musings from here to there
Posts tagged starbucks
Confirmed: Official Starbucks Android app in the works!
4636 days
by matt
in smartphones
With the report Monday showing that Android-powered devices have taken over the iPhone as the #2 smartphone in the United States, you’d think most major companies that initially developed applications for the iPhone would have completed Android-compatible apps as well! Starbucks’s mobile apps have been some of the mysteriously missing major apps from the Android Market.
Not for long.
This evening, a tweet was posted by the Starbucks twitter account noting that the iPhone app had just been updated. Several people then responded by asking why there was no similar application for other platforms (one of which is Android). Well, in response to that question, Starbucks responded “We’re working on apps for all platforms.” in this tweet. So, while there’s no official release date, we can rest assured that an official Starbucks app is coming for the platform of your liking!
Which app are you waiting for on your favorite platform?
My Starbucks Rewards vs. Starbucks Gold
0746 days
by matt
in Other Stuff
I’ve been perusing the blogosphere and Starbucks communities as of late and have been rather surprised by the amount of negativity regarding the discontinuation of Starbucks Gold and, summarily, it’s replacement by My Starbucks Rewards–a program featuring a couple different levels of service. While I understand how some might be upset by the loss of their 10% purchase discount (I too was disappointed at first), the new program really isn’t that bad. Here’s why…
You don’t “deserve” anything.
It seems like everyone these days thinks that companies owe them something. They think they deserve a discount from Starbucks just because they like their coffee or buy a lot of it. Well, it wasn’t but a year or two ago that there were no Starbucks discounts, rewards programs, or otherwise! Everyone paid full price for everything. Free drinks? No way–never! It’s no different than shopping at Walmart. I do it all the time, yet Walmart never says “Hey, Matt–we noticed you shop here a lot, so here’s 10% off on every purchase you make in our store. Oh, and just because you’re a loyal shopper, we’ll give you a free HDTV on your birthday.” When was the last time Walmart approached you with a promotion like that? Uh huh, that’s what I thought…
Sure, I loved my Gold Card and I loved the 10% discount. Add that up over a year and that makes for some serious savings. But at the same time, I wonder if I didn’t end up spending MORE on Starbucks in the long run because I knew that drinks would be 10% off–and I “needed” to get my money’s worth after purchasing the card. An interesting lesson in psychology for sure.
But is the program change really that bad? I got my card in the mail less than a month ago and have already received coupons for a free drink and a free perfect oatmeal. That’s in addition to the free drink that came with the card. I don’t remember getting promotions like that with my Gold card (other than the free drink you got for signing up). I’m actually finding the new program more useful because it’s given me opportunities to try food from Starbucks that I wouldn’t normally buy. That’s good for me and perhaps even good for Starbucks in the long run.
There are plenty of added benefits.
Even though none of us really deserve cool things on Starbucks’ tab, they’re giving them to us anyway. I think some people are missing the value associated with a free drink every 15 stars. That doesn’t mean that you get a free brewed coffee or a free tall latte (although you certainly could opt for one of those); it means that you get a free drink of your choice. So save it for a time when you really want Starbucks and then go for the Venti Extra Hot White Mocha with whatever syrups and toppings your little heart desires. You can pretty much get a $6 drink for 100% off. Is that really such a bad deal??
In the past, Gold card members got a free drink on their birthday and the new program continues that trend. Again, any drink you desire–free. Period. Oh, and the coupons and offers I’ve already mentioned (and received) are just added bonuses. Imagine getting a couple coupons for free or heavily discounted products a couple times a month. Maybe they won’t be quite that frequent, but still–the suspense is actually kinda fun!
But don’t you go forgetting…
That Starbucks is a corporation that exists to make money in addition to satisfying a general “need” in the coffee-crazed communities. I’m sure there are plenty of people who feel like Starbucks is just a greedy company out to take your money in whatever way they can, but what those people generally fail to realize is that: if Starbucks ceases to turn a profit, they will cease to exist. The two go hand in hand. I would never start a company in which I planned to make no money. It just doesn’t make sense.
So to all you “once loyal Starbucks customers” (as I have seen some call themselves): quit your griping, complaining, and bellyaching and realize that Starbucks owes you nothing. If you don’t like them anymore, you can stop frequenting their stores.
It’s a free country after all…