Starbucks to give away free iTunes songs

[roocka]

What would be really cool...

Imagine if you were at a night club and you really liked the song and you could purchase it immediately from i-Tunes. That's what I'm talking about.

-Al

 

[JonHimself]

Imagine if you were at a night club and you really liked the song and you could purchase it immediately from i-Tunes. That's what I'm talking about.

-Al

At a nightclub, a Hollister, Abercrombie, the Gap, etc etc.. I suppose the only problem would be if the store had songs that weren't on iTunes

 

[Anonymous Freak]

something tells me I'm not alone when I say that this whole starbucks thing turns me off. disgusts me even.

if there was some sort of "location button" rather than a "starbucks button" where any commercial outlet, park or , tourist attraction could participate I would be totally down. but having starbucks exclusively pop up on my ipod would be like well.... HAVING THE STAR BUCKS LOGO POP UP ON MY IPOD!

hehe...

I live in Portland, Oregon, where Starbucks are as common as bicycles. (The mall in downtown Portland that has an Apple Store also has two Starbucks. The two Starbucks are on the first and third floors, quite literally one on top of the other. They could pass product back and forth if they had a bank-style vacuum tube running straight up and down.) But local independent coffee shops are also as common as bicycles (there is one corner in downtown Portland that used to have coffee shops on all four corners. TWO of them were owned by Starbucks (one a "Seattle's Best", which Starbucks had bought a few years earlier,) two independent, although ironically, one of the two independents was also bought up by Starbucks, so for a month before Starbucks closed it, Starbucks owned THREE coffee shops on that one corner.) I greatly prefer to go to independent shops whenever possible.

But my aunt used to work for Starbucks headquarters (she ran the call center. I didn't even know they HAD a call center...) So I would often get Starbucks gift cards for my birthday, Christmas, arbor day... Whatever excuse she could find to pawn them off. (This is an aunt that bought my parents a $200 espresso machine not because my parents would use it, but so that it would be there for her use the twice a year she visited them.) Well, my aunt left Starbucks to pursue her own destiny (started her own 'business consulting' company,) and ever since completely shuns Starbucks.

So I basically never go in a Starbucks anymore. Only if I MUST have my coffee fix, and the only shop within walking distance (a rare occurrence in Portland,) is a Starbucks.

 

[eastcoastsurfer]

Out of curiosity, why do you boycott Starbucks?

I dislike Starbucks for a few reasons. First the coffee taste like crap. It's way over roasted for the most part, nearly burned. Could be a personal preference though. The people there bug me. I want a double pump, 2 shot, decaf, no fat milk, low fat whip, soy latte...WTF? Just get a cup of coffee already! Third, I like to support localally owned coffee shops. There is a great one near my apartment now, but starbucks have opened a shop on each side of it so that leads me to my last point. They are *everywhere*! I was in an airport the other day and noticed that from where I was standing I could see 3 starbucks.

To clarify, I fully respect starbucks as a company and the way they could take something like coffee, market the hell out of it, and sell it for $3/cup. Absolute genius! You know how people often say Dell isn't a computer company, but a supply chain company. Starbucks isn't a coffee company as much as it is a marketing company.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Probably because Starbucks is... evil... and corporationy... and all they care about is money... and stuff.

It'll always be cool to try to tear the man down. I used to boycott Starbucks until I asked myself, honestly, why I hated them. The best answer I could come up with was "too successful".

I dislike them because they are the Borg of coffee shops. See my post above for part of the reason, but the killer for me was when they bought out Portland-local coffee chain Coffee People (yeah, the chain had been owned by some company in California for years, but they kept the feel of the chain the same as when it really was locally owned.) First, Starbucks said they were going to convert all the Coffee People locations into Starbucks, which was going to be bad enough. But then they just outright closed about half the locations.

I don't know why they didn't do with Coffee People what they did with Seattle's Best. All the Seattle's Best locations kept their names.

 

[TurboSC]

"stores will hand out"

I wonder if this means no purchase is necessary?

lol yea right, I'd like to see you walk up to the counter and ask them... it probably prints out with the receipt lol... minimum purchase $5.

 

[sparkyms]

While they won't be able to surf anywhere else but the iTunes stores FOR FREE, I believe that alone will be enough motivation for people to bring their laptops and their iPhone and iPod Touch to the coffee houses to peruse the store and buy while they're there. There's just something so fun about coffee and downloading music, talking artists and songs with friends. It's gonna be so huge.

Or they'll continue to leave it at home as the reason they didn't bring them in the first place is because they didn't want to pay to use it. YES the store is free to peruse, but you still have to PAY for the music don't you. Wow, you get one free song when you buy a coffee? GREAT, that's a reason for me to carry my laptop around town with me.

