What fun to get a coupon in the mail for 15% off merchandise at Starbucks! (Valid beginning November 16, 2010) Now that is the kind of perk I like. Thank you My Starbucks Rewards. For the record, my coupon will quickly be used on Christmas Blend whole bean coffee, the Huxley Mouse, and Christmas Blend Via Ready Brew.
For those of you reading this blog post and feeling confused, My Starbucks Rewards is the loyalty program that Starbucks has through their card. A customer simply needs to get a Starbucks card (meaning any gift card), load money on it, register the card, and use it to pay for purchases while at any participating Starbucks. You can use ANY card to be a part of My Starbucks Rewards. Many people have a confused belief that once you have reached the Gold card level, you’re required to switch and use that card. This is simply not true. There is no extra perk associated with that specific card.
Once a customer is at the “Gold” level of rewards, he or she starts receiving free drink coupons and other coupons in the mail. From my perspective, it’s nice to have a reward that offers a little variety, and that’s why I love getting the coupons like the 15% off coupon. Of course who doesn’t like a free drink, but variety is the spice of life. And a reward that is always a free drink coupon sort of loses its element of surprise and delight after a while. It stops being a surprise when you know what is coming in the mail.
On November 4, 2010, Starbucks announced fourth quarter earning results for fiscal 2010. I streamed the webcast of this at investor.starbucks.com. Interestingly, Howard Schultz provided listeners with some interesting trivia about the success of My Starbucks Rewards and the Starbucks card in general. (Thank you Howard Schultz. What perfect timing). Did you know that there are about 1,250,000 Gold My Starbucks Rewards level members, and the program is only about ten months old? (My Starbucks Rewards officially went live December 26, 2009). More than two million people have joined My Starbucks Rewards since its inception. During fiscal 2010, Starbucks customers loaded 1.5 billion dollars onto the @StarbucksCard, 20% greater than fiscal 2009! I thought those were all interesting facts!
So you too can be a part of My Starbucks Rewards. It’s easy to do. And you will soon be getting coupons just like the ones featured here! What would you use your 15% off coupon for?
(Want to win a $5.00 Starbucks gift Card? Be one of the first 10 people to leave a comment in this thread or any other StarbucksMelody.com thread AND to tweet this blog post with “@SbuxMel” somewhere in the tweet. Must have a United States address, be over the age of eighteen, and must strictly be one of the first 10 to comment and tweet this. Contest ends at 11 a.m. (PST) or when all gift cards have been given away, whichever is earlier.).
Thank you to Molly at Seattle Custom Framing for the help with the pics for this post.
This is an open thread. Feel free to talk about anything Starbucks related. Test products? Christmas merchandise? Via Ready Brew? MyStarbucksIdea? The new partner only community Starbucks site? Coffee? You name it…
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Dad Cooks very much liked your thread on baristas. I wish there was barista at my local SB with that kind of passion. I find them friendly, but they tend to more involve themselves with each other and conversation and once in a while will engage the customer but not like H. Nice to read. Thanks.
I also feel it is poor customer service on the part of SB to give the 15% coupon to a select few. I have not received it. Someone for sure has to sit Howard down and get him to go back to the original intent of SB. Aren’t customers the main reason SB stays in business?
Gads Denise I am really shocked that Starbucks would tell you that they have no intention of sending you a 15% off coupon. This is really not good business practice. As I said in my comment yesterday if they give this 15% off coupon to a few select registered card holders they should, to be fair, give them to EVERY registered card holder. I mean how stingy can Starbucks get? They still make 85% and it is only for a short time. I can understand why a reqular every day loyal customer like yourself would feel betrayed and would no longer be loyal to Starbucks. While I am not nearly as loyal to them as you are and after reading these comments by you and others, my opinion of Starbucks as a company that cares about their customers (such as doing away with the 10% discount for gold card holders and replacing it with a free drick after 15 separate transactions which is really no reward at all), which was not too good to begin with, has sunk to a new low.
And now I read Purple didn’t get one either. This makes me wonder just how many were left out. HOWARD THIS IS NOT GOOD CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND CERTAINLY NOT THE WAY TO RUN A COMPANY.
@gastarbucksgirl Thanks for checking in here! I would love to hear how partners are liking the new community site. Are many partners getting involved? It makes me sad to see the incredible failure of the Starbucks V2V site – And they really put a ton of work in trying to drive people to it, at least initially. V2V and MSI both were launched about the same time, and I really don’t think that either site flourished in a way consistent with what Starbucks’ vision for them was.
Melody I so agree that the MSI site has lost its way and floundered. Why hasn’t any of the moderators sat down and examined what has been happening with the site? I would rather come to your blog any day over MSI.
