Starbucks will soon be offering a new stainless steel card. It’s available beginning this Friday, and will be sold exclusively by Gilt.com. There is only 1,000 of these cards, so they’ll be gone super fast. I can’t even imagine that I’ll be lucky enough to get one!
Some readers may recall that last year Starbucks had a similar offering, producing 5,000 steel cards available via Gilt.com. Just like last year, the stainless steel card retails for $450.00, and comes with a $400 balance pre-loaded on the card. Also, once the card is registered, a Gold-level MyStarbucksRewards membership is unlocked. Obviously, it’s a pretty incredible item for the serious Starbucks card collector or enthusiast!
The official Starbucks.com newsroom article on this steel card is here.
If you want to browse through previous articles about Starbucks Card, click through here.
So who’s going to try and get one? I think I will try but the truth is, since there is only 1,000 of them the odds are against me that I’ll be successful.
(Open thread – talk about anything Starbucks related).
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Dad Cooks your comment re your 15+ year regular at your SB store brings up a point to me that I often think about. As things change at the corporate level and store level, I often wonder why on a regional level the SM of a store or the DM does not conduct focus groups with customers either at the store or the regional office. Customers like you and others would certainly be an asset to SB. I once asked both the SM and the DM about doing focus groups or meeting with regulars and they only sort of laughed and I could see it was not a practical idea in their minds.
@purple1 – it takes a well trained person to run and analyze the results of a focus group. Obviously Starbucks does not think that they ought to do focus groups. IMHO they are only looking at Social Networks like Facebook, Twitter, and MSI. This gives a very shallow and skewed view.
Several years ago my regular Starbucks actually had a manager that would come out and talk to the regulars (throughout the day). It was no wonder that she always exceeded her goals in all areas, she always earned a top bonus. When she left to go into her own catering business, she had taught her replacement to value the regulars comments and guidance. However, instead of active listening she became a one-way talker. The store has not met goals and she and 2 follow on managers have not received bonuses. During this time since the “good” manager there have been 3 DMs, only one of which introduced himself and all were not really interested in the experience of the regulars.
The sad news is that my Rose-metal card hasn’t arrived even though Gilt.com says it has shipped. 🙁 It looks like it’s been pilfered!
Dad Cooks you hit it right on the nail. I consider myself one of the regulars at my local store and feel I have a good relationship with both the SM and DM and yet when I am in discussions with them about anything SB related both good and bad I feel like I sometimes am talking to someone that is not really paying attention. Sometimes, it annoys me. But, your last sentence is so true- they are not interested in the experience of the regulars!
Melody what did Gilt say? Have you contacted SB or is Gilt trying to track it for you?
Melody! I hope you get your card! I was sad when another commented on the poor shipping condition! You deserve your card! Keep us posted. We want official pictures when it arrives!
@Sharon Lovoy and Purple1 – I’ve been able to confirm that my rose metal card is still on its way to me. Should be arriving today! I think all is well, but will post again if there’s a new development.
@Melody – I am really hoping that your card arrives and am looking forward to some pictures.
I agree with the comments by DadCooks and purple1 about SM’s and DM’s need to engage with their customers, but I too doubt most of our opinions are that important. I look at msi now, and think it is now rather moot regardless how certain things should be considered. So I made a decision to stay away. I hope I can keep it that way.
@Denise…..You can have all my snow back! 😉
I have to say, I’ve been lucky to have dm’s who do engage, pretty much, with the customers.
Back in 2008, we had one who came and did a cupping! (rare in these local neighborhood stores) and also brought me 3 bags of sun-dried Ethiopia Yergacheffe (my LOVE in life!!!). That was…now I’ve blanked on her name, maybe Rachael, or Rachael arranged it and the dm’s name was…? can’t remember. Then we had Christine, whom I love and saw her frequently….in fact just ran into her at Streets a couple wks ago, she was at a meeting. (She had the P.R. store for a while, too…@ Chgo) Now we have Amy, who is very ‘present’ and engaging. Maybe some of this is me, maybe a lot of it is me but at least all these 3 I’ve known recently have been responsive! I think a lot of the responsibility is on us, the customer. (assuming the dm is around). I am engaged with them because I’m interested or because something went wrong or right. I get the feeling that an average Sbux customer doesn’t really care so much, as long as they get their drink, or whatever they’re getting.
“my two cents”.
and yes @Chgo, I would love all your snow! have been out x-country skiing every day, the last four. Hoping for no rain in this ‘warm up’ and more snow, eventually!
Melody hear there is snow in Seattle! Happy holidays to everyone. Has anyone received their email about how to redeem the 30 stars for the get 25 drinks promotion by dec. 25? Just one more comment re the long lines at my local SB- please please SB do something to reduce the lines! Not only can it be annoying but if the store is not too big, the long lines become a problem.
@purple1 – I’ve been waiting for over a week for the email, since I made the 25 rather quickly. I believe Denise made a similar comment elsewhere about the wait. Did anybody get a free reward added to their card? I can’t keep up with all the promo’s they have been sending me lately, but I believe they added a bonus reward on my card for participating in the 25 days of coffee, with an email for the redemption of the stars to come later. I can’t believe how Starbucks drags their feet lately and keeps fumbling the ball regarding the promotions and codes.
I just checked eBay. There is a seller with 5 rose cards. All the boxes are shown.
Just curious- we used to be able to recycle the SB cups in my town but now they are saying we can no longer do that. Why hasn’t SB gone to cups that can be recycled? I know I can bring my own cup but I did that for awhile and then would leave it home more than I would bring it. Does anyone else have problems with recycling their cups in their towns?
@purple1 – the vagaries in the recycling business can be frustrating. The need for certain types of recycled material are not constant in most cases. Basically any paper product other than newsprint and cardboard have a very limited demand by the companies that use recycled material. When a waste company cannot find a consistent place to send the recycled material, rather than stockpile it they just send it off to the landfill.
It is really not a case of Starbucks producing a “non-recycleable” cup, even a plain non-coated paper cup is not in demand in the recycle world.
Melody, did you ever get your rose-metal card? Can we see a picture? Happy new year!