Starbucks Rewards Program

[AustinIllini]

The best advice I ever got about coffee was in Seattle: "Never go to Starbucks"

There is almost certainly a local coffee shop near you which is as good or better.

 

[0388631]

The only coffee I'd recommend from Starbucks is the blonde. It's naturally sweet on its own. I usually check the roast date on them, too. It's a popular choice and whenever I've picked them up, they were stamped a few days ago. Other bags... a long time. This is only a last resort if my chosen roasters are out of what I like or want. This isn't a problem unless I'm lazy and get there after 11 AM on weekends, or past noon on weekdays.

If you think the majority of Starbucks is terrible, try Costas the next time you're in the UK. Pretty vile stuff!

 

[markhort]

The only coffee I'd recommend from Starbucks is the blonde. It's naturally sweet on its own. I usually check the roast date on them, too. It's a popular choice and whenever I've picked them up, they were stamped a few days ago. Other bags... a long time. This is only a last resort if my chosen roasters are out of what I like or want. This isn't a problem unless I'm lazy and get there after 11 AM on weekends, or past noon on weekdays.

If you think the majority of Starbucks is terrible, try Costas the next time you're in the UK. Pretty vile stuff!

Yeah I agree with Costa, horrible coffee, owned by Coca Cola now as well.. Cafe Nero is great, same there isn't that many of them about unless you're in London.
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That sounds similar to the original Starbucks rewards in the US from over 10 years ago. Except, I think it was 12 stars for a free drink.

They changed the reward program a few years back, and it has gotten worse with each change since.

The value of a star keeps decreasing.

I don't mind it as a reward program. I have one a day while at work, so every 3 weeks I get a free coffee. Gold and using a reusable cup bring the cost down. Although I really should have a better look at myself spending £60 a month on coffee.

 

[eyoungren]

That sounds similar to the original Starbucks rewards in the US from over 10 years ago. Except, I think it was 12 stars for a free drink.

They changed the reward program a few years back, and it has gotten worse with each change since.

The value of a star keeps decreasing.

Originally it was 15 in the US, then they changed it to 12.
[doublepost=1566138907][/doublepost]

The only coffee I'd recommend from Starbucks is the blonde. It's naturally sweet on its own. I usually check the roast date on them, too. It's a popular choice and whenever I've picked them up, they were stamped a few days ago. Other bags... a long time. This is only a last resort if my chosen roasters are out of what I like or want. This isn't a problem unless I'm lazy and get there after 11 AM on weekends, or past noon on weekdays.

If you think the majority of Starbucks is terrible, try Costas the next time you're in the UK. Pretty vile stuff!

I tried that once. As a dark roast fan, all I can say is…it's coffee. It's managed to hook otherwise reluctant customers into Starbucks I think but it's never going to be a blend we buy in this mainly dark roast family.
[doublepost=1566138994][/doublepost]

Yeah I agree with Costa, horrible coffee, owned by Coca Cola now as well.. Cafe Nero is great, same there isn't that many of them about unless you're in London.
[doublepost=1566123945][/doublepost]

I don't mind it as a reward program. I have one a day while at work, so every 3 weeks I get a free coffee. Gold and using a reusable cup bring the cost down. Although I really should have a better look at myself spending £60 a month on coffee.

You're fortunate. Apparently they have not revamped the program on your side of the pond.

It's a complete and utter atrocity on this side though.

 

[0388631]

I tried that once. As a dark roast fan, all I can say is…it's coffee. It's managed to hook otherwise reluctant customers into Starbucks I think but it's never going to be a blend we buy in this mainly dark roast family.

I'll sometimes blend it with a dark roast I've bought from the roasters. It's a little too sweet on its own and since it's light it's more acidic and it upsets my stomach and heartburn. I bought a bag a few months ago and drank most of it myself. It's indulgence and pain in one.

I tried their Costco special roast they do each winter. It flies off the shelf with it being roasted a few days prior. Once you gas it out it's fine. Tastes fresh and not burned. The aroma is something else, though.

 

[markhort]

Originally it was 15 in the US, then they changed it to 12.
[doublepost=1566138907][/doublepost]
I tried that once. As a dark roast fan, all I can say is…it's coffee. It's managed to hook otherwise reluctant customers into Starbucks I think but it's never going to be a blend we buy in this mainly dark roast family.
[doublepost=1566138994][/doublepost]
You're fortunate. Apparently they have not revamped the program on your side of the pond.

It's a complete and utter atrocity on this side though.

After reading this thread I'm also glad that they haven't tinkered with it over this side.

 

[willmtaylor]

Disregard.

 

[phillytim]

Here is the latest offer from the Starbucks rewards program:





View attachment 844840
It is a shame that the rewards program turned into this. I only go about once a week now to make actual purchases, and this is mostly due to the rewards program.

I wonder if I am the only one, or if there are others not liking the rewards program changes.

Hate to bring up an old thread like this, but I completely agree with you: the bonus star runs used to be better than this, and I also quit chasing them after the Rewards program change in May. Probably a good thing, since I really only buy Frappuccino drinks there; but the Rewards program has gotten tangibly worse.

