Starbucks tests app that lets customers pay from their iPhone

The Starbucks card mobile app is being tested at select stores in Seattle, Cupertino, Calif., Mountain View, Calif., Sunnyvale, Calif., and San Jose. It works just like a regular Starbucks card, in that you buy credit then use it against your orders. When you want to buy a drink, turn on the app, and your screen will show a barcode. The store will scan the barcode and the dollar value of the drink will be subtracted from your purchased credit. LET'S HEAR FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO'VE USED THIS. || Read "From Starbucks, Coffee From the Future"

Comments

[Scott]

I think its a great idea & i would use it on my Iphone...

[Paul]

I would use it, although, I really enjoy using the card I got from Pike Place Market

[Melody]

There is a you tube video from Starbucks on this as well as an MSI blog post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4P0Eb9A3mQ

These days there has to be a you-tube video for everything. Starbucks has a knack for catchy short videos. Anyways, when featuring the store locator-app, I did get a small smile when the app zooms in on the 1st & Pike Starbucks in Seattle.

(I don't use an iPhone. I must be the last person without one.)

[NEWS]

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Buy a Starbucks latte? There's an iPhone app for that

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Starbucks is testing a software appplication that will let customers pay for purchases using their iPhones.

The company is also launching a second app that helps finds the nearest Starbucks store and provides information about what's on the menu.

These are the company's first forays into iPhone apps, although it has worked closely with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) on other offerings, including making songs heard in the store available for purchase through iTunes.

Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) said the ideas came from customer feedback and from My Starbucks Idea, an online suggestion box launched last year.

Other unofficial Starbucks apps for the iPhone already did some of the things the new apps will do. These include iApp's Find a Starbucks Coffee, Snow Storm’s Expresso Pro and ourLivez’s Sbux Card.

The payment app is being tested in 16 stores in Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area.

© American City Business Journals Inc.

[calm]

I was shown how to do it yesterday. Seems pretty simple and would fairly unobtrusive provided that customers can log onto the app at the same speed they can find their Starbucks card. (Shouldn't be too hard to beat considering how easily those things get lost in big purses/wallets)

[Brent]

Just read the following tweet from SBUX_IronChef

"Since I live in Silicon Valley, I'll be happy to go out and test the new @starbucks iPhone payment method some time this weekend."

[Melody]

I only wrote half a thought last post ... shoot. One of the very funniest things about the you tube video that I linked above is that it uses the 1st & Pike store as its iPhone store locator example.

But if you go to the Starbucks store locator and read the address it gives, it says 102 Pike Place, but the store is actually at 102 Pike Street. I'm sure of it. Pike Place runs north-south. Pike Street runs east-west.

In other words, the you-tube video for the iPhone locator picked a store where there is an error in the store address. It's a little funny to me.

[waltie]

This is a kernel of a clever idea gone wrong. This saves no time and, in fact, is even less convenient than just ordering normally. You still have to wait in line and interact with the partner at the register. The only thing this changes is that you no longer have to pull out money. Instead, you have to log onto the network, run the app, type in what you want, and have it scanned in.

This saves time somehow? This is supposed to be convenient? What need is this actually filling? The end result of this kind of app would be to *bypass* the line all together, but this doesn't do that.

This is pointless.

[Barista]

waltie:

Look into things before commenting so you don't waste *our* time.

The mystarbucks app allows you to customize drinks, see options you never knew you had, and see how they are marked. You can SAVE your favorite drinks and with one click *BAM* the Barista sees the marked cup. It IS faster because in high volume event stores someone walks in the line with cups, asks customers what they want, and marks their cup for them. They walk up, hand the cup and they are charged. Not so difficult.

The OTHER app is just a barcode which connects to your starbucks card. So instead of using your card you use this app. No logging into anything or typing your drink in every time.

[waltie]

But... you still have to wait in line, therefore it's pointless and doesn't save more than -- at best - a second or two of time.

Pointless.

[Ol' Dirty Barista]

Well, even as a partner (who does spend money at Starbucks pretty often), I'd use it. Do I ever have my partner card loaded with money? Well, yeah. Do ever remember to bring the damn thing with me? No; I usually forget my wallet altogether. Do I always have my iPhone? Hell yeah I do.

My iPhone's usually in my hand or my pocket. Any cards (debit card, ID, bus pass) are usually floating around the bottom of my purse buried under napkins, S&L packets, and receipts. I'd use the crap out of this app. It would save me (personally) MINUTES at the register.

