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Starbucks just opened its rewards program to cash and credit card purchases! This is huge.
Loyalty members at the coffee chain already know that you can earn “Stars” to use towards coffee drinks, sandwiches, merchandise and more–but now you don’t need a preloaded Starbucks Card to get them!
Here's everything you need to know about the company's new policy for earning free food and drink:
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The loyalty program on the Starbucks app has always worked like this: Starbucks Rewards users pre-load their Starbucks cards with funds and then use that money to make purchases and earn Stars (aka, loyalty points) to be used towards future rewards.
This kept a lot of money--$1.2 billion to be exact--tied up in Starbucks cards and the mobile app each year. But the company just announced a MAJOR change to this policy: now, purchases made with cash and or credit cards can also count towards your Stars.
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The company announced via release, “Beginning this fall in company-operated stores in the U.S. and Canada, Starbucks Rewards members will also be able to scan their app and then pay with cash, credit/debit cards, or select mobile wallets and earn Stars toward free items." Wow!
But not so fast--you may still want to consider loading up that Card first. Customers will *still* earn more Stars for using a pre-loaded Starbucks Card versus other methods of payment.
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