Starbucks Coffee

Happy 40th Anniversary Starbucks! I can't wait to try all the petite treats! I've heard good things in particular about the salted caramel one. I'll definitely take advantage of this promotion. Thank you!

~Melody

Happy 40th for sure!!!  and great idea for the petites....I think they'll be going fast.

I think I'll pass on this patite gimmick.  I'll have to go out in the rain and buy an expensive drink in order to get a free patite.  All it is is a gimmick to buy an expensive drink.  No thanks!  

I will definitely be in to try the Petites!  Though I have to ask there are a few place that state the Petites promotion is from 3-5 but the video says 2-5...which one is the correct start time?

Sadly, my store only got 4 of each for today....the BIG day.  so, when they put them out at 11, they'll be gone in a minute.  

and I too would like a time clarification as Hayley referred to.  Thanx.  

@Steve: seriously, really?  today???   don't be a bummer about a promotion today!  

yay promotion day!!

@steve...maybe its a treat for those who buy the coffee everyday anyway..not to make you go outta your way to get one

All it is is a gimmick to buy an expensive hand-crafted drink.  No thanks! Brewed does not count...

For previous promotions, brewed coffee counted (at least at my stores).  

Would someone from the Starbucks team confirm?  Thank you.

Folks did you read that you must buy a "handcrafted beverage" to get a free treat?  "Handcafted beverage" usually means somthing a little more expensive than a simple brewed coffee.

@Cecile - Thank you.

thanks Cecile.  I'm wondering if I should print this up for the stores which, I am guessing, will be insisting it's a 'handcrafted' only.....    

I am very excited and will be working all of the Tribute days. Very excited to have been a part of the test market for these and see their launch!

In the information we received, it did state both handcrafted or brewed beverage. We planned to supply a petite for everyone purchasing ANY beverage.

Apparently, brewed coffee IS a handcrafted beverage.  Who knew?

yes

@Steve this actually costs starbucks money. They are putting more out than is coming it.

NOTHING in the partner info said tea Cecile.

@TributeLove - In my neck of the woods, an SM told me that she was giving the treat petites for everything except ice waters.  And nothing from the RTD case was eligible for a free petite.  The register recognizes tea as a free "tribute days" petite because I happened to order Black Tea this afternoon and a treat, and the register gave my treat to me free.  I think this is true for my whole area.

As I've been told, this helps generate business during a slower 'day part,' and introduces customers to a new product which may later become a favorite.  

It's great that Starbucks is doing this! A very nice way to have an afternoon treat. I enjoyed my mini carrot cupcake! Thank you Starbucks!

Oops! I wasn't very clear in my last post.  My whole area is giving out petites for just about anything, and the register automatically makes the deduction.

Melody - What is the RTD case?

@Carollk - "RTD" stands for "Ready to drink" and it's the case with the little mini Horizon Milks, canned double shots, yogurt, paninis, and so on...

I stopped by right at 2pm yesterday and tried the Birthday pop and it was delicious! Inspired me to write a blog on my love of Starbucks! http://bit.ly/g7Ibn2

I stopped by right at 2pm yesterday and tried the Birthday pop and it was delicious! Inspired me to write a blog on my love of Starbucks! http://bit.ly/g7Ibn2

@Melody and iced tea is a hand-crafted beverage. A hot tea isn't.

By the way, I'm not saying tea shouldn't qualify, but that we were told it did not. We've just said yes.

@TributeLove - I can't settle this debate, and I don't have the answer. What I do know is that the word "handcrafted beverage" was so ambiguous that different stores have thousands of different interpretation of it.

If you look at my blog, "Bayareabux" user said that at his store, a "handcrafted beverage" is "Handcrafted beverage: any liquid handed to you from behind the counter."  That would mean hot or cold tea too.  

