12:36AM
I dont know weather Starbucks supports the war..the troops..but it shouldnt matter..Their only thoughts should be on getting home in one piece...
Lee Jul 22nd 2007 12:40AM
I always thought Starbucks coffee tasted like jack in the box coffee..Which is good for Jack in the box butis not the best for them...
Glady Jul 22nd 2007 12:50AM
Why don't we Americans think so clearly? Is Starbucks dulling our mental acuity? A cup of coffee does not define me. So why should I buy it in order to make me feel a sense of self-worth? I think WE need to re-look at Starbucks. It really is paying bucks to star!!!
Garry Jul 22nd 2007 1:01AM
You know, I used to wonder why Starbucks knowingly offered such crappy coffee. Then one day it occurred to me that they don't make near as much on basic coffee as they do on "dressed up" coffee. So in order to make more money, they sell crappy basic coffee, people add this and that so it tastes good enough to drink and they end up spending as much on one cup as I do on a 3 lb. can !!! These jerks are laughing all the way to the bank !
Tom Jul 22nd 2007 1:06AM
The popularity Starbucks just goes to show that there are a great number of people with more money than sense. Four or fine bucks for a cup of coffee? Absurd
aklala Jul 22nd 2007 1:28AM
The article did not say Starbucks was leaving China...simply asked to move from the Forbidden City...which was the home of the Chinese Emperor for over a thousand years. The average Chinese person was first let in to visit the Forbidden City in 1949.
And yes, starbucks is GREAT! It too was once a small business...I first had coffee at Starbucks in the early 1970's when it had two very small locations.
Kerry Jul 22nd 2007 1:33AM
I boycott Starbucks because I understand they refused to send coffee to the soldiers fighting saying they were NOT supporting the war or anything to do with it and WOULD NOT give ANYTHING to the troops. I say NO to Starbucks!!!!!!!!!