Starbucks Just Made This Insane Change To Its Rewards Program–Customers Are Freaking Out!

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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