Weekend OPEN THREAD: Continue the discussion about the price changes, or....

....talk about anything else Starbucks-related in the weekly OPEN THREAD. (Customers with questions about drinks or whatever will get answers from the many barista regulars here, too.) || Jump to the fourth page of comments.

Comments

[is it so hard to be civil]

on the subject of tips

I love when some one gives you $3.70 for a drink that rings at $3.69 and stands there with their hand out waiting for that penny back.

[goldcoast]

@thought of the day: I love how the plastic cups tout how environmentally friendly they are, yet they are not recyclable, while other coffeeshops in the area have recyclable plastic cups.

@is it so hard to be civil: and if they just gave you that penny you would be all complaining about how cheap they are, just tipping a penny. You have no ground to stand on complaining about how someone wants their change back, no matter how small.

[Bo]

@ThoughtoftheDay: All the boxes and cups we get still have the Solo/Berry brand markings but that may be different for other areas.

I'm just curious if there has been any development on it since this issue has been around for quite a while.

It seems like the tall dome lids are way too tight and the grande/venti cold flat lids are way too loose. The hot lids tend to be fine as long as the drinking hole doesn't line up with seam of the cup.

[is it so hard to be civil]

goldcoast

First off I said I love it. I've never complained about any tip received. It all adds up. I'm also thankful and say thank you to anyone who tips no matter the size.

Thank you for assuming positivity. Sunshine:P

[Jack]

anyone notice the dates on the horizon chocolate milk and 2% milk. a customer insisted it was expired because the 2% said year/month/day (09/10/09) and then the chocolate said 10/03/10....

[Thought of the Day]

@Bo are you implying that Solo and Berry are one and the same company?

[Bo]

@Thought of the Day: Sorry not at all, I should have clarified that we get Solo for our paper cups and hot lids while we use Berry for our plastic cups and cold lids. I just mashed them together since those were the brand markings on the boxes.

[Mrs. Tillinghamshackles]

Melody,
There is indeed going to be another fall coffee! Sulawesi Kalosi will launch on September 29th.

Sadly, I got to try this years Anniversary Blend this year. I wasn't too impressed. Too many Latin American beans, I think.

[LoveStarbucks/FormerPartner]

Wow... I remember when we got trained back in the old days, there was so much time for it. I remember we even went to visit stores just to get a feel of busy stores vs. slower stores and then even went to training centers just to get trained. We had meetings in which we discussed coffee, french presses with different slices of fruit which were amazing, sharing coffee experiences with our partners, all this happened before me and my partners opened the first store in my town, it was an amazing experience. Three years passed and they opened a new one, less than two years passed and it's already shut down, and once again my old home store got it's business back that it had lost once this other store was opened. I will always thank Starbucks for giving me the best training experience ANY other job has ever given me, it has still by far exceeded any other training i've gotten on the different jobs i've worked for, i'm just sad that the kind of training I got is now not as common, but who knows, maybe there are wonderful managers out there giving that amazing training experience I got. I will keep hoping for the glory days to return to Starbucks once more and lead in the coffee business once more.

[red_mug]

tips are great! i do for great service... which means i do most of the time.

if ya dont want to tip, dont.... geez you people are needy!
just because there is a tip jar doesnt mean you must...
how does nobody get this????????

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Will,
Obviously your mother should've used a rusty coat hanger on you or your father didn't push her down a long enough staircase.

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

At some Starbucks when they mark the cup, they have a secret code for those who tip... and those who don't. If you didn't tip, you can expect a VERY long wait, if there is a line of drinks.

[spence]

Someone needs to take their meds.

[GRTL]

Why is it so hard for DMs to introduce themselves? I mean really? Do they seriously believe they are that special and above everyone else?

[NeedsANewJob]

What happens when the person calling out is a barista on the SM's shift? Should the SM split into 2 people to make up for the missing body? Can't work the store with only 1 person in it even if it is the SM, thats policy.

And a SM is a salaried position for a certain number of hours per week. Just because you make a salary does NOT mean you are responsible for being there open - close every single day.

Lastly not making bonus is not always the SMs fault. My bonus was written long before they opened a store right next door. That store now takes about $7k a week of my business. I still blow away my Total Contribution but my Total Sales aren't anywhere near where they put my "bonus target" at.

