Disappointed......

[Peteyglad]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@icyhot wrote:
I spend at least $200 a month at Starbucks. I use my Forward since it gives me 5X for dining. Citi CSR just told me Starbucks isn't included under the dining category :-( bummer. Guess I'll use a different card for Starbucks yields better rewards.

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I just used my Forward at Starbucks on 4/28 and it's recorded as "FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS" in the category column under the "View/Sort Transactions" link on the Citi website. The category statistic is essential in determining 5x transactions. It's a very reliable determinant of point multiples earnings—more so than what a CSR tells us.

Did you check the Citi website to see what category your Starbucks is in? What does it say? Can you try the Starbucks a block down (lol) instead?

Don't give up for 1,000 TY points per month!

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Starbucks shows up as fast food restaurant for me as well on the website. 

[Anonymous]

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@Peteyglad wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@icyhot wrote:
I spend at least $200 a month at Starbucks. I use my Forward since it gives me 5X for dining. Citi CSR just told me Starbucks isn't included under the dining category :-( bummer. Guess I'll use a different card for Starbucks yields better rewards.

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I just used my Forward at Starbucks on 4/28 and it's recorded as "FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS" in the category column under the "View/Sort Transactions" link on the Citi website. The category statistic is essential in determining 5x transactions. It's a very reliable determinant of point multiples earnings—more so than what a CSR tells us.

Did you check the Citi website to see what category your Starbucks is in? What does it say? Can you try the Starbucks a block down (lol) instead?

Don't give up for 1,000 TY points per month!

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Starbucks shows up as fast food restaurant for me as well on the website. 

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I even double-checked my statements to make sure I received 5x. I did. (Nice starting lineup of cards BTW. Have you considered the Prestige or Premier to magnify your Forward earning power?)

[Anonymous]

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@Peteyglad wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@icyhot wrote:
I spend at least $200 a month at Starbucks. I use my Forward since it gives me 5X for dining. Citi CSR just told me Starbucks isn't included under the dining category :-( bummer. Guess I'll use a different card for Starbucks yields better rewards.

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I just used my Forward at Starbucks on 4/28 and it's recorded as "FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS" in the category column under the "View/Sort Transactions" link on the Citi website. The category statistic is essential in determining 5x transactions. It's a very reliable determinant of point multiples earnings—more so than what a CSR tells us.

Did you check the Citi website to see what category your Starbucks is in? What does it say? Can you try the Starbucks a block down (lol) instead?

Don't give up for 1,000 TY points per month!

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Starbucks shows up as fast food restaurant for me as well on the website. 

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I hope you are using the card to load the gold card!  The gold card gives at least an extra 8% (more in the sense you can buy 12 tall cheap drinks and get a grande fancy one free)

[Ghoshida]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Ghoshida wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Ghoshida wrote:

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@icyhot wrote:
I spend at least $200 a month at Starbucks. I use my Forward since it gives me 5X for dining. Citi CSR just told me Starbucks isn't included under the dining category :-( bummer. Guess I'll use a different card for Starbucks yields better rewards.

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Go to giftcardgranny.com. Get Starbucks gift cards. Load it to your starbucks card or use it just like that. At least 10% off. Plus whatever cashback you get on your regular credit card (1-2% at least). Way better than any dining card right now. 

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RIght, but now the giftcard vendors are advising not to load gift cards to the starbucks gold card.  But even without, much cheaper than anything else.

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I see. I used the GC to load it on to my account (bought it maybe a month ago?) and didn't have any issues. Dunno about now.

But won't not using the account take away the 1 free drink per 12 drinks? That adds a bit to the cost then, no?

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Oh, it works, but when I asked the vendor (ZenGiftCard) they say that Starbucks has some strong language indicating that loading a gold card with a third-party purchased card can cause starbucks to cancel the gold card.   But it might be more theoretical than real, but the vendors feel the need to advise.

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Tech question: I know that Starbucks sends a gold card when you reach gold status, but do you need to use that particular card to get rewards? Or is it just like the airline status cards, i.e. the account is already gold and the card is just a show off? I drained my gold card (they sent it with $0.01 anyway) and everything is on my old card and I think the purchases still count towards rewards.

BTW the previous reload didn't have any problem like this; good to know. Anyway my GC vendor (Cardpool) seems to be out of stock; other vendors on gc granny are offering 8% or lower. If what you're saying is true, I might resort to buying GCs from local starbucks / grocery store and get 5% instead of a sketchy 7-8%. But I have a month or so before I need to refill, so I'll see then.

[Anonymous]

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@Ghoshida wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Ghoshida wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Ghoshida wrote:

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@icyhot wrote:
I spend at least $200 a month at Starbucks. I use my Forward since it gives me 5X for dining. Citi CSR just told me Starbucks isn't included under the dining category :-( bummer. Guess I'll use a different card for Starbucks yields better rewards.

