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Peeve of the Week: The Starbucks Shuffle
November 7, 2008

I had an annoying experience today that could have only happened at Starbucks.  I was supposed to meet a friend “at the Starbucks on 6th Ave. and twenty-something street.”   In my head, I thought I’d remembered her email saying it was close to 26th street.  So I went to the one on 27th and waited long enough to question whether I was in the right place.  I assumed that I must have made a mistake when I realized that there was another Starbucks just three blocks away on 24th street.  That must have been the mix up.  Caught in the rain without an umbrella, I dodged the drops as best as I could only to get there to sit and wait some more.  I was stumped.  Over the course of the next half hour, I walked back and forth a few times convinced that my friend had to be in one or the other because I knew we’d said 6th and 20-something.  At this point I began stressing about whether I had the right day, or if I’d made some other mistake in understanding our communication.  “Where could she be,” I thought... Oy, that’s when I realized there was yet another Starbucks at 22nd street.  By now it was pouring rain and I was drenched.  As it turns out, my friend was doing the same thing – looking for me in the Starbucks where I wasn’t.  Lesson learned.  Never again am I planning to meet someone at Starbucks.  It’s too risky.  Too many options.  Too much room for error.  I guess I should have just stayed in one place and enjoyed a cup of coffee.  However, I will say, that it renewed my appreciation for their plan to close some stores.  I also think it raises an interesting business question for those thinking about and planning out growth.  When does enough become too much?

Posted by Donna Flagg on November 7, 2008 | Comments (4)