Good socially conscious move for Starbucks?

Discussion in 'West Mall' started by Horn6721, May 20, 2018.

  1. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...s-are-now-open-to-all/?utm_term=.8cdef74d66a2

    Starbucks will now give anyone the key to the bathrooms and not require anyone to buy anything.
    Per Shultz,the chairman
    ""We don't want to become a public bathroom, but we're going to make the right decision a hundred percent of the time and give people the key," Schultz said, "because we don't want anyone at Starbucks to feel as if we are not giving access to you to the bathroom because you are less than."

    Well at least this will free up some space and air at public libraries. Good for Starbucks.
     
  2. theiioftx

    theiioftx Sponsor Deputy

    In Houston, expect a flood of homeless people escaping the heat and humidity. Probably everywhere else too.
     
  3. El Sapo

    El Sapo Bevo's BFF

    Thought pretty much the same thing. I'm sure there will be little to no impact at many locations....others... may resemble a refugee camp. This stuff looks fine and dandy on paper until someone turns your restroom into their own personal bathtub, takes a dump on the floor, or uses it as a safe place to shoot heroin. There will be in-store theft, panhandling, and everything else that comes along with this. I don't say any of this lightly, I once managed a restaurant in downtown Atlanta and I felt as much like a security guard as a hospitality employee. Looking back, I cannot imagine trying to run that business if it had an open door policy like this.

    Outta be interesting but I'm not convinced Starbucks has thought this all the way through. Strikes me as the kind of feel good thing cooked up at mission control by people who've never had to actually put boots on the ground. Wouldn't be surprised to see some 'modifications' to this policy in the near future.

    :popcorn:
     
    • Like Like x 3
  4. Driver 8

    Driver 8 Amor Fati

    "We don't want to become a public bathroom, but we're going to... give people the key,"

    You just became a public bathroom.
     
    • Like Like x 6
  5. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    El
    That is exactly what I thought.When this was decided was this really thought through?
    I wonder if the CEO Shultz has ever been around congregated homeless people.
    They stink and many of the mentally ill ones have no concept of bathroom right and wrong seeing nothing wrong with peeing etc on the floor.
    How long will the Starbucks customers willingly sit next to smelly people having loud arguments with the people in their heads.

    This seems like a feel good pr ploy that his supporters will cheer and support UNTIL they are faced with reality. If he really wants people to not "feel Less" he can dedicate some of the profits to helping the mentally ill homeless.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  6. Horns11

    Horns11 10,000+ Posts

    After what happened at the Tim Horton's in Vancouver, I think more places should be getting on board with more lenient restroom policies.
     
  7. Phil Elliott

    Phil Elliott 2,500+ Posts

    Starbucks will eventually close those locations in areas where there is enough homeless population to ruin their business, and then will be accused of only catering to white, rich folk.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  8. Seattle Husker

    Seattle Husker 10,000+ Posts

    There is an elderly homeless man that frequents my "home" SBUX store. He sits quietly in the corner or in the tables outside, always with a Starbucks cup in front of him. Half the time he's sleeping. His presence doesn't make me any less comfortable visiting the store. Of course, that's in a suburb of Seattle.

    I work downtown Seattle and see the significant homeless population every day. I've watched strung out meth addicts wandering aimlessly around the streets. If someone downtown chose to squat in a store I'm sure they'd politely ask them to move on, especially in a group.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: May 22, 2018
  9. Run Pincher

    Run Pincher 2,500+ Posts

    I don't really care because there's plenty of places I go to get coffee before Starbucks, but yes they're going to be closing a lot of stores that will soon be public restrooms.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  10. theiioftx

    theiioftx Sponsor Deputy

    A former family member of mine was homeless in Houston for many years. No drug or alcohol problems, all mental. We tried to get her to live in a home we purchased, but she refused. She was unable to live in apartments due to behavioral issues. And unfortunately, we were unsuccessful many times getting a court order to get her help.

    Over the last twenty years, she was in and out of Harris County Jail. In most cases, she was arrested for trespassing at Starbucks or McDonalds escaping the weather or helping herself to some free ice and water.

    Creating a policy is an open invitation for trouble. Not sure how you can make exceptions and not run into legal trouble. I also think this will substantially negatively impact business.

    In most cases, there are shelters to help homeless people. I actively worked and supported one in the Houston area. I try to advocate for the good of homeless people. I do not think this policy helps them.
     
