Summary:
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Starbucks’ holiday “Bearista” cup causes chaos online and in stores, selling out quickly and sparking fights.
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Resellers list cups for up to $500, while questionable dupes appear; Starbucks apologizes for frenzy.
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Critics claim brand fueled frenzy with manufactured scarcity, questioning if chaos was smart strategy or bad timing.
Starbucks’ new holiday “Bearista” cup has sparked chaos online and in stores, with videos showing fans lining up before dawn and even fighting over the limited-edition item. The 20 oz glass bear-shaped cup sold out within hours, leaving many frustrated as stores reportedly received only a handful each. As scarcity drove demand, resellers began listing cups for up to $500 on eBay and Facebook Marketplace, while questionable Amazon dupes quickly appeared, and disappeared.
Starbucks later apologized, saying the excitement “exceeded expectations,” but critics argue the brand intentionally fueled the frenzy. Many called it a textbook case of manufactured scarcity, where limited supply drives hype, FOMO, and free marketing. And with store closures and worker strikes in the background, some question whether this viral chaos was smart strategy or bad timing for the coffee giant.
