1y ago

Starbucks accused of rigging payments in app for nearly $900 million gain over 5 years by consumer watchdog group

fortune.com Starbucks accused of rigging payments in app for nearly $900 million gain over 5 years by consumer watchdog group

“Starbucks rigs its payment platform so consumers are encouraged to leave unspent money on their cards and apps," the group says.

Starbucks accused of rigging payments in app for nearly $900 million gain over 5 years by consumer watchdog group::Washington Consumer Protection Coalition complains to Washington state attorney general.

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This is nothing new. Why do you think damn near any place will sell you a gift card? Because even IF someone uses it, there's almost always some left on the card, OR people spend over the amount, spending more than they would have originally. They are literally a 'can't lose' for businesses.
- in California, all gift cards $10 or less can be redeemed for cash.
  you may have to argue with employees and management, but its the law... it's also a misdemeanor for the cashier to refuse it to you.
  
  Funny enough, I tried this with Starbucks and the manager refused.
  
  oh ive been there.
  i had the manager at a mcdonalds refuse me once, so i ended up showing him the law on my phone... which didn't convice them... so i emailed corporate, who called me back, and the store... and then the store had the law printed on the window at the entrance...
  the next time i tried it there, had to still get a manager who said "i'll just do it this one time"
  and i kept letting him know that i know he has to every time...
  
  I wish I had the energy to be this petty over $1.60. I genuinely respect your efforts.
  
  it's not about the $10, it's the principle...
  
  Did you show them the law?
  
  interesting, didn't know that
  
  most people don't
  
  (b)(1) Any gift certificate sold after January 1, 1997, is redeemable in cash for its cash value, or subject to replacement with a new gift certificate at no cost to the purchaser or holder
  Not just under 10
  
  there's more to that:
  Any gift certificate sold after January 1, 1997, is redeemable in cash for its cash value, or subject to replacement with a new gift certificate at no cost to the purchaser or holder.4 Effective January 1, 2008, any gift certificate with a cash value of less than $10 is redeemable in cash, which includes currency or check, for its cash value.
  
  In case anybody is wondering this part is important because the thing the other guy posted just says it can be replaced with cash OR a new gift card of equal value. That doesn't mean it's the customer's choice which one they receive though so businesses would just choose to replace it with another gift card.

44 comments