Sports cards, sneakers, and… Starbucks cups?
Resellers are apparently making bank off devoted Starbucks collectors. For example:
- In 2020, 2 resellers claimed they made $5k in profit selling Starbucks holiday cups and accessories via Facebook Marketplace.
- A TikTok reseller said his wife sold a tumbler she bought for $20 for $165.
- In 2019, resellers snapped up Halloween cups and listed them for $100-$500.
Meanwhile, numerous Facebook Groups are dedicated to cup hunting, including this 13.7k-member public group that advertises itself as no-rules “cup chaos.”
Collectors happily show off their Starbucks hauls and massive cup stashes.
But, why?
Poshmark CEO Manish Chandra suggested “pandemic-triggered nostalgia.” He told CNN Business that Starbucks merchandise saw a 100%+ uptick in sales on the platform in 2020.
But cup collecting predates the pandemic. Thrifter Cary Williams told In The Know he thinks the coffee chain just has a passionate fanbase…
… Which can be a problem for baristas
While Grinch bots steal Christmas by gaming online retailers, Starbucks merch is only available in-store, which has led to some pretty wacky behavior.
- A former barista posted to TikTok that resellers rummage through store cabinets and even fight with employees and other resellers.
- Fights have allegedly broken out at Disney parks (the happiest places on Earth!) over exclusive Disney-themed Starbucks cups.
- Some stores have implemented sales limits on cups to stave off resellers and save some for collectors or, you know, people who actually drink coffee out of them.
BTW: If this has you curious, here’s a comprehensive site entirely devoted to Starbucks mugs.
