Most of their drinks in general. They just raised some of them last week or so. I don't think the Coffee by the cup or espresso have gone up, but I am not sure.

 

Products made with milk were affected (latte, cappucino, mocha, white mocha, etc).

 

In my market, the price of a cup of coffee, including tax, is $1.64 for 12oz, $1.86 for 16oz, and $1.96 for a 20 oz.

Part of the issue with Wal-Mart is it has its tentacles in so many different things. A Starbucks could put an indie coffee store out of business, but it's not really going to affect any other retailers beyond that. Wal-Mart has the size, scope and buying power to adversely affect your local oil change place, tire seller, grocery store, hardware store, and many, many others. I think that's the rub with many.

Part of the issue with Wal-Mart is it has its tentacles in so many different things. A Starbucks could put an indie coffee store out of business, but it's not really going to affect any other retailers beyond that. Wal-Mart has the size, scope and buying power to adversely affect your local oil change place, tire seller, grocery store, hardware store, and many, many others. I think that's the rub with many.

 

 

Unless you own the independent coffee shop of course:banana:.

I still hear daily of the "evil giant Starbucks" and what they are puts the "little" guy out of business. But, at least in Louisville, Starbucks opened up a whole new niche in the market for the independents. They created interest where very little existed before.

I'll play devil's advocate in this one, as Starbuck's isn't WHY the boon happened....at least not locally, it was more frutuitous timing than simply entering a market. Now, I will concede that harsh competion has lead to higher quality in most all of the above mentioned "JOE" concepts.

This is the reason people , particularly small town people hate Walmart. They come to town and compete in a number of business i.e, grocery, hardware,phamacy,sporting goods etc. and put the small guy out of business, a number of small guys who have been making a living and keeping the local economy balanced. Walmart hires part-time employees to run the store and all the profits go back to corp. in Arkansas. It changes small town America forever because the face of the town is changed forever. the only thing positive about a Walmart is lower prices and more part-time jobs. that's in a nut shell vs. a Starbucks which only competes against a coffee shop.

This is the reason people , particularly small town people hate Walmart. They come to town and compete in a number of business i.e, grocery, hardware,phamacy,sporting goods etc. and put the small guy out of business, a number of small guys who have been making a living and keeping the local economy balanced. Walmart hires part-time employees to run the store and all the profits go back to corp. in Arkansas. It changes small town America forever because the face of the town is changed forever. the only thing positive about a Walmart is lower prices and more part-time jobs. that's in a nut shell vs. a Starbucks which only competes against a coffee shop.

 

When the first company owned Applebee's/McDonalds, etc comes to town and hurts the local diner , no outrage?

 

When the Krispy Kreme comes to town and hurts the local bakery, no outrage?

 

Point is that Wal Mart isn't doing anything different than other national businesses have been doing for decades. Perhaps its on a larger level, but its the same thing folks.

Part of the issue with Wal-Mart is it has its tentacles in so many different things. A Starbucks could put an indie coffee store out of business, but it's not really going to affect any other retailers beyond that. Wal-Mart has the size, scope and buying power to adversely affect your local oil change place, tire seller, grocery store, hardware store, and many, many others. I think that's the rub with many.

 

While you make a point that is often made I feel you are repeating what has been said by the anti-Wal-Mart crowd (unions).

 

As far as oil change place and tire seller, both can easily compete with Wal-Mart. Most of these business' are part of a chain themselves or franchised from one. Even for the ones that are true local owned small guy businesses it comes down to a couple of things 1) is your price close to Wal-Marts, you don't have to beat them just don't try to roger your customers with inflated prices. 2) do you give good service and stand behind your work? 3) is your location convienent? and last but not least 4) are your hours of operation accomodating to todays customer, we all can't take off work to get tires before 5pm you know.

 

Grocery stores just need to know their customers and not try to get huge mark up on basic items. Carry the local items Wal-Mart doesn't have, give good service (cut meat) be part of the community.

 

Hardware stores take worse from Lowes and Home Depot than from Wal-Mart but the biggest problem I have found with local hardware stores is most are open from 8 or 9 am til just 5 or 6 pm. By the time most of us get home from work you can't find one open, except for the chain hardware stores which again have done far more to hurt local owned hardware stores.

 

Most studies have found that as a whole towns actually grow and add more new business' after a Wal-Mart comes to town.

 

Less than 20 years ago Wal-Mart was smaller than Sears, K-Mart, Target, Kroger and JC Penny. Just as Wal-Mart is having their day in the sun now I'm sure someone will come along and pass them in the years to come.

We just recently had a Starbucks open in my area, But with three other local shops the community has seemed to stick with them and Starbucks never looks full compared to the other local coffee shops, maybe the locals will when in this fight.

This is the reason people , particularly small town people hate Walmart. They come to town and compete in a number of business i.e, grocery, hardware,phamacy,sporting goods etc. and put the small guy out of business, a number of small guys who have been making a living and keeping the local economy balanced. Walmart hires part-time employees to run the store and all the profits go back to corp. in Arkansas. It changes small town America forever because the face of the town is changed forever. the only thing positive about a Walmart is lower prices and more part-time jobs. that's in a nut shell vs. a Starbucks which only competes against a coffee shop.

 

 

So is this an indictment on the people of the "small town" or Wal-Mart?

. frutuitous .

 

Is this a new latte?

Is this a new latte?

 

Frappucino.

I still hear daily of the "evil giant Starbucks" and what they are puts the "little" guy out of business. But, at least in Louisville, Starbucks opened up a whole new niche in the market for the independents. They created interest where very little existed before.

I read a report recently suggesting that daily mega-doses of caffeine can result in the blind allegiance of individuals to large corporate entities. This is one of the many reasons large corporations provide free coffee for their employees while at work.

 

:eek: :eek: :eek:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

j/k Mom... :lol:

I read a report recently suggesting that daily mega-doses of caffeine can result in the blind allegiance of individuals to large corporate entities. This is one of the many reasons large corporations provide free coffee for their employees while at work.

 

:eek: :eek: :eek:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

j/k Mom... :lol:

 

I could get free coffee at the hotel, but I refuse it. I'll walk down to the independent, local coffee shop and pay first!

 

Hey, though...you have to love the "perks" at Starbucks!

When the first company owned Applebee's/McDonalds, etc comes to town and hurts the local diner , no outrage?

 

When the Krispy Kreme comes to town and hurts the local bakery, no outrage?

 

Point is that Wal Mart isn't doing anything different than other national businesses have been doing for decades. Perhaps its on a larger level, but its the same thing folks.

The differience is that Walmart competes in "every" category.