[marincounty]

If Starbucks is smart they will let people sit there all day!

The only reason I drink Starbuck's overpriced bitter coffee is because they have been kind to Anyone who walks through their door.

They have allowed anyone(including the homeles) to use their restrooms. Although I think that's starting to change? Watch it Starbucks--some of us notice those Managers who take their job too seriously, like its their bathroom.

I go to Starbucks because of the welcoming environment--period. I don't like anything they serve. I could go to the coffee shop across the street(the Coffee Something), but I remember the time they asked my friend to leave. (He looked homeless, but was worth a few million dollars.)

I will never forget that day, "You get outa here, you don't spend money!" He was actually one of their better customers, but this particular day, the owner was filling in for a employee. He never went back. My friend easily spent $4/ day, and he was there 4-5 days a week. RIP--RBB.

[jeffmould]

I like Starbucks even if it is overpriced in my opinion. I think the coffee is good. But mainly, you are right, I am willing to pay more for the welcoming atmosphere and ability to sit and get work done without being bothered. With that said, I was in Boulder last winter and was running early for a meeting. I swung in the Starbucks downtown to stay warm and do a little work. I didn't purchase anything, but had to use the restroom. To my surprise the restroom had a keypad on the door. When I asked the cashier for the code she said I had to purchase something. I was rather shocked, although at that point they pretty much had me on buying something :) Ended up using one of my rewards, calling corporate to complain, and having my reward refunded back to me. A lot of work to go through just to use a bathroom. On the flip side, I live in a resort town where the population swells by the hundreds of thousands over the summer. The Starbucks here could care less if you are a customer or not.

[vacri]

> My friend easily spent $4/ day

... I don't think this is the success story you want to paint it as. Who cares if he's a millionaire if he's only purchasing $4/day? If a retail shop is reliant on a customer worth a mere $4/day, then it has serious problems.

And if his presence discourages other patrons or consumes space that other paying patrons could have occupied, it's a drag on business. Sure, having an empty shop is a problem because it makes you look unpopular, but conversely, having a full shop of people who aren't purchasing anything is equally bad, because it blocks people who do want to purchase.

[ElComradio]

Not to mention a drag on business due to people not purchasing much coffee, being there for hours, _and_ appearing to be homeless.