by Dave Burgess
It all started with a simple cup of coffee.
Every morning on my way to work, I pull into the Starbucks drive through and order the same thing: a Grande brewed black coffee. That will be a buck eighty-six, please pull ahead to the window.
I like to think I'm like most scrip users. I try to do as much of my regular shopping as possible with scrip. But sometimes, I haven't planned ahead like I should, and I would still buy that Starbucks Grande brewed black whether I had my Starbucks scrip or not.
But now, I never run out of Starbucks scrip, because I'm a reload junkie. Once I tried reloading my Starbucks card, I became hooked, and I bet you will too.
Like many scrip users, I just didn't think reloading a gift card was worth the effort. I mean, ShopWithScrip.com makes ordering easy. Why bother going to the fuss of registering a card when I can just buy a new one?
Here's why:
- It's convenient - Before, I thought it was a hassle to register a Starbucks gift card. Wrong. It takes seconds. And ShopWithScrip.com lets me register and name more than one card, so I can reload my card, my wife's card, or both. And once it's registered, I can reload it again and again without re-typing the card number.
- Did I say it's convenient? - I keep the Starbucks card in my car cup holder. I know I can always get my morning Starbucks fix whether I have cash on me or not. And since I'm often running late, I appreciate not making unnecessary ATM stops.
- It's easy for my scrip coordinator - ShopWithScrip.com takes my order, collects my money (because I use PrestoPay), and reports the sale to my scrip coordinator. So she helps my son's school raise money without lifting a finger. She likes that.
- I never miss out on a scrip rebate - Before, I would buy my Grande brewed black every morning whether I had scrip or not. Now, I always have scrip because I reload $50 on my Starbucks card every couple of weeks. I just keep an eye on the remaining gift card balance, which is posted on every Starbucks receipt. When it gets below $10, I reload another $50, and every single Starbucks purchase helps my son's school.
- It's earth friendly - I'm not exactly a tree hugger, but reloading cards really makes sense. Starbucks doesn't have to make me another gift card. I don't have to throw another perfectly good card into a landfill. And FedEx will burn a little less jet fuel for each gift card they don't have to deliver to my scrip program.
- It's healthy and good for you - Well, this may be stretching it a bit, but now that I'm doing Weight Watchers, I'm hooked on Starbucks hot oatmeal with dried fruit (3 points). I get one most mornings with my trusty reloadable Starbucks card.
My reload obsession doesn't stop at Starbucks. My daughter is going to grad school in another town 200 miles away, and she knows she can always get her prescriptions filled at CVS, or her gas tank filled at Mobil, because Dad keeps those cards reloaded.
So being a reload junkie isn't a bad thing, it's a good thing. And ShopWithScrip card reloads keep me going. Isn't it time you gave it a try?
About the author
Dave Burgess is a regular scrip user and Vice President at Great Lakes Scrip Center where he focuses on marketing and web related projects.
©2009 Great Lakes Scrip Center, LLC