New Starbucks Rewards Program: 2 Stars Per $1 Spent, Double Star Days & More (Starts in April)
My Starbucks Rewards members! Starting April 12th, My Starbucks Rewards will become Starbucks Rewards and you will receive more Stars awarded based on what you buy – no matter how often you visit.
With this new program, you’ll earn 2 Stars for every $1 you spend on coffee, food, drinks, and mugs AND Starbucks will be introducing monthly Double-Star Days where Gold members will earn 4 Stars for every $1 spent on all eligible purchases. As a Gold member, once you earn 125 Stars, you’ll snag a FREE Reward for anything on the menu. Note that all the Stars in your account will multiply to reflect the change once the new program launches in April.
Does anyone know if you already have gold level if you’ll have to start out back at the beginning?
No, they will convert the existing stars to the new change. Existing Level status will remain until it expires.
This is terrible! i hate the new rewards program. I;m going to miss getting a Star for buying a $0.99 banana.
Sorry to hear that. 🙁 Thanks for your honest feedback!
I hate it too. Why couldn’t they leave things alone?
It said this was due to feedback….wonder what feedback said “have us pay more to get fewer rewards”….???….There’s no way the change was from legit people walking in the store!
This program isn’t really average user friendly nor rewarding unless you’re buying massive amt of drinks.
I have had gold status for years, no way can I maintain it at this new plan rate. Like others have said –> makes you re-eval & get/make drinks elsewhere.
It’s because many people spent $15 and get one star and annoying people (IMO) buy each item separately and waste time to get more stars for their $. Starbucks is very good at listening to customers. Spending $.99 on a banana is never worth it anyway.
It appears from all the negative comments Starbucks didn’t consider a large portion of their customers. How wonder how this will impact their business?
I agree, it’s going to cost a lot more to get gold and free item in the new system.
In ref to the 99c banana….it did say they will keep the change to have it add up to a star. So, I think you will end up with stars from bananas over time/purchases. (Sounds like a bad elementary math story problem..haha)
I say BOO! You now have to spend over $62 to have enough points for a free drink! So glad I invested in a nespresso machine!
Me too 🙂
Which is about what 12 smalls cost…
The new program is better for me b/c I was typically buying 12 large to get one free.
Not if you get a $3 cup of coffee, not everyone gets the $5-6 drinks. I see their regular coffee business going down hill.
Tall coffee usually costs $1.09 for me. 12 let’s me indulge a bit on the higher calorie drinks. It’s a good way to keep wallet and waist in check. Oh wells, guess I have to look for a coffee machine come April
I never seen a Starbucks with $1.09 cup of coffee ….Where do you live ??
I’m wondering the same thing.
This works better for me. I almost never go, because when I do it costs a small fortune to get drinks for everyone. So even though I’m buying 4 outrageously expensive drinks I only get 1 star.
This seems like a way better system since we usually go as a family we easily spend around 40 each time we go getting one start didn’t really seem to exciting as it will getting 2 starts for every dollar
That’s why it’s better to order and pay for each item separately. The system will give you more than 1 star.
Yes! Whenever I went with more than one person I paid for each item separately. Crazy to pay all together!
I agree with you mommyx4! This is great for people who purchase multiple items at a time!
Sweet! Thanks for sharing!
Yes! I’d end up spending about $15-$20 per trip but only get one star. Which was frustrating for me. This new set up will better suit people like us who spend more money there. Sorry for those who weren’t but going often! Hopefully you still find the rewards works out well for you guys. But let me add: for those who aren’t happy with the new program- I don’t go to Starbucks often but still get a lot of cool free apps so it’s still worth it for that reason. Plus their coupons and deals they give just for being part of the program. So it’s definitely not a loss.
I’m on the same boat so I like this new program better. We are a family of four and we always spend ~$20 per visit.
Yayyy! Finally… I hate that I only get one star for buying several drinks/snacks
😀
You can ask barista to process as separate transactions. I never had issues when asking, everyone was always happy to do it because they knew the star earning vs transaction. I rather having to keep asking them now having to spend so much more to earn the stars. It’s just crazy.
