DISCLOSURE: Starbucks donated five gift bags to the upcoming Frugal Fe$tival.
I went on a “barista tour” at a West Hollywood Starbucks yesterday, which is really a glorified interview with the store manager, a woman named Susan. The cool thing was that she pointed out a few ways to save money at Starbucks that I wasn’t aware of.
- NOT ON THE MENU: a short size (8 oz) has just as much espresso but is about $.30 less than a small
- A cheap cousin to the schmancy latte is a Cafe Misto, which is half coffee, half milk and about $.85 cheaper!
- Register your Starbucks card and get free brewed refills. Otherwise they are $.50. Registering your card also gets you freebies like soy milk, syrups, a free tall drink when you buy a pound of beans, and two free hours of WiFi a day. Otherwise it is $4 for two hours through AT&T.
- Get $.10 off your drink when you supply your own cup.
- The “treat receipt” deal is back through Sept. 30. Make any purchase before 2 p.m. and return after 2 p.m. to get a grande cold beverage for $2 (eligible drinks run $2.40 – $3.95 so you stand to save a nice bit).
- The $4 pairings save up to $.90 on a drink and snack. (Options are a tall coffee + breakfast sandwich OR a tall latte and coffee cake).
- If you order decaf in the afternoon they will often offer to make you an Americano (espresso + water) for the same price if you don’t want to wait for a fresh brew. Americano = niiiiiiice.
- If you buy three mini scones the price is $1.95 instead of $.75 each, saving you $.30.
- A third of the drinks on the menu are under $2 and half are under $3.
At the end of the interview I asked the PR rep, who was closely following along, how Starbucks’ efforts to promote their lower priced options, in effect putting them on par pricing-wise with Dunkin Donuts or McDonald’s, was affecting their reputation. She gave me a fab answer then said I couldn’t quote her. Here’s the official response from headquarters:
“We’re pleased that we can remain nimble and flexible, particularly in times of economic uncertainty and respond appropriately to our customers needs in a way that is consistent with the Starbucks brand and reputation for quality. Starbucks has always had an assortment of products at easy price points. Now we’re highlighting existing affordable options and adding new, lower priced offerings to the mix.
“First, we feel that all the extras we don’t charge for deliver a whole lot of value –from our comfy chairs to the smile on your baristas face – the Starbucks Experience doesn’t cost anything extra.”
Hmmm, do you think Starbucks is getting cheaper?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
Well, as a barista, I guess I am a bit biased. I have been seeing many people taking advantage of the many deals we offer–especially with the breakfast pairings and the $2 drink idea. Sure, I hear the common complaint “Starbucks is too expensive”, but compared to the other coffee places, Starbucks offers way more variety and has an emphasis on quality that other places that are trying to compete lack.
One thing that I think that should be mentioned in your post is the Starbucks Gold Card option, which is perfect for families who come to Starbucks and get the “fancy” drinks. One $25 a year membership gives you 10% off of every drink, a free drink on your birthday, and other offers when you register. This card is perfect for “the regulars”, who tell me that this card pays for itself within a month. It’s a great customer rewards program.
More info about the benefits of the card here: https://www.starbucks.com/gold/Index.aspx
Good tips!
Love Starbucks! Great tips. I really like the black tea w/lemonade.
Thanks for digging deep on this. These are really nice ideas – we will be using this.
great information…
I “was” a starbucks lover from 1998 to 2004.
I then decided to try our local Coffee Bean and Tea leaf and i was hooked..i decided to switch over in 2005- i liked the fact that they are a regional chain started in los angeles.
Plus the free-wifi is a nice bonus.
I go to them several times a week to get my ice blended mocha or banana caramel or when i want to be healthier an ice cold japanese cherry tea with 3 or 4 real cherries added in mmmm 🙂
I have noticed that here in the LA area the CBTL locations are very small- so they get packed very fast and frequently.
So this last week ive been thinking of returning to Starbucks since i got one less than a mile from home, and i would get the wifi free since im already an ATT DSL customer.
So I was wondering, should I continue using my stabucks gift card for their rewards program or should I pay $25 for a Gold card benefit? I usually get grande Americano and sometimes frap. whenever they get their Pumpkin Spice lattes, that is when I’ll go about 2-3X a week. So….any suggestions?
Dear Serena,
Would you consider yourself a regular customer? Gold cards benefit the people who come in the most, but if you are just getting an Americano or a Frappucino every now and then, I wouldn’t suggest it. However, if your family comes in a lot and you get a drink more a few times a week, I highly recommend it.
Yummy…I can’t wait for Pumpkin Spice Lattes 🙂
“She gave me a fab answer then said I couldn’t quote her.”
According to typical rules of journalism, something is only off the record if both parties agreed to it being off-the-record in advance. After the fact – too bad, too late.
Sounds like the PR person messed up and told you something she suddenly realized she shouldn’t have. Nice of you to to give her and Starbucks the free pass on it but had you decided to include the quote, I think it would have been justifiable too.
Can’t beat Starbuck deals! Thanks for sharing.
It is almost sad how excited I am by this and how much this changes my life. Thanks for posting!
The Gold card is a GREAT deal. When I got it last December, first drink was free, then 10% savings every time. Then they added a $5 credit to the card a few months ago. Last month they gave coupons for a free Vivanno plus two more at half-off. The card has definitely paid for itself many times over.