What are you hearing about the free Wi-Fi debut? Is it happening on Tuesday?

It's all over the Internet that AT&T Wi-Fi debuts at Starbucks stores on Tuesday. Confirmations (or denials), please. (Consumerist.com || SeekingAlpha.com

Comments

[Hirayuki]

That's what I was told at my local Starbucks today (metro Detroit). They also assured me that the registered card benefits would be in full force as of Tuesday as well, so supposedly everyone will know about them and implement them accordingly.

[Jon SBUX FORUM]

I hope that my local Starbucks aren't flooded by laptop people who feel entitled to sit there for 2 hours each day just by purchasing 2 things each month.

[BaristainNC]

My iPhone has picked up AT&T for at least a couple of weeks. Maybe its just the partner perk - but we've had both internet connections working in my store for a while now.

[Wondering...]

Someone explain the log in process? AT and T has been "on" at my local store for a while. I have had a registered Starbucks card for months. What should I be typing in at the AT and T login screen?

[waltie]

The free wi-fi for partners has been working for about two weeks now. I was told by my DM that it would roll out for customers sometime in July.

It's certainly not starting this week. And that's official.

[Starbucks Fan]

Waltie--

It rolls out tommorow, the 3rd. If your store is a T-Mobile hotspot, there is at ATT splash logo that will connect you still for free under the 2 hour terms.

Likely, you store is getting ATT in July, and is using the T-Mobile roaming contract. Wifi starts tommorow, June 3rd.

[espressoblend]

Amazes me that SBUX rolled out the free wifi to their staff before the free wifi hit their customers.

Maybe the issue of putting customers first isn't just a store-level thing.

They better get good at the customer-first thing really fast before Peltz has his way. Otherwise, it's going to be a fast, difficult transition in the way SBUX does business now (the wrong way) to the way Peltz and his hand-chosen board will require SBUX to run the show.

[Zipy]

Ut oh. No one mention starbucks partners get to taste the new food products we get in, first, too!

[waltie]

So far as I know, there's nothing official about any of this. I worked yesterday and there were no emails, voicemails, or alerts on the portal.

It may very well be happening in certain districts, but I recommend AGAINST going to your local Starbucks tomorrow expecting free Wi-fi. Because it won't be there.

[Waltie]

And there was nothing selfish or unrighteous about giving free wi-fi to the partners before the customers. All new products are used and tested by employees first. It's just good, smart business. It allows the partners to understand the system before the customers ask questions about it, and it allows the company to work out any bugs before it is rolled out to paying customers.

Stop trying to find conflict where there is none.

[Barista Joe]

yep, I'm on my ipod right now at sbux!

[jamie]

@ Hiruyaki - yeah guy - maybe you could walk around and check their receipts buddy!

sbux is a s'it show. they STILL haven't gotten the wireless in? slow to move. my money - which was going to sbux stock - is off it. they just don't have the operations chops to make it. My sbux card, which is 'registered' is confirmed as registered by some baristas - the others still dont know what that means - and I still get charged for "free refills". Its like you have to manage the process each and every time.

And I just called in there: "do you have free wireless yet?" "yes sir we've had wireless for a long time" - I had to walk her through the process, she asks her boss, than gets back on the phone - "oh ok..so we'll have that tomorrow"

no one is home. im in these stores all the time - no one is home. They don't know what is going on. whether its new coffee, free wireless, the fac that they are a coffee shop, etc...just out to lunch express.

shorting sbux

[smalrus]

I second Waltie,

Testing the AT&T WiFi with partners first isn't why the stock price has been tanking in the last 18 months.

In addition, the AT&T WiFi deal was a joint business venture. It has nothing to do with the Starbucks business model.

Nelson Peltz's investment strategy is to spin out non-core businesses in order of raising profit margins on core operations. The fact that he would have to hand pick his board (likely requiring a proxy battle, at that) has no logical connection to WiFi rollout to partners first.

Look at Wendy's, Kraft, and Cadbury-Schweppes and maybe read a few things about the man and his strategies before name dropping him.

[Beranzo]

Does this mean as partners we'll get discounts on our AT&T service?

It might make sense with the whole iTunes, iPhone, iPod Touch integration system - and of course I know that there is a partner T-Mobile discount...

...so any word on this?

[hearbutloud]

AT&T is up and running TODAY if you already have a T-Mobile hotspot - it should be available to everyone, not just partners. It's the same username and password as your Starbucks Rewards account - except your username will be in all lowercase letters.

[xyz]

so what are the requirements to free 2hr/day wifi besides having a registered card?

[g]

did everyone see the action item on the portal today that the first merchandise only outlet store will open in Ontario this month? Old promo merchandise cheep, that should raise the stock price.

[Iced Soy Latte]

Free WiFi indeed starts tomorrow!

There was an action item about it last week on the portal with PDF files of all the info.. including new signage to go on the registers to remind baristas of the Card Rewards, a window cling, and FAQ's.

And today we got the signage and were supposed to post it, and go over it with our baristas.

And that's the word.

Plus one of the new "rewards" (no longer "benefits") with a registered starbucks card is your first drink for free!

[Viet Coffee]

I get the sense that a SBUX Wi-Fi program will be rough around the edges going out the shute. It's managed by the Company's IT guy, who also manages the SBUX entertainment division. Perhaps he's in over his head. Let's hope Wi-Fi shapes up to be better than his entertainment efforts. One of the guy's early CD picks is a Carly Simon CD -- cover shot features Carly smelling her own arm pit.

[DTRBOY]

@BERANZO

I've been getting a 10% discount on my AT&T cell bill for over a year now, do you not have a Perkscard account?

[Melody]

>>Plus one of the new "rewards" (no longer "benefits") with a registered starbucks card is your first drink for free!<<

What if your card has already been registered for a while? Do you still get a free drink?

So it's the same user name and password as your registered Starbucks card? A lot people register and forget (I just have!) and the Starbucks website is not nearly as organized as say something like "ebay" in terms of reminding you of your user name. I wish I could remember my user name!

[FLA SM]

Wi-Fi is free only if your store had any wi-fi to begin with. My store has been open 19 months and we still don't have any wi-fi yet!

[radiopromoguy]

"I've been getting a 10% discount on my AT&T cell bill for over a year now, do you not have a Perkscard account?"

Unfortunately, the AT&T discount doesn't apply to us partners with iPhones. :-(

[Cali ASM]

did everyone see the action item on the portal today that the first merchandise only outlet store will open in Ontario this month? Old promo merchandise cheep, that should raise the stock price.

You have got to be kidding me!!!!!

Sbux = down the drain