@purple1 @deniser @steve @dadcooks – The sheer numbers makes me wonder how expensive of a program MSR is to run. I wonder how much is spent on each card. For every person who is at the gold level to receive this card then maybe they’d be spending Maybe spending about $400,000 (thinking each card costs them about 25 cents) just on cards?? Probably worth it to send the overwheming majority of the 1,250,000 a 15% off card. I feel as though every single person participating in these comments should’ve gotten the card.
When all is said & done MSR is a completely expensive program. For as much as I think they should dump the program, I am still hurt that Starbucks essentially has ignored my plea that I have not received about 20 of my free drink cards. It’s like a broken promise to me and to its customers. I never received the printed free birthday drink coupon, and a SSC person hand mailed me a birthday card. That gesture was very appreciated, yet I feel like they think there’s no point in sending me the missing drink coupons. After all, if you know someone will be your customer anyways, why bother?
Melody your last comment really stood out. Isn’t it a shame that SB might feel well it doesn’t matter to give a customer the birthday card or free drink cards they deserve as part of the rewards program because they will be a customer anyway. If they truly feel this way, then I think they need to hire new people and really examine what they want out of the rewards program. And maybe you are right it needs to no longer exist. However, they started it and it would be difficult to disband without getting loyal customers very mad. So many other companies manage to provide rewards programs that tell the customer they are wanted and as a result you want to support that company. I really feel sad that a customer like you is ignored with regard to their birthday card and free drink cards.
@purple1 I received a hand written birthday card. I never got the pre printed one, even to this day. With respect to my birthday, Starbucks took care of me. My pleas that I am missing like 20 free drink coupons fall unnoticed. I guess it’s just too expensive to send like 20 coupons in an envelope to me. That part of all this makes me sad.
Somewhere there was discussion about whether Starbucks reads this blog… I seriously doubt that any executive is paying attention to anything on here. That, I think, is a function mostly of just not having enough time. Too little time, and my readership each month is still tiny in the big scheme of things. I do think that someone somewhere in PR must have the job to read this. The number of corporate people reading the content and comments is likely maybe just a couple of people, at best. Time is the major factor.
Okay, at Melody’s prompting I’ll mozy over here and say that the new partner-only site is quite nice. I like that I can access it at home, and they’ve really worked at making it “social”- status updates, messaging systems, profile pages, awesome search features, picture integration, etc. etc.
Now, I just need to give the partners in my district a little kick in the site’s direction so I can actually make it useful for us! 😀
I didn’t realize that when you said you got a hand written birthday card from SB that it included the free birthday drink and that is nice. Yes, I remember too many discussions on whether they read this blog. I really think it should not matter the number or size of this blog as to whether corporate looks at it but they should realize that the content and community of this blog needs a closer look by corporate only because I think the comments here are passionate and sincere and not in the same vein as those on MSI. I find the responses on MSI to not be as valuable as they once were even though moderators say they have implemented rewards based on MSI comments. I am sure on some level SB is looking at these blogs, but as has been said before what actions they take from them is a whole other story. I realize to them their time as they see it might be better spent in other areas than reading blogs. But, the bottom line still remains how they view the SB customer.
@Emma – Thank you!! i am happy to drive a little visibilty to the new partner site if I can!! I might even write more about it later. The V2V site itself was poorly thought out, the profile were inadequate, the store pages not well integrated into anything else (though I love the idea of an entire site of just store pages) and stores are and still are missing, and the url wasn’t intuitive enough. Even though there are no customers, I WANT the new site to be a success! Glad you like it. My job is just as an amplifier of messages. Help broadcast to partners that there is something new out there. And to all partners reading this… Look in this blog post for the url to the new Starbucks community site (partner only).
I find it odd that so many people seem to have not gotten the coupon. Why send it to random customers? If they were going to pick and choose, they should have set a spending cutoff, or at least used some logical method. My husband and I both received the discount cards, though our spending habits are vastly different. I use my card MUCH more because I’m stuck at work less. I often drop off coffee for him at work, and pay with my card. Even when I am working, there is a Starbucks about a block (as best as I can guess distance on campus) from me. I also spend a lot of time tutoring/meeting with my students off campus (since I have no office on campus). Starbucks is a handy place to meet, so my card gets used then.
I also often go to Panera, which has a less obvious reward system, but one that works better. I swipe my card when I make a purchase. I pay for my food in any form I choose. When my receipt prints (or the employees can look it up on their screen) I can see a list of my rewards I’ve earned. I’ve gotten food, drinks, pastries, etc. And I don’t have to wait for a coupon to arrive in the mail for any of it! I’d love to see Starbucks implement a program like this for their rewards. Swipe your card and see the earned rewards and choose whether to use them or save them. Can it really be any more expensive for them than sending out postcards?
