{"id":1912,"date":"2016-05-24T08:02:23","date_gmt":"2016-05-24T15:02:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/?p=1912"},"modified":"2016-05-24T08:02:23","modified_gmt":"2016-05-24T15:02:23","slug":"people-are-pissed-about-starbucks-new-rewards-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/?p=1912","title":{"rendered":"People Are Pissed About Starbucks’ New Rewards Program"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I remember a joke from a stand-up comedian lamenting how Americans get entitled to something quickly, even if they didn’t have it before. \u00a0His example was a guy who sat next to him on a plane when the stewardess announced they had FREE wi-fi available on the flight (which was new at the time.) \u00a0The guy logs in, starts working, and when the wi-fi freezes for a second, blurts out “Are you kidding me?” \u00a0 \u00a0So in other words, he was already complaining about losing something he didn’t have 5 minutes ago.<\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 So in a similar vein, we have a bunch of people whining on Twitter about how Starbucks award program has changed. \u00a0When they started it out, you could earn points just by going to a Starbucks, without even buying something. \u00a0Originally I’m sure SB thought that if they just got people in the store, they would buy stuff. \u00a0Unfortunately, they underestimated Americans resolve in taking advantage of systems to get things for free, and they undoubtedly had people walking in and out of the store (or sitting there taking up tables without buying anything) and there was not much of an increase in sales, just an increase in free coffee being given out.<\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 So now they change it to a more logical system (you get points if you actually BUY something!) and everyone complains. \u00a0I especially love the last one, where they complain that they have to spend $62 to get a free coffee worth $4.00. \u00a0 That’s an award of about 6% of what you spent. \u00a0 I have news for you, at CVS you only get 2% on their Extra Bucks reward program, and probably the most generous program is Target’s Red Card which gives you a 5% discount. \u00a0 So take your free coffee every 2 weeks and quit your whining!<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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\u00a0 \u00a0 The only thing people love more than Starbucks coffee<\/a> is free Starbucks coffee. And there are typically two ways to get free coffee: steal it (which is frowned upon), or earn it viaStarbucks Rewards<\/a>, an app\/card which, umm, rewards loyal customers with free drinks and food. But the Starbucks Rewards program changed in a huge way, and angry loyalists are taking to Twitter to voice their dissatisfaction.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\u00a0How the rewards program has changed<\/em><\/h1>\n<\/section>\n
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\u00a0 \u00a0It used to work like this: you’d be rewarded with a star every time you visited your local shop. It didn’t matter how much money you spent per visit, they only gave you credit for visiting — so in that way, Starbucks was like your mom. She just wanted to see you. Why don’t you visit her as much anymore?<\/em><\/p>\n

Each visit was worth one star. After 12 visits\/stars, you’d get a free reward (coffee! Food!<\/a>), and after 30 visits\/stars, you’d get Gold status. That meant you could get free refills in the store. That was the only real perk. But Americans seemingly spend more time at Starbucks than they do in their own homes (or visiting their mothers), so that’s a valuable reward!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 As of today, things have changed. You’re awarded two stars for every $1 spent. It takes300 stars to hit that fancy Gold level, though if you use the app\/card to make a purchase between now and May 2nd, you’ll be Gold for a year. And it takes 125 stars — as in, you must spend $62.50 — to get a free coffee or food item. Instead of rewarding you for visiting frequently, Starbucks’ new program incentivizes customers based on how much money you spend. And people on Twitter are not happy. Here’s what folks had to say.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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One guy wants a scapegoat<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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Follow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/span>James G. Williamson<\/span> \u200e@wi33447957<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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@<\/span>starbucksgold<\/span><\/a> @<\/span>kmariewhite<\/span><\/a>
\nCan I have the name of the person who came up with this plan ?<\/p>\n

