Coffee Giant Starbucks Accused Of Tricking Customers, App Collecting $900M Over 5-Year Period
The Washington Consumer Protection Coalition is accusing Starbucks of exploiting its customers through its gift card and app payments.
The Washington Consumer Protection Coalition, a consumer action group, is accusing Starbucks of exploiting its customers through its gift card and app payments.
Fortune Magazinereported the group is accusing the coffee giant of forcing its customers into a spending cycle where they will be unable to fully spend the remaining balance of their prepaid amounts.
In a 15-page complaint, the group alleged Starbucks’ mobile app and digital payment cards are basically an “involuntary subscription,” because customers can only reload money in $5 increments with a minimum purchase of $10.
According to the group, the design stops customers from reaching a $0 balance, meaning Starbucks pockets whatever customers leave on their balance.
The group is calling on the Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to investigate whether the company violated consumer protection laws.
“Starbucks rigs its payment platform so consumers are encouraged to leave unspent money on their cards and apps,” said Chris Carter, campaign manager for the group, in a statement. “A few dollars here and there left on a payment platform may not sound like a lot but it adds up. Over the last five years, Starbucks has claimed nearly $900 million in unspent gift card and app money as corporate revenue, boosting corporate profits and inflating executive bonuses.”
The coffee giant has disputed the claims, adding that customers can pay for a purchase with the remaining money on the app and pay the remaining balance in cash at the store. The Starbucks app and drive-thru orders are the most popular way people purchase their coffee and assorted drinks.
Starbucks is enjoying a nice start to the year as its pink Stanley Cups are selling out across the country, with some people camping out in front of target locations to get their hands on the cups.
“We are seeing an enthusiastic response to the Starbucks x Stanley Quencher,” a company representative told USA Today.
Whoopi Sets The Record Straight About Epstein Rumors: ‘I Don’t Go Anywhere’
Whoopi Goldberg refutes viral rumors that she was connected to Jeffrey Epstein and cautions viewers not to spread false allegations.
Whoopi Goldberg recently used her platform on The View to debunk false claims related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex abuse case.
Goldberg felt compelled to issue this PSA amid the release of court documents related to the Epstein sex abuse case. These highly-anticipated records contained the names of over 170 of Epstein’s accusers, associates, and other high-profile figures. In the lead-up to their release, several social media accounts published bogus “Epstein lists” that Goldberg said falsely included her name.
The EGOT winner addressed the misinformation with her fellow co-hosts during the Jan. 4 episode. “I was on a fake list, and I’m on it…They said I was on the island, and I’m like, ‘I don’t go anywhere!'” she said, referencing Little St. James, the private island where Epstein allegedly abused many victims.
BIGGEST REVELATIONS IN EPSTEIN DOCS: After the first batch of what is expected to be hundreds of sealed court filings pertaining to the late sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein were made public Wednesday, #TheView co-hosts weigh in. https://t.co/cVclFZQmjApic.twitter.com/U1TpkVzLoG
According to Business Insider, the documents Goldberg referenced came from a lawsuit filed against Epstein’s ex-girlfriend and madame, Ghislaine Maxwell, by survivor Virginia Giuffre, which contained a wide range of prominent figures like Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and various Hollywood celebrities allegedly involved in the sex trafficking scandal.
The Color Purple actress addressed the accusations about her being on Epstein’s “Pedophile Island” along with several other false claims about her that have circulated online. “I don’t know what I’ve done to anybody, but apparently, there are a lot of these kinds of sites that are…satire sites,” she explained. “But people don’t realize that they can be harmful.”
She also denied other prevalent rumors, stating plainly into the camera: “I never got kicked out of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant…I didn’t get kicked off Bill Maher’s show. I didn’t get into a fight with Oprah backstage here at The View…It just goes—it’s insane.”
Goldberg underscored the need for caution around sharing satirical content online and warned, “Once someone is cleared of your insanity, they’re going to call their lawyer on you.” She added that she has “nothing to hide” and doesn’t care what people think when it comes to her own life.
