Out of Class Exercise on Persuasion and Consumption

When going to Starbucks once a week I have noticed there a lot of “consumption” space to encourage me to buy services and items. Once you go into a Starbucks you are easily persuaded to use your dollar. Although it doesn't go very far like a $1 meal menu at McDonalds. I ordered a tall hot chocolate for $2.15 even though I didn't need it I wanted it because it sounded good at the right time and I was thinking "I am in a Starbucks!" It can easily persuade you to buy the good because of how they market and display their products. Not only does Starbucks use space for their items such as: coffee mugs, books, gift cards, coffee makers, CD’s and now Christmas items. With their coffee beans that sell quite regularly and there famous seasonal beans of course that come from different parts of the world, it is not hard for you to be persuaded to use your money. I have noticed that Starbucks has a lot to offer. They are very persuasive with their products. I know that even their food display will always grab my attention. This summer I took summer school in Portland and almost every morning I would stop at a Starbucks to buy there Bacon Gouda breakfast sandwich. Even though I knew that spending $3.00 on a sandwich is ridiculous it didn’t stop me from buying it. I finally realized that being a consumer led me to being broke because of all those breakfast sandwiches. I also know that the Holiday mugs at Starbucks grab my attention and I have bought so many mugs that I ended up giving them as presents. Starbucks not only markets their coffee well, but also their items. Right when you come into the store items catch your eye from across the room. I have also noticed when coming into a Starbucks that there are many people who are willing to spend hours on their laptop and drinking coffee. Starbucks provides a variety of newspapers even the NYtimes. It also markets itself well because the stores provide wireless internet. I know the Starbucks across the Seattle University is famous for the wireless internet. I have noticed that Starbucks isn’t just a coffee shop it’s a place where anyone can come together. It’s always the place to say, “hey lets get together and get grab some coffee at Starbucks.”