Coupons rattle Starbucks' nerves

The Oregonian ^ | 8-30-2006 | LAURA GUNDERSON

[Cagey]

UPDATE:

Starbucks says free iced coffee coupons no longer accepted Starbucks has issued a statement regarding the free-drink coupons that have been widely distributed via e-mail. It says: "An e-mail offering a free Starbucks iced coffee was distributed to a limited group of Starbucks partners (employees) in the Southeast United States on Wednesday, August 23, 2006, with instructions to forward to their group of friends and family. Unfortunately, it has been redistributed beyond the original intent and modified beyond Starbucks control. Effective immediately, this offer will no longer be valid at any Starbucks locations." (This was also posted by the cash register at the Sherman Ave. Starbucks in Evanston -- and, presumably, at other Starbucks stores.)

[KarlInOhio]

If you are a company that distributes coupons like this though email, you need to have a serial number on each one and make it clear that they can't be reused.

I've heard that the reason Subway got rid of their Subway Club card (buy a bunch of subs, get one free) is that people were counterfeiting the stamps and selling them on the internet.

[Xenalyte]

to a $3.70 banana coconut Frappuccino

That sounds like the nastiest concoction ever.

"Yeah, our coffee is bitter and burny, so let's add . . . oh, I don't know . . . bananas. But that's not complex enough. Let's toss in some coconut."

[aomagrat]

"Try your coffee iced," the coupon encourages

No thanks, I like my coffee hot and black.

[Red Badger]

Kinda like FEMA cards?.......

[kidd]

...can be used for anything from a $2.05 iced Americano to a $3.70 banana coconut Frappuccino...

I've never been to a Starbucks. Do these "coffee" drinks come with little umbrellas too?

[steveo]

waiting for the 'I wouldn't drink it even if it were free' comments.

[Slump Tester]

...Starbucks Coffee Co., the Seattle-based java giant that prides itself on do-gooding...

I guess their store in Manhatten was "do gooding" on 9/11 when they wouldn't let anyone have water unless they paid for it.

I haven't bought a Starbucks since. Screw'em all!

[ncountylee]

Do these "coffee" drinks come with little umbrellas too?

No but often served by a pierced creature.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Ishmael: Ehhhh, you can't fool us; it's the easiest thing in the world for a man to look as if he's got a great secret in him.
Elijah: I have, lad, I have. At sea one day, you'll smell land where there'll be no land, and on that day Ahab will go to his grave, but he'll rise again within the hour. He will rise and beckon. Then all - all save one shall follow. (Slinking away with a smile on his face) Mornin', lads... mornin'. May the heavens bless you.

[lilylangtree]

I don't like Starbucks anything. It's overpriced and too strong and tastes like garbage.

[JennysCool]

It was actually surprisingly refreshing, and I'm not normally big on iced coffee drinks.

Of course, a perk (pun!) of my job is free Starbucks, so that may have something to do with my verdict on the tropical frap thing.

[California74]

not to mention a grande banana coconut frapuccino is like 500 calories! 2 hours in the gym, anyone?

[Cagey]

LOL!

[JasonC]

Well, if you pop the lid off, the straw sorta holds it up - lol.

[Ol' Sox]

Do these "coffee" drinks come with little umbrellas too?

Nope. At the Starbucks near me, coffee comes with a sneer from a pierced, tatooed barista who insists that you use the word "Grande" (GRAHN-day) when you really mean "medium". I've declined to comply, as only Thurston Howell can do justice to the word GRAHN-day.

[NeoCaveman]

I knew I should have used the coupon yesterday. Even though I prefer my coffee hot and black, free is free.

[antiRepublicrat]

No thanks, I like my coffee hot and black.

Iced coffee can be quite good -- just not Starbuck's.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

the ONLY time I have purchased from Starbux was while visiting my son in Seattle last July. I was catching a bus for downtown and stopped in a grocery store for a cup of black coffee. All they had was a Starbux rather than "Seattle's Best Coffee" (which is mucho grande!).

When I told the yahoo at the counter that I wanted a small black coffee, she starred at me as if I was speaking French. A colleague - wiser and older - checked the decoder ring and told her the Starbux equivalent.

I thought I was not going to get my coffee (which tasted pretty foul) because I speak English.

[ThanhPhero]

I am not even interesed in a FREE frappachoogle at Starbucks and I am a confirmed coffee addict. I don't do Starbucks.