John's Blog: Starbucks, with Chinese Characteristics
Rafael
· 2 years ago
Sorry to keep commenting, I just don't get to see you everyday :)
I had this conversation with friends of mine who just became parents. Middle class used to be (?) where one parent could work and the other could stay at home and watch the kids. That's no longer the case for middle-class, certainly in the Bay Area/Valley. If both parents *have to* work, that's not middle class.
Keep going on China if you have more stuff to write. Very interesting. (and ugh, Starbucks).
Gen
· 2 years ago
One of the "Chinese characteristics" of Starbucks in Shanghai was the pair of steel chains and latches that were affixed to the bottom of each table. I assumed that they were for women to hook their purses to so that they could not be stolen easily by a thief. Can't imagine what else it could be for.
Myk Melez
· 2 years ago
The difference between income and the cost of luxury goods probably isn't quite so stark in Hungary as it is in China, but Hungarians make less than half of what Americans make (according to the UN Human Development Report 2006: http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/ ) yet pay the same or more for clothing, cars, CDs/DVDs, cell phones, etc.
Nevertheless, Hungarians also enjoy national health care, much cheaper housing, and great public transportation, while the American middle class seems saddled these days with large costs for all these items (especially on the coasts).
I have that same hesitation about a $3-4 coffee, but I bet that if I owned a home outright, got basic health care from the government, and didn't need a car to get to work, then I'd be much less hesitant.
Perhaps there are some similarities to the situation in China.
hazelluis
· 1 year ago
Uniform and familiar in every way, your Chinese Starbucks experience will not disappoint. Just like home, they’re everywhere (one has infiltrated the once impenetrable Forbidden City- an ironic monument to capitalism in what is considered the heart of the PRC). Don’t worry about where you are, or how interesting it might be…you are home now. ------------------------------ Hazel
Glad to see someone else gets the point. China is more much capitalist than it may appear Communist. This kind of sovereignty poses challenge to many Western-based businesses who now have to fear being overtaken by Chinese competitors.
It's time for the West to learn something from the East.
All Comments
I had this conversation with friends of mine who just became parents. Middle class used to be (?) where one parent could work and the other could stay at home and watch the kids. That's no longer the case for middle-class, certainly in the Bay Area/Valley. If both parents *have to* work, that's not middle class.
Keep going on China if you have more stuff to write. Very interesting. (and ugh, Starbucks).
Nevertheless, Hungarians also enjoy national health care, much cheaper housing, and great public transportation, while the American middle class seems saddled these days with large costs for all these items (especially on the coasts).
I have that same hesitation about a $3-4 coffee, but I bet that if I owned a home outright, got basic health care from the government, and didn't need a car to get to work, then I'd be much less hesitant.
Perhaps there are some similarities to the situation in China.
------------------------------
Hazel
Guaranteed ROI
It's time for the West to learn something from the East.