Is the New Starbucks Gold Card Worth It?
Stabuckoholics can now buy a Gold Card for $25. They advertise a bunch of vague perks ("exclusive offers and discounts"), but as Cruftbox points out, the main one is 10% off most purchases. That means if you spend $250 a year on Starbucks, you'll break even.
Let's consider the two types of Stabuckoholics. Those who buy the prole drip coffee, and those who fork over for fancy stuff with whipped cream.
Mathematically, if you factor in the card's two free drink opportunities (upon purchase and your birthday), here's how the two types will break even:
Drip Coffee Types: 136 small cups of drip coffee (just under three a week or 11 cups a month)
Fancy Folks: 42 four-dollar drinks (just under one a week or four a month)
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10 Comments:
The main reason I would buy the card is that I can get 10% off whole bean coffee as well, which adds up pretty fast in my household (3 bags a month probably, at $14 a bag). If you really want to try to make your trips to Starbucks cheaper, you can get $100 in gift cards at Costco for only $80, then combine that with the Gold Card, and you're getting 30% off all your drinks. Sure, you might go more often, but getting my Eggnog Latte down to $2.80 from around $4 would be great.
smackrabbit at 4:03PM on 11/13/08
pfssssh. no thanks. i guess if you are a REAL starbucks freak, but the only time I get starbucks is when I'm in Barnes and Nobles. The member card for Bn is exactly the same, and it covers the starbucks, also. much more usefull, because there are just more things that are covered with the bn mamber card for the same price (you can't buy used coffee online from starbuck.com for a 10 percent discount).
delilah at 4:19PM on 11/13/08
Yeah, even my friends who are die-hard Starbuck freaks are not into this deal. Of course, I'm completely biased because I work for B&N and its true that our discount card really is a better deal since the range of stuff you get discounts on is better. I admire Starbucks for their idea, but it is a wee bit too similar to our own and we've already heard customers telling us how they're mad that Starbucks (which has a store in the mall in which we're located) is trying to rip us off. Obviously, they are exaggerating, but it does seem a little odd.
bluberryfields3 at 4:39PM on 11/13/08
The card works for me. My husband and I usually get coffee together, we usually order "fluff" drinks (me lattes, him all the specials). We bought one gold card for the two of us so the discount adds up fast. In the summer we tend to go for the fraps. Not to mention I buy Starbucks beans for my employee who likes a daily cup and makes it for the office. And did I mention we get one of their hot sandwiches every now and then? This card isn't for everyone, but for me? Totally works.
hkydiva at 5:09PM on 11/13/08
I was about to ask why anyone would get one of these unless they were die-hards and drink Starbucks all the time (and if you can afford that, do you really need the 10% discount?), but I decided to check out the other perks. That's when I saw this:
"Free Wi-Fi access for up to 2 hours each day in participating Starbucks stores"
I travel quite a bit and I'm always looking for free or cheap wi-fi hotspots. Starbucks locations are EVERYWHERE! If I can get a guaranteed 2 hours of wi-fi access per day (at participating locations obviously), the 10% discount, a free coffee when I sign up and again on my birthday, and also "Exclusive offers and discounts throughout the year" I think this gold card just might be worth the $25!
bwbollom at 5:48PM on 11/13/08
I live above a Starbucks. My apartment building sits on top of the green goddess. I get a latte in there every morning (triple grande, no foam, skinny vanilla)...It comes to $4.50-$4.60. My Mom reloads my rewards card once a month, and since the card is registered, I get free syrups, free soy milk, free drip coffee refills. Syrup is $.30. So, I'd save 0.30 with the registered rewards card. But with the cold card, I'd save 0.45-0.46. plus money off a bagel, croissant or fruit cup.
I asked the barista this morning which she thinks is better for a DAILY visitor, such as myself. The gold card pays for itself ($25 annual fee) if you frequent there a lot.
I got a free gold card in the mail a few days ago, so as soon as my rewards card dwindles, I'll start with the gold.
sweethunibabi at 5:49PM on 11/13/08
bwbollom, you can get 2 hrs free access/day with a normal registered card to - just buy a $5 or $10 gift card & register it online, the card itself is free.
and as sweethunibabi said, a normal registered card gives you free syrup, soy and drip refills.
emisara at 7:32PM on 11/13/08
The 2 hours free wifi per day sounds like a really good deal. On the other hand I get more work done in Starbucks by *not* having wifi when I'm in there...
emilydev at 9:09PM on 11/13/08
Starbucks is the only coffee place near my office ... I get a short coffee every time, but even they add up.
KarynMC at 12:30PM on 11/14/08
I saw this in Starbucks this morning (my coffee pot carafe broke the other day, so Sbucks is all I have left) and wondered what it was all about. It was next to their Duetto Visa card, so I thought it was another credit card. If all it is is perks, I might look into it; I don't really go every day, and this might change that, which makes me wary, haha.
kfarrel3 at 1:19PM on 11/14/08