Coffee chain Starbucks has been forced to issue a public apology after the launch of its highly anticipated limited edition Bearista Cold Cup descended into chaos, with videos emerging of frantic queues from 2am, accusations of employee hoarding, and even physical altercations in stores.
Early Morning Queues and Instant Sell-Outs
The frenzy began on November 6, when Starbucks released the Bearista Cold Cup – a clear, teddy bear-shaped cup complete with a straw and a green beanie hat. The item was promoted on the company's social media channels and instantly became a must-have collectible.
Anticipation was so high that dedicated fans were spotted queueing outside stores in the early hours of the morning, with some arriving as early as 2am. Despite this dedication, the cups proved to be incredibly scarce, with most locations selling out within mere minutes of opening.
Customer Frustration and Accusations Fly
The situation quickly escalated from disappointment to outrage as customers took to social media to voice their frustrations. One woman detailed her experience on TikTok, explaining she was seventh in a queue that started at 2am, only to be told her local store had just six cups available.
She and others then alleged that Starbucks employees were purchasing the coveted cups before the stores had even opened to the public. "Employees were checking out the cups before we could even get them, after we waited in line for them," she fumed, showing shelves already emptied of the bear merchandise.
Other viral videos added fuel to the fire. One controversial clip appeared to show staff buying the cups before opening time, while another caption claimed, "The employees cut the line, locked us out, then took everything." In a separate video, a physical fight could be seen breaking out inside a store over the remaining stock, with the poster simply commenting, "People are insane!"
Starbucks Issues Official Apology
Faced with a wave of negative publicity and disappointed customers, Starbucks released an official statement addressing the situation. The company acknowledged that the excitement for the Bearista cup had "exceeded even our biggest expectations."
They stated that despite shipping "more Bearista cups to coffeehouses than almost any other merchandise item this holiday season," the demand vastly outweighed supply, leading to the rapid sell-outs.
The chain offered a direct apology, saying, "We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused." While the statement did not confirm if more of the specific bear cups would be re-released, it hinted that "more exciting merchandise" is coming this holiday season.