7:25 AM – 12 Apr 2016<\/a><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Your phone is useless now<\/h2>\n
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Follow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/span>Bruce Tennant<\/span> \u200e@beeteebeach<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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@<\/span>starbucksgold<\/span><\/a> @<\/span>kmariewhite<\/span><\/a> It’s more money for less rewards any way you try to promote it. I’ll go back to cash payments.<\/p>\n

7:38 AM – 12 Apr 2016<\/a><\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Like breaking up with your girlfriend and dating her enemy<\/h2>\n
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View image on Twitter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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\"View<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
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Follow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/span>Ray Hoffmann<\/span> \u200e@Raynews21<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I’m celebrating the first day of the @<\/span>starbucksgold<\/span><\/a> rewards program! #<\/span>StarbucksRewards<\/span><\/a> @<\/span>Starbucks<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

6:49 AM – 12 Apr 2016<\/a><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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So much pain in so few words<\/h2>\n
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Follow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/span>Duna Sherdo<\/span> \u200e@DunaSherdo<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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@<\/span>starbucksgold<\/span><\/a> what have you done<\/p>\n

9:16 AM – 12 Apr 2016<\/a><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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TWO drinks?! Now they’ve gone too far.<\/h2>\n
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Follow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/span>Vee Ann<\/span> \u200e@alteredandtorn<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I already expected the new Starbucks Rewards to be bad, but to lose TWO free drinks today due to this change really added insult to injury.<\/p>\n

8:58 AM – 12 Apr 2016<\/a><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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@PrincessKabash came up with a better headline to this story<\/h2>\n
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Follow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/span>ethereal<\/span> \u200e@PrincessKabash<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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@<\/span>starbucksgold<\/span><\/a> y’all fucked up<\/p>\n

8:52 AM – 12 Apr 2016<\/a><\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Good news: it’s only $62.50!<\/h2>\n
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Follow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/span>Devashis Roy<\/span> \u200e@imdroy<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Wow this is amazing. Now I ONLY have to spend $63 to get a free coffee @<\/span>Starbucks<\/span><\/a>. #<\/span>sarcasm<\/span><\/a> No thanks @<\/span>StarbucksGold<\/span><\/a> bring back old program!<\/p>\n

8:51 AM – 12 Apr 2016<\/a><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Finally, someone puts this in an appropriate historical context<\/h2>\n
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Follow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"\"<\/span>Chris Ziegler<\/span> <\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2714<\/b><\/span>\u200e@zpower<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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a day that will live in infamy: starbucks rewards-pocalypse day<\/p>\n

7:07 AM – 12 Apr 2016<\/a><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Ignorance (with regards to how much you spend at Starbucks) is bliss<\/h2>\n
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Follow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/span>C.<\/span> \u200e@reccless_<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I hate the new Starbucks rewards set up because now I know how much money I’ve spent. I never need to know that. My life was happier<\/p>\n

7:05 AM – 12 Apr 2016<\/a><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I don’t want to be the one who tells her it’s $62.50<\/h2>\n
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Follow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/span>Karla Corona<\/span> \u200e@KarlaPotterWho<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Great! The new Starbucks rewards program has commenced! Now I have to spend 62 dollars to get a five dollar drink for free! YAY!<\/p>\n

8:28 AM – 12 Apr 2016<\/a><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Finally, a Starbucks fan who can do math!<\/h2>\n
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Follow<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/span>Jason Smallheer<\/span> \u200e@jsmallheer<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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@<\/span>Starbucks<\/span><\/a> new Rewards Program. THUMBS DOWN!
\n125 stars (2 stars per dollar spent) = free drink or food? Spend $62.50 get a $4 drink?<\/p>\n

12:33 PM – 12 Apr 2016<\/a><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I remember a joke from a stand-up comedian lamenting how Americans get entitled to something quickly, even if they didn’t have it before. \u00a0His example was a guy who sat next to him on a plane when the stewardess announced they had FREE wi-fi available on the flight (which was Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-retail-companies"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1912"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1936,"href":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1912\/revisions\/1936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/re-tales.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}