Starbucks' Temporary Closing Pisses Off Dunkin Donuts Customers

Starbucks is all about customer service these days. They're doing things like handing out customer surveys and giving out $5 gift cards to customers who've had to move seats to accomodate a book signing. In a couple hours, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., they're closing their 7,100 stores across the U.S. for three hours of employee training, which will, according to a press release, "foster enthusiasm in its 135,000 U.S. employees and improve the quality of drinks made by Starbucks baristas."

In an attempt to capitalize on this temporary caffeine shortage, Dunkin' Donuts is offering small lattes, cappuccinos or espresso drinks for a promotional price of 99 cents today from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. One might take that to mean that you could walk into Dunkin' Donuts with nothing but a dollar bill in your hand and walk out with a caffeinated beverage, but as the mutinous customers at the D&D on 28th and Madison discovered twenty minutes ago, one would be wrong.

You need a [coupon].

"Oh, so you guys don't play by the same rules as everyone else?" said a suit, storming out.

"Forget you guys," said the girl behind him.

"Just gimme a coffee," I grumbled, suddenly first in line, and shelled out the usual $1.51.