Starbucks is my hero
I love Starbucks, but I'm not addicted. Oh no, I can stop going anytime I want. I just don't want to stop.
Starbucks has some brilliant marketing and financial minds at work, apparently. I mean, they must because most people wouldn't just shell out $4 for a coffee. Let's say you're walking along the street and you stop by a street vendor for a cup of coffee. After pouring it for you, he hands it to you and says "$3.85 please." You would likely throw the coffee at him and run away, arms flailing madly in the air from disgust at the price. But somehow, you walk into Starbucks and those prices on the menu don't send you into psychotherapy for the rest of your life. Indeed, rather than require professional help, you find yourself strangely drawn to return time and time again until you have sampled every item on the menu atleast three times.
I have to admit, though, that the magical mystery minds at Starbucks have done a bang up job making me feel like they aren't taking my money. I used to refuse to spend "real" money at Starbucks. Despite the deliciousness, I had a hard time taking cash and physically handing it over. So, I would only go when I could pay with Flex Points at Notre Dame or when someone had given me a Starbucks gift card. Either way, it was cash I never had, so may as well use it for a treat. Starbucks, I think, realized this, so they made it possible for me to never have to think about the fact that I am actually paying for things. They made it possible to "automatically reload" my Starbucks card. Everytime my balance falls below $10, it automatically reloads $20 more onto the card. This way, I never actually have to either pay cash, hand over a credit card or manually reload the card. This way, it's like having an infinite amount of money on a gift card. Amazing.
On top of that, they lure people like me into their stores with the "T-Mobile HotSpot" service. Sometimes I am not in a place where I can get free internet access. Of course, being the tech-minded person that I am, I have signed up for T-Mobile HotSpot. It is only $20 a month and gets me access at most Starbucks, Kinko's and Borders throughout the U.S. Of course, I can never go and just use the internet, I have to get a beverage... and sometimes maybe even a little pastry treat.
So, yes, Starbucks is my hero. They are the epitome of American capitalist success: desirable products at extremely inflated prices and a flase sense of economic stability with cross-promotions and lucrative partnerships. I love you, Starbucks.
But remember, I can quit anytime.
I think life should be rated. NC-17.