Colorado University Defensive Tackle Bishop Thomas Suspended Indefinitely
Colorado Buffaloes defensive tackle Bishop Thomas has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules before the end of the 2023 season.
Colorado Buffaloes defensive tackle Bishop Thomas has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules before the end of the 2023 season.
Sports Illustratedreported the team did not make an official announcement. However a final show credit in the Amazon docuseries Coach Prime said the defensive tackle was suspended and his status for next season was “still being evaluated” by head coach Deion Sanders and his staff.
Thomas was originally a four-star recruit who redshirted at Florida State University in 2022, before transferring to Colorado. The 6’2, 300-lb. prospect played nine games for Colorado last year, racking up 117 defensive snaps with six tackles, two for loss, and a fumble recovery.
Even if Thomas is allowed to play next season, his snaps may be limited as Colorado picked up two more defensive tackles in LSU’s Quency Wiggins and Pittsburgh’s Samuel Okunlola, who both announced they would be transferring to the Big 12.
After finishing 4-8 last season, including 1-8 in the Pac-12, Sanders has overhauled his roster for its first season as a member of the Big 12 conference, through the transfer portal, and has the top transfer class for next season.
Between the new additions and another year of development from quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the Buffaloes are bound to make noise later this year.
Coach Sanders and the Buffaloes’ season started with a ton of attention as they beat TCU and in-state rival Colorado State to begin the season in front of star-studded crowds.
However, when they got into their Pac-12 schedule, their weaknesses on the offensive and defensive lines were exposed. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders was sacked more than any other quarterback in college football and the defense gave up 40 or more points five tmes as they finished 1-8 in the conference and were ineligible for a bowl game.
New Orleans Restaurant Owners Share How To Rebound From A Business Disaster
The owners of Barrow's Catfish in New Orleans share how they rebuilt their restaurant after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their family business and home.
Originally Published Oct. 9, 2018
Every major city has legendary landmarks that serve as gathering places for community fellowship, a feel-good atmosphere, and, above all, great food.
Founded as Barrow’s Shady Inn in 1943 by William “Cap” Barrow Sr. and his wife, Mary, Barrow’s served up heaping plates of delicious catfish seasoned with love and a savvy family flavor and tenacity. Their son, William “Billy” Barrow Jr., and his cousin Freddie Hilliard managed the restaurant in later years, hosting locals, tourists, and celebrity guests, including Oprah Winfrey. A new generation of leadership came with William “Lil Billy” Barrow III, who was being groomed to keep the business going until his untimely death in 1987. Thereafter, his sister, Deirdre Barrow Johnson, and her husband, Kenneth Johnson Jr., picked up the baton, but they’d face another major challenge that would shake the family’s restaurant legacy and livelihood to its core in 2005: Hurricane Katrina. Just as they were well into expanding into their second location, the storm battered their business and homes.
Deirdre Barrows Johnson and Kenneth Johnson Jr.:
“I grew up right next to the restaurant and it was a privilege to be part of my dad’s life and him a part of mine, with the restaurant being right next door,” Deirdre recalls. “We opened up a second location a year before Katrina hit. We decided, with the tragedy of the storm and the state of the area, we just didn’t know what the city was going to do.”
The couple decided to reevaluate and regroup—a process that took over a decade. They never let go of their dream to reopen the family business and worked hard to see the resurgence.
“The vision never left us. It was such a great business—a foundation that was laid for us. The community never stopped reaching out to us,” Deirdre says. “The love the city had for my family—-my husband and I being born and raised entrepreneurs and wanting to keep the vision going. Our faith and our desire to build community—-that kept us going.”
The restaurant reopened anew in July and returned to a loyal—and hungry—patronage as if it had never left. But how were they able to do it? Why rebuild and return after such a long time?
