Starbucks Gets Ire of Trump Supporters — Who Show It By Buying Coffee

[caption id="attachment_60485" align="alignright" width="300"] Trump supporters protest Starbucks with #TrumpCup[/caption] Buying a brand’s product always teaches the marketer a lesson about how much you don’t like its employees. Wait, what? In one of the most counterintuitive “boycotts” I’ve ever seen — since last year’s #‎merrychristmasstarbucks protest of its red cups — supporters of President-elect Donald J. Trump are protesting Starbucks by buying coffee. Yes. They’re so angry, they’re adding to the company’s bottom line. On Thursday night, @bakedalaska tweeted that “Operation #TrumpCup” involves telling Starbucks baristas that your name is Trump. That way, they’ll have to call it when your drink is ready. Starbucks baristas may refuse to believe your name is Trump and, if they do, #TrumpCuppers are to record video of that reaction. https://twitter.com/bakedalaska/status/799487115621007360 https://twitter.com/tylercprice_/status/799709599628689410 This #TrumpCup movement popped up after a video of a Trump supporter who, according to the Miami Herald’s reporting on Wednesday, got upset that baristas were taking too long to serve him at a University of Miami Starbucks. #TrumpCup followers, though, believe the barista refused the man service in Miami because he voted for Trump. Either way, the video that went viral on social media on Wednesday and Thursday shows the man at the University of Miami Starbucks calling a barista “garbage” and “complete trash” before telling her he wanted his money back and saying to another female Starbucks employee who asked him to leave “[I’ll] punch you out.” The man then got his refund and left the store. https://twitter.com/Jbdcl/status/799010476017537027 On Friday, @bakedalaska retweeted a video showing a #TrumpCupper being refused service and being reported to the police by Starbucks staffers. Fox News also included the video in its coverage. https://twitter.com/America_1st_/status/799406105025769477 (Urban Dictionary says "SJWs" are "social justice warriors.") On Friday, CNN reports that Starbucks has a simple solution for baristas. (Starbucks hadn’t commented on its site or via its social media accounts.) “Starbucks has responded to the protest by clarifying that it doesn't require its partners to write or call out names,” reports Alex Leininger, who got this response from a Starbucks spokesperson: "Over the years, writing customer names on cups and calling out their names has been a fun ritual in our stores. Rarely has it been abused or taken advantage of. We hope and trust that our customers will continue to honor that tradition." Responding to CNN’s reporting on Friday calling the idea a “protest,” @bakedalaska said “Fake news reporting! This is not a "protest," it's a statement! Obviously it's working!! #TrumpCup” Is it? What do you think, marketers? Please respond in the comments section below.

Performance Marketing

Starbucks Gets Ire of Trump Supporters — Who Show It By Buying Coffee

Heather Fletcher

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Heather Fletcher