Starbucks app makes mobile payment easy
By Daniel B. Kline
Boston.com Staff
Reviewing: Starbucks app
By: Starbucks
Price: Free
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android
Should you get it?: If you shop at the pricey coffee chain, the Starbucks app makes it awfully easy.
While a lot of companies have apps for their customers, the Starbucks app may be the best retail app available. The coffee chain has pioneered the use of your phone as a payment device, and it’s almost too easy to take a Starbucks gift card and make it your payment method through your phone.
Basically, a cardholder simply inputs some data and the balance gets transfered to your phone. You can set up automatic reloads that make sure your virtual card is never empty. This, of course, also creates an odd disconnect between buying something at Starbucks and actually spending money. When all you have to do is hold your phone up to a digital scanner to pay, it simply does not feel like spending money, which might lead to overspending.
The Starbucks apps is full of bells and whistles, including a store locator that ties into GPS, making it easy to find a store. The store locator also lets you know store hours, whether a store has WiFi, and whether it accepts electronic payments.
In addition to these practical features, the app also lets you keep track of your favorite drinks, monitor your status in Starbucks’ rewards program (you get a free drink for every 12 purchased), and even send a gift card.
There are cool freebies, reminiscent of those you can get in a Starbucks store - including free song and app downloads. Registered users also get random coupons and other goodies that make this very useful app a sometimes money saver.
If you’re a Starbucks customer, the Starbucks app makes it easy to find a store and buy your favorite drink without carrying a wallet.