Another user ("Enlightened Coffee Sage") chimed in with the same, definition. In my little area of stores, I've been told that it is everything, and that stores are allowing free refills too. It's anything that does NOT come from the RTD case, but not ice-water.  

Yet, if you look in my blog comments, Pam in Orange County had a story of a Mission Viejo Starbucks where only certain drinks qualified.  

I think Starbucks created a huge world of ambiguity with that phrase.  

@TributeLove - So I'm not saying you weren't told that it's not for tea, I'm just saying that the interpretation of "hand crafted beverage" that you were given might not be the interpretation that was intended by our mutual friends at 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, WA.

Cecile wrote above:" ........and TEA."......as qualifying as a beverage for this promo.  

tea is tea, hot or cold.   she said "tea."

for a fact, they have been counting any beverage from behind the counter, just as Melody wrote, as qualifying for this.  at least in the Chicago area.   The only total 'mess up' I've seen so far is:  today I was in a Sbux that I normally think is very good....small, in an industrial area, off a busy street.  (but they brew BOLD all day, so they're great in my book;). I asked them how the promo with the petites had gone so far.  They said (I can't imagine this) they actually totally forgot about it yesterday so today would be the first day of it!   (amazed me)  I said: what about some signage about it? there's no signage?  They mumbled/fumbled around that....  

But, other than that, I've seen no 'issues'.  

A handcrafted beverage is anything , made by hand, on the bar

A handcrafted beverage according to sbx_bean's definition above is "espresso, frappucino, brewed coffee and tea".  My husband did get a free petite item with his venti coffee yesterday.  He had the salted caramel square and I had the peanut butter cupcake.  They were both delicious.

I'm going by how the register rung things up, and it worked for any drink (inluding hot tea), except refills.

oh, Steve 2, I wish I could carry an umbrella for you so that you could go get your delicious handcrafted beverage and a happy, happy treat. it makes my day, every day. i defy anyone to have a yummy pink birthday cake pop and stay grumbly. you're in my prayers. ;)

Onward ! Let's Roll

Hope to see you in Toronto at the CARLU.

The Globe and Mail breakfast was sold out- but I was placed on the waiting list, so who knows :)

P.S.  Should you happen to see Stella T. while in Toronto- John Culver can explain to you who she is- please take a moment to chat with her, and autograph her Starbucks CANADA Gift Card!  Nothing would mean more to her than meeting you.  As a long time Barista, and shareholder, she's a REALLY REALLY BIG fan !!!  

Dear Howard,

For those that lack the faith to believe that a CEO of a major corporation, can take a moment out of their busy schedule, to write a personal note, there is no Santa Claus.  A most heartfelt thank you for making someone's day, and likely years to come, so special.  It take's a real mentsch, to really matter.  

With the sincerest of best wishes for a safe trip to our humble city of Toronto, SirMark.

The following (as copied below) was posted on the 'other public side' of Starbucks MSI site.  It was quickly removed.  Anyone care to speculate why?

Let Baristas be Baristas, even when the boss is around!

"Howard Schultz arrived in Toronto today, April 12th., 2011.  Some, if not most Starbucks locations (in the Greater Toronto Area) received directives to make certain that those scheduled to work over the next two days, represented the 'best' Baristas Starbucks had to offer.  So, Starbucks, aren't all Baristas the 'best', having been properly trained to achieve standardized results, and all are to be treated equally?  Or, are some Baristas really better than others?  And those with tattoos, or piercing, are being politely denied shifts, because Howard may 'drop by', and heaven forbid he sees a 'real Barista' standing there in a green apron!  When it comes to putting on a 'dog and pony show'; apparently all Starbucks Baristas are not equal, especially if the 'boss' could possibly drop by.  If a properly trained Barista, with many years experience with Starbucks, serves 1000's of customers a day, why not Howard?  

Is this the Starbucks Howard envisioned?  OR, is this just a case of overzealous middle management trying to cover up the reality of how Baristas really look, and how Starbucks really operates?