The big business tax avoiders.

Here's an idea. I don't think any of us are happy that companies like Starbucks, amazon, etc pay so little in tax. Governments have all failed to totally address this issue so why can't people power sort this out? The young we hear about on here being engaged and whatnot could do something big to help affect change . Imagine if a campaign were to be started on social media whereby the young, the public in general, agreed to boycott, for example, Amazon for one week. Simply stop buying anything from them or use their services? Maybe delete accounts? for one week. Or avoid buying your coffee in Starbucks for one day? or one week? Could they be guilt tripped into paying a fair amount of tax for the business they doand profits they ake from the british public. I know this is simplistic but by giving these companies our patronage and our money we are all allowing them to take the piss. could people power affect a change ? or are we too used to just coughing up our cash and letting them get away with it? Discuss.

Mods, if you want to move this, crack on.

Or maybe we don't appoint a priminster who's husband doesn't profit from all these companies ?

Fair enough. But, put that aside and consider the idea i have suggested.

As a tea drinker i have never been in a Starbucks or Costa,even if i liked Coffee i doubt i would frequent those overpriced American establishments.

Its something I reckon some people already do but to get everybody to go along with it? Can't see it ...big proportion of folk couldn't care less tbh

seesaw50 wrote: Its something I reckon some people already do but to get everybody to go along with it? Can't see it ...big proportion of folk couldn't care less tbh

You may be right. But, could a social media campaign galvanise enough people to actually change that habit and give these companies something to think about? I don't use Facebook or twitter but many do, could a campaign be started, shared and ultimately go viral enough to make a change in peoples habits?

Why anyone would buy Starbucks coffee is beyond me, tastes awful. Avoiding for 1 week wont do anything.

oh well, that's that then.

I can't remember which coffee franchise it was but last time their were talks of boycotting a franchise owner was on the radio explaining all it would do was knacker his franchise and put people out of work. The parent company already had its money off him so wouldn't be affected at all by a series of short boycotts. Not sure if they all use that model but it's prob more difficult than just boycotting now and again.

Boycott full stop. The problem is if you dont believe in tax dodging you dont believe in globalisation as its a race to the bottom.

You can't really blame the multinationals for taking advantage of the special tax advantages in Switzerland for trading in coffee and chocolate. This is one of the reasons the likes of BP and McDonalds are so keen on selling coffee these days rather than petrol and burgers as if they structure it right they can shelter most of their profits from tax.

I don't know what the answer is other than putting up VAT to increase the tax take from big business. Maybe the simple answer is the right answer. 25% VAT anyone?

Costa coffee is british its owned by Whitbread

And pays it's tax.

Remember those anarchists (rent a mob) that wrecked a branch of John Lewis at some 'demonstration' in London over capitalism. May have been G8 protests, but not sure. John Lewis of course, is Britain's biggest worker co operative.

Yes Whitbread pays its Tax If you have a pension you will be invested in Costa So use them not Starbucks

Taffy-P wrote: Costa coffee is british its owned by Whitbread

And has
the best coffee

Anybody drinking in Cafe Nero will notice how their cups are getting thicker..... Same size to the naked eye ....less capacity in reality . stopped meself and think they are tax avoiders as well

Did Starbucks not agree to start paying a fair rate of tax last year? I know one of the heavily criticised firms did.

At the end of the day it's not the company who is at fault (although perhaps morally), it's the system which allows it. If someone approached a firm and showed them a system which meant they legally get away without paying tax I'd imagine the vast majority would take them up on the offer. Numerous governments have had the power to prevent this tax avoidance but have chose not to.

seesaw50 wrote:

Taffy-P wrote: Costa coffee is british its owned by Whitbread

And has
the best coffee

Anybody drinking in Cafe Nero will notice how their cups are getting thicker..... Same size to the naked eye ....less capacity in reality . stopped meself and think they are tax avoiders as well

If your in Carlisle the coffee is much better in Watts and Foxes.

Anyone who likes coffee in Carlisle and goes to Starbucks/Costa over Watts is insane. Quality coffee shop. Foxes is just trendy nonsense. Mint Frapachinno with a dash of caramel. Sacrilege. Coffee is - Espresso, black americano, latte or cappuccino. That is all that is acceptable. And latte and cappuccino should only be drank in the morning. Anything else is just wrong.

As for the idea of boycotting these companies. People like to talk a big talk but will mostly never act on it. Thats the problem you will have. Its a good idea though.

Blues86 wrote: Anyone who likes coffee in Carlisle and goes to Starbucks/Costa over Watts is insane. Quality coffee shop. Foxes is just trendy nonsense. Mint Frapachinno with a dash of caramel. Sacrilege. Coffee is - Espresso, black americano, latte or cappuccino. That is all that is acceptable. And latte and cappuccino should only be drank in the morning. Anything else is just wrong.

As for the idea of boycotting these companies. People like to talk a big talk but will mostly never act on it. Thats the problem you will have. Its a good idea though.

