Starbucks has done it again – sending customers into a frenzy over limited-edition tumblers. The coffee giant collaborated with popular brand Stanley to release a line of Valentine’s Day themed cups exclusively at Target stores. The response has been nothing short of insane.
Tumblers Fly Off Shelves Within Minutes
Stores couldn’t keep the tumblers in stock, with most selling out within minutes of opening on January 3rd when they were first released. Customers started lining up outside Target locations as early as 3 AM to try and get their hands on the coveted cups (1).
“I got here at 5 AM and there were already 50 people in line,” said one customer at a Target in Fresno, CA (2).
The cup, dubbed the “Stanley Quencher H2.Go”, comes in shimmery pink and red shades with heart graphics. The limited supply and on-trend Valentine’s Day theme made these even more popular than past Starbucks x Stanley releases.
Resellers Flip Cups for Hundreds Online
With the cups nearly impossible to buy in stores, many have turned to resell sites like eBay to get their hands on one. Prices have skyrocketed to over $250 – more than three times the original $8.99 retail price (3). The average resale price is $150-200 based on current listings.
Some customers are buying up the cups simply to resell for profit. One reseller claimed to purchase 28 cups and made nearly $4000 flipping them online (4). Another person in line shared that the group in front of her all had resale accounts ready to post the cups immediately after purchasing their limit.
| Cup | Original Price | Average Resale Price |
|---|---|---|
| Stanley x Starbucks Tumbler | $8.99 | $150-200 |
Why the Sudden Obsession Over Stanley Cups?
Stanley cups have been popular on TikTok for some time, racking up millions of views from predominantly Gen Z users. The brand name cups have become a status symbol. Ownership indicates one has the time and money to wait in line for hours to buy something simply because it is trending online (5).
Starbucks has capitalized on this trend by partnering with Stanley several times over the past two years. Each new release sparks another frenzy of customers chasing internet clout.
“The desire to go viral on social media and the fear of missing out is largely driving this trend,” said one industry expert (6).
Concerns Over Aggressive Shoppers and Resellers
As crowds scramble to purchase the coveted cups, some concerning behavior has occurred. There have been reports of customers jumping over counters to steal cups off displays. One man was arrested after trying to steal 11 tumblers from a Starbucks inside a Target by jumping the counter (7).
Police also warn of potential scams from resellers. One department issued a warning after residents reported never receiving cups purchased online or receiving empty boxes (8). With the cups in such high demand, buyers should use caution when purchasing from third party sellers.
What’s Next for the Stanley Cup Craze?
For those still hoping to purchase the Valentine’s Day tumblers, unfortunately both Starbucks and Target confirm they have no plans to restock the current pink and red shades. However, as seen many times before, another limited edition Stanley x Starbucks collaboration will likely happen in the future.
“We know customers love our collaborative collections with Stanley. When we introduced this new Valentine’s Day collection it quickly sold out but select Starbucks stores will have other Stanley tumblers and mugs available for purchase while supplies last,” said a Starbucks spokesperson (9).
Until the next release, the cups will continue to sell for astronomically high prices online. Those willing to pay upwards of $200 can still obtain them secondhand. For others, the crazy over these cups will simply have to be admired from afar.
References
- https://www.fox4news.com/news/starbucks-pink-stanley-cups-shoppers-line-up-at-north-texas-targets-at-3-a-m
- https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/dozens-line-up-for-new-stanley-cup-released-at-fresno-targets/amp/
- https://www.azfamily.com/2024/01/05/stanley-cups-sold-out-target-are-selling-more-than-double-price-resale-market/
- https://twitter.com/katienotopoulos/status/1742537604346638800
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2024/01/03/why-is-tiktok-obsessed-with-stanley-cups-the-water-bottle-craze-racks-up-millions-of-views-and-lots-of-revenue/amp/
- https://nypost.com/2024/01/03/lifestyle/gen-zs-obsession-with-the-stanley-tumbler-is-crashing-trend-expert-says/
- https://www.tmz.com/2024/01/04/starbucks-stanley-man-jumps-starbucks-counter-steal-cups/
- https://wgntv.com/news/northwest-suburbs/suburban-police-department-issues-warning-over-stanley-cup-scams/
- https://people.com/starbucks-pink-stanley-cups-wont-be-restocked-after-chaos-at-target-resale-200-8422852
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
