Starbucks Wi-Fi Access Changing After Christmas?
Starbucks is changing its card programs next month, which has an impact on accessing Wi-Fi in its locations. It’s all actually confusing in terms of the Wi-Fi, but Glenn Fleishman at WiFiNetNews takes a crack at decoding the new deal. Essentially, Starbucks is consolidating its different card programs into one program on Dec. 26. Each drink transaction will net you a star, and five stars qualifies you for two hours of free, daily Wi-Fi. Here’s where it gets interesting:
“After five transactions, you’re boosted into the Green Level — green being Starbucks’ corporate color — and you qualify for the daily Wi-Fi allotment with no further purchases. In fact, the FAQ says that you remain active at the green level for two years following your last transaction. So those that want the two-hours-a-day Wi-Fi without purchasing drinks need only prime the pump lightly.”
When I first read that, I nearly thought that five transactions nabs the Wi-Fi for two years, but I’m not sure that’s accurate. Under the old program, my understanding was that you needed to have made a purchase or card reload within the past 30 days to have Wi-Fi access. But there’s no mention of that on the current FAQ site for the new program, so it appears that you don’t need to make a purchase to have Wi-Fi in a given day. When I frequent the ‘bux, I do make a purchase, so it’s a non-issue to me. Others may want to run through the FAQs to review this, and any other changes.
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I checked yesterday. Aside from needing five stars (which is hardly a challenge), there’s no change. Per the details in the main description (not the FAQ): “You must have a registered Starbucks Card that has been used (to load money or make a purchase) within the 30 days prior to Wi-Fi access”
Good to know. I don’t doubt you, but I plan to double-check at a Starbucks later today. The source article seems to imply that this is a change and doesn’t require purchases as often, but I could be mis-reading it. Thx!
Don’t bother checking at SBUX. I talked to two baristas this morning who knew nothing about the new tiered rewards card(s). (They kindly waved my 53 cent iced coffee refill as a regular.)
The bigger change is for existing Gold card members who shelled out $25 for 10% off most purchases. Sounds like we stay grandfathered and/or are rolled in at the new Gold tier. No 10% off, but free refills and syrup. Probably works out the same for me in the end.
Just to clarify one minor point, according to the faq, it’s not a star for each drink, it’s a star for each transaction – an important difference for those (few) of us who buy more food than drinks there. ;)
Oh, and it also explicitly states that multiple drinks in a transaction still only count for one star, so no boosting your free drink count by getting the office list
Well, this is irritating: The “Show Details” tab on the main My Starbucks Reward page is the only place that mentions the old terms of a purchase/value-add every 30 days applies. The FAQ lacks this. I spent a good 30 minutes pouring over the FAQ and other information, and didn’t spot this.
Grrr. So, in fact, the deal is *worse* than at present, because you must both reach the green level and then make continuous purchases. I’ll fix my story.
Dude, it’s your own fault for not reading all the points in the main description first. People usually don’t Frequently Ask Questions that have already been answered in the first place. ;P
I know, I know, I had to click the Show Details thingee, but I figured the insanely long FAQ, which had details about everything else, might have actually answered all the Wi-Fi questions. Ah, well.
For someone who routinely uses the Starbucks 2-hours-free Wi-Fi, they’ll already have a card and just need to make sure it’s registered before the switchover.
For those who want to use the free 2-hours-a-day, they only have to do five transactions to hit the old deal’s mark, and continue to make purchases to keep it active, so not a biggee for them, either.
But if you are an ATT/iPhone customer, you get the two hours/day without this rewards plan, correct?
AT&T customers get unlimited access on all AT&T hotspots and roaming partners (mostly airports), not just two hours a day. However, if you’re not a landline or LaptopConnect (3G card) subscriber, you only get device-based access.
That is, if you have an iPhone, only your iPhone gets free Wi-Fi at Starbucks. If you have a DSL, fiber, business, or 3G card account, you can use a laptop or mobile to login for free access.
Thanks Glenn – yes, I also have ATT DSL and knew I could get free wifi for my lappy too, but thought it was still limited to 2 hours. I don’t hang out in SB’s very much!
AT&T DSL customers get unlimited access. Iphone customers only get access via the iphone for free. The other big downer here, is they are doing away with the 10% discount for gold card customers. Bummer, I was in the original beta of the card and used it certainly more than I would otherwise. Now, we’ll have to watch purchases for freebies.
Other big question I think is, “transaction” does that mean if I buy two drinks and pay with a card, is that ONE or TWO transactions? This could be a PIA for the counter if people are buying one at a time to ramp up purchases.
Two drinks at one time would be one transaction as I read it. :(
I still refuse to pay for wifi… there’s too much free stuff out there!
Just this week I talked a client OUT of sbux and into a panera meeting for the free wifi. So sbux lost $12 charging for wifi and panera will make $25 giving it away. -sigh- when will they learn?
At least the way I read the FAQ was: if you already had a registered Starbucks card, you would be brought into the Green Level automatically, which means you get the 2 hours of free WiFi. It seems like to keep that level, you have to do five purchases a year at a Starbucks with your Starbucks card. Shouldn’t be too hard to do that.
No, the FAQ omits a detail you find on the main page when you click Show Details under Wi-Fi (that was my mistake).
You are a Green Level customer for two years after you qualify even if you don’t make another purchase. Those grandfathered are apparently in that category.
Two hours of consecutive Wi-Fi per day still requires a purchase or addition of money to a card (any amount, but $5 is minimum) for 30 days’ of it.