Posted on 08/30/2006 1:06:54 PM PDT by Cagey
On the house - Freebies intended for a few are snatched and spread via e-mail and even end up on auction sites
Starbucks Coffee Co., the Seattle-based java giant that prides itself on do-gooding, found this week that it can be a pain to do good unintentionally.
Free coffee, it seems, comes at a price.
The trouble, which has intensified like a caffeine headache, began with what was intended to be a batch of coupons for a few folks in Atlanta. But someone somewhere downloaded the file on the sly and it began popping up on auction sites and in e-mail boxes coast to coast.
Starbucks Coffee Co., the Seattle-based java giant that prides itself on do-gooding, found this week that it can be a pain to do good unintentionally.
Free coffee, it seems, comes at a price.
The trouble, which has intensified like a caffeine headache, began with what was intended to be a batch of coupons for a few folks in Atlanta. But someone somewhere downloaded the file on the sly and it began popping up on auction sites and in e-mail boxes coast to coast.
"Try your coffee iced," the coupon encourages, offering a free grande beverage between noon and 9 p.m. through Sept. 30. The small print directs holders to print the e-mail and present it to baristas.
So far, most Starbucks locations appear to be honoring the offer, which can be used for anything from a $2.05 iced Americano to a $3.70 banana coconut Frappuccino. An informal survey of Portland-area stores Tuesday found that the coupons are circulating here and that locals are enjoying a free drink on the man.
The company warns that some stores haven't heard the deal is legit, asking coupon-holders to be patient if baristas are unaware. They also ask customers to "use discretion," using only one of the coupons.
"We want you to go ahead and have a coffee on us," one operator said Tuesday, "we just don't want it to get out of hand."
But it's probably a little late for that.
Something for nothing doesn't last long on the Internet.
By Tuesday afternoon, one eBay auctioneer had started the bidding at 99 cents for a 20-pack of the coupons, plus $1.50 shipping.
Another born salesman offered the "free" coupon for $5 with no shipping charge.
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.)
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.
No thanks, I like my coffee hot and black.
Kinda like FEMA cards?.......
I've never been to a Starbucks. Do these "coffee" drinks come with little umbrellas too?
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!
No but often served by a pierced creature.
I don't like Starbucks anything. It's overpriced and too strong and tastes like garbage.
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.
not to mention a grande banana coconut frapuccino is like 500 calories! 2 hours in the gym, anyone?
LOL!
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.
I knew I should have used the coupon yesterday. Even though I prefer my coffee hot and black, free is free.
Iced coffee can be quite good -- just not Starbuck's.
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.
I am not even interesed in a FREE frappachoogle at Starbucks and I am a confirmed coffee addict. I don't do Starbucks.
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