Oh my god! Now this just pisses me off! Like Tom can'tt publish his own flippin book!

If they want a real "Starbucks Saved my Life" story, let me write it! I was a CFA/Tax Consultant for 8 years, and when my company downsized, I went to work at Starbucks. Let me just say this...His book better be relatable, cause there are plenty of these stories out there...(Subway Saved My Life, By Jarod, the fat guy!)

On paper, Starbucks is going to look diverse and welcoming. In real life, management is found by jaunting out to parties! Yeah, that's right, it's WHO you know. Example...The girl who hired me, had a crush on me. I was a longtime customer who was her connection to the community. Hmmm...profiting her. She hired me under the pretense that I would be great for management. However, I kept getting passed over by people I'd see at parties. "When will I panel for manager?" Response, "Oh well we need you to put in some hours at other stores first...to learn this new thing...to open more...close more...worrk every weekend...And while you do that, I'm going to promote So-n-So, cause they need someone to panel right now." Okay...now I'm supposed to be stupid!

I worked for Starbucks for 3 years, started several programs that are used corporate wide, and worked up to the day before I delivered my 3rd child, all the while opening every day, working different stores, training others, and working every weekend. And upon the end of my maternity leave, I returned to work full force. How was I repaid? Well, I lucked out and got an offer for the job I currently have, and my boss found out. She began asking coworkers what was going on and why I wasn't interrested in my job anymore. Even threatening one that if she didn't "Dish Dirt" on me, she may not get her review raise.

In 11 months, I was late twice. Both times she wrote me up saying she had to make an example of me. So when I put in my notice, I had offered to cover some shifts occasionally. My last day of work, I became quite ill. Mind you, through my entire pregnancy working, I was throwing up and still showing on time and doing all that was expected of me. I called in and was told that it was covered.

The next day I went in with my baby and she approached me to tell me that I was irresponsible and she could not have that in HER store, so I was being terminated. I laughed, turned in my keys and left with my son. Yes, I could have fought it, but why? I had a better job and that was what mattered.

So this could go on and on, but I don't have the time, or the backing like Tom Hanks. Just know this...on paper, Starbucks is a great place to work. In reality, they are not far from the piss poor practices that Walmart is guilty of.

Reply

What is it with Tom Hanks and product placements?

And OMG, Gus Van Sant fans will sh*t a brick? :D Well, you gotta pay the bills, I guess.

Reply

He is going to loose a ton on DaVinci Code! He is all wrong for the professor.So he gets a Starbucks bail out.Funny!
Starbucks should bail!

Reply

I am so sad that Tom and Gus are rumored being a part of this...I worked for Starbuck's for 6 mos. in the interim here in NYC until I found a job in my field...They treat people poorly...they only care about profit...I wonder what Chuck has to save about this???? He probably loves it ..If you don't think they love profit..Starbuck's, then look @ their mission statement ..In the final statement it talks only bout PROFIT NOT PEOPLE just profit

Reply

I've worked for Starbucks for over 6 years. You former employees that are bashing the company must have not have had good managers... there are over 7,000 stores... it's bound to happen. And to let you know... starbucks is a business... they are there to make a profit that is why that is the last line in the mission statement. That's what businesses do. The other principles in the mission statement are all about the workers and the customers and the community.

Reply

So Starbucks is making a movie. Hope they donate some of their profits to charity since they are a big company and will make more millions off this! Oh Read the comment by Stephanie Brazell!! I've heard this similiar story by other past employee's. To me their just a big commercialized Fast Food Coffee Shop.`

Reply

Hate Starbucks if you must...but buy the stock!

Reply

Who better than Tom Hanks for the role? And what is wrong with telling one man's story, which probably will be different than your own? And who cares if insiders get the deals? That's life.

Reply

Starsucks is the worst coffee ever -- and those bastards have monopolized every friggin street corner where I live -- There are now 7 -- 7 of those burnt tasting coffee, coffee shops within a mile radius of where I live -- What, people can't drive 2 miles heaven forbid for their friggin cup of burnt coffee??

Reply

Unfortunately,profit has become a dirty word.People should realise that without it,there are NO jobs,good or bad!!!

Reply

I agree - Tom Hanks is ALL WRONG for the lead in Da Vinci Code. Harrison Ford would have been a better choice. Tom Hanks looks like he has packed on a few pounds, which is not appealing at all.

Reply

I can see Gus counting his money for directing this like that scene in Jay and Silent Bob. Life imitates art...I love it

Reply

Tom Hanks used to be my favorite actor. Without a doubt he was just my favorite. BUT now that he is starring in "The Davinci Code"....and my love is gone for him. The book is flat out sacriligious. Christ's life was blemish free. He was completely sinless. And he did NOT have a wife. His life is as the Bible described it. Tom Hanks has lost my respect.

