So I heard a Rumor...
That you can use Starbucks gift cards at Teavana? Has anyone done it? I got a bunch of Starbucks gift cards for Christmas and don’t drink coffee all that much D:
I’m not sure, but they have pretty good teas at Starbucks!
I like the awake tazo tea and their longon fogs(aka earl grey latte). I also like the green tea latte and frappuccino. And recently I discovered (although its seasonal and will be over soon, and it is coffee) is the eggnog latte with cinnamon dulce drizzle = tastes exactly like French toast, mmmmm.
I heard that you can get starbucks points/rewards at some teavana locations so I wouldn’t be surprised if you could use a gift card.
You definitely can choose 1 ounce of loose-leaf Teavana as a Starbucks card reward. I have not done it yet, but I’ll probably get some gyokuro (assuming that they carry it)…
I noticed while looking at the sale items at their website that most of the Teavana blends seem to use artificial flavoring, which is a turn-off for me…
I have always appreciated the Tazo teas (since before the Starbucks acquisition), though some of the filter bags were recently reformulated and are not as good as they used to be. The teas served in the sachets in the cafés are good, as are the loose leaf varieties available only online at starbucks.com.
Yes you can use your Starbucks card at Teavana. And I have used the Starbucks rewards at Teavana also with no problems
Like everyone said your Starbucks card works at Teavana and you could even use a Teavana card instead at Starbucks. And you get a star per transaction just like at Starbucks.
Regarding the reward, you may come across sales associates who will tell you that you have to buy the other ounce of tea as they still can’t sell you just one ounce even though it’s the reward. You can get a cup of tea too, and they do the refills if you don’t leave the store thing which is kind of like…I don’t even know. I would ask if maybe you sit around at a table right outside the store if that counts.
I am so glad that you pointed this out—I had no idea about the 2 ounce minimum. I’ll wait until I have two rewards before going there…
Yeah I work at Starbucks so I wanted to know how it actually works since they introduced it to us as just rewards now include an ounce of loose leaf or a free brewed tea and that was it. It still requires two ounces supposedly, but the sales associate at the Teavana I went to couldn’t figure it out so she just gave me the ounce free and I still had my reward. I hope by now it’s become easier for them, it seems like everything involving Starbucks related stuff there is a tedious process because the systems of both stores are so different.
I work at Teavana, so while each store is a little bit different in policies, they’re technically not supposed to make you purchase the other ounce. Our store will not make you do so, and any tea qualifies for that free ounce. As well, the free refills are free for Green and Gold members only, like the Starbucks Rewards rules state, however you only get them if you still have your cup and purchased with your card. Since most Teavanas are inside malls and are small, it is ridiculous for them to try to make you stay inside that cramped location in order to get your refill.
Yes, although if you break up your purchase to maximize the rewards (I do this at Sbux if I’m buying people drinks), the associate may gaze upon you with much rage. :) I didn’t do it, but I mentioned it and the associate who was helping me seemed kind of horrified.
Their system rewards you for that behavior, so it’s rational to buy each item separately. Maybe they’ll change it so that the stars are awarded according to dollar amount. That would make more sense and also eliminate the problem. For now, if you are going to buy three items, you get three stars if you buy them in separate transactions, so I am sure that at least some people do that.
From what I’ve seen, however, when I spend the afternoon there drinking free refills of tea (;-)), hardly anybody seems to use the cards (most people use credit cards or cash), so maybe that’s why the baristas sometimes become surly. I don’t know. The baristas vary a lot in personality, in my experience, from totally caffeinated and thrilled to be pressing expressos, to completely dejected and desperate for health benefits (I guess).
Most people use the cards here, but then again we have an absolutely ridiculous number of Starbucks! (Vancouver, Canada) I started using mine when you would get free soy milk. :)
I’m in NY and everyone just pulls out their phones to pay with the Starbucks app/cards. No one breaks up their transactions. I wish everyone would start doing it, though.
I really wish they’d change it to per item in the transaction although in my experience there aren’t that many people who feel the need to have separate transactions because they’re already there every morning. If you really feel the need to have separate transactions, please don’t do it when there’s a huge line behind you (in that case I may be annoyed because I know the person right behind you is possibly going to take it out on me for taking even longer now) and say it first and foremost, not after you’ve ordered four things and it’s already been entered in by the cashier.
Oh you make me feel so good, knowing that I am not the only one who rings the drinks up separately to get credit. I have 3 kiddos-that adds up to a lot of drinks with no credit. I have only found one person act like it was a pain, out of like 6 times now.
I don’t think that we get free soymilk. I believe that we pay for that modification. Or am I mistaken?
You used to get free soy milk. I’ve basically stopped going to sbux now that you have to pay for it no matter what.
If you ask for a little hot soy milk to be added they charge an extra $1 or $1.50 (it’s been so long I don’t remember). If you add cold, when you pick up your drink, they usually are ok with it. I gave up arguing with staff and just don’t buy anything very often – much cheaper option!
I wonder why they changed that? It sounds vaguely irrational from a business perspective. Never take away what you have already given, lest customers feel robbed!
Exactly! I totally feel robbed. Now I tend to get an americano (I’ll add soy milk after, when they can’t charge for it!) or an iced tea. :)
I Googled this debacle last night and learned that there was a huge backlash—petitions and everything! Honestly, the volume of texts on the topic is impressive. At least one person did a detailed mathematical analysis of how the new changes to the rewards program would affect various types of customers.
Definitely a bad call on the part of the Starbucks management, since they appear to have alienated vegan yuppies all over the planet—and their numbers appear to be on the rise.
I enjoy going to Teavana more since Starbucks bought them. The sales staff seems less pushy to me…
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