Starbucks in Ridgeland East closing..

[OG Goat Holder]

I’ll never understand people that jump on grenades for the super rich.

CEO pay is out of control right now and I’m not sure that’s a very controversial take.

Companies do seem to vastly "overpay" for CEOs. I have substantial doubts that most of them have business skills much greater than any number of other people. It's interesting to see people figure out how to climb the ranks, and then largely stay there. I think the dotcom boom was the most demonstrative for me. I saw guys gets tons of VC for marginal ideas, fail completely as CEO, but then be branded for life as an entrepreneur and subsequently continue to get investments and maintain high positions. Ultimately, though, it is the company that decides the pay, so they can fix it if they choose to, investors can invest/or not if as they like and customers/potential customers can decide if they are buying stuff from the company. There's no argument that running a company requires a lot more capability and responsibility than asking if you want room in that cup for cream, but I don't know that there is a "right" for what a company pays their people in a pseudo-free market.

Correct.....Niccol got where he was due to his 'network', which is honestly how most people do it. And many will say, "Well that's how life works", and maybe that's true, but is it truly the right way?

This almost feels like football coaches. We all know they are not worth what they are paid as far as life skills and value but this flawed system we are propping up commands it. We could reboot that system if we wanted.

But instead of folks getting angry about that, they talk about how middle class government employees, school administrators and now Starbucks employees are useless and not needed.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Close. It's not that it's "losing money", it's that its quarterly net profit was lower. So less people will buy your stock if your returns are 10% instead of 12%. So how you move net? You eliminate cost or you raise prices. Prices already have been moved to the max because of "pandemic", "supply chain issues", "inflation", and "tariffs".

Again, it's all just to move up a bottom line because of greed. A CEO wants to get a fifth private jet for his niece to fly around and will shut down 100 stores and threaten folks livelihood to get it. That's what this is.

What happened to being satisfied making what you need? Wanting a little extra has become this monstrous system chasing the most extra and bleeding folks dry with subscriptions and service fees and eliminating jobs / shifting responsibilities onto fewer workers. At some point we'll hit peak greed that will make society snap. I greatly fear the consequences of that day.

If you want to rail on something much worse that is happening in corporate America, the current private equity movement is target rich.

 

[DT4248]

Like I said, maybe so. But I enjoy McDonald's. Matter of fact, I like most fast food.

Perhaps in this day and age of inflation, automation is really the answer.

Switzerland seems to do just fine with a ~ $25 minimum wage. My only complaint when I visited there earlier this year was paying for ketchup packets. They got my food to me faster than most drive-thru McDonald's do.

 

[DT4248]

If you want to rail on something much worse that is happening in corporate America, the current private equity movement is target rich.

Just look at this thread - I don't think most could even begin to grasp how deep the iceberg of shittastic capitalism bs we have is.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Switzerland seems to do just fine with a ~ $25 minimum wage. My only complaint when I visited there earlier this year was paying for ketchup packets. They got my food to me faster than most drive-thru McDonald's do.

That's why it costs $17 for a Big Mac Meal there.

I've already cut out all eating out for lunch because normal lunches here are approaching $15. Much less a fast food 'value' meal.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Just look at this thread - I don't think most could even begin to grasp how deep the iceberg of shittastic capitalism bs we have is.

Capitalism has pros and cons. I've not seen one with higher potential for becoming a winner than capitalism. I've also not seen one where there aren't people who figure out how to make it work for them and people who do not. If you are unhappy that there are haves and have nots, I can't really provide much hope for that being different no matter the economic model of choosing.

What do you see as a better economic model?

 

[paindonthurt]

Ah yes, the delicious irony of the dumbest man in the room questioning the IQ of others.

I’ll give you 5/1 odds on an iq contest

 

[paindonthurt]

I’ll never understand people that jump on grenades for the super rich.

CEO pay is out of control right now and I’m not sure that’s a very controversial take.

I’ll never understand people who are jealous of those who are more successful than others when it doesn’t affect them at all.

Envy will eat you alive.

 

[paindonthurt]

Is a part time service job meant to be a "livable wage" though? It doesn't look like Starbucks thinks so:

Starbucks College Education Benefit

It’s not. But people like DT and @Dawgg like to make excuses for people. Victims.