It could also make starbucks a worse place to go, great if you have a touch or iPhone or even a laptop with you to use the store; I can conceed, i DO see the appeal, but, if you don't have such a device its going to be great hearing everyone listen to the bloody music they just bought isn't it. It'll be as bad as apple stores with everyone on their social networking profiles listening to their new profile songs because theyre SOOO COOL.

Forgive me for not being overly enthused by the partnership.

 

[Gaelic1]

Isn't that wonderful. All the Dreck that passes for music today should be free since it isn't worth much.I doubt if any of it will be remembered in twenty years. Have at it folks, there's enough for at least a hundred replies.

 

[nickbates]

Probably because Starbucks is... evil... and corporationy... and all they care about is money... and stuff.

It'll always be cool to try to tear the man down. I used to boycott Starbucks until I asked myself, honestly, why I hated them. The best answer I could come up with was "too successful".

That's one of the best posts I've seen here--wonderfully open and honest!

Actually, pretty idiotic. The whole point of business is to make money and grow your business. Show me one company that doesn't care about money and I'll show you a company that's out of business. All of you "anti-corporation" people need to get off your high horse already.

Yes there are bad corporations out there that do bad things (i.e. Enron) but for the most part, the goal of most small companies is to grow and offer their services or products to a wider audience.

Wow, you get one free song when you buy a coffee? GREAT, that's a reason for me to carry my laptop around town with me.

This is pretty idiotic as well, you don't HAVE to carry a laptop around just to download the one free song... they give you a gift card.

for the most part, the goal of most small companies is to grow and offer their services or products to a wider audience.

It could also make starbucks a worse place to go, great if you have a touch or iPhone or even a laptop with you to use the store; I can conceed, i DO see the appeal, but, if you don't have such a device its going to be great hearing everyone listen to the bloody music they just bought isn't it. It'll be as bad as apple stores with everyone on their social networking profiles listening to their new profile songs because theyre SOOO COOL.

Forgive me for not being overly enthused by the partnership.

Of all the Starbucks I've been to I've never once "heard" anyone playing music... because everyone uses headphones. Most of the people that go to Starbucks have more respect for their fellow patrons than that, just because YOU may be the type that would blast your music doesn't mean others would (and that's why you are not a Starbucks type of person and that's probably why you are not overly enthused by this, because you feel you don't fit in with that crowd. Just speculating...)

I personally don't like their coffee either, but they offer other things besides coffee and it is convenient. And though I listen to a wide range of music, but mostly experimental and electronic stuff, there have been numerous times I've been waiting in line wondering, "What's that cool song?" and wishing I could just get it. Originally, Starbucks partnered with Hear music (think they still are ) which always offered more alternative music plus everything from Sarah Mclaughlin (she's not crap) to some cool Jazz and Blues, so just because you may not like the music, doesn't mean it's crap.

Sorry for the rant, but some of you constant whiny kids really need to get out more and stop complaining over these little things. obviously there is a reason all of this is being offered; because there is enough people interested in it.

 

[nickbates]

Isn't that wonderful. All the Dreck that passes for music today should be free since it isn't worth much.I doubt if any of it will be remembered in twenty years. Have at it folks, there's enough for at least a hundred replies.

Really? Yeah I guess jazz greats like Thelonius Monk (currently featured at Starbucks) are crap and won't last 20 years and the fact that Starbucks won Grammy awards for the last Ray Charles album doesn't mean anything...

 

[Nastard]

Actually, pretty idiotic. The whole point of business is to make money and grow your business. Show me one company that doesn't care about money and I'll show you a company that's out of business. All of you "anti-corporation" people need to get off your high horse already.

That was more or less my point.

 

[Westside guy]

It's too bad this is going to be limited to old peoples' music.

Yeah, I'm an old guy, but somehow I've managed (so far) to not forget that new music is - gasp! - still being made. I don't yell at kids about being on my lawn either.

(I realize Joss Stone is a teenager, but her audience seems to be 30-40 years older than she is)

 

[sparkyms]

This is pretty idiotic as well, you don't HAVE to carry a laptop around just to download the one free song... they give you a gift card.

....

Of all the Starbucks I've been to I've never once "heard" anyone playing music... because everyone uses headphones. Most of the people that go to Starbucks have more respect for their fellow patrons than that, just because YOU may be the type that would blast your music doesn't mean others would (and that's why you are not a Starbucks type of person and that's probably why you are not overly enthused by this, because you feel you don't fit in with that crowd. Just speculating...)