[I HAVE 5 YAB-INGO™]

@ NeedsANewJob
What happens when the person calling out is a barista on the SM's shift? Should the SM split into 2 people to make up for the missing body? Can't work the store with only 1 person in it even if it is the SM, thats policy.

That's not true and I have opened my store with out my opening Barista on several occasions on my own until either my SM,ASM SS, or Barista could make it in...Remember what I told you the #1 job for a team that is happy and a REAL team is to make your SM makes that bonus, it takes a lot of trust on the SM's part and "Looking Away" at the fine print to know this person is trained enough to be able to handle this sort of pressure...I love it and thrive off of these situations, as well as have the trust and support from the SM to kick @$$, so I still know that the salary that the SM gets inplies when I call you and I am the only partner bringing in your bonus so the store operates you better get your tail to the shop, or I could GET SICK!! ;)

[: I HAVE 5 YAB-INGO™]

Why is it so hard for DMs to introduce themselves? I mean really? Do they seriously believe they are that special and above everyone else?

Posted by: GRTL

YES,SADLY THEY ARE, WELCOME TO CORPORATE AMERICA MY FRIEND!

[NeedsANewJob]

@ I have 5...

The issue isn't about being able to handle the workload the issue is about Safety and Security. You can and will be fired if you're found in the store working alone. It's not a safe situation. SM's have sick time too you know, maybe I'll call out sick on one of your shifts. Probably on a busy holiday.

[£I HAVE 5 YAB-INGO™]

@ I have 5...

The issue isn't about being able to handle the workload the issue is about Safety and Security. You can and will be fired if you're found in the store working alone. It's not a safe situation. SM's have sick time too you know, maybe I'll call out sick on one of your shifts. Probably on a busy holiday.

Posted by: NeedsANewJob

You're a cancer partner and it must suck to work with you cause your sounding like a little vagine!!!! so I know the game and I got a sick team, and it takes long to develop what we have, the hooting and the hollering, back and forth with the arguing, seems like you lost sight of what the positive is.. Your values are at desire, and it's not worth educating you, so have a nice cup of BOLD

And step off, I have issues with MAMI_MEL as well, but she runs this little bliggity-blog thing you people spank over so don't disrespect her...

Oh I'm always safe & secure (as well as my partners), 9mm Ruger under neath the waist, you know!! ;)

[I HAVE 5 YAB-INGO]

Sorry I was so passionate I meant to direct the last comment atNeedsANewJob

The white widow has me slow, I apologize readers! ;)

[NeedANewJob]

I'm hoping the 9mm comment was a joke. Carrying a weapon to work will get you canned ASAP. If you want to protect yourself carry a .45 anyway...

"Your values are at desire, and it's not worth educating you..."

What does that even mean? I'm not sayin' anything about you personally I just can't believe that people seem to think SMs are some sort of super human beings who never get sick, have no kids, no husbands/wives/significant others or plans outside work because they make a SALARY.

[5 YAB-INGO]

Listen,I'm going to be as real an tell you the truth...here it is, you as the SM employee a lot of people and control their lives, health benefits, positions in advancing, work environment, daily life and I can go on and on, so the fact is this "Team" you have created, that you trust to run your store when you can either be there or not, due to how much positive evolvement you have with your partners and coaching, training and connecting and giving a shit means SO MUCH to the PARTNERS who invest money, run the load, and still try to have a life outside everything we create for Everyone involved (that being, Investors, partners, customers,HOWARD and so on)... MELODY has been on this ride for a while and she cares more than any customer I know, does she have a stake in positive culture and profit for the company, YES she has gambled and lost money and wants to make it back...is she a CORP MULE< SADLY YES, but she knows a lot and has a lot on the table, me as well, but I'm on the front line and I've been in every "Position" on the front line and have settled into something that I have found longevity and transcended the company across the country by Unionizing this B$$TCh...So there is a hole structure for every position and we all have a role, the SM who is on Salary needs to perform...bottom line, to much is at stake, in case you haven't realized this point, there it is PAPI@™

[NeedANewJob]

@ Papi

Is the point of your post "Form a union"? I really don't understand what you're trying to say. How is the SMs performance related to how much they work? I know SMs who work 70 hours a week and are terrible and some who work 35 and are amazing. You talk about respect and your team. Why is it always that respect should go down the chain, but never up. If a partner respects you shouldn't they try to cover their own shift? If your team respects you they'll understand that you need your days off too!