Silver lining: I've lost 5 pounds since last year, probably due in part to curtailing my Starbucks visits to once a week (to make actual purchases like you), maybe twice a week on a rare occasion.

 

[MacNut]

The more expensive drinks you buy the quicker you accumulate stars since the stars now have a monitory value. So buy a drink worth $5.00 get 10 stars. If you buy a $2.00 coffee you won’t get as many.

 

[eyoungren]

The more expensive drinks you buy the quicker you accumulate stars since the stars now have a monitory value. So buy a drink worth $5.00 get 10 stars. If you buy a $2.00 coffee you won’t get as many.

And that is exactly how Starbucks devalued stars.

Before this, it was one star per visit. Which was BS anyway because everyone was asking Starbucks to make it one star per ITEM. So, many customers cheated (including me) and had the cashiers ring every item up as separate transactions.

Starbucks wouldn't budge, despite this kind of thing causing long lines. On their blog they tried to censor almost every comment about 'one star per item' while ignoring other comments about it.

Rather than giving the customer what they asked they switch to this and jacked up the amount of stars you needed for a free drink. Then they made your birthday drink only count for the day of your BD.

Now, every time me and my kids went to Starbucks I dropped about $25. That was three custom drinks, plus snacks. By a fourth or fifth visit (once per week on a weekend) I was able to get a free drink.

Now they are telling me that I will have to pay more. So, they lost my business.

Oh sure, someone who only ordered drip could have racked up a free drink quickly if it was one star per item, but just how many drip coffees can you drink in a short amount of time? Buying for others? OK, free drink quickly. But I don't know anyone constantly buying free drinks for people just to rack up stars.

No, they devalued stars and now they have devalued them even more.

 

[Juicy Box]

And that is exactly how Starbucks devalued stars.

This is true, and they were devalued a couple times now.

The more expensive drinks you buy the quicker you accumulate stars since the stars now have a monitory value. So buy a drink worth $5.00 get 10 stars. If you buy a $2.00 coffee you won’t get as many.

While your statement is correct, there was a devaluation of what the stars are worth.

It is really hard to do an exact comparison of the various reward programs due to the monetization of the stars, but I think if examples are given showing a typical coffee purchase for the different rewards programs, it would give a better understanding of why the new system really sucks for most people.

Since there are so many variables involved, I will just use the stars cost of a free coffee, and I will not include any of the bonus star earners that you have to purchase specific items to earn extra stars, nor stuff like double-star day.

To visualize the differences, I will make an educated guess at what the average low end($3), middle($4), and high end($5.50) prices of coffee at Starbucks:


Before Devaluation:

12 stars = free drink
12*3 = $36 spent for free drink over 12 purchases
12*4 = $48 spent for free drink over 12 purchases
12*5.5 = $66 spent for free drink over 12 purchases

Under this rewards system, it was pretty simple, a purchase is a star, there were methods to accumulate stars quicker, such as make separate purchases, but in the example above, I just stuck with a customer buying one cup of their favorite coffee.


Devaluation 1:

125 stars = free drink or $62.50 for free drink
62.50/3 = 20.83 or about 21 purchases
62.50/4 = 15.63 or about 16 purchases
62.50/5.5 = 11.36 or about 12 purchases

Under the first devaluation of stars, if a Starbucks customer spend less than $5.21 per drink or purchase, then the system utilizing 125 stars for a free drink would be less beneficial than the 12-star system.


Devaluation 2:
150 stars = free drink or $75 for a free drink

75/3 = 25 or 25 purchases
75/4 = 18.75 or about 19 purchases
75/5.5 = 13.64 or about 14 purchases

Under the second devaluation of stars, if a Starbucks customer spend less than $6.25 per drink or purchase, then the system utilizing 150 stars for a free drink would be less beneficial than the 12-star system. People paying around $3 for their coffee of choice is now buying double the amount of drinks for a free one than they did under the 12-star system.


The more Starbucks changes their reward system, the less beneficial the reward system is to the customer.

A side note, I may have over estimated average coffee prices. For example a venti brewed coffee is only $2.65. If I did overestimate, then the math would show that the newer systems are even worse than what was is depicted above.

As for a Venti brewed coffee, this would be about 29 drink purchases to get a free drink, compared to 12 of the old rewards program.

 

[eyoungren]

The more Starbucks changes their reward system, the less beneficial the reward system is to the customer.

Which is another knock on it. How many customers signing up for it today or in the recent past know the history? Of those who might, how many of them care?

So Starbucks loses a certain amount of customers (us) that they are willing to write off to gain more clueless customers that only see the new system and lots of options to win at it. It's a win/win for Starbucks and a lose/lose for us. Which is again, why they lost my business.

 

[phillytim]

Starbucks no longer gives any stars for filling out its surveys either; so I don’t fill them out anymore.

Scrooge’s!!!

 

[rhett7660]

I don't buy there regular coffee to begin with, but I do like some of their other offerings. The nitro cold brew with sweet cream is pretty darn good in my opinion. But, having said that, the new star system really does suck. While it was nice to get a free drink more often, I can see why they are doing it this way now, doesn't change my purchasing habits with them. The free drinks were nice and I still get them, just not as much.

