Amuse Me

You Talkin’ to Me?

It seems that Starbucks has an issue with people taking photographs in their stores. I wonder what they would say if they knew I renamed my site last summer based on their Big Pink Cookies? How about the fact that I have a small collection of Big Pink Cookie photos? I took this one on Wednesday at the Starbucks at the Park Shops in downtown. Oops!

Your challenge, if you’re willing to accept it – take photos of the Big Pink Cookies at your local Starbuck(s) and share them with me. They’re back in season now, and I want to see your Big Pink Cookies! Are you up to it?

By Christine

Christine is an Avenger of Sexiness. Her Superpower is helping Hot Mamas grow their Confidence by rediscovering their Beauty. She lives in the Heights in Houston, Texas, works as a boudoir photographer, and writes about running a Business of Awesome. In her spare time, she loves to knit, especially when she travels. She & her husband Mike have a food blog at Spoon & Knife.

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35 replies on “You Talkin’ to Me?”

it’s not just Starbucks. Did you know that the grocery stores don’t allow it, either?

At Central Market, I was asked to put my camera away – but the seafood guy let me snap a photo after he said that ’cause my kid said “but I want a picture of my dinner’s ugly face” (sea bass was for dinner) And at the Albertsons near the house, there is a sign on the door that says the prohibit photography…

Legally, Starbucks can prohibit picture taking of their property from their property. But there’s nothing stopping you from standing on the sidewalk (presumably city property) and taking pictures of the store. (Even though I know that’s not what you’re talking about…you want pictures in their store. But a telephoto lens and a polarizing filter should allow you to do that from the sidewalk…anyway….)It’s how papparazzi get away with taking pictures of famous people in their pools – technically they’re not trespassing.

That said, I think Stabucks’ policy is silly. It seems that they’re so scared that someone is going to copy their “brand” that they’re looking like crazy coffee nazis. I know that they won’t tell anyone where they get their furniture, artwork, light fixtures, even the brand of paint that they use on their walls. When my sister worked there, she couldn’t even find out what brand of caramel they used (I asked her to find out because it’s INCREDIBLE and I wanted it for my house.) It’s ridiculous. I say we start a campaign to figure all of this out.

Oh, and I’ll totally try to snag a pink cookie picture next time I’m in there getting a carmel cider. Mmmmmm….carmel.

Oooo, sounds fun! I have my little Pencam that hangs around my neck and I even soldered in a knob that turns the BEEP sound off, so it’s pretty stealth. I also have a pretty good camera built into my palm pilot (sony clie), I’m sure one of these two will make for great Big Pink Cookie Stealth Photo Missions! Yay, this gives me an excuse to go for a Mocha, yay! =:D

we don’t have bpk at our starbucks. weird huh?

I accept! I accept! Those corporate caffeine crack™ dealers can do nothing to stop me…My Fuji is unstoppable!!!

I agree with Alison. I think the Spork Posse should make it their sworn duty to undermine the Starfucks machine and reveal all of their dirty little secrets…Fo’ shizzle, my nizzles!

what are they afraid of?

You should already have one from me. Want me to resend it?

Now I’m on a mission to find BPCs when I go to Starbucks!

Alison, carmel cider? Oh my that sounds yummy. I don’t think our Starbucks has that. But I always ask for extra carmel sauce in my carmel macchiato. Yum. I’ll have to trek there tomorrow to scope out the big pink cookie!

I took a picture of this really hot guy who worked at SBs with my Sprint cellphone (sent it to another friend). He actually smiled for it and asked for my number. *shrug*

We don’t have a Star Bucks in Springfield, Ill., yet. There’s one planned, though. It’s going to be deep in the lobby of a downtown hotel. Which means driving around several blocks several times looking for a parking space, then paying to park, then walking a couple blocks, then waiting in line, then… well you get the picture.

Christine, I saw your comment on Lessig’s blog. I don’t think SB could touch you unless you tried to trademark it. I think.

… our Starbucks (Halifax NS) doesn’t have them either … 🙁

Michelle, yes. Caramel cider. It’s quite possibly the world’s perfect beverage. I think they actually use steamed apple juice with cinnamon or something, and then they put caramel in it, and then they put whipped cream on top and then they put more caramel on top of that. The first thing I do is take the lid off and get a fingerful of caramel and whipped cream and ::drooooooool::

LOL sorry about that. And Christine, I did go to SB yesterday armed with my G2, and they totally didn’t have any Big Pink Cookies! (I live in the northeast US)

I’ll send my husband to our SB with his cell cam! I’ve never seen a BPC, but, now I’ll be on the look out.

