Starbucks appears to be pulling out all stops to boost sales and loyalty as customers increasingly shun specialty coffee because of rising gas and food prices. Starting today, it will offer free Wi-Fi
for frequent customers, along with a host of other membership benefits designed to encourage customers to return more frequently.
The free wireless Internet access for those customers is
good for two hours per day; after that, they have to pay. Other frequent customer benefits beginning today include free syrups and milk choices, free brewed coffee refills and a free tall beverage
with the purchase of a pound of coffee beans.
The goodies reward store patrons who hold a reloadable gift card and have made a purchase in the past 30 days. Since the company announced an
expanded rewards program in April, hundreds of thousands of new customers have signed up for rewards cards. About 14% of Starbucks' U.S. retail revenue comes from card redemptions, according to the
company.
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