Birthday celebrations have come a long way since the days of ancient Egypt when they were a preserve of emperors, rulers, and kings. Moreover, technological advances such as precise clocks and record-keeping have made it easier for people to know the exact date when they were born.
Currently, companies celebrate clients’ birthdays to demonstrate their value and appreciation, and as a tactic to retain customers. Starbucks has not been left behind. Every year, Starbucks offers a free birthday drink or food item to qualifying customers.
This blog post discusses the requirements to get a Starbucks birthday drink and all the secrets that you need to know.
How to Get a Starbucks Birthday Drink
To get a free Starbucks birthday drink, you must have enrolled in the rewards program at least seven days before the date of your birthday and made at least one star-earning purchase within the year preceding your birthday. Finally, you must show your registered Starbucks app or Starbucks card at a participating store.
To avoid misunderstandings, you are better off informing the barista upfront that you want to redeem your birthday reward prior to scanning the barcode in your App.
Not Kpop related but Happy birthday to me! 😊💛 I finally have a day off and am running errands so I decided to get my free Starbucks drink lol pic.twitter.com/6qyhdN9rNa
— Starlost (@starlost_Rose) August 4, 2022
Currently, Starbucks updates your rewards account to show a free birthday drink on the day of your birthday and the reward is valid for that day only. Starbucks’ free birthday drink offer expires at the end of your birthday date.
Previously, Starbucks would update your App two days to your birthday and the drink would remain available throughout the birthday month (up to 30 days from the date of your birthday).
When you register on your Starbucks App, you create a profile and get a chance to record your birthday in it. If you don’t record your birthday, you may not get a birthday reward. You can change your birthday in the future if you have made a mistake.
What Drink Can You Get For Your Starbucks Birthday Reward
For your Starbucks birthday drink, you are limited to any handcrafted drink or a ready-to-drink bottled beverage of your choice.
Read this article if you are not familiar with the Starbucks drinks that are handcrafted.
Some people prefer an expensive drink such as a venti mocha cookie crumble frappuccino but since this is an important day for you, we recommend that you go for a drink that you actually like. Nobody wants to have a foul drink on their special day.
Starbucks allows you to customize your birthday drink for free so you can start with a simple drink and add your choice of syrups, sauces, and toppings.
Your birthday reward qualifies you for one drink only. If you do not wish to have a drink, you can redeem a food item instead.
Bear in mind that you can only redeem your birthday drink at a participating store.
What Drink Size Can You Get With Starbucks Birthday Reward?
The drink size of your Starbucks birthday reward has to be within the standard menu sizes, especially for the handcrafted beverages. See all the drink sizes that you can order from Starbucks.
When Does Starbucks Send a Notification for my Birthday Reward?
You should get a notification for your Starbucks reward by email and on the App on the actual day of your birthday. If you have not received a notification, open your rewards section on the Starbucks App on the day of your birthday to see your birthday reward.
Why You Did Not Receive Your Starbucks Birthday Reward
There are several reasons why you may not have received your birthday reward from Starbucks:
- you had not signed up on the rewards program at least seven days before your birthday
- you have not added your birthday to your profile, or
- you did not earn any stars in the 12 months preceding your birthday
If you have fulfilled all the above conditions and still there is no notification in your App, you can raise the issue with the Starbucks rewards customer service desk through their official email, social media handles, or a direct phone call.
Can You Redeem a Missed Birthday Reward the Following Day?
Yes, although it is Starbucks policy that birthday rewards are only valid for one day, you can explain the circumstances under which you missed out on your reward and the store manager may allow you to redeem it the following day. If you are polite enough, most managers will and baristas will be happy to help you out.
Final Thoughts
Starbucks’ birthday drink is part of the company’s rewards program that seeks to cultivate loyalty among its customers. Starbucks birthday reward is only redeemable at a participating store. The reward becomes available only on the actual day of your birthday and expires at the end of that day.
To qualify for a Starbucks birthday drink you should be registered on the Starbucks rewards program at least one week prior to your birthday. You must also have earned at least one star from qualifying purchases within the year before your birthday.
Whichever drink you choose for your birthday reward, you can customize it without paying a single cent.