 

[Juicy Box]

So, here is the latest Starbucks Rewards offer I got in my email today. I think this has been one of the worst ones yet.

I am curious with what is on the bottom of the email, "This offer is exclusively for".

Is this Star Dash just for me? or do others get the same exact one?

If you got a different one in your email, can you post the details?

I am curious if it is different than mine, if so, how? I am sure it can't be worse than the one I just received.

 

[MacNut]

View attachment 882409

So, here is the latest Starbucks Rewards offer I got in my email today. I think this has been one of the worst ones yet.

I am curious with what is on the bottom of the email, "This offer is exclusively for".

Is this Star Dash just for me? or do others get the same exact one?

If you got a different one in your email, can you post the details?

I am curious if it is different than mine, if so, how? I am sure it can't be worse than the one I just received.

I believe they tailor them to a persons orders. So something I might get a lot they send me an offer with those drinks in mind.

 

[esatamacmodular]

I also left after the 2016 devalue. Had the gold card. I also used to redeem codes from SBUX coffee I bought in store too. I still go to starbucks but no nearly as much and decided it was not worth it to even try for starts and such. Entering codes and tracking points just wasn't worth it anymore.

 

[eyoungren]

I also left after the 2016 devalue. Had the gold card. I also used to redeem codes from SBUX coffee I bought in store too. I still go to starbucks but no nearly as much and decided it was not worth it to even try for starts and such. Entering codes and tracking points just wasn't worth it anymore.

We were grateful to find these guys about three years ago. It's been our morning, everyday coffee now for quite some time. But finding them meant I could abandon buying Starbucks in the grocery store.

The bonus is that once my wife tried it she became an instant addict for it. That gave my anti-Starbucks bias a boost of authenticity.

 

[JayMysterio]

The best advice I ever got about coffee was in Seattle: "Never go to Starbucks"

There is almost certainly a local coffee shop near you which is as good or better.

I imagine that's true in Seattle.

Not so much in other places. Where I am, the Starbucks easily outnumber the local coffee shops 5 to 1, which means there is most definitely NOT a coffee shop anywhere near me. As opposed to the Starbucks that are also in grocery stores and malls.

The one shop I did patronize which was a drive for me to get, suddenly closed down without warning. Yet, I know there's always a Starbucks for now still standing somewhere. 😶

 

[phillytim]

View attachment 882409

So, here is the latest Starbucks Rewards offer I got in my email today. I think this has been one of the worst ones yet.

I am curious with what is on the bottom of the email, "This offer is exclusively for".

Is this Star Dash just for me? or do others get the same exact one?

If you got a different one in your email, can you post the details?

I am curious if it is different than mine, if so, how? I am sure it can't be worse than the one I just received.

Your offers are absolutely tailored for you, which can be either a bane or a boon.

I've joined with many others who have essentially quit chasing star dash offers, once Starbucks devalued the stars and rewards program early this year.

Just look at that - 3 purchases for 15 or 4 purchases for 30.

That is pittance and shows that Starbucks isn't even trying to entice you anymore.

Do most of you get most of your offers on Tuesdays? It seems my offers skip Mondays, when Startbucks knows is the day of the week when I buy regularly.

 

[MacNut]

Your offers are absolutely tailored for you, which can be either a bane or a boon.

I've joined with many others who have essentially quit chasing star dash offers, once Starbucks devalued the stars and rewards program early this year.

Just look at that - 3 purchases for 15 or 4 purchases for 30.

That is pittance and shows that Starbucks isn't even trying to entice you anymore.

Do most of you get most of your offers on Tuesdays? It seems my offers skip Mondays, when Startbucks knows is the day of the week when I buy regularly.

They run their offers from Tuesday - Monday.

 

[JayMysterio]

They run their offers from Tuesday - Monday.

Mine were Wednesday it seemed because that's the day I seem to frequent most. They even call it your day.

 

[MacNut]

Mine were Wednesday it seemed because that's the day I seem to frequent most. They even call it your day.

That’s the double star day. That’s different from the weekly star dash.

 

[Juicy Box]

They run their offers from Tuesday - Monday.

Mine were Wednesday it seemed because that's the day I seem to frequent most. They even call it your day.

That’s the double star day. That’s different from the weekly star dash.

Judging by your posts, I am pretty sure it is tailored to the rewards member.

My start dashes are usually on Thursdays, and my double star days have been Wednesdays.

EDIT: Going through old emails, it looks like double star days are mostly on Wednesdays, sometimes Mondays, and twice on Tuesday this past year, back in April and July.


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Your offers are absolutely tailored for you

I think this is correct.

It seems my offers skip Mondays, when Startbucks knows is the day of the week when I buy regularly.

Yeah, I have noticed similar situations, but the same day as the visit.

Like, I buy a Latte, and a few hours later, I get some type of start off if I make 3 or 4 latte purchases in the next few days, I get extra stars.

 

[Plett]

ohh yeah. Black coffee guy here, once they changed to dollars from transactions to earn stars my stars slowed considerably. I am sure it makes sense to their bottom line but I kinda gave them up after that. I am sure there are doing fine without me!