Never did like Starbucks anyway. It always seemed over complicated, over priced, too trendy for my taste. It's just coffee, right?

Sometimes businesses reach a stage where they cannot do anything right. Everything they do seems badly thought out and backfires on them. Perhaps Starbucks has reached this stage?

Have you no sympathy? In a down economy, Starbucks has to do SOMETHING to make enough money to pay for the health insurance for all their employees.

Getting a cut from every car towed is a great way to increase your revenue-per-customer number.

I wouldnt have written a letter I would have reported the car stolen and had the tow truck driver and stores owner arrested

Coffee shops are making profits quite easily. We only have to look at the cost of the coffee at the supermarket (Even the super gourmet one) compare to the price at the local Starbucks.

This is why I wouldn't have any problem seeing them sued for the whole towing debacle.

(Psst Amy- See this.)

That man is a tool, just because a few c=countires share a launge does not mean they share a culture.

Who refers to america as an englsih culture just beacuse we speak english?

And since the advent of Islam I cant think of a single scientific achivement or advance to come from the middle east

Stay out of Starbucks - their coffee sucks anyway. Stay out of Portland. Message received.

I'd expect Starbucks to reimburse this guy, without the need to sue them or throw a brick through their window (which is what I'd be tempted to do). Otherwise they are going to get nothing but bad publicity.

On a similar note, I was talking to someone who had been mugged for a mobile phone, cards etc. I decided that if I was mugged I would "accidentally" break my phone rather than hand it over. At least I'd get to keep the sim that way. I might lose, but the mugger would not gain at my expense. On the same lines I may devise a wallet which would also cut cards and shred banknotes at the press of a secret button. Would there be a market for this among bloggers here?

MarkD -

Hey now, it's not Portlands fault that Starbucks and Retriever fucking blow. Portland is actually a great fucking town - I am so looking forward to heading back there for grad school.

Retriever is an especially shit company. It is a pretty standard practice for companies to patrol lots, especially in P-town where parking is a premium (which is why a large percentage of folks park and ride trans, if they drive at all). But when patrolling non-permit lots, most of them leave folks alone from their first sweep so as to leave most customers alone. Then if they see that a car has been there since their previous sweep, they try to find the owner in the establishment attached to the lot. Keeping in mind that it's usually at least four hours between sweeps.

Retriever drivers will sometimes do that, but they aren't required to by their management. The company simply doesn't care - the more tows, the more money they make. It should also be noted that they primarily patrol permit parking lots, where there is generally absolutely no tolerance. I called them pretty regularly for our apartment's lot, where there wasn't even enough room for all the tenants (our landlord leased spaces from the bar behind us).

Personally, I don't understand why anyone goes to Starbucks in Portland anyways. We have some awesome local chains (Peet's, for example), as well as some incredible indies. And not a single one of the local chains or indie shops has fucking wireless you have to pay for. I mean fuck all, if I'm paying that much for fucking coffee, the least you can do is have open wireless.

To clarify the park and ride, there are several parking ramps that offer free parking right next to the light rail line. And the parking is free all day, as long as you don't try to leave your car for more than twenty-four hours. A lot of people park and ride down town for work.

I think I drove down town three times in the nearly four years I was there. And every time it was to haul stuff to or from a job.

"It's like drinking velvet."

COFFEEGASM!!!!!

Is this part of the "ultimate expression of our humanity, the ultimate habitat in which to be ourselves"?
Gotta get me some a that city life! Nine bucks for a coffee, nowhere to park and some feller can steal yer truck and get away with it!

My town is too small for a Starbucks, but we've got Joltin' Jo's. They use a really good brand of coffee (Daz Bog), and they have a walk-up window (with some tables outside) and a drive-up window. From what I've heard about Starbucks prices, Joltin' Jo's is cheaper, too. Which isn't to say that they're cheap. I could easily spend a small fortune having coffee there everyday (which is why I limit myself to twice a month).

Coffe should be like porn. Pay a 30 a month fee to get some at half a dozen different locations

I currently own 3 cars and 2 motorcycles. I honestly don't know all of my license plate numbers.

But no parking enforcment system is perfect, it sounds like this guy is getting due review from the governing city commision.

We have some awesome local chains (Peet's, for example)....

Glad you like Peet's. I do too. The company's based in Emeryville, here in the Bay Area. It was founded in Berkeley. They may be communists, but they make good coffee.

Conan -

The funny thing about that, I never really did Peet's for the coffee, I went there for the tea. As far as the tastiest coffee, I really prefer shops that serve Stumptown. Except that Stumptown pissed me off because they wouldn't sell me green bean coffee. Mind you I went to one of the shops that actually roasts and made it clear I was happy to pay the price for roasted, even though green beans are heavier. All I wanted was fucking coffee I could roast myself - but nope, they couldn't fucking do that.

So I try not to say nice things about them.

And that's not to say that Peet's coffee isn't awesome, it really is. I just really love their teas. They sell a better senscha than anyone, except for a really high end tea shop in Seattle's Pike's Market.

I'm still doing Starbucks for the tea (Tazo). I'll have to try the Peet's teas.

It's all about customer relationship management. By contracting with this slimy towing company, Starbucks is defining the relationship. "Hello fool, you're my bitch now".

--
phunctor

Amy, I have another customer relationship story for you. On the weekend I reserved a car with Budget to drive down to Seattle & Portland in a few days. I selected them because their rate was $130 for 5 days, much less than the $190+ others were charging.

Then last night I had a brainwave and vaguely remembered that when I once rented with Budget before, there was an unexpected surcharge when I got to the counter. So I carefully read all the Terms and Conditions. There was no specific mention of any surcharge, though they said that one had to declare if the car was being taken stateside. Since all these cars have GPS in them, its stupid not to be up front about it.

Still, I had this lingering memory gnawing at me. So I wrote them last night, asking to let me know. Even now, almost 24 hours later, there's no response. But I called them this morning. Sure enough, there's a standard rate of $10 per day for taking a car into Washington and $15 per day for going into Oregon.

Why aren't these rates published? It's bad enough that they use a lost leader approach to get business but to not even include the figures in their fine print is IMHO beyond the pale.

And now I'm openly talking about it on your widely read blog. Brilliant Budget, just brilliant!

It's bad enough that they use a lost leader approach to get business....

"Lost leader" approach? I like it. The US automakers have using that approach for years.

I believe you meant a "loss leader" approach. That's when a company prices a few products below cost to entice you to shop there and makes up the lost margin on the other products you put in the basket (i.e., a grocer sells milk and bread below cost because they're "draw" products and makes up the difference in cereal and peanut butter).

The tactic you're describing is closer to "bait and switch." That's when the company advertises a product at a low price and when you come in to purchase said product it is unavailable. They then try to "switch" you to a higher priced product.

There's a bit of problem here with:
"What kind of dimwits do business like this?"
and
"You see, I was under the impression that I was going to be able to enjoy my Starbucks experience."

IMHO what kind of dimwit would expect any kind of amazing experience at a Starbucks?