Starbucks not out of the running in fight over Tully's
SEATTLE (AP) - The auction for beleaguered coffee company Tully's will likely conclude Friday in federal bankruptcy court, with an ownership group led by actor Patrick Dempsey in position to take over the chain. But Starbucks isn't out of the running.
Dempsey - dubbed "McDreamy" in the "Grey's AnatomBy" hospital TV drama - claimed victory last week after an auction.
But a company that teamed up with Starbucks to bid for the Tully's chain filed an objection Wednesday. AgriNurture Inc. says it's still willing to proceed with its combined bid with Starbucks of about $10.6 million. The bid from Dempsey's company, Global Baristas LLC, was for $9.2 million.
Tully's has 47 shops in Washington and California with more than 500 employees. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October.
Dempsey - dubbed "McDreamy" in the "Grey's AnatomBy" hospital TV drama - claimed victory last week after an auction.
But a company that teamed up with Starbucks to bid for the Tully's chain filed an objection Wednesday. AgriNurture Inc. says it's still willing to proceed with its combined bid with Starbucks of about $10.6 million. The bid from Dempsey's company, Global Baristas LLC, was for $9.2 million.
Tully's has 47 shops in Washington and California with more than 500 employees. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October.
WOW. If Starbucks succeeds in getting that judge to"reopen the auction and restart the bidding process", that judge needs to be brought before the board ,(and she will be if she grants the request) . To allow that to happen, after the legal process has already been followed and a bid has been accepted,in accordance to an RCW, (famous actor or not; famous coffee company or not) would make all RCWs, all mandated actions,all auctions, subject to being challenged because : "THAT other guy won the bid, so now that I (or my investment partner) have had a change of heart, lets just redo it, so this time I will win". What a mentality. Go for it judge,... show the entire nation that in the State of Washington, County of King, is open for sales, in lines of the legal processes and other legalities, being able to be bought, and sold,( for the right price, to/from the right people or agency), JUST LIKE our judicial system AND our elected folk (well, some of them...maybe...?)But, if the judge does not allow the 3 ring circus to begin, then she's "cool", and I will eat my hat or something. less
To Starbucks: Nice to try eliminating your competition you slim bags. Your coffee tastes like cigarette ashes in hot water. You tried with a blond style coffee, but guess what, still too dark. If anything, Seattle needs more competition for coffee. My favorite is the smaller shops that have the better coffee. I do brew at home, cause I'm smart, but when I go out, I try a small shop. Starbucks: make better coffee rather than buying out competition. Very slime and dirty.
If they didn't have the highest bid and the auction is over what claim do they have?
Â
They didn't get their way and now it needs to go to Federal Court on our dime.
Starbucks should be ashamed. Â They don't have any interest in the employees - only the locations and to stop competition - really? Â How big do they need to be?
I already have a coffee pot, thermos and a nice cup I make my own coffee and add my own syrup... I'm satisfied. I figured out that my saving average is $7.34 per day or $146.80 per work month. SO, I save $1,761.60 per year on over priced pee for the toilet. I'll use the saving to buy myself something nice. I'll let the two companies duke it out over the money of people who want to 'look cool' or flush their money into sewers.
I have no problem with Starbucks in general. Personally, I don't like their coffee, seems bitter or burnt to me. But I do have a problem with them trying to make this a one coffee town. I want them to have some healthy competition. I want there to be choices. For those of you that do like Starbucks It might be the only way to stop them from charging $5 for that burnt cup of coffee in the near future.
 @Phinn Glad I'm not the only one that thinks their coffee tastes burnt.
NO, Starbucks is a great coffee, but let the other guys have it (for goodwill if nothing else). Starbucks Chairman got a lot of heat for the Sonics sale a few years ago. To avoid a negative image with this effort, don't go ahead with squashing local competition. Actually it's not competition, rather an enhancement of the coffee selections and the coffee industry as a whole - especially here in the NorthWest.
