Dr. Evil’s company is not all that bad
I am not sure why, but it seems that Starbucks is often brought up as an example of corporate evil and expansionist tendencies. Anti WTO protesters target Starbucks windows for their most creative brick throws.
I don’t quite get it. First of all, let me start by saying I am not a huge fan of Starbucks’ products. I am not a coffee drinker at all, although I am an occasional sucker for a Frapuccino in the summer. My passion is tea, and Starbucks offers a rather pedestrian fare in that area.
Unlike the insipid and downright depressing interior of the golden arches establishments, Starbucks got the atmosphere right. But that is not why I like them particularly. It is the staff and the customer service that distinguishes Starbucks from the various chains. In all the stores I visited, they managed to create and maintain a sort of a “fringe” feel. The people are odd in a way that I find appealing, and they do put an extra effort into what they do.
Trying to keep myself in reasonable shape and financial status, I have taken to eating Kashi cereal at work. While it can be consumed dry, it goes better with milk. Realizing the other day that I was out of milk in the office I decided to buy some on the way to the train. Since I need to be in the office at a rather unwholesome hour, all stores and super markets on the way to the train are closed, with Starbucks being the exception. I went in on the odd chance that I’d be able to purchase some milk. I was told that they do have milk, but only in very large containers (duh). The lady at the counter said she could give me a class of milk in a paper cup to go. Upon consideration we both decided that packing a paper cup full of milk in my brief case may not be the best idea since the introduction of options trading. She had a solution though. Getting an affirmative answer from me to the question of whether I was going to pass by her store tomorrow, she put the milk in a non-spillable $24 Starbucks mug. My only obligation was to return the cup.
That was an extra step she totally did not have to take but did, and for which I am infinitly grateful, and may just buy an extra case of Frapuccino from Starbucks when the weather gets a bit warmer.
5:31:55 AM 
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