Mobile payment debuts nationally at Starbucks

At 6,800 company-operated stores, Starbucks customers can now pay for purchases with their smartphones. Are your customers taking advantage of this? Does it speed jup the process? Or slow it down? || Read "Mobile payment debuts nationally at Starbucks"

Comments

[CLL]

Still no love for the Android users.

[Coffee Soldier]

We've had this for about a month now and we have about 6 regular customers use it a day...seems to be same speed...one guy is nice and quick cause he has his phone in hand but the other 5 are woman who are then digging in their giant bags to find their i-phones which is just as long as someone who is digging for money! It's a nice feature to have in the store but not being used by the masses yet.

[PunkyBrewster]

I like that people will actually have to stop talking on their phones for a few seconds during their transaction in order to scan it :)

[Ralph Daily]

I went to my local store and they said the scan wouldn't be implemented until Jan 25 although the app said the store had mobile payments now. So they typed in my number which was obviously way more work for them than the swipe which I'll do tomorrow.

[anon]

I genuinely don't understand why these companies come out with a system that doesn't come on Android. It's not that difficult to program the same app across three platforms (Apple, Blackberry, Android).

[coffee soldier]

Right on Punky!

[James Connolly]

I actually really like the mobile payment system after we got the new scanner that could process 2D barcodes. We had people who would insist we punch the Starbucks card number in by hand when we didn't have them, which was annoying but not unmanageable.

And they do need to get up to speed on Android, saying this as a proud Android user.

[Jim Romenesko]

I was the first one to use the mobile payment system at the Dempster/Chicago Starbucks (the staff gathered around to witness it). Fast, easy procedure.

[Pike is pike..]

What if we break their phone? Are we liable? Seems tricky to me from a legal standpoint. I am talking more in DT not inside. We would HAVE to take their phone from them to "swipe" it. The cord isn't that long. And half of them park half a mile from the window, too. What if I drop their iPhone and break it?

[Mr. Who]

Baristas are not allowed to handle customer's phones. Scanning phones is simply banned from the drive-thru window.

[Pike is pike..]

Where does it say so? What if the store's traffic is 80% DT?

Are we also not allowed to take in their large keychains to scan a mini Starbucks card?

[Coffee Soldier]

It clearly says baristas are not to handle customers phones in the FAQ that you print off the portal when your store is selected to launch...we are not to put the scanner out the window or handle the phone.

[Pike is pike..]

What's the talking point to customers who don't have a physical card on them then? Come inside?

[Jim Romenesko]

My phone was "handled" by baristas at the two stores where I used mobile payment. It's protected by a leather case so I have no fears.

[Noah]

"It's protected by a leather case so I have no fears."

iPhones are not water proof or even water resistant. Liquid damages are NOT covered by Apple's warranty. Last I looked Starbucks sells a lot of flavored water.

[Crateish]

@anon: 'I genuinely don't understand why these companies come out with a system that doesn't come on Android.'

Because iPhone is the king and Apple invented the modern smartphone. Apple leads, others follow. Android is still brand new and in many respects is still in Beta.

So companies are developing for iPhone and still taking a 'wait and see' attitude about 'other platforms.'

[Coffee Soldier]

That is very strange that your phone was handled...the first step of the set up is the scanner must be placed in an accessible spot for the customer to scan his/her OWN phone...baristas DO NOT touch.....this is a fiasco waiting to happen..when a customer's phone is dropped and suddenly it becomes Starbucks resposibility to replace the phone.

[Starbuckers, Inc.]

The memo I read said as plain as day that this was never to be used through the DT window, for this reason.

[SeattleShane]

Android app info can be found here.
http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/19/starbucks-card-app-now-available-for-android-too/

[hearbutloud]

"Scan it yourself" has such a nice ring to it.

[Aces of Eight]

The trick is to meet them halfway by holding up the scanner towards the barcode on their screen. This is how I do it. It looks I am scanning it myself instead of just telling them to do it, but I don't have to touch the phone either.

[Chris Taus]

This will come in use, I go to Starbucks almost every day. I wish they would of released this sooner. Cant wait to try. I wish visa would release there solution that they had for mobile payments. They would have to make it where it only sends information to the case when you are in the app so no one could get your information with a magnetic reader.

[Jim Romenesko]

DAY #2 of using the iPhone app -- totally DIY experience; no barista touched the phone. Simply waved it (slowly) in front of the device and it clicked.

[David Markland]

As a customer, this is useful to check balances and reload, especially when in line.
However, on my Blackberry Curve there are a couple problems:
1. It never says when you've earned an award, just that you need X many more stars to earn one. It would be nice to quickly see a listing of the date/time when I did finally earn the freebie.
2. It says my local store allows for mobile payment, but its not allowing me any way to show the barcode.
Unsure if this is a glitch, or my store ISNT allowed to accept payment.

Idea: it would seem to make sense if you could opt out of receiving mailed postcards, and simply have a code for a freebie available through the app.

Question: Starbucks says their Target locations accept mobile payments... does this mean I now get stars there as well?

[eekingby]

some of the "problems" arising from the scanners not reading the bar code is due to the barista not pushing the button on the top of the scanner. It puts the scanner in a different mode so it can read the bar code.

[Free Refill]

No stars at Target SBUX. And please, stop insulting us corporate baristas, and say no to licensed stores. They just don't compare.

[Mrs. Tillinghamshackles]

Actually, Target Starbucks DO honor the rewards program.

[Waltie]

"some of the "problems" arising from the scanners not reading the bar code is due to the barista not pushing the button on the top of the scanner. It puts the scanner in a different mode so it can read the bar code."

I know nothing about this. I have scanned items and then the iphone screen in the same transaction, and I've never pressed any button on the scanner. I'm not saying you're wrong, just that maybe you've been pressing a button for no reason.

As for the directions and guidelines, just download the action item from the portal, people. It literally answers every concern and question that has so far been raised in this thread.

Here's my only question: Since we can't accept them through the drive through, is there a sign or disclaimer in the ap or on the DT menu that says this? Or are DT partners going to constantly get yelled at by customers expecting to pay with this new system?

[Bart]

The button on top is only used to calibrate your scanners. It focuses the laser into a single beam. If you need to calibrate, and it seems like you do, print the page off the portal. There was also one that came with your scanners.

[Charles]

Used ANDROID software (on Market, but not "official") on day #1 and it worked for all three of my cards in four different locations in the first two days...fantastic app. Most baristas take my phone to scan both inside and in DT...but the best is that some just turn the scanner around toward me an zip - done..Very cool.