If one of my partners is sick and I need to cover their shift, so be it, but I'll look to them to pick up one of my shifts later in the week. If they're sick for a week well that's a different story. My point is respect is a 2 way street, I will bend over backwards for partners who will do the same for me. If you treat me like crapola then don't expect me to make any effort to help you.

[DUDA_BING0@™]

In life their are situations that you never thought could go down, like your SM raping a under age female employee, there's a lot of stuff that goes down at our work place, the SM is responsible, or lawsuit... to prevent this I decided to invest time in my partners, store, community, financial investment, career, life and so on... so I got rid of these issues at my store, partners love it, yes we are Union, our SM supports our efforts and has made bonus the past 3 year.. .oh and this year as well no doubt, but we created this environment, with a vision and dedication... so really I'm done u have no clue of those " good old days" and we are a dying breed!!

[NeedANewJob]

LOL @ "no clue of the good old days" comment. You have NO idea how long I've been a partner...

[Jeff]

I belong to this website that sends you new product surveys, and I got one today for a new Starbucks bottled beverage. (I saved the page as a .pdf so I could type the information in here, but apparently it was an image and didn't save to the .pdf, so I have to do this on memory). Anyway, it's being marketed as a morning beverage- a meal replacement type thing. It's cold, in a 12oz bottle, and comes in three flavors- cafe au lait, mocha, and cappuchino. It contained fiber and extra vitamins.
Just thought it was interesting and that you all might want to know to keep an eye out for it.

[oldschoolkid]

@5 YAB-INGO

How in the world are you safe when you are in a store by yourself? What if you have to access the safe? What does the solo store do to Starbucks brand image? Are you really giving people the level of service that they are paying for? I don't think you're safe, I don't you are making Starbucks into a true third place by yourself...and if I were a shift at your store and knew that you opened by yourself I would call the DM and partner resources to report you before you get robbed and rob the customer of the proper experience.

[Aces of Eight]

This promotion looks good, not a bunch of new drinks, just the usual return of the pumpkin spice latte and a refocus on the signature hot chocolate that we never actually stopped carrying.

That plus four coffee's anniversary, yukon, sulawesi and thanksgiving, plus sometime this fall via is going national.

Not really exciting, but I love pumpkin spice so yeah.

[NEWS]

Not your mom's instant java; Starbucks prepares for instant coffee blitz

BY SARA KIESLER
SPECIAL TO SEATTLEPI.COM

From the top of Hotel 1000 Thursday night, a crowd of about 30 guests and a dozen Starbucks employees anxiously watched as four of the city's bartenders tried their hand at using the new VIA Instant Coffee in a cocktail mix-off.

Reviews online for the coffee giant's hat tip at the $21 billion instant coffee market have been lukewarm, though many say the little packets promising premium roasts are better than "your mother's instant."

Starbucks introduced VIA in February and brought it to its Seattle stores in March.

But as Starbucks prepares a nationwide release this fall of its new patent-pending microground creation, which uses no harsh chemicals and is made from ethically sourced beans -- grown and bought in a manner fair to farmers -- it is gearing up for a new conversation on instant coffee.

CEO Howard Schultz blasted the "other" instant coffees before the cocktail mix-off Thursday, where Anu Apte of Rob Roy was recognized as the winner for her sweet rum, egg white, coffee and dry vanilla soda mix. Apte was given $5,000 to donate to a charity of her choice (she picked ASTAR, a local center for autism).

"Instant coffee is nothing more than caffeine fuel blended with artificial colors and chemicals," Schultz said. He further likened Starbucks' new instant to its store coffees, saying the taste, body and acidity are matched.

Starbucks worked for more than 20 years on an instant coffee it had enough confidence in to sell, and VIA is stamped with the company's seal of approval, spokeswoman Sanja Gould said.

"We put it out there. We're trusting our baby," Gould said.

It isn't easy to change the hearts and minds of all the coffee snobs who would never come close to touching instant off the grocery shelves, but, Gould said, the key is getting people to taste VIA.

For starters, the creation is patent-pending and different from the chemical process of most instant coffees, plus the beans used are ethically sourced and verified by a third party, she said.

"Even though you don't think of instant when you think of coffee anymore, when you taste it you will change your mind," Gould said. "It tastes just like brewed coffee; it's very difficult to tell the difference."