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Go to giftcardgranny.com. Get Starbucks gift cards. Load it to your starbucks card or use it just like that. At least 10% off. Plus whatever cashback you get on your regular credit card (1-2% at least). Way better than any dining card right now. 

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RIght, but now the giftcard vendors are advising not to load gift cards to the starbucks gold card.  But even without, much cheaper than anything else.

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I see. I used the GC to load it on to my account (bought it maybe a month ago?) and didn't have any issues. Dunno about now.

But won't not using the account take away the 1 free drink per 12 drinks? That adds a bit to the cost then, no?

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Oh, it works, but when I asked the vendor (ZenGiftCard) they say that Starbucks has some strong language indicating that loading a gold card with a third-party purchased card can cause starbucks to cancel the gold card.   But it might be more theoretical than real, but the vendors feel the need to advise.

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Tech question: I know that Starbucks sends a gold card when you reach gold status, but do you need to use that particular card to get rewards? Or is it just like the airline status cards, i.e. the account is already gold and the card is just a show off? I drained my gold card (they sent it with $0.01 anyway) and everything is on my old card and I think the purchases still count towards rewards.

BTW the previous reload didn't have any problem like this; good to know. Anyway my GC vendor (Cardpool) seems to be out of stock; other vendors on gc granny are offering 8% or lower. If what you're saying is true, I might resort to buying GCs from local starbucks / grocery store and get 5% instead of a sketchy 7-8%. But I have a month or so before I need to refill, so I'll see then.

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I don't know how they link accounts (so they know your other card is on a gold status account)  I use only the Starbucks app these days, don't even know where my actuall gold card is!

[Ghoshida]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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I don't know how they link accounts (so they know your other card is on a gold status account)  I use only the Starbucks app these days, don't even know where my actuall gold card is!

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I switch between the app and the physical card. 

It'll be cool if we could use the starbucks card through Apple Pay (or other NFC devices). Yeah, too lazy to open the app and do the payment.

[Ghoshida]

Quick info for LTL and others who might be interested in this topic.

So I went back to my favorite vendor of giftcards, Cardpool.com, and found that they've restocked Starbucks eGift cards, with a 10% off.

I checked multiple things simultaneously (mostly out of curiosity).

AMEX offered $10 back on purchases of AMEX gift cards, min $200. I got a $200 card, paid the $3.95 fee, got a coupon for free shipping, and just saw the $10 post. Assuming I get 1% CB on the entire $203.95, it's essentially a 4% CB purchase.

Used the AMEX gift card to buy 2X$25 worth of Starbucks eGift cards. First time I purchased something online using AMEX gift cards; thought there might be some hassle but was pleasantly surprised. I was charged $45 (10% off)

Cardpool sent two links, one for each card. Each of those links opened a legit-looking Starbucks eGift card, with a link to transfer funds. Clicked link, opened my Starbucks account, and transferred $50 to my account from those cards without any hassle

[ksantangelo23]

Have you considered the US Bank Cash+? 5% all year on two categories you choose, and 2% on one more category. The 5% category of "Fast Food" includes Starbucks.

Though, be warned, US Bank is tough to get into.

[Anonymous]

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@ksantangelo23 wrote:

Have you considered the US Bank Cash+? 5% all year on two categories you choose, and 2% on one more category. The 5% category of "Fast Food" includes Starbucks.

Though, be warned, US Bank is tough to get into.

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Right but 5% isn't very competitve with gift cards, as Ghoshida story shows.     What surprises me is how small the discounts are currently, last year I bought a $300 card at over 20+% off.   Now, about from the 10% offer, best seeme to be 3.5%.   Maybe demand has risen (or supply has fallen!)

ETA: the gift card discounts are exclusive of any credit card or cashback portal savings, so even 3.5% is 5.5% with a 2% card.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@ksantangelo23 wrote:

Have you considered the US Bank Cash+? 5% all year on two categories you choose, and 2% on one more category. The 5% category of "Fast Food" includes Starbucks.

Though, be warned, US Bank is tough to get into.

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Right but 5% isn't very competitve with gift cards, as Ghoshida story shows.     What surprises me is how small the discounts are currently, last year I bought a $300 card at over 20+% off.   Now, about from the 10% offer, best seeme to be 3.5%.   Maybe demand has risen (or supply has fallen!)

ETA: the gift card discounts are exclusive of any credit card or cashback portal savings, so even 3.5% is 5.5% with a 2% card.

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I've gotten Sbux GC's as cheap as 18% off and right now the cheapest is 10% IF at all available.