... ask MNers to boycott Starbucks?

[legoballoon]

Personally, I won't be spending any money there again.

When I read the 'we pay our fair share of tax' statement, I almost choked on my (home made) hot chocolate. It's one law for the rich, another for us now is it?!

I think we should support small, UK-based independent coffee shops. Let's support businesses that generate wealth that is shared by local people.

Am boycotting too.

MaryZed yeah, it would be hard. Doesn't mean you can't try though, does it?

But why pick on Starbucks?

I genuinely don't understand. It seems a tad bandwagon-hopping to me.

A lot of people boycott a lot of different companies.

A lot of companies avoid tax. But they have paid NOTHING.

Yeah but it's interesting that no-one is willing keen to boycott Amazon, for example.

Starbucks is the one it's convenient to avoid, that's all. If you really felt strongly about the issue on principle you would wouldn't feel able to give Amazon your custom either, no matter how handy it was for Xmas shopping sprees

Well I don't buy from amazon either. Or go on xmas shopping sprees.

So can I polish my halo?

I don't get this that people have to boycott all companies.

It might not be fair to single out Starbucks but that's life.

Not at all. Their coffee is shite.

This thread is about the news that Starbucks are avoiding tax. I'm happy for all the other companies that are following suit to be named and shamed and taken to task.

I don't go into Starbucks often, maybe been in once or twice, isn't it them that have horrible coffee. So no skin of my nose. I prefer the coffee and muffin shop.

I'm in.

Fair dos but practically as other people have pointed out it's pretty hard to boycott all of them.

However if your local town has a Starbucks and an alternative coffee provider that you find more ethical fair enough.

Amazon avoidance is no bad thing. But it's more of a toughy.

But Tressy, if you read the thread, they aren't avoiding tax [baffled]

Main issue for me is that a boycott would affect the low paid workers in Starbucks.

At my local Starbucks the women (& 1 man) work hard, long hours, full time, yes at low pay but the fact is that similar semi-skilled or low-skilled jobs are hard to get round here.

The workers should not suffer from a boycott; it's not fair on them.

Mary Zed - that's a great idea! I'm starting with Starbucks, Amazon and Facebook.

We need a website to name the companies that DON'T dodge tax, so we can move our custom to them. It can't be much harder than just sticking to organic, non-genetically modified, responsibly-sourced, ethical free range food in the super markets.

I'm in. (Did this 3 years ago, actually)

Ooh, I might actually get a seat in Starbucks in future!

But MaryZed not every multi national company are using these methods and are paying taxation fairly. Tell me if I'm wrong.

Illgetmycoat, great, we can put Starbucks on your list because they are not dodging any tax.

Latara - but if you still drink coffee, just in another shop, then the net effect on local employment will be neutral. If Starbucks trade is down, trade in other places will be up.

And, if the other places pay tax, then this helps the economy by keeping public services going.

storminabuttercup Thank you for the recipe!

I've made of the syrup, and am now having it with a home made latte. (Instant coffee and hot milk) It's very yummy, and I'm now going to get very fat.

My gym and the day centre my dh works in and ds attends sell Starbucks so will not be boycotting as both cafes help our local economy

legoballon are you suggesting yhat all companies do away with dividends or tax breaks then, this would cripple thousands of small businesses, who just about keep their heads above water by claiming such benefits.

Illgetmycoat, I'll follow you in all of that the second I win the lottery!

Tressy, Starbucks are paying taxation fairly. That is the whole point. They are paying tax exactly within the guidelines.

storminabuttercup That syrup is good, thanks for the recipe!

Rosieres - but 2 of the women who work at my local Starbucks are in their 50s; it's very stressful to have to leave your job, go to interviews then maybe get another job & start all over again at any age; let alone in your 50s i'd think.
Why should they suffer just to make the rest of us feel better?

I hate tax evasion but i don't agree with a boycott that will have an adverse effect on people who i'm friends with who have hard enough lives as it is.

There's no evasion or avoidance, they do not have any liability for tax over and above what they have already paid. Why is this so difficult to grasp?