Instant coffee was one of Schultz's goals upon returning as CEO in early 2008, Gould said, which resulted in a research and technology-based discovery of methods to create Starbucks' instant version.

The little packets they created come in both a medium Colombian roast and a dark-bodied Italian roast. VIA was released in New York in February, and soon could be found in 200 stores in Seattle, 350 in Illinois and another 20 in London.

There are countries where instant coffee has a bigger share of the market, such as Japan, Russia and the UK, but Starbucks wanted to be sure to release it early in the U.S. because of the effect it could have on its brand, Gould said.

That's one reason the company is on such a drive to get it into the hands of foodies, the media, bloggers, baristas, analysts and anyone else who wants to try it.

And Starbucks isn't foolish enough to think this will replace coffee consumers' love of lattes and the trusty old-fashioned drip, but Starbucks does think VIA will serve as a good alternative for the Starbucks-addicted while they are on the road, camping, staying in hotels or otherwise unable to visit a store with the mermaid insignia.

Though the Seattle-based company doesn't break out success by product numbers, Gould said VIA is getting an overwhelmingly positive response from customers and coffee experts alike.

In one Sequim store where there was no access to the instant coffee, a Starbucks store manager from Gig Harbor transferred some VIA to the district manager in Port Orchard. From there, she and her father got on a fishing boat and sailed it to Sequim.

To check out VIA, you can buy it online or find it in Starbucks, Target and Costco stores in Seattle. A 3-pack is $2.95 and a 12-pack is $9.95, pricier than most instant coffees but still less than a buck a cup.

© 1998-2009 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

[Melody]

@Aces of Eight & MrsTillinghamshackles: I'm looking forward to the new coffee offerings. They all sound good. I liked Thanksgiving Blend last year too, and glad to see its return. Thanks for the list of all 4 new coffees!

[Nicole]

Alanna~
As a 4 year Starbucks Supervisor, I agree with ordering a Decaf Grande Sugar-Free Vanilla Latte. Whether or not you say "2%" in there is up to you, but the word "skinny" automatically means nonfat-AND-SF now, so that may be where the confusion has arisen.
My other tip for you is, why don't you make the effort to get to know the baristas at your store/s by name? Introduce yourself when they answer the drive-thru (often they will greet you with their name, too, like "Welcome to Starbucks, this is Nicole, how's your day goin'?") and be super conversational and nice... I almost guarantee that sooner than later, they'll know you as a regular, know your drink by heart, and possibly have it done sooner because they will begin making it as soon as they hear your voice. At my store we have a number of regulars who order the same drink/s every day, and so they are known as "Dee's Drink" or "John's White Mocha" or "Todd and Allison's you-know-wells".... Those people neeeeeeeeever get their drinks made wrong. They get more freebies, too. We love them!!! :-)

Maria~
Hello :-) I have to say as a coffee connoisseur, I hate to hear that you are rewarming your coffee in the morning! Blech! But for your sake, I will give you the best advice I'd give a customer at my store. :-)
For one, maybe consider buying a Starbucks microwave-safe tumbler. You can get your coffee in that at night, with a 10-cent cup discount for every purchase (and at my store at least, a free drink of your choice when you initially buy the cup), and reheat it effortlessly in the morning in any microwave. Check the bottom of the cup to make sure it's microwave-safe. A lot of them are, but not all. Also, if you let the coffee sit all night and then reheat it in a paper cup, I'm concerned for your safety because the seams at the side and bottom of the cup aren't made for repeated or prolonged use.... if they were to burst and hot coffee got all over you, it'd be tragedy. We're having some gorgeous new tumblers starting 9/1 for the Fall season at Starbucks, and even if you don't want one of those, the old ones tend to go on clearance right away when we get the new. So shop around and enjoy!

[Sneaky]

@Nicole

YOU ROCK!

[Nicole]

why ty ;-)

[condiment question]

random question - is the half and half that Starbucks uses at the condiment station 100% dairy? I see "half and half" at the grocery with all kinds of random ingredients in it.

[S]

Condiment Question:
YES.

[sucka]

WOW,

If you don't want to pay the prices you can go get your fake latte at McDonalds and hope to talk to an Illegal immigrant with a strong English accent.

