A friend wrote in to point out an interesting feature of the Starbucks loyalty program:
Stars are earned per purchase. So, one could purchase X amount of the cheapest thing in the store (like a small chocolate for 0.50) and earn X stars. I think it’s 10 or 12 stars to get a freebie, etc.
I usually redeem my freebie for the absolute largest size drink possible, usually about a $5+ value, and have them pour it into two smaller cups.
That’s one angle. Another angle is to work promotions: in fact, right now Starbucks is offering double stars on every food item through Dec 18. They’ve also targeted promotions to rewards card members via email. In fact, the Starbucks loyalty marketing team has been very active this year, with the most infamous moment being a poorly executed campaign where anybody who signed up for the program got $5 added to their account.
I say “poorly executed” because Starbucks allowed people to signed up for multiple “new” accounts, and if this 886-page Slickdeals thread is to be believed some people scaled this up to the tune of thousands of dollars.
If you want to extract more value from your drinks, here are some tips from a former barista. If you want to maximize the value of your free drink after you’ve earned enough stars, this guy figured out how to order a $47 drink at Starbucks.
Love the barista’s suggestions. Really cute post there.
Although in my heart I like Peet’s best, I am on a first name basis with all the baristas at my neighborhood Starbuck’s. It really is a neighborhood place and while I am not there every day I am there 5-10 times a week. We get free refills all day, so I often pop in en route to wherever and then pop back in on the way home.
The best use of a free drink, to my mind, is to buy food. Many of the prepared meals qualify – I routinely get a free chicken-caesar salad when I earn enough stars!
Welcome back! How was Switzerland?
Switzerland? I wish! Maybe you have me confused with Matt? 🙂
Guilty as charged. I realized it as soon as I hit the “Comment” key and was hoping it might slip by you…. Happy Holidays!
Thanks Elaine, you too!
The Starbucks at my University charges $0.25 for an ice water. This makes each Starbucks drink $3.
Ha! That’s awesome.