I’m not trying to be rude, but your behavior is one of the things I think starbucks is trying to change. The baristas may happily process your order into multiple separate transactions, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy doing so. They do it because they are in customer service.
Do you think that starbucks wanted customers to hold up the line, often having clerks void & re-ring transactions to get the most stars possible in order to beat the system? As a customer who usually purchases 2-3 items for $8-11, I am happy to see the change. I’m also happy to know that there won’t be customers in front of me who make a big fuss about separate transactions for precious stars. On more than one occasion I’ve seen sh*t hit the fan over something as ultimately trivial as ‘digital stars’.
Could I split my purchase into separate transactions? Sure! But I’d feel kinda like a bum. I’m holding up the store’s employees; I’m holding up customers in line behind me; and most importantly, I’m holding up myself. Over what? Silly digital customer coins.
The new system is more streamlined, and brings all customers onto the same “plane of value”. $62.50 is now what I’ll have to spend to get a free drink. It’s what we’ll all have to spend to get a free drink. I understand that some people only had to spend $25 or $30 for a free drink in the past; sorry the change means less perks per $ spent for those people; but realize there were people who were spending nearly $100 before they saw a free drink.
Guess they caught on to people placing multiple orders to get multiple stars on the same day.
That’s what I do for multiple orders. I ask the barista to do separate transactions for each item, so I get more stars.
Does anyone know how this will apply to purchasing bagged coffee from the grocery store, or if they will still apply?
Good question. They haven’t even added to star rewards to all their products yet. Wonder if that’s because they knew it was changing soon and will apply it to all Starbucks grocery items soon. I hope so because I usually buy their grocery stuff more than I actually visit their store.
It’s ok. I would by a drink for $5 and after 12 I would get a free drink. So I would have to spend about $60 for a free drink. Now it’ll be about the same
Agree. And plus I will get credit when I buy drinkware especially while on vacation as gifts! 😃
This reward system is much more beneficial to those of us who buy multiple drinks in one purchase.
Not happy with new program. Will cost me more in long run to get a free drink. Only thing that might keep that from happening is only getting stuff on double star days. Which may take longer or shorter to get a reward depending on how often they do double days.
Thanks so much for your honest review Tarri!
Great! Now my wife and I don’t have to act like strangers ordering separately in line!
LOL!
😂 Thanks for the laugh Mike
I say: BOO – I’ll never make gold now! I’ll have to spend a ton more
Since they released the iced coffee in the large bottle I never go anymore! I can see the benefit to this change, though.
Wow, they really decreased the rewards. I presently get a latte for over $3.00 and was good for a free drink after 12 visits but now I will have to go 41 times to get a star. This might be the time I stop going!
If you get a $3 drink you will get 6 stars (2 stars per $1) so you would get a free reward after 21 visits. I agree that 21 visits is more than 12, but it is not 41 visits.
I’m miffed but somewhat grateful for the change as it will release me from their grasp.
I order a tall coffee daily ($1.86) and occasionally buy a food item or more expensive drink. Under the new system I would only receive two stars for my tall coffee (since it is less than $2). I would have to go more than sixty times to receive a free item. Currently I have to only go twelve times.
I spend more than $1000 a year at their stores. Once the changes in April begin, I will be using up the balance on my gift cards and my rewards (I currently have four on my card and will accrue more over the next month), and I am outta there. I can get a VERY nice espresso machine for $400-500, and pocket the rest of my savings.
Starbucks can kiss –>this<– right here.
Couldn’t agree more!!
Yes couldn’t agree more! Very annoying!
Amen sister! This change put the nail in the coffin 😵
Agreed! I’m a double espresso with just a splash non-fat milk kinda girl – that runs about $1.70, slightly more if I want to fancy it up with a pump of vanilla or toffee nut syrup. Under this new reward points system, I’d be spending significantly more to earn the free item. At this rate, I doubt I’d even be maintaining my gold status for the year, let alone earn any free items! I’ve been on the fence with the Rancilio Silvia for quite some time now, this just pushed me over the fence and three houses over! Thanks Starbucks, but no thanks!
