Special offer

Official beginning of the Recession…

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lazarus Realty

 I am marking today’s date, January 14th 2008, as the official beginning of the recession.  I’m certain it is because just a little while ago I was headed to Starbucks to buy some coffee for the office and just when I would have turned left to go into the SBUX lot I turned right instead and went into Savemart - yes, you heard me right: Savemart.  I decided I would buy some Folgers instead.

Gosh, how long has it been since I have bought Folgers?  So long I didnt even recognize their new packaging.  I remember a metal can; now its plastic.  I remember buying it by the lb; now they sell it by the ounce.   It was $4.95 for around 11 ounces so I did something I have NEVER done before: I pulled up the calculator on my cell phone and used it for the very first time to compare the price per oz of Folgers against the whole beans that are sold in the store and found the price to be the same.  I opted for the whole beans.  Price: 44 cents per lb; as compared to SBUX price of 75 cents per lb.

Ok, here’s the great part, I took them back to the office and ground them in my SBUX burr grinder and then smelled them: YUM.  Next I brewed them in SBUX coffee pot and I can honestly tell you that I cant tell the difference between these beens and SBUX beans.  But then again, we all know that SBUX isnt selling us coffee, they are selling us a lifestyle–  and I gotta tell you folks, I already miss it.  I love getting my bag of SBUX and complimentary cup of coffee, I’m just not doing it until this recession ends!

© Randy "Lazarus" McAtee
   Owner / Broker Lazarus Realty

Gary Bolen
McCall Realty - South Lake Tahoe, CA
CRS - Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information

It officially started with the katrina fiasco. That's when our housing industry turned on a dime. It's just taken a while for it to be identified. There's not that much to be confident about, is it? We remain positive, however, and there is still busines to be had and people to help. But we'll all be glad when this passes.

best 

Jan 14, 2008 04:38 AM
Richard Halpern
Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT - Ellicott City, MD
Starbucks can get away with using a less than premium coffee bean because they over roast their coffee beans to get that burnt flavor. So you may be drinking a higher quality coffee at a lower price even during "the recession (which I don't think that we are or will experience.
Jan 14, 2008 04:51 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos
Randy,  Business idea for you to explore during the recession:  develop a " Starbucks " look-alike cup !  We can transfer our less expensive coffee into your knockoff cup and look like we belong !
Jan 14, 2008 05:00 AM