You pay for what you get. Then maybe you can ask the illegal to help you out to your car and see what happens. Or maybe the illegal will ask you how your family is doing. Or remake you horrible machine made latte again if it tastes wrong. Maybe they will actually say "gracias" on your way out. Or clean up you childrens mess in the lobby.

You dont have to tip if you dont want to or even pay the prices. But just remember that you can always go somewhere else where you get poor service and poor quality.

We go above and beyond our job description many times. You all should know why our prices were raised and they have not been in the past three years. Any other food business raises their prices a couple times a year and thats why they can afford to lower them now the economy is bad just to make them look good.

[ARTICLE/NEWS]

Starbucks week in review: Mother Earth Farms, celebrity baristas, tea challenge
August 16, 6:09 PMStarbucks ExaminerCindy Tickle

Starbucks Examiner, Cindy Tickle

At the end of every week, we are going to take a look back at what was hot in Starbucks news on Examiner.com. So grab your favorite cup of java, sit back, relax and catch up on what’s happening with the world’s largest coffee addiction.

It’s been a fairly quiet news week for Starbucks – even the Starbucks Examiner took a break. Much attention was focused on the Starbucks stock price, which reached a 52-week high of $19.69 this week. The stock closed at $19.12 on Friday. Has Starbucks finally turned the corner? All the shareholders hope so.

A little known fact is the amount of volunteer work Starbucks partners (employees) do in their local communities. The Seattle Boomer Examiner looks at one such volunteer activity at Mother Earth Farms in Puyallup, Washington.

Did you know some celebrities spent time pulling shots at Starbucks before becoming famous? The classic example is Mike Kroege from Nickelback. His job as a barista even inspired the name for his band. He would give change to customers and say, “Here’s your nickel back.” A couple of Examiners spill the coffee beans on other former baristas.
And last week, the Tacoma Tea Examiner challenged coffee drinkers with the “10 Reasons to switch from coffee to tea” piece. The LA Coffee Examiner crafted a witty rebuttal in the name of coffee lovers everywhere. Here’s a question – how’s tea at curing hangovers?
Until next week, may your coffee be fresh and your espresso sweet…

[PA SM]

To any barista or shift who says the "lazy" SM looks for a reason to sit in back, actually take a second to watch what they are doing in back. Are they just staring at a blank screen or are they answering email, writing a review, doing a QASA, ordering products, coming up with plans of action, planning and organizing for the next role out, working on the schedule, dealing with customer issues, maintaining the time and attendance.... I could keep going with other SM tasks that make the store run but I don't have that much time.

[is it so hard to be civil]

PA SM

Admin time is the time for those things. If you're scheduled on the floor that's where you need to be. Typically they are just slacking in back. Texting or playing with their Iphone or flirting with baristas. Anything to avoid real work on the floor.

[PA SM]

civil

You really have no clue how much admin time we have vs. how much work we have to get done. We need to do most of those things everyday not just on Monday. We are required to maintain the BOH work throughout the week to give our DM's reports on anything they are asking of us. Look at any other company around and see if they have managers who are doing "floor" work all day everyday. Ordering, communications, follow-up, and so much more need to be done all day everyday or else the store will fall apart. You are just shielded from the reality of what needs to be done because you are not in the position to need to know. If you are friends with a neighboring shift or ASM I would ask them what they know actually goes on. If your SM is doing the things you say then sure that is wrong but I can tell you I am one of the most successful SM's in my area and trust me we do need to get work done in the back when possible. Tell me how often the boss at your next job is on the floor when they are scheduled to be.

[HOT]

here we go again.

Facilities is telling the Tech's that they don't have anymore Money to spend to fix items in the Store.

This can't be True, if the Store looks at the P&L the Money comes right off the top, and the Store doesn't have to Pay more for Service that they have already paid for.

So what I am saying Make sure the Techs are Fixing everything you want done in your store.

If they don't this will all go to FSN and will cost you more in the long run, because Facilities will be out of the picture.

So when a Tech tells you it will Cost a lot to Fix a problem, he is Lieing, he was told to tell you this by Facilities

I have been to a lot of Stores and have given the Stores a list of problems to get Fixed, Facilities told them they can't get them done, all Lie's.....

[Medic45]

I don't know why Facilities is backing out of the Picture so fast.

Why aren't they makeing sure that all items in the Stores are being Fixed before the Service goes to FSN.

This will cost the Store more in the long run, and Piss of the Store Manager.

