I work at a starbucks smack dab in the middle of our american suburban dystopia. Starbucks decision to sell CDs is working brilliantly here. You can already get someone to make a $5 purchase on gum while they wait impatiently for you to ring up their half-caff, 1%, 2 splenda, 1/2 the sugar free vanilla caramel macchiato, so why not stretch it to a $16 cd purchase. Yuppies apparently don't care what they listen to as long as it's right in front of them to buy (how else would dave matthews get fans?). It's an option they've been waiting for for years. It was confusing wandering around chain electronic superstores wondering which crappy sound fits them best. Now starbucks can just tell them what they like and the yuppies will be happy to oblige and I'll get to listen to inane chatter about how good the Ray Charles disc is even though they haven't actually listened to it. They just heard it was good from someone or somewhere and that's good enough for them. You see, yuppies don't actually formulate opinions of their own on this kind of stuff and need to be given topics for conversation.
I dunno, maybe it's good that chain electronic stores are taking a hit because starbucks certainly isn't taking the place of any actual record stores. I'm just pissed because I have to hear people talk about shitty adult contemporary music and listen in horror as the occassional good artist like nick drake gets co-opted. Now whenever I start to dig an accessible song I'm afraid I might hear it played for the yuppies at starbucks. I never really was a huge Beck fan but every time I see a 30-40 something pick up his disc and look at it in bewilderment I want to swat it out of his/her hand and reproach them with "NO! That is not for you!."
Sorry I'm using this activist website for my own personal bitchfest but I didn't know where else to take it.
I have definately noticed tha
I have definately noticed that the cd's available at purchase don't always match the taste of baristas. That is probably because baristas are not in the target (baby boomer market) who have the most disposable income available. That said, I have enjoyed many of the recent releases, especially the hear music playlists!
I Starbucks should stay out o
I Starbucks should stay out of the entertainment industry. Antigone Rising... Case and point. The re-release of Jagged Little Pill coming soon... I cringe. Starbucks can be a lot of things but it can't be the premier purveyor of the worlds finest rocker chics. Unless we start carrying PJ Harvey albums that is. Lets just stick to making coffee for now or just at least until we can get David Geffen on the payroll.
Fact of the matter is, the CD
Fact of the matter is, the CD's sell. If you're against CD sales at starbucks, then you're against the basis of capitolism.
I think it's disgusting that a coffee shop would try to enter into so many other markets, specifically music... but it generates revenue. If people are stupid enough to pay 18 dollars for a CD they can get elsewhere for 8, let them.
"If you are against CD sales
"If you are against CD sales at Starbucks, then you are against the basis of capitalism."
I'm sorry to say this but that sounds so much like a George W. Bush quote. You know, the ones where hes so sure of what hes saying but no one else is.
Its cool though, I understand what you are saying and you are a little off on your logic. Being against CD sales at Starbucks and being against dildo sales at Toys R Us are about the same thing. Some people just aren't going to have it.
People who disagree with what a company sells and are vocal about it are actually being active members of capitalism by trying to effect demand for the product in question.
I don't know, makes perfect s
I don't know, makes perfect sense to me. My idea for the basis of capitolism is: If people will buy it, someone will supply it.
People buy CD's from starbucks at astronomical prices. Starbucks will supply each store with more and more CD's.