MyStarbucksRewards customers now have four days to redeem their free birthday reward. Starbucks gives you 4 days to use your free birthday MyStarbucksRewards Reward: You have the two days before you birthday, your birthday, and the one day after your birthday. (It used to be 7 days.)
It’s worth pointing this change out for one huge reason: If you are reading this, I don’t want you to miss out on using your free birthday reward at Starbucks! You might have it stuck in your head that you have longer than that: I don’t want you to miss out on your free My Starbucks Rewards birthday drink!
The last time I wrote about the Starbucks free birthday reward was on my birthday, May 17th. Other aspects of the birthday reward remain unchanged: Make sure you register a Starbucks card (that is you must join My Starbucks Rewards) at least 30 days before your birthday. You must maintain an active MyStarbucksRewards profile – if your card has not been used for a full 12 months as a form of payment, you might not get a MyStarbucksRewards birthday reward.
Once in a blue moon I still hear (or see on the Internet) confusion around this perk:
Are there still postcards for your free birthday reward? No. Starbucks does NOT mail out any postcards for their rewards. All of your rewards are digital. The very easiest way to track your rewards is with the Starbucks mobile phone app!
Can I walk in and ask for a birthday reward, just showing the Starbucks barista my identification? No! Please do not do this! It is possible that there will be partners who will give you a free drink to surprise and delight your day, but they are never required to do this, and you should never expect it. This is not how you’re supposed to get a free birthday drink. You are supposed to use the MyStarbucksRewards program!
I was able to confirm with Ms. Laurel Harper of Starbucks Media Relations department that the birthday reward did change to 4 days to use it. She said, “Yes, our birthday reward redemption time is 4 days now. Customers with a registered Starbucks card will receive their complimentary birthday reward email two days prior to their birthday and it expires the day after their birthday.” She explained to me the reasoning for the change: “The reason for the change is that these rewards are meant to be a true celebration of our customers’ birthdays. We absolutely want our customers to be aware of this and are updating our FAQs and Terms of Use.”
This change went into effect September 30, 2015.
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Frankly as someone that just celebrated their birthday on September 22, I was rushed to use this perk when I thought I had longer. Normally, I suppose it would not be a big deal but this time it was and I think they are making a mistake in changing this. Does it really hurt them to extend this reward?
From MSI on Wednesday 9/30/2015
http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/apex/ideaView?id=08750000000KQFjAAO
Need longer than 7 days to use birthday reward!
Hi, it’s Erin on the loyalty team. Our birthday rewards are meant to be a true celebration of you on your birthday and will expire the day after your birthday, but be sure to look for it a day or two before in your account! I hope you enjoy your favorite Starbucks drink on or near your birthday.
IMHO, the lamest response ever by an MSI Mod and an indication that Starbucks really doesn’t care anymore.
BTW, my birthday was on 9/21. Went to get my “birthday reward” on 9/22, it showed expired on the register. The SM manually “comped” my birthday beverage.
Is this and the recent 24 stars thing an indication that the rewards program is on its way out? Of course the folks in Starbucks PR/Media Department will have some nonsense explanation.
Sign me, Not A Happy Camper! 🙁
Why make it harder for customers to enjoy a free perk they’re extending to us as a celebration of our birthdays? Bad PR move and if this is leadership they need to rethink their business model. They messed with something that didn’t need tweaking.
@DadCooks – That is an interesting response by moderator. It doesn’t really say that the reward time has shrunk to 4 days. I’m so glad your Starbucks SM did the right thing for you. I worry a bit about it expiring “after” your birthday – the day after. Not sure what that means. If I ran to Starbucks at 9 PM at night the day after my birthday, would it still work? Or is it 6 AM the day after your birthday?
Dad Coooks happy birthday- we share birthdays so close together. I really hope customers respond to this new change as it just does not make any sense. Boo!
This is bad news for those of us who have birthdays around holidays. There is only 1 store where I live that is 15 minutes away. My birthday reward will be good during the holidays when it is most difficult to drive out to this store.
When I got my birthday reward last year it was good for 30 days, Christmas Eve was the expiration. My mom got hers in March for only 7 days. Not sure why the use window keeps getting shorter, I guess they want people to use it on or around their actual birthday.
I know what you mean, Kit. My birthday in 2016 is Thanksgiving Day. Harder to get to a Starbuckss on the holidays. I am fotunate enough to live and work close to Starbucks locations.
I have no doubt that this, along with a change to 24 stars is a way to reduce costs. I imagine those who do come in on their actual birthday are more likely to bring friends and family, as well as buy more.