You actually get 3.72 stars.
I haven’t seen it confirmed anywhere that you can get partial stars. Can you please show me where you read that?
It’s in the FAQ –
What will happen in the new program if I spend an uneven amount? Do I get credit for the change?+
Yes, your change counts towards partial Stars. We’ll keep track of all your partial Stars and apply them to your total Stars.
For example, if you spend $6.20 (i.e., not including tax, tips, alcohol or other exceptions), you will earn 12.40 Stars.
The .40 is not always visible (we like to keep things simple), but you can always view your Stars and purchase history at starbucks.com/rewards or in the mobile app.
Look on their website.
Yes, your change counts towards partial Stars. We’ll keep track of all your partial Stars and apply them to your total Stars.
For example, if you spend $6.20 (i.e., not including tax, tips, alcohol or other exceptions), you will earn 12.40 Stars.
The .40 is not always visible (we like to keep things simple), but you can always view your Stars and purchase history at starbucks.com/rewards or in the mobile app.
Thanks Mel and Monica; that page was down the other day when I looked. So to earn a free reward, you have to spend $62.50, regardless of number of visits. That still seems quite excessive.
So agree. We are free from their spell.
For those who are interested, my espresso machine just got killed by sugar ants in our new house 🙁 so needless to say I immediately drove to the Target around the corner and got a new one. There is aDe’Longhi brand one that does a double shot, really quiet and on sale for 79.99. I have used it for a couple of weeks now and love it. For my family that is 4 trips to starbucks. I still get Starbucks in a pinch when we are out and buy their coffee for my machine, but I think I do a better job anyway 🙂
Lol
I only go on special occasions, like every 2 months or so. I usually spend about $6 on my fancy pants drink- so this works a lot better.
It’s great for people who place big orders but I will often just get a regular cup of coffee and usually just buy for myself. It will take a lot longer to get to 125 stars with the new program (for me). I wonder if they will still do “star dashes” or other incentives or how they would do it. Hopefully they will still keep the birthday rewards!
I’m with you and was wondering about the birthday freebie. That’s a huge thing for them to offer and I’d like to think they’ll keep that to keep the customer happy.
I actually like the change. I purchase my beans and syrup from there to make at home so it will benefit me as those are more expensive than a 99 cent banana. I’m sure Starbucks realized that people were getting the cheapest things just to get a star towards a free drink. My husband and I tend to also purchase drinks for coworkers so now I don’t have to purchase separately, which the workers don’t really like. And they will continue to offer bonuses which will hopefully help earn free drinks quicker.
I don’t like this at all. My husband and I have always been plain coffee drinkers. We like coffee not sugary unneeded calories. So before I could spend about $24 to hit my freebie and now it’ll be over $60. That’s not a reward in my opinion. We’ve really cut back on how much we visit Starbucks and this will probably won’t affect how much we visit; it just feels like losing a perk rather than gaining one. I won’t be tricked into spending more for a free reward every now and again.
My question is will is gold members stay gold forever now or does it still expire in a calendar year? I can’t see myself keeping my gold status if it is to expire in a calendar year. That’s a lot of money to spend to earn a free drink.
Yes, it expires after a calendar year.
I don’t like the change. I find it a bit discriminating against lower working class who also depends on a cup of coffee to get through the day. SB drinks r expensive already. A lot of mom/pop coffee shops offer rewards programs as well through a stamp card and based on 1 stamp per drink so if you order 2 drinks in one transaction you get 2 stamps and 12 stamps will get you a free drink. SB could have done a better job tweaking their rewards system by lowering the # of stars to 60 instead of a whopping 125 which is a bit extreme. I find their new reward system to be a bit stingy especially since they make so much money on a drink already. No go for SB.
