Starbucks Canada is launching their My Starbucks Rewards program in Canada on October 4, 2011. The current rewards card offers freebies on your birthday, free refills, drink customization and more. The new rewards program will include all the old “perks” and allow customers to receive points towards free drinks. Stars will be rewarded every time you make a purchase with your registered Starbucks Rewards card. The more stars you accumulate, the more rewards you will receive. Click here for more information regarding this program.
I didn’t even know that such a program existed, so thank you! I’ll inquire about this the next time I drop by a SB…and that’ll be soon.
Lainey
I think this is only for Calgary, AB residents –that’s where they are piloting this rewards program. All other provinces just get the basic 3 rewards, not the “stars” level rewards.
Mara
I signed up for the bithday freebie with a giftcard earlier this year. My giftcard balance is at zero, so to continue with this program, would I have to buy a new card?
Richie
This program STARTS October 4th for the rest of Canada.
As of right now, until October 3rd, it’s for Calgary only.
Also, you actually need to pay with the gift card AFAIK to earn the points.
Brooke
…I am certain that I already have accumulated stars on my SB card, and I live in Calgary. I think Richie is right.
Draggy
This is for all of Canada. My husband is teaching is staff all about it this week. He the manager of a Starbucks in Ottawa.
Sara
I have a Starbucks Gold card (I earned it in the US) and it is great! They are always sending free coupons and you earn a free drink after you use your registered starbucks card 15 times.
LOVE IT!!
Marisa
Accumulate 15 stars, earn a free drink. Does that mean you earn 1 star for every drink regardless of the type (i.e. regular coffee, latte, etc.)?
newmom
One thing for everyone to remember, that it is one star per transaction. If you are buying a treat along with a coffee, ask them to ring it in separately. This way you get two stars. If you have a two drink order, make sure they ring it in separately too. Most cashiers in Calgary are fine with it. I just tell them that each drink order will be processed separately.
Rub
I also have a starbucks card registered in the US. I have had it since early this year and have earned about 10 free drinks so far. You earn 1 star per purchase. So… if I am purchasing a coffee and a mini cupcake, I split that up into 2 transactions for 2 stars! You only need 15 for a free drink of your choice. The annoying thing is that they actually mail a coupon to you, like the birthday one. They need to work on making this process electronic, where free drinks are recorded in our cards… less waste, less missing cards, etc. But then again, I guess they’re hoping people misplace them and don’t use them before they expire.
Rub
I forgot to mention that they also send you a flashy gold card, personalized with your name, once you reach gold level. You can either continue to use your existing card or your new gold one. You’ll continue to earn stars with either one.
Lucy
I have had a registered card for a long time and I have never recieved the free birthday drink! I emailed starbucks about it and never heard back.
erin
OMG finally!! I’ve thought that we had this already so I purchased everything with my registered giftcards.. now I can’t wait for the real thing!
Lucy: that’s weird — i received my bday drink postcard in the mail a few days before my bday a few weeks ago!
Tracy
If you look at the Starbucks website under the FAQ about their reward programs, you will see that it says the My Starbucks Reward program (where you earn stars & have either green or gold status) is running on a trial basis in the Calgary Metro area only. Expansion to the rest of Canada is dependent upon the results of this trial. The rest of Canada can still enjoy the Starbucks Card Rewards though.
Why is this program being tested in Calgary only at this time? Why not launch in all of Canada?
Canadian customers currently get great benefits from the Starbucks Card Rewards. We are testing the My Starbucks Rewards program in the Calgary area market to determine the success of this program. A full roll-out of the My Starbucks Rewards program to the rest of Canada will be dependent on the test results.
What are the benefits of joining Starbucks Card Rewards?
By registering your Starbucks Card, you’re eligible for Starbucks Card Rewards and balance protection on your card. You can enjoy great savings with Starbucks Card Rewards:
Free select syrups and milk options for your beverage.
Free brewed coffee or tea refills (hot or iced).
Free Tall (12 fl oz) beverage with your 1 lb whole bean purchase.
Would that mean no birthday freebie ???
^Nope, there still is. Pretty much everything’s the same still, but there are more perks if you make more purchases there!
I didn’t even know that such a program existed, so thank you! I’ll inquire about this the next time I drop by a SB…and that’ll be soon.
I think this is only for Calgary, AB residents –that’s where they are piloting this rewards program. All other provinces just get the basic 3 rewards, not the “stars” level rewards.
I signed up for the bithday freebie with a giftcard earlier this year. My giftcard balance is at zero, so to continue with this program, would I have to buy a new card?
This program STARTS October 4th for the rest of Canada.
As of right now, until October 3rd, it’s for Calgary only.
Also, you actually need to pay with the gift card AFAIK to earn the points.
…I am certain that I already have accumulated stars on my SB card, and I live in Calgary. I think Richie is right.
This is for all of Canada. My husband is teaching is staff all about it this week. He the manager of a Starbucks in Ottawa.
I have a Starbucks Gold card (I earned it in the US) and it is great! They are always sending free coupons and you earn a free drink after you use your registered starbucks card 15 times.
LOVE IT!!
Accumulate 15 stars, earn a free drink. Does that mean you earn 1 star for every drink regardless of the type (i.e. regular coffee, latte, etc.)?
One thing for everyone to remember, that it is one star per transaction. If you are buying a treat along with a coffee, ask them to ring it in separately. This way you get two stars. If you have a two drink order, make sure they ring it in separately too. Most cashiers in Calgary are fine with it. I just tell them that each drink order will be processed separately.
I also have a starbucks card registered in the US. I have had it since early this year and have earned about 10 free drinks so far. You earn 1 star per purchase. So… if I am purchasing a coffee and a mini cupcake, I split that up into 2 transactions for 2 stars! You only need 15 for a free drink of your choice. The annoying thing is that they actually mail a coupon to you, like the birthday one. They need to work on making this process electronic, where free drinks are recorded in our cards… less waste, less missing cards, etc. But then again, I guess they’re hoping people misplace them and don’t use them before they expire.
I forgot to mention that they also send you a flashy gold card, personalized with your name, once you reach gold level. You can either continue to use your existing card or your new gold one. You’ll continue to earn stars with either one.
I have had a registered card for a long time and I have never recieved the free birthday drink! I emailed starbucks about it and never heard back.
OMG finally!! I’ve thought that we had this already so I purchased everything with my registered giftcards.. now I can’t wait for the real thing!
Lucy: that’s weird — i received my bday drink postcard in the mail a few days before my bday a few weeks ago!
If you look at the Starbucks website under the FAQ about their reward programs, you will see that it says the My Starbucks Reward program (where you earn stars & have either green or gold status) is running on a trial basis in the Calgary Metro area only. Expansion to the rest of Canada is dependent upon the results of this trial. The rest of Canada can still enjoy the Starbucks Card Rewards though.
http://www.starbucks.com/customer-service/faqs/card#starbucks-card-rewards-canada
Why is this program being tested in Calgary only at this time? Why not launch in all of Canada?
Canadian customers currently get great benefits from the Starbucks Card Rewards. We are testing the My Starbucks Rewards program in the Calgary area market to determine the success of this program. A full roll-out of the My Starbucks Rewards program to the rest of Canada will be dependent on the test results.
What are the benefits of joining Starbucks Card Rewards?
By registering your Starbucks Card, you’re eligible for Starbucks Card Rewards and balance protection on your card. You can enjoy great savings with Starbucks Card Rewards:
Free select syrups and milk options for your beverage.
Free brewed coffee or tea refills (hot or iced).
Free Tall (12 fl oz) beverage with your 1 lb whole bean purchase.