BLACK ENTERPRISE talked further with the co-preneurs, who persevered, raised two children, and pressed forward with faith and a plan for keeping an important family commitment, to get tips on how to rebound from a business disaster:
Let go of the shame and comparison syndrome
“Don’t look at what other people are accomplishing or doing,” Deidre says. “Humility is key. Be OK with taking a step back and admitting you may have made some mistakes or may not be where you want to be. You can get back on track. Move forward to be and do greater. The Johnsons relied on faith and their Christian beliefs to fortify their vision and remain confident in its success.
Conduct an honest self-assessment
“We assessed how we got into the situation,” Kenneth says. “We had decided to liquidate our assets and take the chance to expand the restaurant and operations and realized that we’d planned for everything else, but we did not plan for Hurricane Katrina. For us, it taught us to expect the best but plan for the worst. We went through a checklist of all the possible [challenging] things that could happen to a business. That doesn’t mean you’re not optimistic, but sometimes you can have so much tunnel vision that you don’t entertain the possibility of things that could go wrong. Once we realized what happened, we took on too much risk. We learned to be more calculating and make sure we look at everything.
Evaluate your assets and set up a financial plan for rebounding
“We were successful professionals before we took over the restaurant. We’re college-educated and we’d worked in other careers,” added Johnson, who served as vice president of commercial lending at Liberty Bank. “We went back to the basics. What did we do to reach our goals when we were younger before we joined the business? We became very astute with our finances, lived within our means, and drove a used car longer than others might.” This helped the Johnsons build up a solid financial base to not only get back on their feet in their household but to approach and attack their vision for the resurgence of Barrow’s.
Create additional streams of income
“We started other businesses on the side—a tax business, insurance agency, we did some catering, and we went back into corporate America,” Kenneth says. “We saw that time as opportunities to earn secondary income to fund what we needed to do—pay our debts off, cover living expenses, create savings—and we knew where we were going and what we wanted to do.”
“Don’t give up no matter how long it takes,” Kenneth adds. “Anything that’s worth having, you’re going to have to work for it. If you’re coming up on a lot of resistance, that’s confirmation that you’re probably on to achieving your vision and fulfilling your destiny. If you’re able to have an unselfish vision and you’re working hard toward that, I truly believe God will open the doors for you.”
The billionaire businessman hooked up his boys with personalized pairs of the footwear.
Growing up in the ’80s in New York City, mostly in the Brooklyn area, most folks, especially the ones who listened to hip-hop, sported Clark Wallabees. For those who were in the know, you can often tell where someone lived by what they had on their feet. For those outside the New York City area, you may remember Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah glorifying Wallabees in his songs. Brooklyn’s own JAY-Z was evidently a fan; so much so that the billionaire has set up his close circle with some custom-made ones.
According to Hypebeast, footwear designer Stan Birch has created several custom pairs of Clarks Wallabees for the “Hard Knock Life” lyricist and five of his closest associates. These guys have been connected to Jay for many years and are still connected to him. Birch made the footwear for Emory Jones, Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith, Jay Brown, Lenny Santiago, and Juan Perez. He stated that each pair was made specifically for the individuals and showed the friends’ uniqueness while incorporating their tastes, inspirations, and preferences.
“All these guys have been friends for so long that I needed to create a colorway that represented a real OG vibe,” Birch told the media outlet. “I concluded that all these guys had to have the exact same pair, but with details that were super personal to them.”
Each pair of Wallabees has a grey and black suede upper tongue with a Paper Planes logo on the heel of the right shoe. Each shoe is personalized with each person’s name, printed in 22-karat gold leaf, and Birch’s logo on the left heel of the shoe. There are also hangtags specific to each individual. Six are adorned on each pair, according to the outlet.
“All of the hangtags are reminders of something specific for each member of the crew,” said Birch. Seven rectangular fobs show lyrics that JAY-Z has said about the individual it applies to on records. But that’s not all; each pair has black-and-white photos of the crew.
Unless you were a part of Jay-Z’s inner circle, you won’t be able to cop one, but you can cop your own by reaching out to Birch via his Flou Customs Instagram page.
Millennial entrepreneurs increasingly factor in supporting a cause as part of their business plan. Becoming a socially conscious business can be a great business move.