Discriminating?? You can always make your coffee at home. It goes without saying that basic common sense is, if you are hurting for money (like you suggest the lower middle class is) don’t go to Starbucks. Even if the change in program isn’t beneficial to you, the current program isn’t beneficial either if you don’t have the money to spend there.
Agree. I’m not very excited about this new program but it’s definitely not discriminating. Coffee is a luxury not a necessity. If you can’t afford it find a cheaper way to get your fix
There needs to be a happy medium; 1 for those who order by themselves and one for multi orders. This will enable me to stop purchasing; I love having the Gold member status but now I don’t see how this is worth it. Good bye Starbucks, it was a nice relationship!
Bummer 🙁 Thanks for your honest feedback!
FYI– I just called Starbucks customer service to complain about the new program. I was given 25 bonus stars on my account from the rep for the feedback and longtime customer. It’s worth giving it a shot for 2 free drinks. 🙂
I called as well and they couldn’t care less. Just directed me to the website. I go to Starbucks about trice a week, and honestly justified my purchase with the fact that I was working towards a free drink. I will not be shopping there anymore. It was dissappoitjng enough when gold membership no longer qualified you for free soymilk. Their drinks just keep getting more and more expensive.
I don’t like this at all. Maybe for others it’ll work better , but not for me. I’ll spend more money to get a reward than what I usually do, make separate transactions per item to earn more stars.
For me it’s a negative. I love Starbucks but don’t go often except when I have a freebie; otherwise I almost always buy the cheap brewed coffee for about $2. I drink it in-store and then get the free refill before I leave so it ends up being $1/cup. I take advantage of every Groupon, etc. deal to get Starbucks cards cheaper, plus Kelloggs rewards, etc. where you can redeem points for Starbucks cards. That way I’m still not usually “paying” for my Starbucks–I just use those cards. And I try to time my Starbucks visits for when there also are bonuses, like this weekend when there was a 2-star bonus for a purchase. When I buy Starbucks packaged coffee in stores, I save the star codes inside for when there are bonus deals and enter them then. I also pay separately for each person if I go with the kids. So I rack up the free drinks fairly often. If the bonus deals continue, that will be nice. But the new star system is going to hurt…I can’t even IMAGINE spending $300 a year in Starbucks just to stay gold! That’s criminal. I have gold through June 2017, so I have a while yet to worry about it…but holy moly. That’s a lot of free Starbucks cards to earn on rewards sites!
Just realized it will be $150, not $300, since it’s 2 stars per $1 spent. That’s a little easier to take. But I still don’t like it, lol.
It’s great for the people who buy multiple items or expensive drinks. Saves a lot of time for others who wait behind them (each item is a new transaction). BUT for those of us who purchase a cup of tea/coffee daily it will take us a long time to earn enough $pts for a reward. Thumbs down since I am the daily tea drinker.
IMO. I also think its going to b hard for me to reach that goal.. Besides i need to use that extra money to get amazon prime. Now that they raised the price for shipping
I’m very excited! This is going to be great for anyone who buys multiple items in one transaction or who orders fancier beverages. I’ve always disliked the one star earning no matter what you ordered.
Glad to hear you like the change Kristy!
If you are a Gold member, the Stars you earn will expire 6 months from when you earn them—so be sure to use them when you have enough for a Star Reward (125 Stars).
So if you are NOT a big$ drink buyer or multiple item purchaser, not going to be happy.
Whhhhy did the Molten Lava have to be so short lived! Ugh.. 🙁
Meant Molten Latte
I like it!!! I have been a member for years and So annoyed I only receive one star for a $20+ order! I have in the past had them ring up each item desperately but than felt like a “douche” for making people wait behind me..so I don’t…this way you actually receive what you deserve..my opinion 🙂
Separately …not desperately …stupid phone..now a need a caramel machiatto lol
Had one this morning! 😀
JEALOUS!!!lol
I feel like all of the people complaining are the ones who don’t order speciality drinks anyway. You spend less than $2 a day on your regular coffee, yet you’re complaining about how long it will take for Starbucks to give you a free $6 coffee. The reward program was clearly altered to benefit the customers that spend more than $2 a day on the same coffee they could brew at home. I’m personally excited because I usually grab a speciality coffee and a snack when I go, so this will add up more quickly for me.