Still, given the hours I’ve been working and that they run out of a lot of food come the afternoon I can’t imagine I would have been happy had I such a short time frame this year. I probably would have missed it, and then been upset. :/
Perhaps we should all create 12 different starbucks card accounts each with a different month for our birthday…especially if they’re going the 24 stars route…
😉
In other words, making changes like this and other changes to these kinds of programs only makes it more likely for people to try and “game” it.
Sign me, Same Campground as @DadCooks
Thank you for updating us, Melody. I’m similarly disappointed to see this change.
Most restaurants I receive birthday perks from are good around two weeks. I get them the week before my birthday and they expire the week after my birthday. This change from Starbucks is very disappointing.
“We absolutely want our customers to be aware of this” — Therefore we won’t be telling them this proactively, we’ll just let the baristas in the stores bear the brunt of the complaints from the customers because we didn’t tell them we changed this /again/.
@Melody – you are the link provided in this post on the Consumerist: http://consumerist.com/2015/10/05/starbucks-shrinks-redemption-time-for-birthday-reward-to-4-days/
Starbucks, get a clue! This is not how you keep customer loyalty.
Two thumbs up for Melody , four thumbs down for Starbucks
This is not true in my case. I just had a birthday 2 days ago on Oct 3rd and my birthday reward showing on my phone says that it expires on Oct 10th. That’s 7 days or within a week just as previously quoted.
I don’t think the heavy users here are the impetus for this MSR change. Most readers here are likely gold level, and extreme power consumers. As the birthday reward is available to all users, Welcome level and up (assuming you signed up 30 days prior to your birthday), this reward is more for the average MSR user. By pushing consumers to utilize their reward with a short expiration date, it makes the reward top of mind (vs. heavy users who earn rewards regularly, because they visit stores regularly!) and pushes the user to actually redeem the reward. I would offer that irregular users might be likely to forget about using their reward if it has a 30 day expiration, where they wouldn’t with a 4 day one.
I think it’s a very first world problem where we are sitting here complaining about a company giving us something for free. Just enjoy your gift!
Well, they’re certainly making it easier to cure my Starbucks addiction. Higher prices were a good enough reason; the shrinking reward period is yet another. My birthday falls right in an awkward zone; I probably will not be able to make it in within the four day window, so no reward for me. Yes, we’re complaining about something “free”, but seriously, the price of Starbucks? Should be buy one get one. Look up the corporate profits.
I complained about the change to Starbucks Customer Service and received a reply the next day. After the initial pleasantries, the customer service rep said this: “I apologize for the changes with the Birthday Reward. It is actually 10 days till it expires when (you) receive it on your birthday.” After that, she goes on to say my comments have been shared for review, blah, blah, blah. I emailed the rep back for clarification since her comments are totally different than the newly stated policy change.
@PatrickB –
Weird. What Customer Service told you doesn’t make sense to me. 10 days?? I found this, which also seems to confirm the 4 days:
http://customerservice.starbucks.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3454
So I was saving my Birthday reward to use today, day after my birthday as it was Expriring Oct 7th. Turns out expires Oct 7 means end of day Oct 6th. So I lost my reward. I have sent an inquiry regarding their expiration date as I would have figured that I would have until the end of day today to use it. Will be interesting to see what they say as their website (well canada anyway) still reports that Birthday rewards expire 30 days after.
@Melody: I know! I was very specific in my complaint which is that we live 35 miles from the nearest Starbucks, and we both work during the week which leaves only weekend days to visit a store. What happens when our birthdays fall on a Wed or Thurs (or apparently in the case of Nicholas, even a Friday)? We would lose our reward. I got the response which I typed verbatim save for the parenthetical you which the rep left out. I have printed a copy of the letter and will take it with me to the barista when the time comes. Meanwhile, I’m waiting for a second reply to my follow on query about which directive is correct: 4 days or 10 days? I will keep you updated.
@Melody and @Nicholas: Well, it would appear Customer Rep A gave me poor advice. Here’s the latest installment:
“Hello Patrick,
Thank you for getting back in touch with us.
I apologize for the confusion regarding the Birthday Reward, and I certainly understand your concern, considering your nearest store is 35 miles away. Effective September 30, 2015, Birthday Rewards coupon expiration date changed from 7 days to 4 days. The redemption time for your Birthday Reward is now 4 days so you can celebrate with your favorite Starbucks drink on or very close to your birthday. The Reward is added 2 days prior to your birthday and is active and available to be redeemed until midnight the day after your birthday. I hope this information is helpful in clearing up any confusion regarding the Birthday Reward.
Please know we value your customer loyalty and I hop you enjoy the rest of your day.
If you ever have any questions or concerns in the future, please visit us at customerservice.starbucks.com.
Sincerely,
LaPatrice B.
customer service”
My reply to her was a bit more pointed and indicated how poorly this news has been received. Cheers!