Originally Published Oct. 19, 2023
Millennial entrepreneurs increasingly factor in supporting a cause as part of their business plan. Statistics demonstrate that becoming a socially conscious business can be a great business move. According to a LinkedIn article, consumers want companies to take a stand on current and broadly relevant issues, and 66% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable and ethical products. Demonstrating your social impact can build trust, loyalty, and advocacy among your customers. Of course, existing employees aligned with their employer’s mission and values will likely be more satisfied.
So, what can established businesses do to join in on this trend?
It’s Never Too Late to Make a Difference
Whether you have been in business for 50 years, 15, or one year, you can create an opportunity to be a good corporate citizen in your community. By definition, corporate citizenship involves the social responsibility of businesses and the extent to which they meet legal, ethical, and economic responsibilities as established by stakeholders. Stakeholders are owners, advisers, employees, customers, and the community at large. It is likely that small and midsize business owners haven’t needed to do anything to demonstrate any level of interest in the betterment of their community. However, today’s progressive consumers would rather patronize a business that cares about a relevant cause they can relate to than a company only interested in profits and revenues.
Choosing a Social Mission
Any business in any industry can adhere to a social mission. However, whatever cause you choose should be closely tied to the vision and mission of your company. For instance, if you own a dog grooming business, you may consider supporting a program that deals with pet adoption or an organization that provides pet therapy to sick or elderly people. Connecting your social mission to your business is essential to avoid confusing existing and prospective customers and clients. Adopting a social mission for your business doesn’t always mean writing a check yourself. In fact, it is best to engage your customers and employees to participate in your socially conscious activities. Have you ever been asked to add a $1 to your bill at the supermarket for a specific charity? That is a perfect example of involving your customer while creating subtle awareness that you care. That’s a win-win.
It’s Not About the Money
If you are hung up on giving money or asking your customers to donate, you actually do not have to do either. Having a socially conscious mission is about making a difference above all else. You can do so by simply offering your place of business up to local entrepreneurs or organizations for events at no charge. I have personally benefited from the kindness of local small business leaders who offer entrepreneurs extra office space or conference rooms because they support independent businesses. If you own a food-related business, consider connecting to a charitable organization that feeds the homeless to offer leftover food at the end of the night. That can be a fantastic way to support a social mission around ending hunger. Maybe you have surplus supplies or recyclables to donate to needy organizations, which they can use or turn in for cash. The possibilities are endless.
Tell the World
Once you implement your corporate social responsibility program, make sure it is not done in a vacuum. Let your internal and external stakeholders know what you are up to. Document activities with photos posted to your website and social media. Consider writing a blog post and/or press release as your activities unfold. The biggest mistake businesses make is supporting causes without letting anyone know. That is a wasted public relations opportunity. Don’t get hung up on being grandiose by doing something like renting a billboard on the highway. Keep it simple by adding a short message to the bottom of a customer receipt, invoice, or e-newsletter about your recent efforts to make a difference. Such a gesture will not go unnoticed by loyal customers, clients, and, most importantly, your employees.
So what are you waiting for? Get your team together to develop a corporate social responsibility strategy that considers any current efforts and future socially driven opportunities that align with your long-term business goals.
Jonathan Majors Breaks Silence: Exclusive Interview With Linsey Davis On ABC News
Disney-owned ABC News has secured the first interview with Jonathan Majors since his recent guilty verdict for assault and harassment.
Disney-owned ABC News has secured the first interview with Jonathan Majors since his recent guilty verdict for reckless assault and harassment. The Manhattan jury’s decision on Dec. 18 led to Majors being swiftly dropped by Marvel Entertainment, also a Disney division, where he portrayed Kang the Conqueror in film and TV, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Linsey Davis, an anchor for ABC News, is set to conduct the interview, premiering on Good Morning America on Monday, Jan. 8. Extended segments will follow on GMA3, with a streamed version on Davis’s ABC News Live Prime later that day. IMPACT x Nightline will also air an exclusive half-hour special featuring unaired segments on Jan. 11, available only on Hulu.