I highly agree with you!!
I only order specialty drinks, never a regular brewed coffee, yet I don’t like this change. I usually order a tall drink, so it’s less than $4. If I want that free reward in the future, I have to spend more $$ than what I’m spending now to get the reward.
Exactly! Also, it blows my mind people are complaining when they could make their Brewed coffee at home and save tons of money no matter the rewards program. My drinks are expensive, so it’ll only be like 6 drinks for me to get a free one!
I completely agree with you, Brenda! And I’m a person that orders a cheaper latte or coffee if paying, but always gets an expensive venti drink with my free reward. People complaining about how they get free stuff is nuts, Starbucks doesn’t owe us free anything. Also this change isn’t ignoring loyal black coffee drinkers, rather it’s shifting the rewards to be more proportionate with the money spent in store. People complaining that this change hurts their budget might want to rethink having a daily starbucks habit in the first place.
Bottom line: It does not reward budget conscious people. Is that fair? Depends on who you ask. It definitely benefits the business’ bottom line by encouraging people to spend more money. If you’re already spending a good chunk of change at Starbucks, then this is only fair. But for the people who only treat themselves every once in awhile, this new system really provides no incentive. If you only get a tall coffee once a week, you’d need to get one every week for almost 8 months in order to get one reward! (At least in the Midwest.) In the old system, it would’ve taken 3 months. That is a crazy difference.
Doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. I only go about once a month for a $5 frappe, so instead of 1 star I’ll get 10.
Also this is going to make the theft of the starbucks stickers on the front of the starbucks coffee bags go up! I can’t tell you how many times last year I go to type the code in from my peel off sticker and it was already used!! You would think they would add those stickers INSIDE OF THE BAG!lol
Wow! Usually the bags around here, the stickers are missing (you can tell it was pulled off by the sticky residue) Sometimes I’d have to dig all the way in the back to find an untampered bag! I’d always wondered why they put the star code on the bag, I guess people would complain if it was inside and covered in grounds!
I have had Via packages with stolen codes from inside! Now I always check before I buy and open after I check out but before leaving my grocery store.
Yes, I have seen bags with stickers pulled off too. 🤔 It is dumb that people are SO desperate for a code that they’ll steal one!
I have a feeling I’m the only one here who doesn’t know about the sticker on Starbucks bag. What does it do? I bought starbucks coffee grounds at the coffee shop and other stores, and I don’t have a clue about the sticker😨
There is a star sticker on the front of the ground coffee bags sold in the grocery store.
You can enter 2 of these star codes per day, to go towards the 12 you need for a free item.
People have been known to peel these off at the store, to use the code without buying the bag.
The Vias have the code inside the sealed package, but people steal them, too!
I think I’m gonna LOVE this new rewards program!!!!! Our family of 4 typically like to make a stop before our evening church service on Sundays, and we always pay about $20. On the current program, I had to humble myself and ask for separate transactions. I think it makes WAY MORE sense to benefit from how much money is spent, as opposed to visits or transactions. Good job Starbucks Rewards!!! 😀
This is great for me! Now I don’t have to give my phone to each kid and have them pay separately for their drinks! LOL..but seriously
I know! I had my four year old picked out a card he likes, add to my account and give him the card for him to pay every time he wants a croissant, cake pop and/or milk when we visit a Starbucks. He likes to feel adult-like but it’s not fun when the store is busy.
I think 30 to 300 and 12 to 125 is way to Large of a Jump! I mean that is HUGE!!! I Love to go as often as possible but this will definatley keep me from going as often.
I have seen people complain about how fast other people get to gold level by them offering double star days so I do think it was from feedback from customers. Probably not most customers though. They don’t have to offer anything at all so I’m just glad they didn’t cancel it all together. More stars related to what you actually spend is how most other reward programs work. People are complaining about not getting free drinks. You get free refills anytime you stay in store anyway.
