PREDICTION #1: STARBUCKS IS ON THEIR WAY OUT

I have been telling close friends how I hate Starbucks and how I believe their days are numbered.

I should have gone on record stating this fact when McDonald's put out a better coffee than Starbucks and it was for 1/2 the price. But I didn't.

I should have gone on record again when Starbucks closed 600 stores on July 1st. But I didn't.

So better late then never, Starbucks is going to fall hard. Here is why:

1. Starbucks coffee has gotten worse over the years.
2. McDonald's offered better coffee 1/2 the price.
3. Starbucks charges way to much for their CDs. In all my years of going to Starbucks, I have yet to find one sucker that will pay $15.99 for 10 songs.
4. McDonald's is offering wi-fi all the time for free. Starbucks finally offered wi-fi for free and yet the limit you to two hours.

If your going to save Starbucks then five things need to happen:

1. Get better coffee
2. stop selling CDs for 15.99. No one will pay that price.
3. make each locations localized by allowing the area to dictate the image. Have local guitar players or horn players coming in on Friday or Saturday nights. Have poetry readings or spoken word night. Whatever brings back that coffee house feel.
4. Sell CDs ONLY from local or unsigned artists.
5. free wi-fi ALL THE TIME!!!!

Is Starbucks the Wal-Mart of coffee?

I was reading my Fast Company magazine and it brought a few Starbucks facts to my attention. Did you know.....

1. Starbucks' closest competitor is Caribou Coffee (never heard of the place) and they are only one twenty fifth the size of Starbucks.

2. Starbucks pays more for it's employees' insurance ($200 million) then it pays for it's coffee beans.

3. The average customer pays $4.05 per visit for coffee. The average fast food visitor spends $4.34 for an entire meal.

4. When Starbucks bumped the 8 oz. cup off the menu for the 10 oz. "tall" (the new small) it increased profits by 25 cents per cup for only 2 cents more added product.

I stopped paying $4.00 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks about a year ago.

I realized that I could go to the local 7-Eleven and pay $1.29 for the same size coffee, which I could doctor up at the flavor counter. Then, I realized that I could make coffee at home for even less money. I am currently using the Kirkland fine ground coffee along with a Coffee Mate flavored creamers from the store.

Think about it. Is one person's coffee better than another's? Probably not. So you might as well save money on your coffee habit where you can, because you're going to need it for your gas tank.