My Starbucks Rewards

Starbucks have been running a card loyalty and benefit scheme called "Starbucks Card Reward" for some time. From tomorrow their new scheme "My Starbucks Rewards" replaces it. The same physical card can be used and the existing feature of topping up the card to make coffee purchases will remain. The differences are all in the benefits/rewards.

Previously you received benefits for using your card:

• "Free Extra Shot for your drink
• Free Soy and Whipped Cream for your drink
• Free Syrup for your drink
• Free Tall drink when you buy a bag of whole bean coffee (250g)
• Free Tall drink with a VIA® 12-pack 50p off Fresh Filter Coffee"

The new My Starbucks Rewards scheme features two levels of benefit.
New customer are on the Green Level and collect up stars to receive a free drink. This business model which is popular among coffee shops in chains (e.g. Caffe Nero) and small independent cafe's. With the new Starbucks scheme you will need 15 stars (1 star per purchase at Starbucks) for one free drink. So you will need to visit Starbucks a 15 times for your free drink.

For some perspective that's a fair few more than Caffe Nero's card scheme which requires 9 stamps before being rewarded with a free drink, and what's more you receive a stamp per hot drink not per visit, so if there's two of you having coffee each time you get a free drink on your 5th visit. You could get 3 free drinks at Caffe Nero per free drinks at Starbucks. In fact most of these types of reward schemes are between 9 and 12 purchased drinks to receive a free drink.

Once you have made 50 purchases (and received 50 stars) in one year you have reached Gold Level. You can benefit from these rather familiar rewards:

"At the Gold level, you get the Green level reward of a free tall beverage every 15 visits and special updates, plus:

• Free extra shot(s) Get an even bigger boost. Have an extra shot – or more than one – for free.
• Free select syrups Put a little extra flavour in your drink.
• Add select syrups for free.
• Use soy milk instead Not in the mood for dairy? Swap in soy milk at no extra charge.
• Free whipped cream Top any drink with a free fluffy cloud of sweetened whipped cream."

So there is no longer the free Tall drink when you buy coffee in either 250g whole bean bag or 12 pack of VIA coffee - this was easily the best benefit. Also, in order to maintain Gold level you need to make another 50 purchases for the next 12 months.

With all this talk of coffee reward schemes you may be wondering where is the technology is in this blogpost?! Well...

You can now use the Starbucks iOS app to pay for your coffee with your iPhone or iPod Touch! The barista will just need to scan your phone to take payment. All your card management (purchase history, topping up etc.) is also included in the app.

More information click to Starbucks.co.uk



Image: Starbucks.co.uk