When Starbucks launched its first loyalty program, it was based on the simple idea of an old-fashioned punch card (remember those?), rewarding loyal customers for their in-store purchases and encouraging them to keep coming back. But instead of paper cards, customers could register their Starbucks gift cards online to earn benefits, including a free birthday beverage.

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In 2009, the first Stars were awarded in Canada as the Starbucks Card Rewards merged with the Starbucks Gold Card membership program to create a single streamlined <a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/rewards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks Rewards</a> loyalty program. Customers began collecting Stars and soon the program expanded into the groundbreaking Starbucks app where paying with the app became possible, followed by the launch of the <a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/coffeehouse%2Fmobile-order" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">order ahead and pay feature</a> in the app in 2015. &nbsp;

The flexibility and choice of rewards expanded too, with <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2019/enhance-our-industry-leading-starbucks-rewards-loyalty-program/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tiered rewards starting in 2019</a> to include merchandise and at-home coffee as well the ability to earn Stars toward free Rewards from the day members joined.

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Today (Sept. 15) marks the next evolution in the industry-leading loyalty program, with <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/starbucks-to-update-loyalty-program-and-app-this-fall-to-offer-customers-more-ways-to-pay-and-earn-stars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">even more ways to pay and earn Stars</a> through the Starbucks app. At company-operated stores across Canada, Starbucks Rewards members can scan their app and then pay with cash, credit/debit cards, or select mobile wallets and earn Stars toward free items. Members can also save these payment methods directly in the Starbucks app to earn stars when paying.

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So, just how many Stars have been awarded so far? Let’s quiz your knowledge about Starbucks Rewards below:

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A How-To Guide for Digital Ordering at Starbucks

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Starting today, Starbucks Rewards members now have more ways to pay and earn Stars. Here’s a look back at how it became one of retail’s most popular customer loyalty programs.

Seeing Stars: More Ways to Pay and 4 Fun Facts about Starbucks Rewards

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Starbucks Canada

Seeing Stars: More Ways to Pay and Fun Facts about Starbucks Rewards

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https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2020/more-ways-to-pay-starbucks-rewards-loyalty-program/

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<em>Starbucks Rewards members will have more ways to&nbsp;pay&nbsp;with any credit/debit card, cash,&nbsp;or&nbsp;select mobile wallets&nbsp;and earn Stars</em>

Today, Starbucks announced plans to update its industry-leading Starbucks® Rewards loyalty program by giving members more payment options and ways to earn Stars through the Starbucks app. Beginning this fall in company-operated stores in the U.S. and Canada, Starbucks Rewards members will be able to scan their app and then pay with cash, credit/debit cards, or select mobile wallets and earn Stars toward free items. Members will also be able to save these payment methods directly in the Starbucks app to earn Stars when paying. These enhancements will be in addition to the current option of earnings Stars by paying with a Starbucks Card in stores and within the app.

&nbsp;“Having a&nbsp;connection&nbsp;with our customers, whether in our stores or&nbsp;digitally,&nbsp;allows us to&nbsp;anticipate their needs&nbsp;and deliver&nbsp;the&nbsp;products and experiences they are looking for.&nbsp;Our customers&nbsp;have shared with us&nbsp;that they would like more options&nbsp;to pay and earn Stars in the app as a Starbucks Rewards member,&nbsp;in addition to&nbsp;the Starbucks&nbsp;Card,”&nbsp;said Brady Brewer, Starbucks chief marketing officer. “We expect the expansion of payment options will appeal to an even wider customer audience and deepen engagement with our members.”&nbsp;

Current Starbucks Rewards members will&nbsp;continue to&nbsp;enjoy all of the <a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/rewards/">benefits</a> of the company’s loyalty program and the&nbsp;Starbucks&nbsp;app. Beginning this fall, all members can&nbsp;choose to pay with&nbsp;their&nbsp;preloaded&nbsp;Starbucks Card and earn&nbsp;two&nbsp;Stars per $1,&nbsp;or earn one Star per $1 spent when they scan and pay with a credit/debit card, cash, or select mobile wallets at participating stores.

The Starbucks app powers the industry-leading Starbucks Rewards loyalty program and Starbucks customers have become increasingly reliant on the Starbucks app, with new users adopting the app for locating their nearest store, ordering ahead and using contactless payment. For more information about Starbucks Rewards visit <a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/rewards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks.ca/rewards</a>.

<strong>Unlocking convenient experiences</strong>

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From drive-thru to <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/how-to-guide-for-digital-ordering-at-starbucks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile ordering</a>, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/starbucks-canada-welcomes-customers-back-grab-and-go-service/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grab-and-go</a> and <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/starbucks-canada-to-begin-testing-curbside-pickup/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mobile Order Curbside Pickup</a>, the Starbucks app continues to enable more convenient digital customer experiences and align with customer preferences for convenience and on-the-go that have evolved as a result of COVID-19, while still enabling Starbucks to connect with customers and serve communities safely. 

For those new to using the app, here are <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/how-to-guide-for-digital-ordering-at-starbucks/" target="_blank">step-by-step instructions for digital ordering</a>. 

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Beginning this fall in company-operated stores in the U.S. and Canada, Starbucks Rewards members will be able to scan their app and then pay with cash, credit/debit cards, or select mobile wallets and earn Stars toward free items.

Starbucks to Update Loyalty Program and App This Fall to Offer Customers More Ways to Pay and Earn Stars towards Free Beverages, Food and Merchandise

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