The new Starbucks Duetto Visa: Wake up and smell the plastic

By Ben Woolsey

Many of us need a strong jolt of caffeine to lift that morning fog. For millions of Americans, that means one thing: Starbucks Coffee and lots of it. Now, the international coffee retailer has made it even easier to afford that morning cup of Joe by teaming up with Chase credit card services to offer the new Starbucks Duetto Platinum Visa Card. If you are like many of us that have the Starbucks addiction, the daily cost of a Starbucks habit can not be considered insignificant. So rather than cutting back on such a "necessity" in life, perhaps you should consider making it more affordable with a little help from your everyday credit card spending.

The new Starbucks Duetto Platinum Visa carries two magnetic strips on the back of the card. One is for normal credit card transactions and the other is for purchases within Starbucks Coffee Shops, this credit card is revolutionary in the world of plastic. The in-store portion of the credit card allows patrons to pay for their coffee and pastries without having to sign a receipt, working just like a Starbucks gift card. Both customers and Starbucks appreciate this unique feature of the credit card because it speeds up service at the cash register and lets everyone get their Venti, half-decaf, extra shot, nonfat espresso latte with low foam into their jittery hands that much faster.

When issued, the in-store portion of the credit card can be loaded in $20 increments, and is then reloaded automatically to $20 when the balance falls below $5. The Duetto card is accepted everywhere a normal Visa card is accepted and earns the cardholder a 1 percent cash back rebate on all purchases ($100 in purchases equals 1 Starbucks Dollar). As an initial bonus, cardholders earn a 10 Starbucks Dollars with their first card purchase. Cash back rewards are then transferred to the in-store portion of the card for redemption when $20 in cash back earnings is reached. Rewards are then available to be redeemed by the customer by making future in-store coffee or merchandise purchases.

The Starbucks Duetto card, besides breaking new ground in the credit card industry, has been extremely well received by loyal Starbucks patrons and is helping reinforce the iconic status of one of the nation's biggest retailing success stories. And now, more than ever, there are so many ways to enjoy Starbucks products. Whether in-store at over 9,000 locations in 34 countries, or at home by brewing your own Starbucks-branded coffee, there are lots of avenues for enjoying your caffeinated rewards. And what other kind of credit card reward program could get you so wound up?

Published: September 2, 2005

	Three most recent Innovations, features, new products stories: 7 questions to ask before buying credit card payment protection – To see whether you're a fit for a credit card payment protection plan, ask yourself these seven questions ... Credit card protection plans draw state lawsuits, federal scrutiny – Consumer advocates have long warned against credit card protection plans for their high cost, low payouts and big exclusions. Now regulators are joining in ... Award-winning card designs show plastic's flashy side – These winners of the Elan Award -- a prize given to the year's most innovative card designs -- sparkle, shine and don't deserve to be hidden in a wallet ...

	CreditCards.com's newsletter Did you like this story? Then sign up for CreditCards.com’s weekly e-newsletter for the latest news, advice, articles and tips. It's FREE. Once a week you will receive the top credit card industry news in your inbox. Sign up now!