Source: http://www.imore.com/starbucks-iphone-now-supports-iphone-5
Craving that hot, steaming Pumpkin Spice Latte but dreading the arduous line at Starbucks? Their new mobile app can solve that. Starbucks Coffee Company has just announced last Tuesday that beginning in October, select company-owned stores in the UK and Canada will allow customers to order and pay ahead of time. Customers just have to choose their drink, pay on their phone, and the app will tell them how long it will take to make their drink, and they can go pick it up when it’s ready. Minus the delivery part, it is rather like online shopping, which is where the problem kicks in.
Rebecca Vipond Brinck brought up in The Frisky that what used to be an indulgence may just become a subconscious purchase with the new app. In fact, most people can save up to $853 if they choose to brew their own coffee. This will definitely mean more profit for Starbucks, but it can also make customers feel like they are in a fast food chain. Since coffee has always been considered a luxury, it is the everyday interaction, the simple conversation exchange between baristas and customers that make the coffee extra special, and now Starbucks is choosing to eliminate that. In an ever fast-moving world where the pace just seems to be picking up, some time to slow down and catch up with someone on your day may soon be lost in exchange for convenience, speed, and profit.