Starbucks now gives you 30 days to use those "Sweet 15" free drink cards you get in the mail

Previously, you could hold on to the cards for several months before they expired. (I have several in my computer bag that don't expire until December -- and I've already had them for weeks.) Here's the email that Starbucks sent out:

My Starbucks Rewards fans,

We're fine-tuning a few program benefits and wanted to make sure you knew what was coming. There's a bit more information here than usual, but when it comes to understanding your rewards, we figure more is more.

Starting November 1, 2011:

FREE DRINK ON YOUR BIRTHDAY
Birthdays are special. And we're still celebrating yours with a free drink on your birthday. Hooray! As long as you're an active member (meaning you've used your Starbucks Card within the last 12 months), you'll get a postcard for a free birthday drink. And about a week to use it, in case you need it to be a day-after-your-birthday drink. (Wink.) Check the "valid through" date and come on in for a treat.

FREE DRINK EVERY 15 STARS IN GOLD
The "Sweet 15" free drink is alive and well. The only change here is that you'll now have 30 days to bring in that postcard and enjoy a drink on the house.

KEEP YOUR STARS, KEEP YOUR STATUS

If you're a Green or Gold member, the date you achieved that level is your anniversary date. To keep your Stars and your status, you just need to earn 5 Stars for Green or 30 Stars for Gold over the next 12 months (by your anniversary date next year). If you don't make it, your Stars will expire and you'll drop down a level. But we'll help-we'll send you email reminders of your anniversary date and encouragement to earn those additional Stars to keep the benefits you love. (Be sure to opt in to email.)

TUNE UP!
Now might be a good time to visit your Account Profile, note your anniversary date, track your Stars, reload a card and opt in to receive emails for special offers and announcements.

Thanks for reading.

Wishing you a year full of Stars,
My Starbucks Rewards

Comments

[notbycircumstance]

@rob it doesn't happen on purpose, Symphony is notorious for changing sizes and quantities while the barista frantically rings through every. single. modification. It's a wonky POS that leads to errors.

[Cookiebandit]

I once brought in a "save % off merchandise" postcard, ordered a drink and put whatever merchandise I was buying (I forget what) on the counter, and the barista rang up the drink as being free, rather than actually reading the postcard.

I use my postcards before the due dates, but I like that SBUX (usually) accepts them even afterwards. There's a reason why I frequent SBUX even though other chain coffee places are closer to my work.

[Yimbo]

LOL @ all the idiots here. How in the world would all those people you guys described who can't walk to their mail box be going out to buy coffee???

[Al B.]

Had a snobby barista at the Moraga,CA SBUX over this weekend point out that my free drink card had expired and that he would only honor it "this one time only". I'm a loyal Gold card member who has bought coffee there every single morning for the last 2 years and he rolls that power trip on me? Nice way to treat a good customer..NOT!

[George S, Santa Monica CA]

Today I got across some sbux employee that would not honor my card that "expired" four days ago..."Yes" policy my behind but then again I normally throw some dollars the employees way which I did not in this case. Not tip, sour experience, and the priceless part the embarassment in front of the line behind me while this SBUX employee enjoyed her power trip (reminded me of the postoffice). It is great when a gimmick turns out the opposite way because an employee does not get the fact that the card I got was because I have been spending at her place of employement and that four days ago that card was no different..