Sometimes doing the right thing, may not be the most profitable thing.
 @The Truth Like holding out for a local buyer so you don't screw over the City that made you rich?
The ONLY reason Starbucks wants them is to eliminate the competition.Â
I may not watch TV or care about the craze that is Patrick Dempsey, but PLEASE don't let Star*ucks win!!!
@DMT Why? Because you don't like them? Apparently a whole lot of people do like Starbucks because they certainly wouldn't be as big a corporation as they are if no one liked their coffee. Why shouldn't the owners of Tully's take the best offer thay can get. They obviously need to make as much money as possible on the sale to pay off debts and have a chance to walk away with something to show for their efforts if possible. If Starbuck's bid is almost 1.5 million higher than the next bid, it makes sense to take it. It's easy to say why Tully's shouldn't sell to Starbucks, but at the end of the day, Tully's will do whats right for them financially and it is their right and they should not be judged for it.
 @Surveyor1  @DMT Funny, because I do not drink coffee, not even Tully's or SBC. I am not judging Tully's, either...
Â
And yes, I understand it's not the employees' fault, but rather that Schultzy-boy who let our Sonics go. I will never buy any Starbucks product or be in one of their stores as long as I live...
Â
-Dawn M. Welch; FB manager of Sonics Nation
@DMT You want to get mean? I can play that way to. Your statement that I go buy my overpriced coffee drink reads like an implication that I do that at Starbucks. From that you gather that I can't read? I guess you would prefer that in the future I make generalizations against you and treat you in a snarky manner on this board?
 @Surveyor1  @DMT I never said you drank Starbucks - learn to read, eh?Â
@DMT I never said I drank Starbucks. I was making a statement about how Tully's is a business and they need and will do what is right for them.
 @Surveyor1 P.S. Now go drink your overpriced coffee drink.
@Surveyor1 Sure a lot of people like Starbucks, I'm not one of them.  I used to be able to get a cup of coffee at the grocery store while shopping or on the way out.  Not anymore, they all have Starbucks. I can't go up to the deli and get a nice cup of coffee I have to go to the Starbucks stand and get over priced burnt coffee. So I don't buy coffee when I'm out and about anymore.  Not unless I'm at a restaurant or face food joint that doesn't sell Starbucks. Â
@Surveyor1 a lot of people apparently like The Kardashians, Honey Boo Boo, Jersey Shore, etc. etc, too....doesn't mean it's good stuff or good for us as a whole. Starbucks is way overpriced and doesn't taste good in my opinion.
@the That just happened to me too! I went to buy the Salvation Army ringer a coffee at Christmas and just got a 16 oz latte, nothing fancy, nothing added...$4.80!! I could buy an entire can of Folgers coffee for that and it tastes the same or better.
 @nomad I recently went to starbucks and ordered a white mocha, a drink of theirs I've enjoyed over the years.
Â
I almost choked when the Barista told me it was $4.43
Â
That wont be happening again. Not even on vacation when I'm much more free with my money. Complete rip-off.
 @Surveyor1  @DMT No.. because Starbucks, like Walmart, is a giant soul-sucking corporation, that will not be happy until they buy up and squash all competition. Corporations like that want to destroy every last bit of ingenuity and culture out of the American towns... that's why.  They aren't happy with dominating, they want to keep buying up competitors, until there is no more competition, and we're left with the McStarbucks experience in every store, on every corner, and nothing more.  That's why.Â
@DT @DMT Your disdain for Starbucks is apparent. Apparently a whole lot of people feel differently than you do or Starbucks wouldn't be the corporation they are today. If you don't want Starbucks to buy Tully's then you buy them. Until then Tully's has to do what is right for them so they can escape this bankruptcy as whole as possible. By the way, while I do occasionally enjoy a cup of Starbucks I also frequent my local independtly owned shop. I'm not touting Starbucks, just pointing out that they have just as much right as anyone else to buy Tully's.