Major’s career, which includes starring roles in films such as Creed 3, Devotion, and The Last Black Man in San Francisco, has taken a major hit after allegations of assault on his ex-girlfriend.
Majors received a split verdict, being convicted on two counts: misdemeanor assault in the third degree for recklessly causing physical injury and harassment in the second degree, categorized as a violation. Conversely, he was acquitted of misdemeanor assault in the third degree with intent to cause physical injury and misdemeanor aggravated harassment in the second degree. Despite the guilty verdict, legal experts suggest that Jonathan Majors is unlikely to face jail time and may consider an appeal, particularly regarding the use of text messages in the case. However, the impact on his acting career appears significant, given the abrupt end to his role as Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel universe.
The decision to give his first interview to another Disney-owned outlet after the verdict and Marvel’s decision is seen as a strategic move. It raises the possibility that Majors may address and potentially criticize his former employer for severing ties in the wake of the legal troubles. The interview, poised to air on various ABC platforms, marks a crucial moment for Majors as he navigates the fallout from the legal case and the repercussions on his professional trajectory.
Orlando Magic Will Retire Shaquille O’Neal’s Basketball Jersey
Shaq Diesel's No. 32 will hang from the rafters of the Kia Center.
Maybe one of the most colorful professional basketball players to grace the hardwood is about to get one of the top honors an athlete can get when his uniform number is officially retired by one of the teams he played for. NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is slated to have his No. 32 basketball jersey retired by the NBA team that drafted him out of LSU (Louisiana State University).
The Orlando Magic announced that the honor will take place on Feb. 13 at the Kia Center next month. Shaq becomes the very first Magic player to have his number raised to the arena’s rafters. The Magic are slated to play Oklahoma City that evening, and the ceremony will take place after the completion of the matchup.
In celebration of our 35th anniversary this season, we will officially retire jersey #32 in honor of Shaquille O’Neal during a postgame ceremony on Tuesday, February 13.
O’Neal becomes the first player in franchise history to have his number retired 🪄 pic.twitter.com/i5zk1b6IR9
“When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple—Shaquille O’Neal,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins in a written statement. “He took this franchise to new heights, both on and off the court, and his legacy is still felt within our organization today. On behalf of the DeVos family, we are excited to honor Shaquille by raising #32 into the rafters of the Kia Center, where it will remain forever.”
Shaq was drafted by the Magic when they used the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. The popular center played for the franchise for four seasons, 1992-96. While playing for the Magic, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and made the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1992-93. He made the All-Star team every season he was in Orlando and was named to the All-NBA Second Team once (1994-95) and All-NBA Third Team twice (1993-94, 1995-96).
In his four seasons with the team, he started in 295 regular season games, putting up 27.2 points a game, pulling down 12.5 rebounds with 2.79 blocks per contest. He also shot .581 from the floor, averaging 2.4 assists in 37.8 minutes a game.
Although he took the Magic to the NBA championship in 1995, the team was met by a strong Houston Rockets team that featured Hakeem Olajuwon at center, and the Rockets swept the Magic 4-0.
Magic Chairman Dan DeVos said, “Through his dominating play, larger-than-life personality, and generous contributions to The City Beautiful, Shaquille O’Neal had a transformational impact on this team and this town. Our family and the entire franchise couldn’t be more pleased for Shaquille to receive this well-deserved honor, further cementing his enduring legacy here in Orlando as we collectively look back on his tremendous accomplishments in a Magic uniform.”
The game will be shown on TNT, where Shaq is the network announcer. The contest will start at 7:30 p.m. EST, and immediately after the game is over, the retirement ceremony will take place.
Ye Owes California Over $1M In Property And State Taxes
The music producer owes the state $934,033.56 in business taxes and $101,093 for property taxes.
Ye may have released his latest Yeezys because he owes the state of California close to a million dollars in unpaid taxes.
