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I sent this to their corporate address:
To Starbucks Corporation: January 10, 2008
First of all I would like to acknowledge that I have been a frequent and faithful Starbucks customer for the past six years. Often times I have found Starbucks to be the place to have intimate conversations, work on school work, write poetry or just surf the internet. I have always found Starbucks to be a welcoming place no matter the season or the busyness of the particular store; however, on the evening of December 19, 2007 my image of Starbucks had been tainted.
I, and several of my friends whom I had not seen for many months, decided to reconvene at what I like to call my favorite Starbucks. We were seated comfortably around the fire, and felt very much at home being amongst old friends, sipping delicious latte’s while catching up on the time that has gone by. We decided to take several pictures of us spending time together and enjoying ourselves. As we were taking a picture, the barista came over to us and started telling us that we “are not allowed to take pictures in Starbucks.” My friend continued to take the picture because it seemed that the barista was joking. I asked if he were serious, and the barista responded, “yes, it is a rule that the Starbucks corporation has decided on.” When we found this out all four of us were outraged. Since when does a place like Starbucks, who writes, “Pass the cheer” on their cups, dissipate the warm homey feeling by telling its customers that digital memories are not allowed to be created in its store.
A home not too far from my actual home, is how I have always thought of Starbucks, especially this particular Starbucks located in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. The message that I received when I was told that pictures were not allowed to be taken in Starbucks was not one that left me feeling at home. It made me feel like I was in a corporate, money guzzling, egotistical coffee shop that cares more about its ideas being stolen than the comfort and happiness of its customers. If that is the message that you are trying to send then I am sorry to have wasted my time writing of my concerns to your store.
Today’s world is filled with technology. Don’t you think that if a competitor wanted to come and steal your company’s ideas they would be able to do so with or without camera’s that are going to be noticed by your baristas. Today, camera’s can be made out of pea size tools that go unnoticed to the average human being. So tell me this Starbucks, is your next step to install metal detectors to insure that your precious coffee making ideas are kept under wraps?
Yes, today’s world is run by technology. People like to take pictures together everywhere. Sharing moments and documenting time spent together now goes hand in hand because of the technological advances that have been made within the past ten years. It is to be expected that customers are going to want to take a picture with a friend they have not seen for days, months, or even years in their local Starbucks. Is it wrong to assume that you would want to be the place where people want to be when reconvening with a friend? Does Starbucks not want the reputation of being a home away from home?
On the Starbucks website it says, “Warm hearts with warm mugs of Starbucks© Christmas Blend.” One would expect that this warmth would start within the store. Picture this, Starbucks allowing several collegiate girls gathering around the fire taking a picture with their Starbucks cups in hand. These same girls leave with warm hearts because of the latte’s drank and the moments they shared there. Not the heat of disappointment that my friends and I left with a couple of weeks ago.
I hope this letter calls your attention to the dissatisfaction a customer experiences when your company implores rules that benefit your company versus the customer. Customers make up your company, keep us happy.
Sincerely,
G.C.G.