Finally, Starbucks creates simpler rewards card

I have the Starbucks Gold Card now...and I'm actually really upset that they have gotten rid of that program. For people who are in Starbucks daily it's very worth it. It wasn't just 10% off coffee, it was 10% off just about anything you could buy there. And I made up the cost of the $25 in about a month. I would be totally happy to pay the $25 again to save my 10% another year. Who cares about getting free syrups? I know I don't. And I know by the time I would get to my "free 15th drink" that I probably would have already saved enough with my 10% to have paid for it...possibly close to twice. I'm glad I'll already be a "gold member" but I would really rather have the 10% off than certain perks.

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I have been getting a free Tall Coffee of the Day every time I purchase a pound of beans with my regular Starbucks card and now I must buy 5 to qualify for this reward so this is actually a downgrading of the program for me.

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I don't shop at starbucks cause their drinks suck and their coffee is over rated. Most other coffee shops serve much better coffee and sell much better and higher quality products at a lower price

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I as well have the Gold Card with annual fee and 10% off. I will have saved just on my coffe alone $65.70 last year. I often purchase other people coffee's and food as well so I have probably saved four times that amount with total purchases. They should allow us to keep the old program, as that is why we signed up for it.

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I agree with RaVeN, I stop every day and buy the more expensive latte's which saves me $0.42 per cup, plus I often take friends or relatives, so my savings jump to $1 or more each purchase. Now I will have to use my card 15 times, not to be confused with 15 drinks to get 1 free drink. So I have calculated, it will cost me an extra $100 per year at least. So this "new" rewards program will force me to actually try McDonalds. I am always amazed when big business promotes this great plan for their best customers which actually costs us more in the end.
Way to go Starbucks, treat us like idiots...

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Being a Starbucks partner (I work for Starbucks) I know for a fact that there were people getting shafted when they bought the Gold card. Depending on what you drink, sometimes a registered Starbuck Card would give the customer the better discount. The rewards being combined was a result of customer complaint, yes, but also a result of barista complaint, on behalf of YOU the customer. Trust me. You will get much better deals and this program will be much easier to use than what you might have had to deal with before. And seriously, if you are that regular of a customer, your baristas will take care of you. I know I do. So take it from someone who has seen all of the great and not-so-great Starbucks ideas over the last three years, this program is a winner :D

Happy Coffee-Drinking,
Tiffany
(triple tall peppermint with cream and cinnamon powder Americano) see our drinks are just as crazy as yours ;)

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So Sbux still wants you to pay for the internet service in one way or the other! LMAO! You people who like Sbux are so stupid!
Hasting's Hardback Cafe(located in your local Hasting's Entertainment store) offers FREE internet service! FREE! No charge! Don't have to buy a drink (although courteous people will purchase something!) or anything! They have books and magazines for research or just pure enjoyment! They offer a selection of pies, cakes, sandwiches, pastries, etc. And these are usually purchased from a local bakery/shop and are a lot more fresher than Sbux who receive their's on a truck that are frozen! But you go ahead and continue to keep your "staus symbol" of stupidity and purchase those high dollar burnt coffees! Oh, did I mention, Hasting's Hardback Cafe is usually 5-20% cheaper also! And the coffees taste more like...well, coffee, not burned, but smooth! :)

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And think about this, if they can offer you that much discount and still be making tons of profit, how much are you getting for your money's worth?! Piss your money away! LMAO! You people don't understand business do you!? LOL!!!!!!

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I just buy beans there.

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Well, it may not be worth me keeping my Barnes & Noble membership at $25. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

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I'm a Gold Card member. I think this new rewards program will not benefit me. My gold card paid for itself in the first month -- and I am probably costing SBUX too much money!

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I typically buy drinks for four or five people at least once a day, and usually twice a day. In order to get the appropriate number of free drinks, I will now need to pay for each person's drink as a separate transaction, since the new program accumulates "stars" based on each transaction, not each drink purchased.

Also, each purchase must be paid for with money on the card. So the first transaction each visit - to maximize my own use of funds - I will be reloading the card with the cash to cover that trips purchases.

I understand the company wants people to leave money on the gift cards so that the funds can be utilized by Starbucks until the customer uses the funds on a purchase, but I can only imagine how much more money in barista payroll and register wear-and-tear this will cost the company.

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In 10 years this will be presented in business schools as case studies on what NOT to do.
- Do not provide an incentive to your most loyal customers and then penalize them by "upgrading" them to a no-benefit program.
- Do not force customers to pay with their own card in order to get a negligible benefit (1/15th of a drink PER transaction only if you use their card).
- Do not piss off your most loyal customers.
- Unhappy customers will vote with their feet and their wallets to the Coffee Shop down the street.

Starbucks is an overpriced brand, but I felt I was getting the value I wanted from it. Not anymore. Good bye venti lattes hello Pitt's coffee.

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