Starbucks will merge its two rewards programs, Starbucks Card Rewards and Starbucks Gold, into a single program, My Starbucks Rewards. The new program, which requires more interactions before the benefits kick in than the current programs, will debut Dec. 26.
My Starbucks Rewards cherry picks from both previous programs. All of the schemes are based off stored-value cards. Similar to the Starbucks Gold program, participants are given a free birthday beverage when the card is registered. And like the soon-to-be-phased-out Starbucks Card Rewards, My Starbucks Rewards will not have an annual fee.
But unlike the previous Card Rewards program, which offered immediate access to free selected syrups and soymilk, free brewed coffee refills, a free beverage with the purchase of a pound of whole beans and two hours of free wi-fi access, My Starbucks Rewards requires five visits before participants move up to