Have you purchased a a Latté from Starbucks lately? You may be eligible for a refund – or at least some compensation (as yet to be determined). If a pending class action lawsuit is allowed to go ahead, it could mean a major slap in the face for the upscale coffee purveyor as well!
The popular, seasonal Pumpkin Pie Spice Starbucks Latté. ‘Bucks says it sold
more than 200 million of this flavour alone between 2003 and 2013. ‘Bucks
won’t disclose sales figures for its Lattés as a whole.
California Starbucks regulars Siera Strumlauf and Benjamin Robles are spearheading the lawsuit. They claim that Starbucks has been consistently under-filling their Lattés of all sizes for an unknown period of time. Maybe forever. In fact, they say their lawyers tested Latté from Starbucks outlets around the U.S. and found them to be at least 25 per cent under-filled, based on the claims attached to their names in Starbucks in-store advertising: 12 fl. oz. for a Tall, 16 fl. oz. for a Grande, and 20 fl. oz. for a Venti.
“Moreover,” the statement of claim asserts, “the serving cups used by Starbucks for its Lattes are simply too small to accommodate the fluid ounces listed on Starbucks’ menu.” Fancy that!
“By underfilling its lattes, thereby shortchanging its customers, Starbucks has saved countless millions of dollars in the cost of goods sold and was unjustly enriched by taking payment for more product than it delivers,” the claim alleges.
Strumlauf and Robles are asking for a trial by jury in the case which the lawyers say could exceed (US)$5 million in damages.We haven’t seen something like this since the big Subway ‘angry inch’ debacle! Get ready for a long, bumpy ride!
~ Maggie J.