Starbucks’ strategy goes from open more stores to make people wait longer

Starbucks just can’t seem to get its act together right now. Facing a drop-off in sales this past year — which had to have been at least partly due to people tightening their budgets — Starbucks decided to raise its prices. That strategy has backfired, and now Starbucks’ stock sits at a 10-year low. Given the current economic climate, sales aren’t likely to increase anytime soon.

CEO Howard Schultz has announced that the holidays could be particularly bad for the company, and it’s going to make another $200 million in cost-cutting moves.

That’s where most of the business stories end. But a little investigative research by our sister blog in Dallas revealed that these cost-cutting measures aren’t going to happen by making stores more efficient or cutting management. Instead, they’re cutting back on baristas.

After the jump, see how Starbucks is shortchanging its employees — and, indirectly, its customers.