[me]

yeah... the barcode is just a replacement for swiping the starbucks card... If ya get it all set while in line, it would be nice... i would rather do that than pull out and go through my wallet..

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP Webmaster]

App commerce is the future. I've used the iPhone app for ordering at Chipotle (order was ready when I stepped in the door), and for redeeming Best Buy 10% off coupons. (A bar code shows up on the iPhone and they scan it.) I'm looking forward to using the SBUX app, too.

[Sharon]

Logging into a network and running the app consists of pushing ONE button on something that is usually in my hand anyway. Way more convenient than digging a card out of my wallet. Not in the test area but wish I was. These apps look great, just downloaded them and they seem to work fine.

[CoffeeMaster33]

I really wish these were available in Canada. I know the payment is only in testing in certain US cities, but the locater app wouldn't be too hard to port to Canada.

[is it so hard to be civil]

This is just another step in the disconnection with customers and partners.

[green_cup]

This is just another step in the disconnection with customers and partners.

Posted by: is it so hard to be civil | September 23, 2009 at 04:42 PM

And, that is how Starbucks will save their brand. The more they can remove the rude, self-entitled "barista" the better off the brand will be.

[Chris]

Why did they make *two* apps instead of just one with both features? More screen real estate on your iPhone?

[crema_the_crop]

The more self-entitled customers the brand can attract, the better off the brand will be. Like you, green_cup. Thanks!

[lurker]

Walter.

As someone who paid with the mobile app twice today, allow me to...

-It saves time for everyone else. I don't need to waste your time while I reload at the register.
-It saves seconds for the barista and me.....on every transaction. I don't need to pass them anything or vice versa. They don't need to ask me if I want my receipt/balance because it's on my phone. Given the number of customers in line every mining, my guess is that those seconds add up.

[Coffee Soldier]

Lurker....what about your treat receipt? It's still going until the 28th

[wow.]

If someone showed them their receipt after two on their iphone on the same day, I'd accept it.

[CoffeeMaster33]

Disconnection from the customer? If anything, this will connect us more. First, it saves the barista from having to divert their attention to counting change or directing the customer to the debit terminal. Second, it's a great conversation starter, and gets other people in line interested as well.

People have been asking for something like this for years, and Starbucks is finally delivering. For the number of people who think this is a ridiculous waste of time, there are even more people who are rejoicing.

[SBsmooth]

I'm at one of the test stores. if you guys could of seen the look on these customers faces when they used it. they were so happy. how many times has someone held up the line because they couldn't find their sbux card and didn't want to pay with another method. now they'll never lose their card because it's always in their phone. first day of the launch and we got dozens of customers to use it. next week i'm sure a third of our customers will use this method. it will speed up the wait for them and eliminate steps for us because they scan the code themselves. only problem we've seen so far, scratched up screen protectors won't scan. otherwise it's going off without a hitch

[green_cup]

The more self-entitled customers the brand can attract, the better off the brand will be. Like you, green_cup. Thanks!

Posted by: crema_the_crop | September 23, 2009 at 06:27 PM

The only thing, though, is that you have your facts wrong. Customers of Starbucks can't be "self-entitled," as Starbucks' policies and service-standards require the people behind the counter to treat their customers with the best service standards.

Too bad that doesn't really happen.

Customers are entitled to the best products and service; Employees are only entitled to make sure they're giving that service.

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP Webmaster]

>>>Why did they make *two* apps instead of just one with both features? More screen real estate on your iPhone?

I agree -- two apps aren't necessary. I downloaded both, but deleted one. You're getting greedy with iPhone real estate, Starbucks.

[Barismo]

How will people use this when they walk up to the register wrapped up in conversation on their iPhones? Hanging up is obviously not an option!

[ICU]

"Customers are entitled to the best products and service; "

Lol, no. Customers are entitled to the product that they paid for. Nothing more, nothing less. The fact that Sbux urges their employees to be as friendly and connecting as possible is just a perk. But, as usual, it's had a terrible backlash effect of producing horribly self-entitled customers and people such as yourself.

[druidbros]

About time. If you have been to Japan or Europe in the last few years you will know that you can use your phone to buy almost anything including a Coke at a machine. Lets get with it US.

[SBUCKS DRONE LOS ANGELES]

I don't have an iphone (nor would I ever purchase one) but they really just do have an app now for pretty much anything. What's next, an app that dispenses toilet paper when there's none around? What's wrong with a customer coming into the store and paying? So we're making people lazier with these apps? What's the deal? Seriously? (Can you tell I am annoyed?)