Personally prefer filter coffee to espresso. Americano is espresso with added hot water.

I am partial to a flat white now and again though.

DeckchairBlue wrote:

Blues86 wrote: Anyone who likes coffee in Carlisle and goes to Starbucks/Costa over Watts is insane. Quality coffee shop. Foxes is just trendy nonsense. Mint Frapachinno with a dash of caramel. Sacrilege. Coffee is - Espresso, black americano, latte or cappuccino. That is all that is acceptable. And latte and cappuccino should only be drank in the morning. Anything else is just wrong.

As for the idea of boycotting these companies. People like to talk a big talk but will mostly never act on it. Thats the problem you will have. Its a good idea though.

Personally prefer filter coffee to espresso. Americano is espresso with added hot water.

I am partial to a flat white now and again though.

You were going well until you mentioned a flat white. Then you've gone and let yourself down deckchair!

I don't know how you lot would have coped when a cup of coffee was a cup of coffee.

Bloody coffee snobs, aren't they just the worst?

Dancingbear wrote: I don't know how you lot would have coped when a cup of coffee was a cup of coffee.

I assume you mean when it became instant coffee ?

Espresso and filter coffee has been around for a lot longer than instant

Blues86 wrote:

DeckchairBlue wrote:

Blues86 wrote: Anyone who likes coffee in Carlisle and goes to Starbucks/Costa over Watts is insane. Quality coffee shop. Foxes is just trendy nonsense. Mint Frapachinno with a dash of caramel. Sacrilege. Coffee is - Espresso, black americano, latte or cappuccino. That is all that is acceptable. And latte and cappuccino should only be drank in the morning. Anything else is just wrong.

As for the idea of boycotting these companies. People like to talk a big talk but will mostly never act on it. Thats the problem you will have. Its a good idea though.

Personally prefer filter coffee to espresso. Americano is espresso with added hot water.

I am partial to a flat white now and again though.

You were going well until you mentioned a flat white. Then you've gone and let yourself down deckchair!

I did only say occasionally, majority of time i make it at home myself so it's filter.

Tried Vietnamese coffee in a place here last week, wasn't bad at all.

Bruntonpasty wrote: Bloody coffee snobs, aren't they just the worst?

it's all a load of bollocks.
there's only:
espresso - short black strong coffee,
macchiato - (which means marked or stained) basically an espresso with a drop of milk,
ristretto - (which means restricted) basically a shorter version of espresso,
cappuccino. everyone knows what this is.

anything else has been created by 'trendy' coffee shops or the yanks, i.e. Americano. created. allegedly by G.I's during the war who couldn't handle a proper espresso.
latte isn't even a coffee. it actually means 'milk' and is hot milk with coffee added.

hope this helps.

DeckchairBlue wrote:

Dancingbear wrote: I don't know how you lot would have coped when a cup of coffee was a cup of coffee.

I assume you mean when it became instant coffee ?

Espresso and filter coffee has been around for a lot longer than instant

You'd bring a tear to a glass eye.

And filter/brewed coffee.

Coffee drinking first began in what is now Yemen, in 1400's, it was brewed, not forced under high pressure through an espresso machine.

Dancingbear wrote:

DeckchairBlue wrote:

Dancingbear wrote: I don't know how you lot would have coped when a cup of coffee was a cup of coffee.

I assume you mean when it became instant coffee ?

Espresso and filter coffee has been around for a lot longer than instant

You'd bring a tear to a glass eye.

Because I'm right or...

DeckchairBlue wrote:

Dancingbear wrote:

DeckchairBlue wrote:

Dancingbear wrote: I don't know how you lot would have coped when a cup of coffee was a cup of coffee.

I assume you mean when it became instant coffee ?

Espresso and filter coffee has been around for a lot longer than instant

You'd bring a tear to a glass eye.

Because I'm right or...

A right boring ba stard . Put it this way you used to get asked tea or coffee and that was it. What you actually got was definitely in the lap of the gods.

Dancingbear wrote:

DeckchairBlue wrote:

Dancingbear wrote:

DeckchairBlue wrote:

Dancingbear wrote: I don't know how you lot would have coped when a cup of coffee was a cup of coffee.

I assume you mean when it became instant coffee ?

Espresso and filter coffee has been around for a lot longer than instant

You'd bring a tear to a glass eye.

Because I'm right or...

A right boring ba stard . Put it this way you used to get asked tea or coffee and that was it. What you actually got was definitely in the lap of the gods.

Not the first to say that but hey ho. So surely having a choice of decent tea and coffees is a massive improvement ?

DeckchairBlue wrote:

Dancingbear wrote:

DeckchairBlue wrote:

Dancingbear wrote:

DeckchairBlue wrote:

Dancingbear wrote: I don't know how you lot would have coped when a cup of coffee was a cup of coffee.

I assume you mean when it became instant coffee ?

