Far West
Pursuit Driver
I am a little confused why you think that is crazy or compared it to a persons home? A residence, or illegally entering a country is not the same as entering a business. I enter places of business all the time and they should assume I am a customer. I might or I might not purchase something at that time, but I am fairly certain that if you act like I am a criminal or demand I purchase something right that moment, I won't be back.
The "new" policy is basically what it has always been at Starbucks. I have waited there numerous times as I have in other places. Just Sunday I waited and was actually seated at a table at Carrabba's. I did not order anything until the rest of my party arrived. They did not have an issue with me taking up a booth at a sit down restaurant, they assumed, correctly, I was a customer. Many places do.
What happened was very unfortunate. They are doing the best they can to run damage control and it seems as if now some other groups (I mentioned that above in my first comment) are still criticizing. Just a no win situation.
If someone is inside a business and not doing business and refuse to leave when asked, they are committing the crime of criminal trespass, pure and simple. I don't care if the person is white, black or the green woman from Star Trek. Maybe one day these corporate types will learn to stand their ground and tell all these liberal, race bating, sex-bating, grievance industry types to seal that obnoxious hole beneath their nose and pound sand.
Until then, it won't stop.
I think it is poetic justice... the fear of offending anyone has blinded them to why the world needs standards. Such as; we are a business who sells drinks and food in an inclusive environment to sit and network, use our wifi... but we are a business so we maintain the right to ask you to leave if you are not a customer.
The Social Justice model works fine for unemployed college students and those who still live with their parents, however I don't think many businesses can embrace socialism and remain a profitable corporation.
What you read in post # 18, I pasted and cut points from the article that I attached... however, business is business. Our country is being pushed by Social Justice Warriors (SJWs) to be afraid of having standards. I don't know why the dude in Philly didn't just say fine I will wait for our friend to get here to use the restroom... or buy a damn soda!
You are right it is damage control, which they should not have to have... but our country is so screwed up to be offended at any rule, it becomes a HUGE issue... so yeah... ironic that Starbucks has been clipped by the SJWs that they have cultivated. So sad... but they have contributed to the PR nightmare they are now living.
I agree with the author's point that Starbucks is a business. It’s not a public library, park, or beach. If Starbucks doesn’t make money by selling beverages and food, it will cease to be a place for anyone.
You are correct that it is not always apparent if someone is a customer or vagrant when they first arrive. I have never been offended if a gas station or store says its bathroom or tables are for customers... I figure the bathroom will probably be clean and maintained. Many times I have purchased a soda to use a fast food bathroom because I knew the bathroom would be clean, and I needed a restroom.
Starbucks may have just opened their employees up to a horrible initiation into dealing with the types of public which they have never had to contend... Not all Starbucks will have the same issues... it depends where the store is located.
I worked for many years in downtown as a hotel manager. I was often asked by the street people/homeless/vagrants if they could just sit in the air conditioning, sleep in the lobby to stay warm, use a room to get a shower... I could go on. I could not let them because we were a business and not set up to have people sleeping in our lobby, or for free in the hotel. Once word gets out that anyone can just hang out at Starbucks, certain stores will be abused.
Over the years, too many times, someone took pity and bent the rules... I can tell you horrible stories of what happens when non-customers camp out in your establishment. Hard lessons to learn from bending the rules... often expensive lessons. A vagrant problem will also drive away customers. I was surprised how fearful people are about the homeless.
(I don't drink coffee, and have never purchased anything from Starbucks. I have stood with a friend who had to get their caffeine fix probably 6 or 7 times, so this will not affect me at all.)
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