Much like how they only put Coca Cola products in the Coca Cola vending machines and how they only put Pepsi products in the Pepsi vending machines (but still own both), the Starbucks people get their special snowflake beans and the people opposite in Costa get their special snowflake beans.
Out the back, when the big lorry pulls up, stock gets updated across the site. There is not a special lorry just for the Starbucks people (e.g. Americans) to get their special beans. It all comes together on one big lorry from the same distribution hub.
Why should the customer care?
If you only have a few minutes to wait for your train and you want to get a large coffee for your journey then you know that there is no point 'shopping around'. You are not going to get a more competitive coffee by checking out the half dozen options, you might as well just get what is easiest and least stressful.
On a deeper level the customer should care because they are being fleeced. None of that coffee is that good really, if you want a decent cup of coffee then you really need to be going to an independent place where the staff are more inclined to get to know your name (if you go there every day) and more likely to know how you like your drink. You get service with a smile instead of a minimum wage, 'can't be bovvered' shrug.
> If you only have a few minutes to wait for your train and you want to get a large coffee for your journey then you know that there is no point 'shopping around'. You are not going to get a more competitive coffee by checking out the half dozen options, you might as well just get what is easiest and least stressful.
But the Starbucks coffee is a different size, different beans, different method of preparation, different price, different type of cup, than the Burger King coffee. There's a point shopping around between those two isn't there? One may be a more competitive offer than the other to you. Maybe you're price sensitive so you go with Burger King. Maybe you want a coffee prepared with espresso rather than filter so you go with Starbucks.
> On a deeper level the customer should care because they are being fleeced. None of that coffee is that good really
Well now we're just down to your personal opinion on different coffee brands and independence!
Out the back, when the big lorry pulls up, stock gets updated across the site. There is not a special lorry just for the Starbucks people (e.g. Americans) to get their special beans. It all comes together on one big lorry from the same distribution hub.
Why should the customer care?
If you only have a few minutes to wait for your train and you want to get a large coffee for your journey then you know that there is no point 'shopping around'. You are not going to get a more competitive coffee by checking out the half dozen options, you might as well just get what is easiest and least stressful.
On a deeper level the customer should care because they are being fleeced. None of that coffee is that good really, if you want a decent cup of coffee then you really need to be going to an independent place where the staff are more inclined to get to know your name (if you go there every day) and more likely to know how you like your drink. You get service with a smile instead of a minimum wage, 'can't be bovvered' shrug.