  11. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    " If someone downtown chose to squat in a store I'm sure they'd politely ask them to move on, especially in a group."

    SH
    Define "group"
    More than 2? So if 2 meth heads came in, destroyed the public restrooms and then sat down what would the baristas do?
    I do not want to sit next to even one jacked up person who stinks like a sewer and is on edge.

    Define "squat"
    .One hour without buying anything and messing up the restroom?
    Two hours?

    And if they "politely" asked this "group" to move on but the group refused then what?
    Heaven forbid if there was a "protected" person in the group who is asked to move on.

    Starbucks might be better off business wise and community wise to open separate store fronts of some sort that would allow homeless etc into for bathroom and water/coffee time with no purchase needed instead of this pr policy.



    iis
    What a tragedy for your family and you did everything possible. It must have been hell for your parents. i do not know the answer. Is it involuntary placement?
     
  12. theiioftx

    theiioftx Sponsor Deputy

    It was on my wife's side. Involuntary placement is difficult if the person is not 100% mentally ill at all times from a visibility standpoint. She actually could at times seem totally coherent and normal. Mental health is a definite crisis in the US and it is very difficult to manage when it is a loved one. To me, it was very similar to dealing with an addict or alcoholic who does not want help.
     
  13. El Sapo

    El Sapo Bevo's BFF

    Part of what drew me to this post was the homeless people aspect... I'm actually in the screening process right now for volunteering at an area food kitchen for the homeless.

    I've had a soft spot for the homeless for a very long time. The way I see it, a lot of us are just one or two life circumstances away from a similar reality....a different upbringing, mental illness, it wouldn't take much. I knew a gal with a master's degree in social work who ended up on the streets. She was beaten up and raped in a low-income housing project where she was helping people. She became an uncontrollable alcoholic, lost everything, and the last I heard of her she was living in the park. Kathy may very well be dead by now. These are all real people with real stories. I never give them money but I've lost track of the meals I've bought and sometimes clothes when I've been approached by the destitute.

    I think this Starbucks thing is going to backfire but I'm not against the homeless... there are just some hard realities to this and they're generally not good for business.
     
    • Like Like x 6
    Last edited: May 21, 2018
  14. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    iis
    Except your SIL was not engaged in causal behavior.
    Would your family have used involuntary placement if they could AND if there were good facilities ? Should the requirements for placement be changed?

    This seems like a totally separate issue from Starbucks thinking opening their restrooms and stores to what will be coming in is a selfless move.
    Most of the homeless population are addicted, yes some of that leads to mental illness.
    If Starbucks thinks it can encourage all its' current customers to become involved with the homeless with this they are sorely mistaken.
    It is one thing to volunteer at a homeless shelter where you are somewhat prepared.
    and another to go to a store to relax and pay money for a drink only to be confronted with smelly scary people.
     
  15. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    Didn't take long
    Starbucks is backtracking, excuse me Clarifying.
    Under their new policy smoking ,alcohol or drug use and sleeping will not be tolerated.
    If a druggie shoots up in the bathroom how would they know?
    Sleeping? or just meditating?
     
  16. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

  17. bystander

    bystander 10,000+ Posts

    The sanctimony is pretty pathetic. He is doing it because he was intimidated into doing it. It will be a public bathroom. Let's not kid ourselves.
     
  18. Seattle Husker

    Seattle Husker 10,000+ Posts

    Who is "he"?
     
  19. Garmel

    Garmel 5,000+ Posts

    I think he's talking about the chairman of Starbucks.
     
  20. mb227

    mb227 de Plorable

    Expect a WHOLE lot more of the situations like the one with the tranny at the California Dennys that was discussed in a different thread...they are not going to be there to use the bathroom. They are there to do their dope.

    If this gets $tarbuck$ to circle the drain and sustain losses, then it cannot occur soon enough. Overpriced crappy coffee and now policies that are not CUSTOMER friendly.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  21. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    Wow! Who saw this coming? Anyone?

    from a wsj tweet
    A worker pricked by a syringe and blood splattered on the walls. Starbucks faces the daunting task of cleaning up its now-public bathrooms https://on.wsj.com/2GLOuBH

    2:00 PM - May 24, 2018
    [​IMG]
     
  22. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    [​IMG]
     
    • Like Like x 1
  23. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    Shocked I am.
     
    • Like Like x 3

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