 

[Dawgg]

I’ll give you 5/1 odds on an iq contest

Ok chief. Will this be a proctored exam or some online thing?

“Proctored” means supervised, by the way.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

That's why it costs $17 for a Big Mac Meal there.

What do they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese?

 

[paindonthurt]

Ok chief. Will this be a proctored exam or some online thing?

“Proctored” means supervised, by the way.

Proctored in person at the same location
Let me know when your ready ****

I score higher than you and you owe me $200 plus cost of exam

you score higher than me I owe you $1000 plus cost of exam

you have to send your results to me
I have to send my results to you

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Proctored in person at the same location
Let me know when your ready ****

I score higher than you and you owe me $200 plus cost of exam

you score higher than me I owe you $1000 plus cost of exam

you have to send your results to me
I have to send my results to you

this might be better than a south farm meet up. Can we get a live video feed?

 

[paindonthurt]

this might be better than a south farm meet up. Can we get a live video feed?

We can do it at the SPS blue tent

 

[horshack.sixpack]

We can do it at the SPS blue tent

I was hoping for an e-sport setup, split screen, real-time view of testing with question by question commentary by goat. DS and DCD could add speculative color about each testers likely English ACT score.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Capitalism has pros and cons. I've not seen one with higher potential for becoming a winner than capitalism. I've also not seen one where there aren't people who figure out how to make it work for them and people who do not. If you are unhappy that there are haves and have nots, I can't really provide much hope for that being different no matter the economic model of choosing.

What do you see as a better economic model?

Regulated capitalism is how you do it.

 

[paindonthurt]

I was hoping for an e-sport setup, split screen, real-time view of testing with question by question commentary by goat. DS and DCD could add speculative color about each testers likely English ACT score.

My English ACT score would not be impressive.

 

[o_Hot Rock]

Starbucks, like McDonalds and other minimum wage jobs, isn't meant to be a lifetime career upon which you support a family. It's a stepping stone to a better/higher wage job. But, go ahead and "demand" $25/hr minimum wage and see how quickly you're replaced by a kiosk. Doesn't sound like a wise decision to me.

State's that have higher minimum wages have benefited from more robust economies after the increase.

So many people don't understand what happens when you increase minimum wage.

Poor people living pay check to pay check spend every dime they get, the more your give them, the more they spend and the more economy will grow and everyone will prosper. More jobs are actually created as the poor have more money to spend. They entire economy gets better, not worse.

 

[paindonthurt]

State's that have higher minimum wages have benefited from more robust economies after the increase.

So many people don't understand what happens when you increase minimum wage.

Poor people living pay check to pay check spend every dime they get, the more your give them, the more they spend and the more economy will grow and everyone will prosper. More jobs are actually created as the poor have more money to spend. They entire economy gets better, not worse.

Show evidence where raising the minimum wage has directly benefited the local enconomy.

Saying california has a higher minimum wage and a better economy isn't sufficient evidence.

If you don't like your current pay, get a better job. Minimum wage jobs aren't supposed to permanent jobs for people providing for a family. I mean why is that so hard for some of you to understand?

People that are career mcdonald's kitchen workers are there for very specific reasons and its not b/c they are great employees.

 

[DT4248]

Capitalism has pros and cons. I've not seen one with higher potential for becoming a winner than capitalism. I've also not seen one where there aren't people who figure out how to make it work for them and people who do not. If you are unhappy that there are haves and have nots, I can't really provide much hope for that being different no matter the economic model of choosing.

What do you see as a better economic model?

Healthy balance of Capitalism and Socialism. Cant steer too far one way or the other otherwise their shittastic qualities come out. A good marriage between the two brings out the best in both.

 

[DT4248]

Show evidence where raising the minimum wage has directly benefited the local enconomy.

Saying california has a higher minimum wage and a better economy isn't sufficient evidence.

If you don't like your current pay, get a better job. Minimum wage jobs aren't supposed to permanent jobs for people providing for a family. I mean why is that so hard for some of you to understand?

People that are career mcdonald's kitchen workers are there for very specific reasons and it's not b/c they are great employees.

"Show evidence

And before you show me the evidence I invalidate one of the best evidences."