Weird change and timing. Gotta love their “positive” PR spin on it “a true celebration of the customer’s birthday.
Other businesses birthday discounts/free items usually last between 7-30 days.
How about Gold members get a week? They can spin it like “Become a gold member and enjoy your birthday reward longer” The old “Take something away and then bring it back later like its a good move” trick?
What if the actual birthday falls on one of two guaranteed days closed: Christmas and Easter Sunday?
It’s quite interesting to see how the customer service team assists different people.
I got my response and they were apologetic, advised of the new change then put a replacement reward on my account.
coming in late but agreeing 100% w @purple1, CD, Melody and DadC……
Really, this is ridiculous. And yes, it’s harder on the baristas too, for sure. CRAZZZZY,
ps (Hi you guys;)
PS this may be elsewhere and if so, sorry for the repeat.(and off topic!)
re the PSL, which I’ve never thought much of… this yr jut tried a “pumpkin spice flat white” and it was delicious! I’d say as a little sweet treat for me. I normally get a 4shot grande flat white when I get one but this pumpkin flat w. was just right as a tall.
Again, sorry out of place and off topic…
@Denise – Thank you for mentioning that! I’ve been meaning to write about the Pumpkin Spice Flat White test for a while now and still haven’t gotten around to it. Maybe I’ll be able to get an article up on that on Sunday or Monday.
Yeah the whole new four days to redeem the birthday reward sucks.. I missed using mine because we were driving from Saint John nb to Edmonton Alberta..as we have moved, a four day drive and honestly looking for a Starbucks was the last thing on my mind. When we got to our condo in Edmonton where there literally is a Starbucks on every corner I find out my birthday reward had expired.. Not fair.
Update to my earlier post: I’ve yet to hear back from Starbucks after the last reply from LaPatrice B. other than the computer-generated “someone will get back to you within 24 hours” meaning work day. Well, I didn’t hear anything Friday, and given they likely don’t work weekends or Columbus Day, perhaps I’ll hear something tomorrow. Yes, this is a very first world problem, and I’m well aware of that. Yet, so are minor car troubles, rude co-workers, parking spot assignments, bad cafeteria food, rotten movies, whether one’s grocery store carries enough organic foods, dandruff, pet or pollen allergies, too much testing in schools, football rivalries, incorrect fast food orders, slow internet or wi-fi downloads, and a plethora of other inconsistencies. Sometimes, though, it’s just healthy to rail against the “Man,” in this case the man being a major corporation that goes out of its way and spends tens of millions of dollars each year to promote a great image and corporate responsibility while nickel and dime-ing its customers to save a few measly bucks. Just human nature to complain, I guess. 😉
The new birthday rewards are a mess. My birthday was yesterday, October 12. My reward didn’t show up in my app until late on October 11. This morning, October 13 at 9:30 it’s already expired according to the app. In the reward history it says it says it started on October 11 and was valid through the 13th but that’s clearly not the case. I hope to get to a Starbucks today to see if they’ll honor it but I shouldn’t have to beg. Disappointed, for sure.
Update: I wrote to customer service and they replied quickly and said they had re-loaded a reward to my account. (It has not showed up yet.) More importantly however, they failed to acknowledge that my reward expired before it should have. They referenced the 4 day redemption window but did not address the fact that I only had a day to collect my reward. What I’ve also learned is that my iPhone app and the My Starbucks Reward webpage are not in agreement — the web thinks my reward is active but my app does not. It might just be a programming glitch.
Come on now, let’s not get silly and complain about a FREE drink because it may not fall into our convenient zone, daily commute or whatever. Make the time in your day (or 4 days) and enjoy a complimentary beverage on the Starbucks empire!! Free is good…don’t overthink it.
i just checked and my reward was expired, they should commute the changes to people before implementing it or else how would we know?
I was quite annoyed to find my birthday reward expired in just a few days without receiving notification from Starbucks at all. It all happened while I was in Paris where they don’t accept the card at all. So I had a good excuse for not using it. I just called customer service to reinstate the reward but took the opportunity to give them a piece of my mind about the changes to the program. They try to put a positive spin on it but it is definitely taking a lot of discretion away from the consumer. I was told they would give me the reward back as a “one time courtesy.” That got me because I didn’t see why this should be a one time thing. They changed the program for the worse without even telling anybody and I was abroad when the reward came in. I asked to speak to a supervisor and gave them my feedback about the changes. If people call and give feedback like mine it will be passed on. Or so I was told. The supervisor seemed to think maybe they had downsized the birthday program a little too drastically. I felt like telling them I bought my drink from them today as a one time courtesy too. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Starbucks! I’m a frequent Starbucks visitor as well as shareholder and I think this change is just plain wrong.
