Open Post: Hosted By The Starbucks Cat Paw Cup That People In China Are Brawling Over
Before you put on your judging pants and clown on these people in China for engaging in fisticuffs over a damn cup, clock the description (via CNN):
The company released a limited edition “Cat Paw Cup” in China this week, a double-walled tumbler with an interior shaped like a cat’s paw. When a drink is poured into it, the paw shape becomes apparent.
“The paw shape becomes apparent”! Who wouldn’t punch someone over that?
A visual aid:
The cups went on sale on Tuesday for 199 yuan each ($30) and sold out that day. That’s when people started getting violent. Jesus, it’s not that serious, it’s like they were Hello Kitty or Jocelyn Wildenstein-branded.
And then the conspiracy theories started!
The cute cups became such a hot property that Chinese internet users and state media began suggesting that Starbucks (SBUX) was trying to artificially drive up demand. In a social media post, the company denied the claims and said it would sell all the remaining cups in a single online sale Friday.
Starbucks cups are usually so boring and feature that dumb mermaid. It goes to show you that inserting just a bit of whimsy in your products can cause bloodshed and that’s a sign that your product designers and marketing people need a bonus.
Pic: Starbucks China