A dramatization of the rewards program in action.
Starbucks's controversial new less-rewarding rewards program debuted today, and based on what customers are saying online, the word underwhelming is perhaps a too-nice description of it. The news that the coffee giant was tweaking the program to reward cardholders for total dollars spent instead of number of drinks ordered didn't go over super well back in February. Almost nobody was psyched to learn it'd soon take $62.50 to get a free coffee, eliminating those days of gaming the system by ordering a dozen tall Pikes for less than half that amount and going for broke on that free 13th drink.
Starbucks made no changes between then and the launch, but today's anger hasn't been directed at abstract concepts like "unfairness," because people are apparently too busy having problems loading the app itself. Lots of customers are finding that their gold-card status has been wiped clean, while others are running into log-in issues and can't even make purchases. As a result, today's worst first-world job is officially running the official @starbucksgold Twitter account.
@joshgrigs Don't forget that with monthly Double-Star Days & personalized Bonus Star offers, you might earn a reward faster than you think!
— Starbucks Rewards (@starbucksgold) April 12, 2016
@starbucksgold @joshgrigs But still not as fast as we used to earn them. A portion of us are on the losing end of this. Sucks to be us, huh?
— James Nichols (@jjjjani_also) April 12, 2016
Updated @Starbucks app. Lost my reward. Sooooo already hate it #StarbucksRewards
— Seth Lieber (@SethLieber) April 12, 2016
@ryangreen83 Some customers are seeing a delay in technology. Don’t worry though, we're tracking all of the ⭐️s you earn behind the scenes!
— Starbucks Rewards (@starbucksgold) April 12, 2016
@greulich_kaity Some customers are seeing a delay in technology within our app—your ⭐️s should display accurately online.
— Starbucks Rewards (@starbucksgold) April 12, 2016
@KennaLancaster Some customers are seeing a delay in technology within our app—but your ⭐️s should display accurately online.
— Starbucks Rewards (@starbucksgold) April 12, 2016
@StarbucksGold I'm not seeing STARS OR REWARDS on my computer (have BlackBerry, can't get the app). Why can't I see my status? Please help.
— Heather R. (@sweetkeet) April 12, 2016
@starbucksgold I've lost all my stars, and despite resetting my password three times, I still cannot log into my app #fail #pleasehelp
— Kietra Grate (@tkgrate) April 12, 2016
Starbucks rewards is some bullshit
— hella jen (@radcouch) April 12, 2016
I have a killer cough and a sore throat would really like a chai but @starbucksgold app won't let me buy one #StarbucksRewards #rollout
— Brenda Achenbach (@empressbren) April 12, 2016
@Starbucks I LOST a year of gold? I'm sure it's a mistake in transition, but how did I go from gold until 2017, to 2016? #StarbucksRewards
— Makenna Martin (@kennazanne) April 12, 2016
@StarbucksGold Today I CANNOT find my rewards status on your site. I know I was very close to a free drink just before the program changed.
— Heather R. (@sweetkeet) April 12, 2016
@starbucksgold @StarbucksCanada not a fan of the new rewards system. I won't be frequenting. @TimHortons here I come.
— Neve C (@nevecee) April 12, 2016
Today @starbucksgold replaces their solid rewards program with a pile of shit. Yet, we'll still keeping drinking their coffee. #lattes
— Rob_Hryn (@RobHryn) April 12, 2016
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Filed Under: the chain gang, coffee, starbucks, starbucks rewards program