According to Daily Mail, the artist formerly known as Kanye West has a tax bill that needs to be taken care of. His clothing company, Yeezy Apparel, LLC, has been hit with four tax liens. The total owed over the last three years is $934,033.56. The latest bill from the State of California‘s Franchise Tax Board was from March 2023 for $319,356.58. This includes a penalty of $97,063.78, plus the interest on that sum is $9,644.40. This was for not paying business taxes between October 2021 and March 2022.
A previous lien totaling $321,591.71 is from April 2021 to September 2021. That bill was filed in September 2022. The amount also includes penalties and interest. Earlier in February 2022, the amount owed to the Tax Board was $279,085.99, including penalties and interest, which totaled $92,374. That covered January 2020 to March 2021.
In July 2021, Yeezy Apparel owed $13,999.28 for three months from April 2020. That brings the total amount of unpaid taxes to $934,033.56.
But that’s not all Ye has to pay.
According to the outlet, the talented music producer has not paid property taxes for the two properties he possesses. A four-bedroom property in Calabasas, California, which he purchased with his former wife, Kim Kardashian, in May 2018 for $2.2 million, was given to him in the divorce agreement they signed. There hasn’t been any property taxes paid on that mansion since 2021. Ye owes $81,154 for the corresponding years: $26,759 for 2021, $26,781 for 2022, and $27,614 for 2023.
The second property in question is one he also bought with Kardashian in August 2017 for $1.6 million. The three-bedroom unit is also located in Calabasas. That became solely his after the couple divorced. He didn’t pay the current taxes, which amounted to $19,939.
The total for both properties comes out to $101,093.
The controversial fashion designer may be able to cash in if his next scheduled project, “Vultures,” which has been pushed back several times, ever comes out. XXL reported that the album, being done with Ty Dolla $ign, still isn’t completed.
The album was originally scheduled for a Dec. 14, 2023 release date but was eventually slated for a Jan. 12 release, but even that won’t happen based on recent reports.
Two Men Charged In Alleged $8.5 Million Airbnb Scam
A federal grand jury has indicted two men on federal fraud charges, revealing abait-and-switch scam executed through Airbnb and VRBO.
On Dec. 13, a federal grand jury indicted Shray Goel of Miami and Shaunik Raheja of Denver on federal fraud charges, revealing an elaborate double-booking, bait-and-switch scam primarily executed through popular online property rental platforms like Airbnb. The indictment, announced by the Justice Department, allegedc that the duo amassed over $8.5 million through deceptive listings and the fraudulent cancellation of reservations, which also involved discrimination against potential guests who were Black.
The superseding indictment, filed against Goel and Raheja, accuses them of orchestrating fraud concerning more than 10,000 reservations tied to nearly 100 properties across 10 states. Initially charged on Dec. 13, Goel was arrested in Florida on Dec. 27 and released on bond the following day. Raheja was later added as a defendant in the superseding indictment. Both will be arraigned in the United States District Court in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.
The alleged Airbnb scam involved owning and operating a short-term property rental business operating under various names, including Abbot Pacific LLC. The duo is accused of double-booking properties through multiple listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, using fake last-minute excuses, such as plumbing problems, to cancel overbooked guests or redirect them to inferior accommodations. The scheme reportedly included a secret bidding war for properties, allowing them to maximize profits and keep their properties at maximum capacity.
Notably, the indictment asserts that racial prejudices played a role in the decision-making process, alleging that Goel and Raheja discriminated against potential renters based on their skin color.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada condemned the alleged scam, stating, “This deplorable scheme victimized thousands of consumers and families across the country, some of whom allegedly were discriminated against because of racial bias.” The FBI and FDIC-OIG lead the investigation, with the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General assisting.
The charges against Goel and Raheja include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 13 counts of wire fraud, with Goel facing additional charges of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, they could face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for each conspiracy and wire fraud charge, along with a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years for the identity theft counts.
Airbnb and Vrbo are cooperating with the investigation, acknowledging the severity of the allegations. The indictment emphasizes that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
