The reluctance on the part of coffee retailers such as Starbucks to carry more Fair Trade coffee may be partially explained by the readiness and willingness of consumers to pay more. Since the Fair Trade coffee is more expensive to purchase, some (or most) of the cost is usually passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices. For example, a pound of “house blend” retails for approximately $ 10 in Starbucks stores. The price of a Fair Trade blend is approximately $ 11.45. While the company could use much more Fair Trade coffee, prices would have to be raised, and price-conscious consumers could simply purchase coffee from competing retailers. Alternatively, Starbucks could “absorb” some of the higher costs, leading to a reduction in profit.