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Starbucks’ latest merchandise release has stirred quite the commotion, with enthusiasts queuing up overnight to snag the new bear-shaped cups. However, many left disappointed, accusing employees of keeping the coveted items for themselves.
The highly anticipated Glass Starbucks Bearista Cold Cup was unveiled Thursday morning as part of the coffee giant’s holiday lineup. Yet, within mere minutes, the cups were reportedly sold out across all locations.
Determined customers worldwide took extraordinary measures to secure one of the sought-after cups, braving early morning hours and, in some cases, enduring chilly overnight waits.
Frustration mounted among many consumers who claimed they missed out on the $29.95 cups due to what appeared to be employee stockpiling, leaving them empty-handed after their long waits.
One disappointed customer, Trisha, shared her experience on TikTok, saying, “POV: We waited outside since 2am for the Starbucks bear cup, but the employees took them all before we could.”
Trisha explained in the video that she was seventh on line when she arrived at the Starbucks in her local Kroger at 2am, but was told that there would only be six cups for sale.
Even so, she said she decided to wait anyway. But four hours later when the store opened at 6am, she was horrified when she walked in and it looked like employees were already purchasing the cups.
‘Employees were checking out the cups before we could even get them, after we waited in line for them,’ she scathed.
Chaos has erupted over Starbucks’ new bear-shaped cups… as fans lined up in the middle of the night and waited hours, only to accuse the workers of apparently hoarding them
The coffee chain released the Glass Starbucks Bearista Cold Cup on Thursday morning as part of its new holiday collection, and within minutes, it was sold out everywhere (stock image)
Footage showed Trisha and the rest of the people on line entering the store right when it opened, only for some people, seemingly Krogers or Starbucks staffers, to already be on line with the cups.
She then showed off the empty shelves with no bear cups in sight.
Another man explained in a video that he woke up at 4.30am and arrived at his local Starbucks at 5am to try to get his fiancée the bear cup.
‘They sold out before [I got to the register],’ he said. ‘There was only two of them. One on the counter and one that an employee bought for themselves.’
He alleged that someone was let into the store early to buy the only one left because her ‘friend’ worked there.
A third person, named Kota, shared footage of Starbucks employees seemingly buying the bear cups before the store opened to the public.
The video, taken through the glass windows from outside on line, showed people purchasing the cups as others outside raged.
‘They’re buying everything, that’s f**ked up,’ one person said.
However, many were left outraged when they alleged that they weren’t able to get one of the $29.95 cups because it appeared to them that Starbucks employees had scooped them all up
The company has released an apology amidst the mayhem, stating, ‘We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment’
Kota chimed in, ‘All the Starbucks employees came and took everything. And we’ve been waiting in line outside. That is so crazy to me.’
She explained that she had been first in line when she arrived at 2am, but around 3.50am a group of ‘girls got out of their cars in their pajamas’ and went in front of her.
‘One of the girls knocked on the window and the manager, who was already inside, came and unlocked the door and let the four girls in,’ she said. ‘They cleared the whole store, took [all the bear cups].
‘I was first on line so I was guaranteed to get one. But I got cheated out of the cup… it’s the principle, we waited in line for hours, we got there early so we could be first.’
Another user named Jess also alleged that Starbucks employees apparently purchased four out of the six cups that were available at her location ‘before the doors were unlocked.’
A Starbucks spokesperson told the Daily Mail, ‘The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations.
‘Despite shipping more Bearista cups to coffeehouses than almost any other merchandise item this holiday season, the Bearista cup and some other items sold out fast.
The 20-ounce cup, which is shaped like a bear holding a Starbucks drink with a green beanie on, is already being resold online for as much as $600
‘From cold brew to an iced matcha latte, your drinks have never looked cuter. The Starbucks Bearista glass cold cup brings instant joy to every sip,’ reads a description
‘We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused.’
The company did not specify whether more cups would be released soon, but added that there will be ‘more exciting merchandise coming this holiday season.’
The 20-ounce cup, which is shaped like a bear holding a Starbucks drink with a green beanie on, is already being resold online for as much as $600.
‘From cold brew to an iced matcha latte, your drinks have never looked cuter. The Starbucks Bearista glass cold cup brings instant joy to every sip,’ reads a description.