We just got a Starbucks in my city. I’m not a coffee person so I’ve never been there, but I think I’ll have to check it out now!

i don’t go to starbucks much, but if there’s any chance that big pink cookie is a euphemism, i might be able to take a picture of something … euphemistically … like cookies. um.

That’s silly! If I could get to a Starbucks, I’d totally find you a picture. But I think the closest one is 2.37 miles (yes, I just checked!) up a hill and across 2 busy streets. I think that might count as 100 mailbox trips 😉
Hee hee, But its the thought that counts, right? Until then, I’ll just have to send you pics of other pink cookies. LOL!

wait – none of my *bucks have big pink cookies…. what are they anyway? like a meringue or something?
well, i think i will still go and investigate (and when i say investigate, i mean order a caramel macchiato)

Excellent! I’m starting a collection of Starbucks photos and links to photos on my website. If anyone wants to contribute – go ahead. It really makes me laugh out loud that these corporate type get so excited about a someone snapping a
picture in their store. I’m wheezing!

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I’ve never understood these policies either. Walmart has the same policy… no photographs or video cameras. I don’t know how strongly it is enforced though. LOL

I couldn’t get into a Starbucks to take a photo this past weekend, but I did want to contribute to the cause, so I’ve set up the site StarbucksPhotos.com where you can email any photos and/or send links to photos and I’ll post them on the site. I have some there now for everyone to enjoy.

nope, no BPC in our starborks down the street…

I’m sad… I immediately went out to our local *$ and no cookies to be found… the girls (who know and love me) simply giggled at the mere idea of a BigPinkCookie, hopefully their on it and we’ll have them soon!

I dont’ know if it’s a local thing… here in Portland, Oregon I’ve visited several Starbucks but found no BPCs. 🙁

Heh, not everyone gets the cookies. They are a regional thing. But I just wanted to say, I used to work at Starbucks and I have SOOOOOO many pictures of the inside of Starbucks. I guess I should watch my back huh? 😉

Just to answer the question so many have asked…the reason that almost all retail stores have policies against taking photos and video inside stores is because they actually spend a lot of money researching the best way to display products. They don’t want the store down the street to just walk in, snap some pics and the next day create the layout they spent money researching. Granted, the competition can just remember the layout and copy it, but why make it easy on them?
Generally, if you aren’t wearing a competitor’s nametag and you aren’t creating a nuisence, the policy won’t be enforced.
In the marketing world, it is generally believed that every last detail down to the font on the menu adds to the formula that makes a Starbuck’s different (and better in their opinion) from Java Joe’s. If the formula is successful, there’s no real way to tell how much each part contributes to that success so the whole thing is very closely guarded.

Bill – I still think it’s amusing, as the many stories relate, the employees get so freaked out about it. It’s kind of paranoid that everyone with a camera should be thought of as a “spy” – or an undrercover agent for the competition. Send any pictures taken inside Starbucks to http://www.StarbucksPhotos.com

This is really strange – I worked at Starbucks for a couple of years, albeit in the main office and not a store; I never heard of such a policy, never read it in any manual. I’d ask for proof. Make them show you documentation. Make them show you the page in the Ops Manual if it exists.

Starbucks, cookies, and photos.
According to Big Pink Cookie, who links to Lawrence Lessig @ Stanford Law School, Starbucks throws a fit if you

You’ve gotta fight…for your right…to…photograph?
Spied over at Jason’s…The Photographer’s Right – A Downloadable Flier”. Considering Starbucks doesn’t even want you to take photos inside now, might not be such a bad thing to keep handy….

MICHAEL JACKSON BAND-AIDS?
I may have dreamed this, but I fell asleep watching MASH reruns today on Fox’s cable network, and I could

FIRECRACKERLESS FOURTH!?
Spam is bad, pop-ups are even worse, however, Orbitz has a nice little series of pop-ups right now that I

Big Pink Cookies
but, miss christine has me super-psyched about them, and about a bajillion other things. [for the record: a bajillion=a butt-load]

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