Comments on: Starbucks Wi-Fi Access Changing After Christmas?

By: Glenn Fleishman

Glenn Fleishman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:03:44 +0000

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.

By: Dameon Welch-Abernathy

Dameon Welch-Abernathy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:05:05 +0000

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.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:13:24 +0000

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?

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:29:49 +0000

Two drinks at one time would be one transaction as I read it. :(

By: tivoboy

tivoboy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:18:42 +0000

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.

By: Glenn Fleishman

Glenn Fleishman — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:11:50 +0000

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.

By: Sumocat

Sumocat — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:53:19 +0000

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

By: HSK

HSK — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:32:54 +0000

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!

By: Glenn Fleishman

Glenn Fleishman — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:27:22 +0000

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.

By: HSK

HSK — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:23:53 +0000

But if you are an ATT/iPhone customer, you get the two hours/day without this rewards plan, correct?