I only received 3 days for my bday reward. My bday is on the 24th, I received the reward the morning of the 23rd and it expires on the 25th. 🙁
They might give you four days but only notify you that it’s even available until the 2nd day.
I just found out about this today, as I’ve been waiting for my birthday reward on the app, and via email notification. Birthday is tomorrow, and I checked again today, and the reward finally appeared. I looked in my email inbox, and the notice that is supposed to be 2 days prior arrived at 3:29am this morning. I’m in Seattle, so time zone should be a non-issue. Was forced to use it tonight as I am heading out of town away from Starbucks.
I called customer service tonight, sharing my 3-point complaint:
1) I’ve had four prior years of getting one month to use my reward – the expectation was set. I was looking forward to it! Didn’t feel like a nice birthday surprise…
2) Since I was not proactively notified of the change, I had no idea until it arrived. And then had to dig around in the Starbucks website FAQs to find out the policy changed last month. Existing customers should have been notified.
3) It feels like they are trying to discourage people from using their birthday reward, and considering that a birthday reward is a promotional element of getting users to enroll in the rewards program in the first place… If they really wanted to celebrate our birthday with a free drink, they would be proactive about letting us know of the change.
While I am still thankful for the free drink, it is too much drama that could have been avoided with a heads-up.
@Melody I got here through Business Insider: http://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-birthday-rewards-new-expiration-2015-10
Got reward saturday, birthday sunday, EXPIRED MONDAY. Since I live over 20 miles from the nearest SBUX and do not make a special trip to town for coffee (Tues, Wed & Thurs are town days) … looks like no birthday treat for me …. gee thanks
Received notification the day prior to birthday and reward expired day after. Perhaps it was on there two days in advance, but I wouldn’t have known.
I went in two days after my birthday , star had expired!! Cashier told me it was just for the actual day of my birthday. Totally shitty new policy. Especially considering the obscene amount of money I spend there every year- there should be at least a week to use the birthday drink. I just don’t understand why it isn’t good for as long as a regular free drink star….
By the time I read the email about the birthday reward, the reward had expired. This change is ridiculous. Starbucks should be ashamed of themselves.
I’m sorry, I am grateful for the free drink as I love my Starbucks BUT this redemption time is NOT ‘a true celebration” for me. I have a routine to the little birthday tokens I receive from companys. I like to go at MY leisure, SIT WITHOUT MY KIDS & have my free coffee on MY free time. Now with this change I received it late yesterday, I have today to redeem it or lose it tomorrow. I HAVE THE KIDS, can’t go enjoy MY “true celebration” time Starbucks. Starbucks your definition of “a true celebration” & mine are different. You should of just kept it with the 7 days, that’s a little more realistic.
Its november 24. my birthday is the 26th and i have yet to receive any “birthday reward” this is ridiculous. On top of making it 4 days long now they’re going to skimp on an extra day? this is ridiculous.
I only had three days for my birthday reward. I did not receive the email until after 2 a.m. on the 22nd which was already the 23rd. Reward expired on the 25th which was today. I used it yesterday.
Never even got a chance to use my birthday reward, it was on thanksgiving. Live to far from a starbucks that does the reward. There is a starbucks in the next town over but was told they don’t do reward or something like that. Its thanksgivings, come on … have to spend time with family that I hardly see, then to drive 2.5 hours for my Starbuck reward. Last years I redeemed around this time, tried it again and was told no reward.
I received my birthday credit on Thursday, the 17th, the day before my birthday. Nearest Starbucks is 15 miles away so I planned to use it on the 19th, a Saturday. It was gone that morning even though it said expires in the 19th. I asked at the register when ordering about it and the girl comped my drink but couldn’t say why it disappeared. This supposed 4 days which was really 2 is disappointing. I usually take vacation the week after Christmas and make a few trips to Starbucks that week.
It definitely was a month before it was a week. I never even knew they’d shortened it to a week let alone 4 measly days. If they want to make sure people are aware, they’re doing a pretty bad job of it. The girl at the counter didn’t even know anything when I asked her why it had expired. If this was a priority, shouldn’t partners be informed. I was very very disappointed today. Happy birthday to me. 🙁 oh, and I never got an email notifying me that I had a birthday reward, either. Starbucks is just dropping the ball over and over on this.
It’s all about those BUCKS….
My birthday is in early January. I have Sbux and DD loyalty cards and spend a substantial amount on each.
Received DD email yesterday. Expires 4/4! Received SBux email today on the 6th. Expires on 1/9.
CEO Howard Schultz makes $150M a year for SBux, financed by our collective purchases, and cuts our birthday redemption down to a couple of days. I, for one, looked forward to my free coffees. Now I have to rush around to make sure I can redeem it.
Pathetic policy change. End result was simply to anger us. Maybe this shifts my purchasing habits.