Espresso and filter coffee has been around for a lot longer than instant

You'd bring a tear to a glass eye.

Because I'm right or...

A right boring ba stard . Put it this way you used to get asked tea or coffee and that was it. What you actually got was definitely in the lap of the gods.

Not the first to say that but hey ho. So surely having a choice of decent tea and coffees is a massive improvement ?

Doesn't really bother me tbh. The wife bought one of those nexpresso things or whatever they're called didn't taste any better than any instant she buys to me. bet it was only switched on a dozen times.

How you take a cup of tea or coffee that every café offered us for twenty pence in a polystyrene cup back in the day that even with inflation should now cost eighty odd pence and manage to sell if for more than the price of a pint of beer is amazing and I take my hat off to them.

The names they come up with are like those Facebook things where your ideal coffee name is the last thing you did and add 'tino' to the end.

The only 'mugs' involved are those who pay for it

It's amazing how some of these threads morph into something completely different.

Big business to the style and cost of coffee takes the biscuit

Do you dunk yours

munchymagic wrote: How you take a cup of tea or coffee that every café offered us for twenty pence in a polystyrene cup back in the day that even with inflation should now cost eighty odd pence and manage to sell if for more than the price of a pint of beer is amazing and I take my hat off to them.

The names they come up with are like those Facebook things where your ideal coffee name is the last thing you did and add 'tino' to the end.

The only 'mugs' involved are those who pay for it

Probably a lot of hard up students in there, who wouldn't know how to boil a kettle.

Dentonholmersimpson wrote:

munchymagic wrote: How you take a cup of tea or coffee that every café offered us for twenty pence in a polystyrene cup back in the day that even with inflation should now cost eighty odd pence and manage to sell if for more than the price of a pint of beer is amazing and I take my hat off to them.

The names they come up with are like those Facebook things where your ideal coffee name is the last thing you did and add 'tino' to the end.

The only 'mugs' involved are those who pay for it

Probably a lot of hard up students in there, who wouldn't know how to boil a kettle.

Even at home a decent coffee costs nowt in comparison and if anyone wanted to replicate one of the twattish big name coffees then fire some squirty cream on top.

A decent beer however is neigh on impossible to replicate at home.

What annoys me most is cafes who have the board up showing they do all the range of coffees.. so you order a cappuccino and it comes like a cup of flavourless hot milk. I always look now to make sure they have the gaggia machine.
Can safely say have never patronised Starbucks in Carlisle ..maybe its nicer inside!

Reccomend Costa's Flat White

munchymagic wrote: How you take a cup of tea or coffee that every café offered us for twenty pence in a polystyrene cup back in the day that even with inflation should now cost eighty odd pence and manage to sell if for more than the price of a pint of beer is amazing and I take my hat off to them.

The names they come up with are like those Facebook things where your ideal coffee name is the last thing you did and add 'tino' to the end.

The only 'mugs' involved are those who pay for it

A better quality product made with more care and attention and served in nicer surroundings will cost more. Simple.

It's the same reason you can pay £2 for a pint in the appletree or double that elsewhere.

DeckchairBlue wrote:

munchymagic wrote: How you take a cup of tea or coffee that every café offered us for twenty pence in a polystyrene cup back in the day that even with inflation should now cost eighty odd pence and manage to sell if for more than the price of a pint of beer is amazing and I take my hat off to them.

The names they come up with are like those Facebook things where your ideal coffee name is the last thing you did and add 'tino' to the end.

The only 'mugs' involved are those who pay for it

A better quality product made with more care and attention and served in nicer surroundings will cost more. Simple.

It's the same reason you can pay £2 for a pint in the appletree or double that elsewhere.

If being served by someone called a Barista who just pours coffee in a soulless place for loads of money floats your boat then fair enough but I would take the Appletree every time over pretentiousness.

A bit of water, coffee, milk and sugar to taste - any dick can manage that.

The best bought coffee I have ever had was Tchibo and that was only a quid a pop.

munchymagic wrote:

DeckchairBlue wrote:

munchymagic wrote: How you take a cup of tea or coffee that every café offered us for twenty pence in a polystyrene cup back in the day that even with inflation should now cost eighty odd pence and manage to sell if for more than the price of a pint of beer is amazing and I take my hat off to them.

The names they come up with are like those Facebook things where your ideal coffee name is the last thing you did and add 'tino' to the end.

The only 'mugs' involved are those who pay for it

A better quality product made with more care and attention and served in nicer surroundings will cost more. Simple.

It's the same reason you can pay £2 for a pint in the appletree or double that elsewhere.

If being served by someone called a Barista who just pours coffee in a soulless place for loads of money floats your boat then fair enough but I would take the Appletree every time over pretentiousness.

A bit of water, coffee, milk and sugar to taste - any dick can manage that.

The best bought coffee I have ever had was Tchibo and that was only a quid a pop.

Your describing Starbucks/Costa/Nero mega coffee corps, I wasn't.