Great move mate. You're so good at debate. ***

So I give to you - 1938 America as a rebuttal. I think we can all agree that country got pretty awesome coming out of a depression going heavy on some socialism ideals. It got so great, some people want to make it that great, again.

 

[DT4248]

That's why it costs $17 for a Big Mac Meal there.

I've already cut out all eating out for lunch because normal lunches here are approaching $15. Much less a fast food 'value' meal.

So minimum wage person makes $25 and gets a $17 big mac meal. Meanwhile over here minimum wage is $7.25 and a big mac meal is $8 plus tax.

Sounds like they're getting better mcBang for their mcBuck.

 

[TXDawg.sixpack]

State's that have higher minimum wages have benefited from more robust economies after the increase.

So many people don't understand what happens when you increase minimum wage.

Poor people living pay check to pay check spend every dime they get, the more your give them, the more they spend and the more economy will grow and everyone will prosper. More jobs are actually created as the poor have more money to spend. They entire economy gets better, not worse.

Except when their jobs go away when their employers realize they can’t afford the increased labor costs (increased welfare and government reliance). OR, the employer raises prices to cover the increased labor costs, so the average consumer ends up paying more for everyday items (government mandated redistribution of wealth).

Either way, it a bad thing.

 

[Mobile Bay]

Or a new payday loan business

Combine both with a tatoo parlor where I live and you will make a fortune.

 

[Mobile Bay]

They could be pricing themselves out of a job too. Anybody have a map of all the closures. Would be interested to see if there is a correlation between the highest paid/most troublesome groups of employees as well as locations in higher crime areas.

Also not being mentioned, is the recent lawsuit being brought against Starbucks by employees over the revised dress code. Like somebody wanting a $10 reimbursement to have a nose ring removed, complainants about no longer being able to wear crocs and having to purchase non-slip shoes etc.

So a bunch of employees didn’t like being told it was time to move into the adult business world so they decided to fight back. Well, Starbucks is apparently up to the challenge.
Starbucks workers sue over company’s new dress code By Associated Press Published Sep. 18, 2025

Starbucks’ new dress code went into effect on May 12.


Brooke Allen, a full-time student who also works at a Starbucks in Davis, California, said she was told by a manager in July that the Crocs she was wearing didn’t meet the new standards and she would have to wear different shoes if she wanted to work the following day. Allen had to go to three stores to find a compliant pair that cost her $60.09.

Allen has spent an additional $86.95 on clothes for work, including black shirts and jeans.

“I think it’s extremely tone deaf on the company’s part to expect their employees to completely redesign their wardrobe without any compensation,” Allen said. “A lot of us are already living paycheck to paycheck.”

Allen said she misses the old dress code, which allowed her to express herself with colorful shirts and three facial piercings.

“It looks sad now that everyone is wearing black,” she said.

Perhaps Starbucks employees could start wearing pieces of flair.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

So minimum wage person makes $25 and gets a $17 big mac meal. Meanwhile over here minimum wage is $7.25 and a big mac meal is $8 plus tax.

Sounds like they're getting better mcBang for their mcBuck.

That person certainly is.

But do McDonalds workers make minimum wage? I bet get quite a bit more.

Some jobs just aren’t skilled enough for $25 in my opinion.

 

[Dawgg]

Proctored in person at the same location
Let me know when your ready ****

I score higher than you and you owe me $200 plus cost of exam

you score higher than me I owe you $1000 plus cost of exam

you have to send your results to me
I have to send my results to you

 

[BulldogBlitz]

Thanks obama.

 

[paindonthurt]

Guess that means your out?

 

[DT4248]

That person certainly is.

But do McDonalds workers make minimum wage? I bet get quite a bit more.

Some jobs just aren’t skilled enough for $25 in my opinion.

To me it ain't about skilled. If a job is important enough to society to have a business for - then it should be able to support its employees with the means to provide them with the minimum ability to support a family.

When society doesn't do that, birth rates plummet, homelessness rises, suicides rise, and society turns more cruel.

I'm not advocating for full blown human daycare. But we need a little more socialism to balance it.

