I wonder if Starbucks has an internet-triage policy for customer grumpiness like Comcast. Let's find out:
It's no secret Starbucks isn't lighting the corporate world on fire these days. Rising gas and food prices leaving less family budget for $4 coffee drinks probably has something to do with it. Yet, there seems to be something deeper.
Now, it happens that this blogger declares the new Pike Place Roast a smashing success. At the same time, Starbucks is pimping the "benefits" of registering a prepaid Starbucks card:
You'll get syrup and milk options for your beverage on the house. Brewed coffee refills come at no charge. And receive a complimentary Tall beverage with your whole bean purchases.
As a drip coffee drinker the free refills were a motivating factor to buying a card and registering it. Funny thing, it doesn't work as advertised.
After some experiences attempting to utilize the benefit, some conversations with a couple baristas, and an email exchange with customer service I've come to the conclusion the registration gambit is hooey.
A) You would assume once you register a card that Starbucks cash register software would read it as such when it is swiped. Nope. You have to tell the barista your card is registered for them to key that fact in, otherwise you get charged for those "free" benefits. This raises the question of how many people are paying for the refills and/or milk and syrup options they thought they were getting for free as advertised, especially given how many people don't take or look at a receipt for a prepaid card.
B) The free refill applies only to same-store visits. Buy a cup, come back an hour or so later, pony up again...unless you find a friendly barista. Customer friendly? Not exactly.
C) So what exactly is the purpose of registering the card again if you have to explain its registration to a barista at every visit? I can't think of one, other than to give Starbucks more marketing information.
It's a corporate snow-job from a company desperately trying to reconnect with its customer base. Or in coffee terms, a grande, double pump, steamy BS with an extra shot of trickery. I think that runs about $3.86.
Posted by Eric Earling at May 07, 2008 08:51 PM | Email ThisHad not heard about the free refill stupidity. But that will cost them as well. They finally figured out that the tall counters that allowed the baristas to hide from customers was a stupid idea, but again, too little, too late.
Posted by: Jeff B. on May 7, 2008 10:32 PMNow, I quit when my baristas experienced a lot of turnover and you don't recognize them. I got my own machine.
Posted by: swatter on May 8, 2008 07:25 AMI believe it's called a coffee maker.
Amazing- no liberals are hurt or injurred in the process.
Posted by: Andy on May 8, 2008 09:01 AMMcDonald's will soon be thumping their sorry LEFTIST Hind-ends!
I thought McDonald's served Seattle's Best Coffee (tm), which is owned by Starbucks?
I mean never, ever. And have no plans to do so in the future?
... raises hand
I just don't get all the fuss and hype. It's a four-buck cup of coffee.
Posted by: jimg on May 8, 2008 09:15 AMMy wife has a home espresso maker. A nice one. The only time I've touched it was getting it out of the box.
Am I missing something? Am I the only one?
Posted by: jimg on May 8, 2008 09:21 AMjimg, the espresso maker I have doesn't make real syrupy espresso but it make a diluted version that is also a strong coffee (my dental hygenists don't do my teeth a second time even at $150). One thing the espresso has over the paper filters is just that. You are not drinking diluted bleach from the paper whitening process. Makes a difference to the real connoisseur. Of course, if you had sugar and milk it doesn't matter.
Posted by: swatter on May 8, 2008 09:52 AMMy son has been enthusiastic to try his hand at beer making. He's hinted at this ...several times ...
Any recommendations, hints, suggestions and/or recipes? He does have a birthday coming up...
Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on May 8, 2008 11:27 AMBeer is the nectar of the gods. Coffee is a close second.
Replace 'coffee' with 'bourbon' and I'm there. Or scotch.
Posted by: jimg on May 8, 2008 11:33 AMI started out bottling when I first took it up, now I'm on to kegging it in corny kegs. It's alot faster and not as messy. I even started growing my own hops. It's a great hobby, and I always have fresh brew on tap at home. =)
You could save a few bucks by getting a carboy and brew pot off of craigslist. Bottles too. You don't need to buy those things new. Then get the rest of the stuff from a supplier.
Larry's has a bunch of recipes at their front counter, with all of the ingredients you'll need for whatever type of beer. Larry's wife or daughter will help you get everything too when you're starting out. I've tried most of them, and now have started experimenting with my own recipes, usually involving copious amounts of hops.
Posted by: Palouse on May 8, 2008 12:18 PM
Now, I would very much like to make wine like my wonderful Grandfather did. The only time that precious man (a master chef!) was ever angry with me was after his grapes were delivered and he found me munching on them! My parents first date turned into my Dad "sampling" Grandpa's wine... lots of it! They had a typical Italian home with a second full kitchen in the basement (where every day Grandma made pasta) and with a contina off of it where the fruits and vegetables they grew and his wine barrels stored. I have very distinct memories of those huge fragrant barrels ...covered with flies!
Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on May 8, 2008 02:12 PM