How did you come up with $400,000.00 Melody. I figure that to send out 1,250,000 post cards at 25 cents each it would cost $312,500.00. Maybe you are figuring in printing cost. Nevertheless even if less than half of the 1,250,000 people receiving the card uses it it would be a really good deal for Starbucks. As for you not receiving you 20 missing drink coupons I really think that is pretty poor public relations of Starbucks, After all they published the rules and you followed them. You earned them fair and square and they should give them to you, just like I earned my light bulb fair and sqaure so the should give it back but that’s another story.
I didn’t realize these cards were mailed out selectively. I thought maybe a computer generated a random list of Gold rewards members to receive them. I look forward to getting a pound of Christmas Blend Espresso Roast to split with someone, and perhaps some Via or Starbucks Reserve coffees as well. I’ve never been a big fan of the Christmas merch, but surely some new coffees will pique my interest.
@CD no I have never heard of Montage, I am intrigued!
Wow I wandered off and slept for 14 hours and came back toa bajillion comments, great job everyone!
I had an interesting conversation this morning at my local SB with a regular that has become a friend. He said to me that the other day when he was saying hi to me at the register (and I was already sitting down) the baristas behind the counter got annoyed with him having a conversation while on line and said something to that effect. Today he said he was taken aback a bit and will no longer carry on a conversation while on line. The line at the time was not long and he was not holding up the line. I thought of the barista Dad Cooks mentioned in a recent thread and thought of the difference in how baristas approach customers.
@Amazonv – Montage is a triple blend by Tazo that, like Joy, contains green, black and oolong teas. I had hoped that they would bring that out to the Starbucks stores when they went full leaf, but I’m so thankful that Joy is coming back. BTW, any recommendations from Mad Pots? I’m going to be giving some personalitea gift certificates from there this year and am curious about their signature blends.
@CD I haven’t tried any of her public blends – i instead got a peronsal blend, and it was great fun – even the packaging was just for me! Sorry I don’t have any reccomendations to her other blends though 🙁
My blend: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/search/label/Mad%20Pots%20of%20Tea%20Company
@dadcooks and many others: I’m so saddened by how useless the recent wave of threads ay MSI has been. I’ve always said (I have a long post on it here somewhere) that you can’t just give the whole world a blank slate as a means to constructive guided conversation. For better or worse, many people need to have conversation that is themed: Today we discuss chocolate bars and tomorrow it might be (Red). I’ve had some bad connection problems from my work and there is a bug where you cannot comment on MSI From an ipad. I only want to say the odd recent wave of disconcerting threads hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Agree, and it’s really sad Melody. I will perhaps try to catch up here later today. Although, since I’m feeling good (and hope it lasts!) I need to try to get some things done today. So, we’ll see. thanks for being a positive haven! We appreciate that!
@Melody (and denise r, etc.): The problem with MSI as I see it, is that you and I care more about it than Starbucks does. MSI serves its purpose for Starbucks. It gives the appearance of listening to customers and is something that the company can reference if/when it suits their needs. It is not, however, the “community” that we would all like it to be.
I stopped posting (Since92) on MSI quite some time ago. StarbucksMelody.com is my new Starbucks community. I come here for great conversation with engaged and passionate fans of the Starbucks experience. It’s a positive place, and has remained so since day one.
So what’s the difference? The difference is intention. Melody intends to make this website an informative and positive place to “meet over Starbucks.” Starbucks, the company, does not share that same intention about MSI, no matter how much we’d like it to.
Knowing how Einstein labeled doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, I’ve moved on from MSI to StarbucksMelody.com and I haven’t looked back.
I do not expect the tiger known as MSI (or HS or SBUX) to change its stripes. I also applaud you Melody for having such great intentions for this website and for following through and building such a great global community.
Thank you.
I so agree that MSI has lost its luster and objective. I too feel that they do not care anymore and the community on it is not the same. I too see your site Melody as the to go place for starbucks info, starbucks community and starbucks spirit. If you don’t already know Melody, this blog promotes SB more than MSI. Thanks.
Ahhh my work computer is fixed this morning! I need to be quick but I see that in the past day many of the problem threads and posts at MSI have now been deleted. It looks sort of normal again.
@CD – I like your description of MSI as a “tiger”. Starbucks has tried to put a tiger on a leash, and given it to Cecile to control. She needs more back up help. There is evidence to suggest that MSI is mostly for show – so they can say, ‘look we listen to our customers’ – They do little to promote the site any more. They do not have enough moderators. There is almost no moderation from anyone in a position of power to make significant changes.
