Introduction
Starbucks customers were left disappointed this Black Friday after a botched deal left them with nothing to show for their efforts. The coffee giant had promised customers a free drink if they purchased a $20 gift card, but the deal was quickly pulled after customers complained that they were unable to redeem the offer. This article will explore the reasons why customers were so upset and provide some tips on how to avoid similar situations in the future.
Starbucks Customers Are Upset Over This Botched Black Friday Deal
Starbucks customers were left disappointed this Black Friday after the coffee giant botched a deal that was supposed to offer customers a free drink. The deal, which was advertised on the Starbucks app, promised customers a free drink if they purchased a grande or larger beverage. However, when customers went to redeem the offer, they were told that the deal was not valid.
The botched deal has left many Starbucks customers feeling frustrated and angry. Many took to social media to express their disappointment, with some even threatening to boycott the coffee chain. Starbucks has since apologized for the mistake and offered customers a free drink coupon as a way to make up for the error.
If you’re a Starbucks customer who was affected by the botched Black Friday deal, you may be wondering what to do next. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your Starbucks experience:
- Take advantage of other offers. Starbucks often has other deals and promotions that you can take advantage of. Check the app regularly to see what’s available.
- Take advantage of rewards. Starbucks offers a rewards program that allows customers to earn points for every purchase they make. These points can be redeemed for free drinks and food.
- Take advantage of discounts. Starbucks often offers discounts on certain items, such as coffee beans and mugs. Keep an eye out for these deals to save money.
- Take advantage of freebies. Starbucks often offers freebies, such as free refills and free samples. Keep an eye out for these offers to get the most out of your Starbucks experience.
Although the botched Black Friday deal was a disappointment, there are still plenty of ways to get the most out of your Starbucks experience. Take advantage of the tips above to make sure you get the most out of your next visit.
A botched Black Friday deal at Starbucks has fans of the coffee chain feeling betrayed. After promising a free $5 “promotional gift” to anyone purchasing a gift card worth $20 or more, Starbucks is being accused by some of its customers of false advertising.
The promotional deal was simple in concept. As spelled out in its terms and conditions, Starbucks customers purchasing an “eGift Card of $20 or more” at any time between Black Friday and Cyber Monday would receive a $5 eGift Card in exchange—effectively, a 20% discount on a $20 gift card.
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As the deal rolled out, however, complaints started to roll in. Inexplicably, some customers who purchased gift cards meeting the $20 minimum did not receive their $5 eGift Card. Fans took to Twitter to air their grievances, accusing Starbucks of scamming them, and calling the company’s behavior “deceptive and unacceptable.”
How could Starbucks, a company famous for its customer engagement and cultivation of loyalty among fans, have messed up this deal so badly? The answer, it turns out, was in the fine print. The terms and conditions of the giveaway specify that the it was valid only “while supplies last.” In other words, only the “first 100,000” qualifying purchases were eligible for the $5 bonus.
Some customers were quick to point out that—neglected fine print notwithstanding—Starbucks continued to promote its deal even after supplies had officially run out, running ads on its app a full four days after the offer had, effectively, expired. Even if the company did give customers fair warning, it had also misled them, by failing to notify them of the shortage of supplies.
Starbucks has since issued a public statement, shared with Inc., offering an apology:
“The e-Gift offer was available while supplies lasted, for a limited time, and the offer sold out. We are aware some customers purchased the offer and did not receive the $5 e-Gift and apologize for this. Customers should contact the Starbucks Customer Contact Center at 1-800-782-7282 if they have questions about their purchase.”
Customers, in the meantime, have every reason to start double-checking the company’s fine print.
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