I personally think they are all terribly stupid commercials. Seriously. Who was your ad agency..time to find a new one Sbux..I'm in college for marketing and I could come up with something better. The references are just plain idiotic. Maybe if you did a commercial where a barista gave a taste test to random people one was made with VIA ready brew the other brewed right in the store from the coffee beans..something along those lines would def work for this product. but this...from a billion dollar company just plain sad. step it up sbux..we know you can do better.

I agree. I have seen better commercials from SB. None of these commercials were a hit with me. If the object is to have you go out and purchase the new product, then I think the message has failed.

Glad it wasn't just me who thought that. Those are some of the worst Starbucks ads I've ever seen. Nothing resonates with me. I'd rather have a polar bear in the snow (cartooned of course), a cup, of Via, and hug! Pass the cheer! Oops! I mean pass the Via!!

www.youtube.com/watch

Just curious, but are those the complete versions of the commercials?  Or just little snippets of them?  If they're incomplete, anybody know where I can see the full versions?  I've been seeing people whining about one of them, and I'm curious to see what the fuss is about.

While I wasn't offended by the 'townhall' ad, which has become quite controversial, I also think surely Starbucks could have come up with something better than these?  They are not striking, actually, they're kind of bad.  and I am a fan of VIA (Italian roast, emergencies only)  I think the way you play it up is not right....I think you should be playing it up as a convenience coffee that is very good, etc but NOT necessarily meant to be the same or replace fresh brewed.  Anyway, the ads.....not so good.

Thanks for the link, sbx_bean.  Having now seen it, I honestly can't see why people are getting their knickers in a twist over it.  It's not offensive.  At all.  Heck, I showed it to my mother (who is fairly right-wing, and those are the folks who seem to be upset by this), and asked her what she thought.  She didn't find it offensive, either.  And she scoffed when I told her about the postings here complaining about it.  So, I really don't get it.  I will say, though, that I agree with betterbefore.  Marketing Via as a replacement for fresh drip coffee is not a good idea.  It's a convenience product, for when you can't *get* fresh drip.  And as that, it's quite good.  But I don't see people wanting to have Via *instead of* drip.

Maybe you could put a link to the NEW one (withOUT the townhall) on here or on msi soon, so people who are losing their minds could (maybe) stop?  I saw it yesterday , 10/5..with the teachers (instead of nurses) and the 'really tall guy', I think, instead of the screamers at the townhall?  I think a link would be good.

Try using your employees for advertising spot...it would definately hit more close to home.