John's Blog - Latest Comments in Starbucks, with Chinese Characteristics

Re: Starbucks, with Chinese Characteristics

SeoBusbyTest — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:52:08 -0000

no matter what, im going to starbucks

Re: Starbucks, with Chinese Characteristics

wow goud — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:25:33 -0000

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.

Re: Starbucks, with Chinese Characteristics

hazelluis — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:15:20 -0000

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.
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Hazel

Guaranteed ROI

Re: Starbucks, with Chinese Characteristics

Myk Melez — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:01:39 -0000

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.

Re: Starbucks, with Chinese Characteristics

Gen — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:37:50 -0000

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.

Re: Starbucks, with Chinese Characteristics

Rafael — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:32:50 -0000

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).