Here's some fun math. In 2022 the reported total income of the top 1% of the US was ~$33 trillion. Taxing just 33% of that and distributing it evenly to folks below 200% of the FPL would give each of them $10,000. That would be life changing money for several people. Literally just the folks at the top would have to go without a part of their excess - They're left with ~$22 trillion here + whatever they evaded taxes with. So instead of an income of $1 mil per person in that group, it gets knocked down to $667k.

Now am I advocating we should do that exactly? No. I'm making a point that we can fix income inequality a bit better in this country. The balance is out of whack and we shouldn't hand wring over taxing folks living well beyond their means.

To wrap it up. Some jobs aren't skilled enough for $1 million a year. Add in it makes us ok with other jobs being $7.25 an hour and it just doesn't work.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

To me it ain't about skilled. If a job is important enough to society to have a business for - then it should be able to support its employees with the means to provide them with the minimum ability to support a family.

When society doesn't do that, birth rates plummet, homelessness rises, suicides rise, and society turns more cruel.

I'm not advocating for full blown human daycare. But we need a little more socialism to balance it.

Here's some fun math. In 2022 the reported total income of the top 1% of the US was ~$33 trillion. Taxing just 33% of that and distributing it evenly to folks below 200% of the FPL would give each of them $10,000. That would be life changing money for several people. Literally just the folks at the top would have to go without a part of their excess - They're left with ~$22 trillion here + whatever they evaded taxes with. So instead of an income of $1 mil per person in that group, it gets knocked down to $667k.

Now am I advocating we should do that exactly? No. I'm making a point that we can fix income inequality a bit better in this country. The balance is out of whack and we shouldn't hand wring over taxing folks living well beyond their means.

To wrap it up. Some jobs aren't skilled enough for $1 million a year. Add in it makes us ok with other jobs being $7.25 an hour and it just doesn't work.

I 100% agree on the balance and the fact that many people who are making gobs of money aren’t worth it. That eventually causes an adjustment.

 

[sandwolf.sixpack]

Or do I see the start of a death spiral of a company that has lost its stranglehold on the market. Maybe Dunkin or someone else will replace them. But it smells like the start of Sears, Toy's R Us, Blockbuster, Malls in general, chain restaurants like Hooters. The cracks showed in companies getting stripped for parts and aiming for a higher profit margin % than a total net profit $. Because that gets more shareholder value. 2008 is both a long time ago and very close.

I'm honestly not sure what you think you see, but you clearly don't understand the big picture.

Bottom line is that if a company doesn't maximize shareholder value, the shareholders pull their capital and invest it elsewhere. And eventually the company goes under and a whole lot more people lose their job.

And before you start in on the evil, greedy shareholders, just remember who it is you're actually talking about.....the vast majority are middle class, hard working people that are contributing to a 401k, etc. so they can maybe retire one day.

 

[DT4248]

I'm honestly not sure what you think you see, but you clearly don't understand the big picture.

Bottom line is that if a company doesn't maximize shareholder value, the shareholders pull their capital and invest it elsewhere. And eventually the company goes under and a whole lot more people lose their job.

And before you start in on the evil, greedy shareholders, just remember who it is you're actually talking about.....the vast majority are middle class, hard working people that are contributing to a 401k, etc. so they can maybe retire one day.

Cool story telling me I don't understand the big picture - when I'm telling you I'm smelling smoke of something that's an even bigger picture than what you're looking at in your vacuum.

Bottom line - that exact setup is relatively new in the scheme of America. 401k isn't even a 50 year old concept. I'm telling you that without careful balancing this system starts burning and churning and failing hardcore. And we're showing cracks and feeling out of balance.

 

[Dawgg]

Guess that means your out?

You’re*

 

[sandwolf.sixpack]

Cool story telling me I don't understand the big picture - when I'm telling you I'm smelling smoke of something that's an even bigger picture than what you're looking at in your vacuum.

Bottom line - that exact setup is relatively new in the scheme of America. 401k isn't even a 50 year old concept. I'm telling you that without careful balancing this system starts burning and churning and failing hardcore. And we're showing cracks and feeling out of balance.

Yea, I should've read through the rest of the thread before I responded. I originally thought you were actually upset about Starbucks laying people off in the name of shareholder value. Had I known that you really just saw this as an opportunity to educate everyone on the virtues of socialism I never would've engaged.