They created a blank slate for anyone to write anything. It’s like having a wall that will get some graffiti some times. That has to be wiped out immediately. They need A LOT of moderation. Cecile has great intentions I have no doubt. Some of the people who were passionate about MSI are no longer at Starbucks.
I still have quite a soft spot for it though. It’s a pretty tiger! This blog is easier to manage. It’s more like having a puppy that has to be fed, loved, and cared for regularly. It’s no tiger.
Melody I really liked your descripition of MSI mostly for show because that is what it has become and I also like your descripition of graffiti because that is exactally what certain people that everyone knows and there seems to be more popping up every day write on it with their meaningless comments, either that or it’s the same people with different accounts trying to get on the useless leader board that I am afraid will stay around like a bad penny.
I agree it’s all a facade to keep people happy. But here’s the flip side-if every newbie is intimidated by the bullies who are there, or the site turns the starbuck’s name into a joke, it’s not serving it’s purpose.
by the way, it’s not cleaned up. People just wait for the evening. It’s a train wreck.
I think it’s just very disappointing because I know when I drop in on MSI every now and then, I do find some genuinely good ideas. But many of them are ripped apart by rude people with nothing better to do but sit on the other side of their computer and be basically nothing more than anonymous bullies. It’s a deterrent to anyone thinking about posting an idea, as well. I know I’ve thought of it before but decided against it because I just don’t feel like dealing with mean-spirited people out to make others look or feel stupid.
More moderation would definitely help, but any situation in which you allow people to say anything they want will attract those kind of scummy people. That’s actually why I have comment moderation up on my own blog. Sure, people can still say anything they want, but I have the power to trash those comments before they ever see the light of day, so to speak. Some comments have hurt my feelings, but at least those people don’t get the satisfaction of having their comments start up fights or arguments or anything like that. Those kind of people want the reaction. I don’t think they actually care about ‘sharing their opinion’. So by deleting it before anyone but myself can see it, they don’t get to win. And they likely won’t come back and try to do it again since nothing came of it the first time.
Wow. Super long comment. Sorry about that! HA.
Also, I’m beginning to suspect that not all Gold members got that 15% card. Either that or mine got lost. Sad day!
You got that exactlly right Pencil to Paper MSI is definately not the same it once was which is pretty sad. And it is pretty bad business not to give every gold card holder or member the 15% off coupon. Of course, just like printing FREE DRINK in big blod capital letters on the addres side of free drink coupons, printing 15% OFF in the same big bold letters is quite a temptation for anyone.
@penciltopaper You got it. Bullies big time. I’m assuming your blog is linked in your name? I’m gonna go check it out!
Now that i’ve read comments:
re (RED). Starbucks and RED’s partnership was up at the end of 2010, but has been extended to 2011 it would seem (8 years, no)
@Dadcooks awesome story 🙂
@purple legendary does still exists. I think it really comes down to management, but that’s my personal opinion. Management sets the tone for the store. I’m blessed beyond belief to work in a store where legendary is standard.
Please everyone KNOW this, and don’t blame the postal system: I was told staright from the horses mouth: not everyone in gold rewards got the 15% coupon…..but no one explained what that (bad, imo) decision was based on. certainly, from what I have seen, it was NOT based on spending.
I sort of expected that not every gold card holder got that 15% off coupon and I agree with you that it is a very bad and unwise business decision and not based on logic. After all Denise it is not that Starbucks stood to lose money on the deal because they were still making 85% and it was only for a limited time, 2 weeks I think. And if they gave one to every gold card holder it would, I feel, be good public relations for Starbucks. Now that not every gold card holder got it it’s not to good public relations and, in my opinion, not the way to run a big company. At least not the way I wouyld run it.
CABarista—Yes! My blog is linked. Thanks for checking it out! I hope you enjoy. 😀
Also, it’s disappointing that not all Gold members got the coupon. I definitely would have used it. And appreciated it. Ha!
I have to say today the day after thanksgiving a barista in my local store made my day and I thank him. My daughter and her boyfriend came in and he said how much he enjoys having me as a customer and he would be unhappy if I ever went to another store! Thank you Louis. Need more baristas like you that interact with customers and make them feel welcomed.
Okay have to check with everyone…
I was so pleased to get the oatmeal coupon today in the mail, but I thought I read somewhere that there was a coupon floating around earlier in January for a skinny latte? Was the oatmeal the first rewards offer this year so far? Or was there something that came earlier in January?
@Hayley – You’re too fast. I am literally writing a blog post on the oatmeal coupon right at this very moment. I decided I didn’t want to wait since it looks like lots of people now have the coupon, so I wanted to get a post up about the oatmeal coupon by tomorrow morning. Come back tomorrow too!
will do!