Incredible hassles this morning trying to register my Starbucks card for free wifi support. Firstly, they obviously did not size the system to handle the demand. Even though I was entering my proper Starbucks login and password, the system insisted on coming back with an error.

Then, finally when I got through, it wouldn’t accept my card that currently has a $15 balance because...get this...I haven’t used it in 30 days!?! What about all the soy lattes that I have bought with cash in the last 30 days? They don’t count.

This is what happens when a corporation treats their customers like criminals. Obviously, some empty suit at corporate headquarters is worried that someone may “free ride” on the wifi network by buying a latte and sitting there for many hours.

Starbucks just doesn’t get it! Simply provide free Internet access like Panera, independent coffee shops, etc. and they will come...and they will drink coffee. Get rid of these absurd hoops to jump through and 2-hour limitations. Particularly since your competition already has!

Starbucks should trust its customers and they will reward it with their business. Especially those who already have their loyalty cards!

UPDATE: I made a special trip to Starbucks to buy a latte on my card. It was accepted finally!

Tags: Starbucks, AT&T, Wifi