Rushing to finish my order at a Starbucks counter, I handed my credit card and the barista started his memorized-but-sounds-friendly-and-casual spiel for the Starbucks card. I said, "Wha?" He said something about, "well you already have... pesos... so why not..." I couldn't grasp it as I was also busy making a conversation with the one I have a meeting with. I nodded to the barista and said, "Yeah, okay." Now I have a Starbucks card and all I know is:
It's a stored value card. So I actually have to put money in there. I know that sales-wise, that approach is used so that people will always choose to go to Starbucks with that "Oh I still have credits on my Starbucks card." Quite frankly I think it's a hassle.
You get "stars" for beverages, Via products and beans. The more stars, the closer you get to getting a free beverage/Via product/beans. So, just the coffee. You get nothing from sandwiches.
Well, as far as I know, that's it. The website where you're supposed to register your card has been on the "loading" mode since one hour ago so I can't feed myself with FAQs yet. The question is, would I use it? The stored-value part makes me go, "Why would I do that?" I mean, what's wrong with a usual loyalty card where you buy, give your card and you get points or whatever.
The main reasons I got a CBTL Swirl Card in the first place: it gives you (1) rebates on every item purchased and (2) Internet access. It's five pesos per hundred, not bad. I totally forgot about it counting them, and one day I was able to buy three beverages and a pastry off my Swirl card points.
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