Usually those small local places are selling better coffee, and at a lower price. If you're buying from SB then first, you don't know shit about coffee, and second, you obviously don't care about price.

because those small businesses aren't a brand the customer associates themselves with.

people who brand shop often brand-identify, and their self-worth/image derives from purchasing the brand's products. they won't go to another place because that would mean they are a different person, they are a SB person, not a third party person, not dunkin donuts person, etc.

just because you don't think that way, doesn't mean there aren't millions and millions of folks who do. just like the fact you might not use face book, but there are 3 billion people using facebook.

My brain can't parse this, what is this supposed to mean?

I thought people are leaving the store, why would they think you're letting them in? Also what does the direction they're going have to do with anything?

You're completely right, I thought this post was about personalised pricing like different prices depending on location and data about customers. My bad.