Starbucks' Snoopy Cup Release Sparks Early-Morning Lines and Fan Frustration
Customers angry after Starbucks' limited-edition Snoopy cup sold out quickly, prompting 4 a.m. queues and complaints about scarce stock.
The coffee chain launched a collaboration with the Peanuts franchise, offering ten collectible items such as a 16-oz tumbler, a mini tote and a $39.95 20-oz Snoopy cold cup. Demand far outstripped supply, leaving many customers empty-handed after queuing before 4 a.m. and enduring long lines inside stores. Posts on X highlighted the difficulty of obtaining the cup, with some describing the stores as “war zones” and accusing Starbucks of forcing fans into extreme measures.
Reserve-level rewards members also reported website outages and lack of inventory. The incident echoes a previous backlash over the “Bearista” cup, for which Starbucks previously apologized after rapid sell-out.
Why it matters
The episode shows how limited-edition releases can trigger consumer backlash and highlight supply-chain challenges for major brands.
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