My initial point, about carrying a laptop, was referring to the post in which I quoted, suggesting that people would take their computers BECAUSE they could 'peruse the wireless iTunes store'.

Second point, maybe you've not heard people as this facility is unavailable yet... I for one however, WANT to listen to music when I get it, which is why, I get it delievered, or, when I buy it, go listen to it in my car right away. Or indeed, if I buy from iTunes, i listen to it just after its downloaded. If I've no desire to listen to a song when I've bought it, I probably don't have a desire to have it at all.

And yeah, perhaps I have voiced my opinions in the wrong thread, as I am talking about the partnership as a whole, rather than just the song of the day cards. And yeah, you're right, I don't feel like I 'fit into the crowd', not enough to sit in a flat-pack-build-in-a-week-shop drinking sh*t coffee. And I would have thought Apple wouldn't either, especially considering its former moniker of "Think Different".

 

[offwidafairies]

I dont drink coffee, but you might find me in starbucks more often

i hate starbucks. i dont drink caffeine. i will not be supporting american food/drink chains.

 

[BTW]

looks like they might also be selling Internet access to Apple customers

http://9to5mac.com/tmobile-starbucks-add-iphone-ipod-access-234545623

That actually would be neat. AT&T maybe should work a deal with T-Mobile to share their respective WiFi networks and then AT&T could give the iPhone users a bonus without an additional fee. Not gonna happen, but it's always nice to dream about getting free add-ons.

 

[MacAddict1978]

this is very interesting. i manage a starbucks, and we were not even told about the song of the day cards.

the other deal we did know about. load a special starbucks card, get 2 free downloads.

someone mentioned, why prepaid.... if you register it, you get free stuff, free money, etc. protects the balance.

and love starbucks or not, this is a pretty fun promotion!!!!

we even have a bunch of itunes related incentives the month of october

 

[zap2]

I don't know why there is so much hate towards Starbucks...I'm all for "hating" the "man"...but it doesn't seem like starbucks is evil...just some people don't like there coffee.


I like their Ice Coffee(I think it has coffee in it, the ones I buy), not to mention ones is near my school. Its a good place to relax and get some work done.

 

[Doctor Q]

I don't know why there is so much hate towards Starbucks...I'm all for "hating" the "man"...but it doesn't seem like starbucks is evil...just some people don't like there coffee.

If MacRumors keeps getting more and more successful, will it become "the man" too?

* * *

In the Starbucks announcement it says

Starbucks will start selling iTunes digital release cards that allow a full album of music and bonus material to be downloaded online. KT Tunstall's "Drastic Fantastic" and the soundtrack to the film "Into the Wild" ... will be the first two featured albums, retailing for $14.99 and $11.99, respectively.

In iTunes, the "Drastic Fantastic" album is $9.99 regular, and $14.99 for the Deluxe version with videos. So what's the advantage of buying a card, and then using it in iTunes, when for the same price you can go to iTunes without the card and download the same album, and also have the choice to skip the videos and save $5?

Is there some convenience involved other than charging your iTune purchases to your coffee budget? Is this just an impulse item with no actual benefit?

 

[Westside guy]

In terms of their coffee, Starbucks is in a bit of a no-win situation when it comes to public perception. If the coffee is the same across the thousands of their stores, they've gotten too "corporate" and have "lost their soul". On the other hand if there are differences in coffee between stores, then they're "growing too fast" and "can't maintain quality control". (quoted terms are things I've heard from various people at one time or another)

I miss the days, though, when you walked into a Starbucks and there were giant clear tubes/bins of the various bean varieties. You'd tell the counterperson that you wanted (for instance) a pound of Ethiopia Yergacheffe, which they'd dispense it into the bag. But nowadays most of their business is in drinks, which I rarely buy, and the variety of beans has narrowed significantly. Plus the customer has to find the beans himself/herself.

I do like the "Starbucks Roast", as it's called - but I can understand why some people don't like it.

 

[Orng]

Probably because Starbucks is... evil... and corporationy... and all they care about is money... and stuff.

It'll always be cool to try to tear the man down. I used to boycott Starbucks until I asked myself, honestly, why I hated them. The best answer I could come up with was "too successful".

I don't like Fourbucks because their coffee sucks. Over-roasted, bitter, over-priced. I don't like that people get suckered into buying dessert drinks that are the fat equivalent of a liquid Big Mac.

I also don't like that you have to perform their stupid names for things. I'm not your freakin' monkey! If I ask for a coffee then give me a coffee, don't say, "You mean a plaino stupiccino flambe deluxe". No, I mean a coffee!

I can brew better coffee than Fourbucks, and I can call it coffee, or if I'm out, I can buy better coffee for a dollar.
And I can use the four bucks I saved at the iTunes store. Take that, Steve Jobs!

