Starbucks to change number of rewards ‘stars’ needed for free drinks in February
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The number of “stars” Starbucks customers in the US and Canada will need to get certain free food and drinks through the company’s rewards program is scheduled to increase in February.
When members of the Starbucks rewards program spend money with the coffee shop chain, they can earn stars, including two for every $1 with a Starbucks card and one for every $1 with a credit or debit card. They can put those stars towards rewards such as free drinks and merchandise, depending on how many they have.
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The update to the Starbucks Rewards program, detailed on the company’s website, includes increasing the number of “stars” needed to redeem items by three levels. Starbucks is also changing the tiers through which some food, beverages and other products can be purchased.
The “Siren” logo hangs outside a Starbucks location in Boston on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa/AP Newsroom)
The changes, first reported on Tuesday by Insider, take effect on February 13. American and Canadian rewards members were notified of the upcoming changes, according to Starbucks.
Under the February changes, customers will need to have earned 100 stars to receive:
A hot coffee A hot steeped tea An iced coffee An iced tea, a bakery item A packaged snack A packaged snack A 24-ounce Cold Mermaid Logo.
For hot coffee, hot tea and a bakery item, this will mark an increase of 50 stars from the 50 currently required to redeem them. Meanwhile, the number of stars to get an iced coffee, iced tea and snack pack is decreasing by 50 stars.
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To-go cups are also new to the level.
Starbucks has more than 15,000 locations in 50 countries. (iStock / iStock)
The following items will be purchasable for 200 stars:
A handcrafted drink A hot breakfast item
Customers can currently get a handcrafted drink like a latte or a hot breakfast item like oatmeal for 150 stars.
Here’s what customers can get for 300 stars in February:
A packaged salad or lunch sandwich A packaged protein box A packaged coffee item
Packaged meals that will be made at 300 stars can currently be purchased for 200 stars. Packaged coffee, however, has dropped one level from 400 stars.
The lowest and highest reward tiers will not see their point requirements change, remaining at 25 and 400 stars respectively.
The number of “stars” Starbucks customers in the US and Canada will need to get certain free food and drinks through the company’s rewards program is scheduled to increase in February. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File/AP Newsroom)
Through the 25-star level, customers can purchase a drink modifier, such as an extra shot of espresso or a syrup. They’ll also be able to get a “select item of Starbucks merchandise up to a $20 value” by using 400 stars in February.
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Other aspects of the Starbucks rewards program — like its free birthday reward and its reusable cup benefit — and how members can earn Star Points also remain the same, according to Starbucks.
In early November, Starbucks reported that total active Starbucks Rewards members in the US for the fourth quarter were 28.7 million, a 16% increase from the same time last year.
Ticker Security Last Change Change % SBUX STARBUCKS CORP. 99.77 +1.17 +1.19%
It also said at the time that it generated $8.414 billion in fourth-quarter revenue, up from $8.147 billion in the fourth quarter last year. Quarterly net earnings narrowed from $1.764 billion to $878.3 million.
