Starbucks is embroiled in a class action lawsuit over iced drinks with ice content as the bone of contention. According to the lawsuit Starbucks deceives customers by serving up less coffee than they represent when making iced drinks.
According to CNN, Starbucks is being sued for $5 million Stacy Pincus of Chicago. Stacy Pincus points out that although Starbucks label their cold drinks by fluid ounce, most of the content is really ice.
SURPRISE! #FrappuccinoHappyHour is here early for Starbucks Rewards members!#BirthdayCakeFrappuccino pic.twitter.com/7zActir061
— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) April 28, 2016
CNN points out that this Starbucks case bears resemblance to a lawsuit filed against McDonald's by a customer. The said customer was burnt by hot coffee that was served through the McDonald's drive-through service. McDonald's lost the case with the court agreeing that the coffee McDonald's served was too hot.
Comparing two iced classics. #IcedCoffee #IcedAmericano https://t.co/QpHslZlFOf — Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) April 26, 2016
While customers pay more for a supposed 24-ounce Venti iced drink, for example, Starbucks really only serves 14 ounces of actual ice coffee liquid. The rest Starbucks makes up for with ice. Although ice is key ingredient to Starbucks cold drinks, 10 ounce of ice far too much ice.
"Starbucks is advertising the size of its Cold Drink cups on its menu, rather than the amount of fluid a customer will receive when they purchase a Cold Drink -- and deceiving its customers in the process," the lawsuit stated. "In the iced coffee example, a Starbucks customer who orders and pays for a Venti iced coffee, expecting to receive 24 fluid ounces of iced coffee based on Starbucks' advertisement and marketing, will instead receive only about 14 fluid ounces of iced coffee."
An eight word love story: Milk meets Cold Brew; a swirling romance ensues. Happy #NationalColdBrewDay pic.twitter.com/ErqDJdjztk
— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) April 20, 2016
CBS reports that Starbucks refused to take the lawsuit seriously. Starbucks spokesperson reportedly Jamie Riley shrugged off the complaint. Disregarding the issue of advertised fluid ounce, the Starbucks representative said it's about customer satisfaction.
According to Jamie Riley all customers have to do is ask for Starbucks to remake their drink if they are unhappy with what they are served. Starbucks would then happily oblige. The lawsuit was filed against Starbucks in Northern Illinois Federal Court. Steven Hart with Hart, McLaughlin & Eldridge in Chicago is the lead attorney in this Starbucks suit.