Reply

I worked for Starbucks in the corporate office in Seattle in the Business to Business department. Due to transportation issues, after a hard working stretch I lost my job for being late repeatedly. MY FAULT. I blame me... it was a great company to work for, with a product that may not be for everyone but IS great to most people. I envy those who still are there and thumb my nose at the disgruntled former employees who are bashing them. They are a profit making entity, and they wouldn't have all those stores if it was not profitable to do so. Genius business planning and superior product make them the company they are. Kudos, Howard... now can I have my job back? Pretty please? LOL

Reply

I would like to ask one simple question.... Ok
how many of you actually believe this story about Tom Hanks? Always check out the source's that start rumors you might just find out that's what it is its just a rumor, (JMO)

Reply

i can see it now. his manager is telling him the basics of coffee- "you can make coffee out of french beans, roasted beans, sumatra beans, vanilla beans, cocoa beans, ethiopian beans, african beans, raw beans, ground beans, whole beans..." ad nauseum.

Reply

GREAT 2 thing i hate starbucks and tom hanks, oh let me pre-order my tickets now! Hey does anyone have a hot poker i can use to poke my eyes out with!!!!

Reply

I WORKED FOR STARBUCKS FOR 5 YEARS AS A SHIFT IN 4 DIFFERENT STORESTHE MOST OF IT AT (5604 SUNNYDUNES)(LOVE THAT STORE) WENT THREW 7 MANAGERS AND COUNTLESS ASM THERE ARE GOOD TIMES AND THERE ARE BAD TIMES I LOVED MY JOB AND IF IT WASNT FOR HAVING SMALL CHILDREN I WOULD STILL WORK THERE THE BEST PART OF THE WHOLE JOB ARE THE CUSTOMERS I OPENED 5 DAYS A WEEK AT 4:15AM DRIVING 45 MIN EACH WAY I COULD TELL YOU 95%OF MY CUSTOMERS DRINKS I ALSO PLAYED THE YOUR GOING TO BE THE NEXT PREMOTED DID IT HAPPEN NO AND I KNEW MANAGERS DISTRICT MANAGERS AND REGIONAL MANAGERS I ALSO LOVED EVERYONE I WORKED WITH I THINK STARBUCKS IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK WOUNDFUL BENEFITS ITS NOT ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW ITS ABOUT PERFORMANCE LEGENDARY CUSTOMER SERVICE I LEARNED THAT AT THE END CAUSE WHEN I GOT THAT DOWN I WAS OFFERED THE PREMOTION AND DIDNT TAKE IT BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN TIME AWAY FROM MY REGULARS AND WASNT WILLING TO GIVE THAT UP AS FOR BURNT COFFEE SORRY BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STORE YOU VISIT DOES'NT FOLLOW THE 1 HOUR POLICY MAYBE GIVE IT ONE MORE TRY AND ASK IF THE COFFEE IS JUST BREWED I CANT WAIT SEE THE MOVIE I THINK IT WILL BE GREAT. BARBARA (5604)

Reply

I used to work at Starbuck's. I was hired on as a shift manager and not only became popular among my co-workers but also among customers. I went the extra mile and covered an amazing amount of loose ends that my 20 year old manager left when she went on vacation (I was in my late 30s). I was never late and opened most of the time. I got written up for three bogus things in the same day. Something about not having my "apron" on one morning (if I forgot it there were extras in the back room so I was never w/o one), something else very small, and taking another associate who was ready to train for manager on a run to the bank one morning (something that was routinely done during training) so he would know where it was and how to get there from the store. It was obvious that I intimidated the child who managed the store and that's why she stock-piled the write-ups to do all at once and end with termination. I called the district manager who I had a great rapport with and she said that she was really surprised and that she didn't understand the managers actions but that she felt like she had to support it. After that I lost an amazing amount of respect for this company and by reading other postings I see that I'm not the only employee they have treated this way. Ain't it a bitch? What can you do?

Reply

We live in border city and have had a Starbucks for a year. How blessed we are to have it and most of the employees are great and make it an enjoyable experince to go there. I drive 5 miles to get my venti chi (tea not coffee) cream frappino, and would like to have a Starbucks closer (our side of Stateline) :) Thanks Howard for all that your company does for the comunities they are in as well as the countries where the coffee is grown. People who are disgruntled with the company should go on the internet and see how much good they do for the world. Also, thanks for the many vinues you have ventured into, Howard. As far as the movie goes, all of those who have complained, don't go to it and thus you have protested! Go and you have proven you are full of hot air:)

Reply