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Monday, April 14, 2008

Starbucks stores introducing tiny “splash stick” to plug hole in to-go containers

By Pegasus News wire

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Question: If you plug up the hole from which you're supposed to drink the coffee, then how are you supposed to <em>drink the coffee</em>.

Question: If you plug up the hole from which you're supposed to drink the coffee, then how are you supposed to drink the coffee.

Starbucks stores have "quietly" unrolled a new perk that's in direct response to a consumer request on its new social-networking customer-service site: Splash sticks. Some moronsconsumers didn't like it when they got to-go cups and the beverage leaked out of the little hole up top that you're supposed to sip out of. So now you get the cup, the lid, and a tiny adorable plug to poke into the lid to keep all that splash activity down. All you need now are a little pair of fingers to put the plug into the lid! And then maybe a little arm to attach to the fingers. While you are at it, perhaps a torso, neck, and head, and last-but-not-least a tiny brain, just the thing for those who get irritated about liquid splashing out of the top of their to-go container.

The new splash sticks are in the shape of Starbucks' trademark mermaid, so they're totally collectible, or at least they would be if they weren't about to be manufactured en masse. Anyway, for those random naysayers who criticized MyStarbucksIdea.com as just marketeering, look who's wrong now.

Posted by T.G.

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Comments

John McClelland

John McClelland Verified

I've always thought of the lid as what prevented the splashing. You learn something new every day in Dallas.

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Donna Chen

Donna Chen Verified

Wow, and to think they probably patented the idea...

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Erin Rice

Erin Rice Verified

Isn't there already some controversy regarding whether Starbucks cups can be recycled by most waste management companies because of the Polyethylene coating on them? What an incredible waste to now put these stupid little plastic stoppers in there.

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Teresa Gubbins

Teresa Gubbins Staff

hnh. erin, am i wrong or has starbucks updated its "mermaid" image? i don't recall her having a SHELL BRA

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Peter Stawicki

Peter Stawicki Verified

A. As my personal economic outlook has followed that of the current stock market (Not in a good way) I have to say - Starbucks??? They are still in business?? 7-11 has been getting my coffee business these days.

B. As a person who has one to many coffee stains from the first little "blip" that pops out of that drink hole the first moment you get the Americano anywhere near your perfectly laundered clothing - I have to say Kudos! A great idea.

C. As a person who will likely return to Starbucks when my own economic downturn returns to become an upturn I have to say - Am I going to be looking at a rise in my daily cost because of that cork?? If so I will continue to just hold a napkin over the spout like I have been doing for many a year.

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jmikec Anonymous

White Rock Coffee on NW Highway at Ferndale (or close enough) has been doing this for some time. Good thing Starbucks finally caught up.

Just one more reason to keep supporting a locally owned business rather than a mega-chain.

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Mike Orren

Mike Orren Staff

Agreed, jmikec, although I for one don't like the splash sticks regardless of their provenance.

Lots of local coffee shops here:

http://www.pegasusnews.com/places/cof...

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

DC

DC Anonymous

Did they take out an insurance policy on these things to be prepared for the lawsuit when some moron chokes on it?

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle

Scott Doyle Verified

I can't wait for ruined lives to be blamed on the stick.

"I used the stick to keep my white shirt clean as I drove to an important meeting, but while directing my attention to removing it I rear-ended this jerk with the audacity to stop at red lights..missed my meeting...company's going under because of it, and IT'S ALL STARBUCKS' FAULT!"

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

DC

DC Anonymous

You can only fight natural selection so much.

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Alex Bentley

Alex Bentley Staff

Did someone say natural selection?

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

EdWeirdness Anonymous

Dunkin Do cups have this cool little fold over flap. It's not collectable, but seems as biodegradeable as the rest of the cup. Lets face it, people who rely on Starbucks are simply trying to justify spending the better part of a sawbuck just to get their bowels moving.

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

SallyT Anonymous

I think it is very narrow minded and rude to assume that just because you have no use for a splash stick, nobody does. I was on crutches for 9 weeks, and the splash stick was unveiled on week seven. I needed both hands to maneuver my crutches so there were none free to hold coffee. I spent the initial 7 weeks watching wet coffees dissolve paper bags and crash to the floor (yes this happened) and sadly leaving half full cups behind in cabs because I had broken the flat top lid, and couldn't securely reassemble it and put it back in the bag to be carried. When the splash stick was unveiled, I yelled Eureka out loud. I'm sure there are many people out there, pushing strollers, walking with canes and holding umbrellas that are very happy about this invention.

1 year, 6 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

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