NEED TO KNOW
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Starbucks released glass Bearista cups as part of its new holiday merchandise on Nov. 6, and they sold out quickly
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A TikTok user claimed that employees took all of the limited-edition cups from the Starbucks in their local Kroger before customers who waited outside could buy them
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A Starbucks spokesperson said demand for the Bearista cups “exceeded even our biggest expectations”
One person is claiming that employees at their local Starbucks kept the brand’s latest viral limited-edition holiday item for themselves.
On Thursday, Nov. 6, Indianapolis-based TikTok user @Cole.Insider claimed in a video that employees at their local Kroger store “took” all of the available stock of the new Glass Starbucks Bearista Cold Cup from the in-store Starbucks location before customers could buy them.
“Pov: we waited outside since 2:00 a.m. for the starbucks bear cup BUT the employees took them all before we could,” the user wrote over the TikTok video. They also shared footage of their experience arriving at the store early in hopes of snagging one of the viral cups, which resembles a honey bear container wearing a green, Starbucks-branded beanie.
The cup, which retails at just under $30 per Starbucks’ website, is one of several new holiday items the coffee chain introduced this year. It sold out quickly on Nov. 6, causing a nationwide frenzy.
Starbucks
Glass Starbucks Bearista Cold Cup
In their video, @Cole.Insider said they knew their chances of securing one of the Bearista cups were already slim because the Kroger location allegedly said they only had six of the cups in stock. They did not specify the specific Krogers location.
“So I already knew that I was in a little bit of a pickle, but I decided to wait it out,” said the user.
They arrived at their local Kroger store at around 2 a.m. and “got nervous” because there were already several other people waiting outside the doors. Footage shared by the user shows at least seven people waiting for the store to open.
After at least four hours in line, at 6 a.m., the waiting customers entered the store and headed for the in-store Starbucks location to secure the newly released cups, according to the TikTok. But, as @Cole.Insider claimed, employees were already checking out with the cups in hand.
“If you look there, you can already see employees — including Kroger employees — checking out the cups before we could even get them, after we waited in line for them,” the user said over footage allegedly showing the employees checking out with the cups.
“So I mean, I wasn’t that mad, but the people in front of me, they were pissed,” the user said. They also noted that the location had some of the other items Starbucks released ahead of the holidays, but said, “I was there for the bear cup and the bear cup only.”
PEOPLE has reached out to Kroger and Starbucks for comment.
Customers elsewhere also faced during their quest for the limited-edition bear glass on Thursday, according to The Wall Street Journal. One woman, Jeriana Ricciardi, told the outlet she witnessed an adult man “fighting” young girls for the collectible in New Jersey.
The viral cups are now being resold online with prices ranging from $170 to $1,050, PEOPLE previously reported.
Robert Alexander/Getty
A Starbucks sign (stock image)
In a previous statement to PEOPLE, a Starbucks spokesperson did not clarify how many Bearista cups the chain was stocking on average in each store, but did acknowledge how quickly the cups flew off of shelves.
“The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations and despite shipping more Bearista cups to coffeehouses than almost any other merchandise item this holiday season, the Bearista cup and some other items sold out fast,” Starbucks said. “We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused.”
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A Starbucks spokesperson declined to comment to The Wall Street Journal on whether the chain plans to release more of the popular Bearista cups, the said.
In a previous statement to PEOPLE, Starbucks did, however, maintain that fans can expect “more exciting merchandise coming this holiday season,” though the chain did not specify what exactly it would be.
Along with the new holiday merch, Starbucks 2025 Holiday Menu hit stores on Nov. 6, including the fan-favorite Sugar Cookie and Iced Gingerbread Chai.
Read the original article on People
