In response to Michael Thompson...

They can either lower their prices to that of their competing companies, or they could keep their prices and hope that they get a upper-class market to bring success to Starbucks in India. What do you think would be the best decision they could make to prosper in India?

In my opinion, Starbucks should start their business over in India off with competing prices with the other local coffee shops, this will lure the young and upper-class crowd in from the start. If it's their decision to mark their prices up to what they are in America then that is their choice and either loyal or addicted customers will pay the new price or those that notice the extreme increase will take their business elsewhere. 

Starbucks does serve delicious drinks and pastries but they are not any better than local coffee shops. Starbucks has an elite group of "regulars" and then others that go in to treat themselves or because it is convenient. It is way over priced for the size that you receive and if they charge those prices over in India where they are managing just fine without Starbucks now, I think they will have a hard time being competitive in that market.

Car Companies' getting a jump start on their Super Bowl Commercials...

You would think that commercials planned to air on Super Bowl Sunday would premier during the game right?  Guess that isn't the case any more, the most popular 2012 Super Bowl ads have already spread throughout the internet and have received millions of views on YouTube almost a week before the big game.  These informal views the companies don't pay a cent for versus reported rates for a 30-second clip during the Super Bowl run for about $3.5 million.

Now clearly if these companies are paying to play their commercial during the game then these little previews are not hurting the companies but helping. According to research, pre-releasing commercials actually increases interest in them when watching them during the game's commercial breaks. By either seeing them before and wanting to show them to others, or hearing about them before and then wanting to see it for yourself, you are stimulated to watch again and again. 

For those companies fortunate enough to air an add during the Super Bowl, do you think that the creativity and "flashiness" or the actual message sent to viewers is most important? And are these commercials sometimes overkill or are they appropriate?