In China, Starbucks Feels the Heat From Homegrown Coffee Chains

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Amid a dip in sales driven by competition from affordable local brands, Starbucks is under fire for high prices and lower service quality. In response, the company is upping efforts to enhance customer experiences and tailor its product offerings. Minutes after Jian Tong settled on a couch at a Starbucks and opened her laptop, a member of staff informed her that seating was for customers only. Embarrassed and only needing a quick corner to address a sudden work emergency without intending to stay long, Jian left the store in eastern China’s Zhejiang province immediately. “It was very upsetting, unlike any service I’ve encountered at other coffee outlets,” she told Sixth Tone. This sentiment is echoed widely on Chinese social media platforms, where many patrons have expressed similar frustrations about being pressured to purchase or vacate Starbucks outlets across the country. The growing discontent was underscored when a video of a customer being asked to leave a Starbucks for ………………………………