Don't Freak Out, But Starbucks Is Running Out Of Pumpkin Spice Lattes

You know that it's a problem if the Wall Street Journal is reporting on it — Starbucks is running out of pumpkin spice lattes. And Starbucks fans everywhere are pissed. 

Because Starbucks has trumped up fall as the pumpkin spice latte season, more and more locations are running out of the pumpkin spice syrup responsible for the sugary, nutmeg-y goodness. And people are taking out their frustrations about being denied a PSL. Some of the choice tweets and quotes from angry customers are well, dramatic: 

"I just left, depressed." — Asher Anidjar

"My world almost ended this morning when the local Starbucks told me they were out of Pumpkin Spice Latte." — Tweet from Jason Sizemore

And it's not just the shortage of syrup that's causing problems. Stores are even running out of Via pre-packaged pumpkin coffee blend; inevitably, boxes of the Via product are ending up on eBay and selling for twice as much. (A black market for pumpkin spice lattes?!) 

Of course, this is hurting Starbucks baristas as well; many are frustrated with infrequent deliveries of the pumpkin goodness, plus the fact that it's their unfortunate job to inform angry customers that they're out. The WSJ notes the blog StarbucksGossip.com is filled with angry complaints from baristas around the country. Said Jim Romenesko, the media reporter behind StarbucksGossip.com, "It looks like it's well stocked in Howard Schultz [the CEO] land ... It's so he doesn't see empty shelves and get upset, and his friends don't complain to him." This is a much bigger problem than just the shortage of pumpkin spice lattes — what else will people Instagram to show that it's fall?