Not all the stores give free refills. We have one in the hospital and it doesn’t allow coffee refills free or using your free coffee, even for gold members. I work 14 hour shifts. It will limit my getting coffee there just based on the principle. I am more likely to use the local coffee places now instead of the chain. If I’m going to pay the same, i will invest in a local small business than a chain.
I agree, Sheila. The hospital I used to work at had about 4 coffee shops located throughout the facility and all were run by the same local coffee shop. I always preferred their coffee drinks as they didn’t leave a bitter bite. Yes, they were expensive as Starbucks, no rewards program, an occasional (rare) deal for the day, but they were LOCAL and not a chain and IMO much better tasting. They had great food/snacks, too. They also gave back some of their profits to the volunteer program to benefit the patients. I went sporadically as a treat or if I had been given a gift card.
I doubt that I’ll ever make gold now. It is a good thing though since it’ll discourage me from going there and spending money. I really need to start making my Frappacinos at home.
I’m just bummed that they only give 3 days to use birthday rewards now 🙁 🙁 🙁 I live out of the city and won’t be able to use mine now. 🙁
I get a venti iced tea daily. It costs $3. Now it will take me 21 purchases to make a free drink instead of 12….. BOGUS
I hate it. I’m single and go to Starbucks on occasion to get a coffee or tea. I’ve been gold since 2008. I spend maybe $50-$75 a year. I wish they would have just changed it to a star per item purchased and calculated how the rewarding worked from that point. That might have been a fairer way to change it and not isolate those who don’t spend $150 a year in coffee. But then again, they must have looked at how much the average gold member spends and I’m probably not in that category. I’ll cross my fingers that there are some good star dashes or bonuses to keep me gold. I believe I’m gold until April 2017 already so I would hope they don’t change that.
If I am reading the restrictions correctly then you will not get any stars for purchasing gift cards. I buy quite a few gift cards as gifts and now they won’t count! I guess I better stock up before April.
Gift cards don’t generate stars in my experience.
I’m excited about it because I’ll be able to get stars without having to put in multiple orders when I go with my family. But also, my drinks are like $8-$10, so it’ll take me way less drinks to earn a free one!
Per my cousins post on FB:
Like most airline programs, Starbucks rewards is moving to spend-based earning. Here’s my analysis of the revised Starbucks reward program:
Under the old program, 12 visits/stars = 1 free items, which means each star is worth about $0.50 in redemption value, assuming a $6 average free item.
Under the new program, you’ll earn 2 stars per $1 spent, and you’ll need 125 stars for a reward, which means you’ll need to spend $62.50 to get a free item. Pro forma to the old program, you’ll need to spend an average of $5.21 per visit to earn a reward. The new star is worth $0.048 in redemption value, assuming a $6 venti drink, salad, or lunch sandwich.
I think the change will be fun because Starbucks will scramble once the complaints start rolling in and the proposed new system will be something else in May. Until then I will probably visit DD. I love their new DD Perks. I get constant freebies, discounts and perks using their app.
Lol ditto!
I’m a longtime Gold member and I don’t have any problem with this change. I usually order a Venti Americano or Café Misto which both run around $3, so on the lower end. But, my hubby and I generally each order 1 and I almost never separate the transactions, so we’re doing better there. We also buy $14 bagged coffee on a somewhat regular basis, so this new method will be nice for that. Bottomline, I go to Starbucks because I like it, not because I save $3 on my drink every 12 visits. So, I’m not about to get all worked up or stressed out over a little reward program change!
I like the fact that we get more stars for our money, but for us individuals who only buy regular or iced coffees, 125 stars for a free item is pretty insane. It will take forever to earn a free item! Hopefully their bonus days can make up for this.
I think this will be more fair as my purchases are usually over $4.00 each time. I don’t do multiple transactions just to get bonus stars. Looking forward to the new program.