This news article in USA Today truly caught my eye. This week, Starbucks will start offering a $450 steel card. Yes, it’s a Starbucks card made out of metal. The card comes loaded with $400.00 on it, and according to the USA Today article, the cost to make the card is $50.00. The only way to buy this unique card is to order it through Gilt.com.
Unfortunately, Starbucks will only be making 5000 of these cards. That’s a depressingly tiny number. They’ll be sold out fast. If even 1% of Starbucks gold card holders want one, they’d need to produce something like 30,000 cards, by my best guess. And then there are the many people who simply like collecting Starbucks cards. I’m really not sure if I’ll be buying one – that is expensive in my book. And even if I want one, with only 5,000 being produced, it’s possible I just won’t be able to get one before they’re sold out.
Still, it’s an incredibly interesting thing they’re doing. About two years ago, there was indeed a metal card “idea” at MyStarbucksIdea.com. I think that person just got his or her wish.
It appears that on Thursday, December 6, 2012, the cards will first be available on Gilt.com, and it appears that existing Starbucks card holders have the first chance to order one.
Is anyone here going to grab a steel Starbucks card from Gilt.com?
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Just curious- are the ones on ebay selling with no money on the cards is that because the person selling it has transferred the $400 to another card? Even more bizarre if you ask me!
@purple1 – I’ve looked at buying things on eBay a number of times, it’s actually standard eBay practice that when one sells a card, it’s empty. You’ll see that over and over again. If you look for the Tazo Starbucks Card on eBay, you’ll see that too. It’s just considered standard. Or do a search of Starbucks Card generally on eBay.
@KpieKars: here is the link to the Steel Card on Gilt.com
I don’t know why the link did not get post on my previous attempts. I am trying it for the 3rd time now…
http://www.gilt.com/home/sale/starbucks-4687?pkey=starbuckscard&utm_medium=bd&utm_source=starbuckscard
Sold out!
As far as the blank cards on eBay, they are selling the card as a collector’s item, not a card with value. There are value card auction on eBay, which I sometimes use to get a small discount on my beans.
I just looked on Ebay this weekend and I saw one where the person said Buy Now for $5,555.00!!!! Wow!! Seriously?!?! I love my Starbucks but not that much! It amazes me how high the bids were going for these cards. But yes, I do think the $400 is loaded on there because whoever bought one to begin with it was loaded on there.
re: Ebay, keep in mind that every ‘buyer’ is not necessarily a “paying buyer”. Those supposedly ‘done deals’ fall thru often.
I got mine..but mainly because I buy a 5 shot iced white mocha every day of the year.. and I’d use it up … but… If I can sell it for $4,000 – I would do it in a second. 🙂