 

[JonHimself]

I don't like Fourbucks because their coffee sucks. Over-roasted, bitter, over-priced. I don't like that people get suckered into buying dessert drinks that are the fat equivalent of a liquid Big Mac.

I also don't like that you have to perform their stupid names for things. I'm not your freakin' monkey! If I ask for a coffee then give me a coffee, don't say, "You mean a plaino stupiccino flambe deluxe". No, I mean a coffee!

I can brew better coffee than Fourbucks, and I can call it coffee, or if I'm out, I can buy better coffee for a dollar.
And I can use the four bucks I saved at the iTunes store. Take that, Steve Jobs!

So when have you ever asked for a coffee and had the person serving you ask you, "Are you sure you don't want a plaino stpuiccino flambe deluxe?" Am I the only one that thinks the whole making-fun-of-starbucks-because-they-serve-drinks-with-potentially-confusing-names is over-used? At most if you asked for a coffee the person serving you would ask if you wanted a bold or a mild and maybe they'd ask you what size you want...
The coffee also doesn't cost "fourbucks" either. Is that joke over-used as well? Probably.. at least in my opinion it is
Lastly, as for the wording of drinks, would you go into McDonalds and ask for a Whopper? Go into Baskin Robbins and ask for a DQ Blizzard? No, probably not. (Feel free to substitute any applicable locations that you visit if these do not apply) The point is that restaurants, or coffee shops, or stores in general have different names for the same things. Is it so terrible for Starbucks to use differnet names for some products? It's not like they're not spelled out for you on the menu boards or anything...

Maybe I'm taking it a bit over board on this post, but it's just ignorant complaining like yours that is really frustrating.

 

[aapl.jlo]

For how much you pay for your coffee, you should be getting free music. I think that Starbucks can afford it. It's just another one of their ploys of getting people in. Then again, if you can afford an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can afford to go to Starbucks for their song of the day.

The question I have is-When are they putting out a David Bowie title for the song of the day-I'll be there downloading it!

 

[Orng]

So when have you ever asked for a coffee and had the person serving you ask you, "Are you sure you don't want a plaino stpuiccino flambe deluxe?" Am I the only one that thinks the whole making-fun-of-starbucks-because-they-serve-drinks-with-potentially-confusing-names is over-used? At most if you asked for a coffee the person serving you would ask if you wanted a bold or a mild and maybe they'd ask you what size you want...
The coffee also doesn't cost "fourbucks" either. Is that joke over-used as well? Probably.. at least in my opinion it is
Lastly, as for the wording of drinks, would you go into McDonalds and ask for a Whopper? Go into Baskin Robbins and ask for a DQ Blizzard? No, probably not. (Feel free to substitute any applicable locations that you visit if these do not apply) The point is that restaurants, or coffee shops, or stores in general have different names for the same things. Is it so terrible for Starbucks to use differnet names for some products? It's not like they're not spelled out for you on the menu boards or anything...

Maybe I'm taking it a bit over board on this post, but it's just ignorant complaining like yours that is really frustrating.

I don't make fun of Starbucks, I actively disdain it.

Maybe it's just the Canadian locations, but yeah, four bucks is about right. Give or take, maybe it was 3.80, it was over four after sales tax. I've never been to a US location.

Other restaurants' proprietary names for stuff are generally at least descriptive, or heavily marketed as a signature item. Plus, most of the menu I can look at and say, "Hmmm... hamburger, chicken burger, special proprietary store burger...Yep, I know what all this stuff is" One or two items, not an entire wall of gobbledygook so I have to stand there going "uhhh.. which one is like coffee?" It is needlessly exclusive.

And finally, yes, two separate Starbucks experiences in different cities went something like; "I'd like a large coffee please" "You mean a grande something-or-other" "A large coffee will be fine, thanks."

Plus, the coffee continues to be over-roasted, over-hyped, and over-priced; after unpleasant earlier experiences, I've avoided it all costs except for a couple times when I was with others who insisted

 

[Orng]

CAUTION course language

This dude sums up all there is to say about Starbucks...

 

[killerrobot]

"stores will hand out"

I wonder if this means no purchase is necessary?

Not sure about that no purchase thing, but it would have to be nationwide, not just in Portland or SF.

Keep in mind everyone that this whole itunes/starbucks thing will only be available in 5 areas come the end of 2008.

Oh yeah, and anyone complaining about Starbucks needs to complain about Apple just as much --they did just team up together for christ's sake. And do all of the complainers actually know what they are complaining about? (Some say its too bitter and others too acidic---those are opposites in coffee terms so someone is wrong)