Remember that if you don't get the problem Fixed now it will cost a ton more with FSN, they will make you call in everything wrong, so they can get a work order for each problem....

Fix it now or pay later....

make Facilities stand up and do their Job...

Keep a record of each problem you have in your Store and if it doesn't get Fixed now, you will have something to fall back on.

write each item down and date, it's good to cover our Ass.. through Facilities under the Bus,,, they would do the same to you, Stating you never told them you had the problem in the first place...

been there, and see it happen....

[is it so hard to be civil]

PA SM

I have no clue? Really?!? My ASM and SM count on me for everything at our store. I wish I was shielded. Everyone has plenty to do with this new "LEAN". No one else gets admin time. I do all the extra stuff my SM asks of me.

Do you know what a SS has to accomplish on top of their floor duties? SS don't get admin time. We don't run in the back and hide at the desk. We don't stroll in late for our floor shift and say we're running labor and take 45 mins to do so. Then work on bar for maybe an hour and then take our first break. Then take a half hour to do one till audit. Then another half hour to do a values walk.

If you are so lazy and afraid of real work maybe YOU should get a job in a cubicle and sit at a desk all day.

A real leader is on the front line leading by example. Do you think Gordon Ramsey got to where he is by sitting at his desk or leading his staff???

If scheduled on the floor work on the floor. That's how the store makes money. Short staffing the floor is NEVER the right thing to do.

I'm terrible sorry if I hurt your feelings. I hit a nerve. Does your staff talk a lot about "our lazy SM"? How does that make you feel:(

BTW

A big thanks to the SM's and DM's who haven't shown courage in leadership. Thanks for just saying yes instead of standing up for what's right.

[Alan Reid]

I'd pay for GULTEN FREE options, but you no longer offer them.. so I go way out of my way to find cafe's with a clue...

[Melody]

What do you guys think of the new change where everyone (not just Gold Card holders) gets a free birthday drink?? I haven't seen this mysterious new email. Thread about it is here:

http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ideaView?id=087500000005Uc8AAE

(^Link is my name for this post only).

I guess people will be happy to get more free things but in my opinion, it's a bit of an insult to those who paid $25 to get that perk. Just wondering what others think ...Am I off base here?

[lavenderwrites..]

Melody, at most the stores I've worked at, if someone mentions that it's their birthday, their drink is free. If someone mention's their getting married, their drink is free.(That was a random one but I thought of it because we just had a bride come in on the BIG day this last Saturday) It's not a rule, it's just legendary and not all baristas will do it or think to do it but I've seen it done alot and I could never in good conscience charge somebody for their drink on their birthday. Hello, that's what the Right Now Recovery button is for, right??

I can see why you think it's an insult to the goldcard members, but the free birthday gift is just ONE TINY aspect of the goldcard benefits, so it's not something that I expect customers to get upset about and if they do, that's sad and they need to grow up:) Honestly can you imagine a person in line?

"Hey! they don't have a Gold card! Don't give them that grande kona clover for free! I don't care if it's her birthday or not.. Some of us PAID to get special treatment on our birthdays!!"

That would be very sad indeed.

[@usorthem3]

@StarbucksMelody I got my email because I have a registered card but since my Bday was last month,Oops missed that one I guess I can wait till next July for that freebie. I do agree that now Instead of the hundreds of thousands to get a free Bday drink that pay $25 annually for that perk the company now gives it to millions instead all, for registering a card. Your base is firmly planted with a flag of WTF! LOL

lavendarwrites.. I think you miss the point that Melody has made on various occasions, that the growing trend in the average Sbux customer base is more about getting something for free due to that expectation, than to purchase goods or services in what claims to be a "Premier Purveyor of the Superior Experience in coffee"! The Gold members feel that they have been cheated out of one (no matter how small) of the benefits which lead them to purchase a Gold Card in the first place. It goes back to the saying" No one will ever buy the cow, if they can taste the milk for free".

[Thought of the Day]

I understand your frustration @Melody. Thank heavens my Gold Card was a gift from Starbucks, but I WILL NOT be renewing. Beside Gold members being promised a "free birthday drink", they were also promised other "perks" but those "perks" have never come to fruition. One really has to compare the cards side by side to see what card would really benefit them more....But of course this is old news....

[DAMN-GO]

@ MEL
Which base are you OFF? ;)