Is Starbucks’ Promo Worth a Cup of Joe?
I like a freebie as much as the next person, but is Starbucks’ free coffee offer in exchange for community service worth the perk? I’m not so sure.
Starbucks will give out free “tall” coffee Jan. 22-25 to customers who fill out pledge cards in stores to donate five hours of their time to a volunteer opportunity of their choosing. The campaign, called “I’m In,” is the company’s attempt to boost volunteerism is wake of President Barack Obama’s call to renew community service efforts.
The coffee chain, which is partnering with nonprofit group HandsOn Network, hopes to collect pledges for more than 1 million hours of service through the effort. While I applaud the idea, Starbucks should come up with a better incentive to really bring in the masses. How about throwing in one of those delicious pastries to complement the drink, too?
My guess is the campaign response will be low. Unfortunately, consumers have other things on their minds, such as whether they will be able to make their next mortgage payment. And who is to say pledge-makers will even follow through with their good deeds? I hope I’m wrong.
I don’t need free coffee to want to perform a good deed. A simple thank you will be just fine.
January 20th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Gee, couldn’t they have at least made it a grande latte?
January 21st, 2009 at 9:32 am
If Starbucks is serious, I think they should be looking at ways to involve their own employee’s more in community service rather than turning Obama’s call to action into a consumer promotion. And if they want to give away coffee, they should supply it free to HandsOn Network.
And isn’t the idea of an incentive - what’s in it for me - counter to the essence of Obama’s message?
January 21st, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I volunteer my time, and I don’t need coffee as motivation.