So the looooooon-delayed opening of the first Starbucks has finally happened over at WestEnd. Haven’t been there yet ourselves, partly because it doesn’t seem so exciting to us, and partly because it seems so exciting to so many others we’d probably have to wait an hour to get served. Indeed, making the rounds of the Hungarian internet over the past couple of days is the above pair of pictures contrasting the lines at the opening (below) with the crowds who greeted the first McDonald‘s in Hungary, back in 1988. (Caption: “Nothing ever changes.”) Which isn’t exactly true, because in the years since we first were told Starbucks was coming, as many fancy to-go coffee joints have opened in town as there are people lined up to try the newest one. Anyway, now you know. [pic via suntm.tumblr.com]
Overpriced coffee and lousy service.
A recipe for success.
I have been only once in a starbucks, because I wanted to make an opinion based on facts. No queue, but it took me almost 4 minutes to get a below-average coffee at double-average price, and I had to talk to 3 different people in the process. This is because everyone has to follow the procedures, everything must be typed in the infernal machines that process order and payments, the whole experience makes you feel as comfortable as you are being accepted into a hospital or a tax office. A coffee in a much better atmosphere takes 40 seconds in any bar in Italy where, needless to say, it is also way better and cheaper.
These are the simple reasons why starbucks never opened in Italy, and never will. The same reasons could very well get them out of Hungary if somebody just finally decides to open an Italian-style coffee shop chain in Budapest, but chances are very, very slim. Meanwhile, people queue at starbucks…
So yeah, nothing changes, or as we say, the idiots’ mother is always pregnant.
Pippo it is more that Starbucks is being seen as
some sort of status symbol. I happened by the line
and it was all the hip and trendy or the overly
coifed women with fake bags. It was almost funny how
everyone in line seemed to think by carrying a
plastic cup with a Starbucks label on it they were
somehow rich and successful. Pathetic. And a forty
minute wait.
C, you are right too. I can easily imagine those girls with fake b..bs and fake vuitton bags suffering in queue on their 12-cm.-heels fake Italian shoes with their male companions in fake Armani jeans. It happens everywhere because it’s a sad world, but in Hungary it looks a bit more sad and ridiculous than anywhere else, do not ask me why though…
Pip, Being brought up in the USA, then lived most of my adult life
in london and having travelled the world a few times over with
my work, i was flabbergasted that Starbucks hadn’t yet arrived in
one of the major capital cities of europe, when i could find one in
the middle east of west Africa. Only after having set up my own
Italian style coffee shop in the 5th did i realize why. The
authorities here are a nightmare, the left hand never knowing
what the right hand was doing, people in high ranking jobs, not
knowing their job. The low level corruption and high level taxes
were probable enough to keep the mighty Starbucks at bay. Yes
Starbucks are generic, pricey and formulaic, there coffee average,
but, at least its consistant and hot, which is more than i can say
for most coffee here in Budapest. So if you want a good coffee,
some healthy food, a glass of decent plonk, come and visit us at
tomato salad bar, tea & coffee house.
http://www.tomatosalatabar.com
Starbucks provides consistency for those who want to get their java fast and furious. But if there’s only 1 of them…well that’s just doesn’t make sense. Pippo and the others…get off your high horse….
@ Kim thanks I’ll visit your bar next time I’m in BP, I am happy to try new places.
@ Monika It’s not us on high horses, but the rest of the Country laying veeery low. “Starbucks provides consistency” is EXACTLY the same excuse I heard 20 years ago right in BP for mcdonalds, not a great compliment. When people do not understand quality there is little you can do. Educate them? Last week I was in an Italian restaurant in BP that used to be really excellent. The Italian chef (Giovanni) left 2 weeks ago but the owner assured me thet the guys in the kitchen were taught by Giovanni for the last 12 months so they will deliver same quality. Ok so I ordered and the result was ABYSMAL. How can you educate average people when you just cannot even educate sous-chefs??? So be happy with your fast and furious consistency my friend, and I’ll be happy making my coffee at home while in BP.
From such a start up a new generation of business minded Hungarians can learn about the power of franchising.
Granted it’s not such a good time to launch such a store. They are opening an outlet in Budapest at a tiome when the recession is causing them to close elsewhere. If the venture fails, then we can ask why; if it succeeds, it gives example to Hungarian business students and entrepeneurs.
Franchising fast food and drink is a very profitable global business. Hungarians have little experience with it as a business model, but I think that should change.
Use Starbucks as an example to learn from. It’s not about just coffee, but rather about a way to merchandise and split risks. The basic idea is applicable to many products and services.
Plastic coffee at crazy prices. But there are always stupid people ready to part with large wads of their hard earned cash for rubbish!
Funny. I left Hungary when the first McDonald’s opened and returned for the opening of the first Starbucks. Really nothing has changed. Crap sells.
I love the fact that Starbucks has opened here, mainly from the point of view that competition always ups the ante. Over the past few years, several decent local coffee shops/wine bars/salad bars have opened in the city, namely Fruccola on Arany Janos u., the Italian Institue on Brody Sandor u. and Tomato on Veres Palne u./Szarka u. Things will only get better now that Starbucks is here. Around 2005, there were almost no options for getting a good (particularly take away) coffee in the city. Things have changed dramatically within a few short years.
Dear Mr. Horvath,
There are several ways that I look at the Starbuck’s phenomenon relative to Hungary.
I would be more concerned if Starbuck’s didn’t consider operating in Hungary than if they do. Keep in mind that this company does very detailed marketing profiles before opening a store. One of their chief concerns is socio-economic class and income. They tend to avoid areas where the people are too poor, undereducated and otherwise not a good fit for their service. If their target group is there, they move in. If they don’t move in, tha means we don’t have enough of their target market. Hm.
You can say what you want about their product, but there is no argueing with the staggering size of their financial success. They are one of the most successful corporations of all time, and many people have gotten rich holding their stock over the years.
Like you say, the competition could be beneficial for the consumer. Those Hungarians who own coffeeshops or who are considering business opportunities, need to watch this new store very carefully. Whether it succeeds or not, much can be learned.
ok i did read the first few comments simply because somehow i’ve missed the fact that starbucks had opened already.
as one who would not recognize morning without two mugs of piping hot and fragrant starbucks verona coffee in the morning – i’ll also say that i would never buy coffee in a cup there…or coffee beans outside of the us establishments.
there were starbucks in vienna and prague for a while and purchased beans there for 6EU for way less than a pound of coffee. When i consider that 16 oz cost 10 bucks in the us i’ll wait and bring the yearly supply when i visit.
almost stood in line on the korut at one of the coffee chains but the line and procedure reminded me too much as though i was in the states. we’re in budapest!
pipo if you’ll open an italian coffee shop, one that opens at 7 a.m. as they do in rome and in the early morning hours have a large silvery bowl of whipped cream sitting on the counter where patrons can help themselves…..call me, i’ll park my butt on your doorstep and wait for the doors to open each morning.
roma ti amo! coffee comes in second…still
I don’t understand Hungary’s willingness to try American fast food because it is junk. OK Starbucks does have good coffee but McDonalds is crap. You have one of the finest cuisines in Europe !!!!!!!
I’ve had Starbucks before, but was highly disappointed by this one 1)Coffee was cold 2)Too much foam for a latte 3)Not many options – bearing in mind, all you need is the various sauces 4)Ridiculous lines…. need i say more!
Never again!!! Better options in Arena plaza..