Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception
Card value is a prepayment, generally nonrefundable, not cash, not FDIC-insured, earns no interest
Starbucks issues the Card to you so you can load a dollar value for use at participating Starbucks stores. The loaded value is a prepayment for goods and services of participating stores. Unless otherwise required by law or permitted by the Agreement, the value is nonrefundable and may not be redeemed for cash. The value is not insured by the FDIC and does not earn interest.
Supporting quotations
It allows you to load a dollar value onto your Starbucks Card for use at participating Starbucks® stores.
The dollar value that you load onto your Starbucks Card is a prepayment for the goods and services of participating stores.
Unless otherwise required by law or permitted by this Agreement, the dollar value on your Starbucks Card is nonrefundable and may not be redeemed for cash.
The value on your Starbucks Card is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), nor does it earn interest.
Qualifications & exceptions
Nonrefundable and non-cash only unless otherwise required by law or permitted by the Agreement.
Use is at participating Starbucks stores.
Not stated here
The Agreement's permitted refund cases appear in other sections and are explained in their own cards.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Context
Most North American stores accept the Card; some branded locations do not
Most Starbucks stores in North America, including Puerto Rico, accept the Card. Certain Starbucks-branded locations may not permit it for payment, including some airport, grocery and bookstore locations, or stores in Guam. You can check at the store or on the store locator; a store listing Digital Rewards as an amenity accepts the Card.
Supporting quotations
Most Starbucks stores in North America including Puerto Rico accept your Starbucks Card.
Certain Starbucks-branded locations may not permit you to use the Starbucks Card for payment, including some airport, grocery and bookstore locations, or stores in Guam.
Any store that lists "Digital Rewards" as one of its amenities is a store that accepts the Starbucks Card.
Qualifications & exceptions
Acceptance varies by location; the list of excluded location types is introduced with 'including', so it is not stated as complete.
Not stated here
Which specific locations do not accept the Card is not listed; the Agreement points to the store or the store locator.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Procedure
Load value in a store, online or by phone, with a possible delay before funds are usable
In the United States and Canada you can load value on a Starbucks Card at any participating store, online, or by calling 1-800-STARBUC. There may be a delay between paying the amount and the funds being available for use.
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In the United States and Canada, you can load value on your Starbucks Card by visiting any participating store
or by calling 1-800-STARBUC.
There may be a delay from the time you pay the amount to be loaded onto your Starbucks Card and those funds being available for use.
Qualifications & exceptions
Stated for the United States and Canada.
A delay before loaded funds are available is possible; no length is given.
Not stated here
How long the delay can last is not stated.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception
Card balance, daily and loading limits, which Starbucks can change without notice
You may not have more than $500 in value on any of your Cards at any time. No more than $2,000 may be associated with any one Card in a single day, meaning activity on one Card cannot exceed $2,000 over a day. The total you may load across all your Cards, together with new Cards you purchase, may not exceed $10,000 on any given day. There is a minimum load amount, typically $5. Starbucks may change any of these amounts at any time without notice to you.
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You may not have more than $500 in value on any of your Starbucks Cards at any time, and no more than $2,000 may be associated with any one Starbucks Card in a single day.
This means that the activity on any one of your Starbucks Cards cannot exceed $2,000 over the course of a day.
The total value you may load onto all of your Starbucks Cards, together with the value of any new Starbucks Cards that you may purchase, may not exceed $10,000 on any given day.
There is a minimum amount that you may load on any Starbucks Card at any given time, and that amount is typically $5.
We may change any of these amounts at any time without notice to you.
Qualifications & exceptions
$500 applies to the value on each of your Cards at any time; $2,000 per Card per day; $10,000 per day across all Cards including newly purchased Cards.
The minimum load amount is 'typically' $5, so it can differ.
Starbucks may change any of these amounts at any time without notice.
Not stated here
Whether the minimum load differs from $5 in particular cases is not stated.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Procedure
Credit or debit purchases are authorized first; your bank may hold funds until fulfillment
If you use a credit or debit card to buy or reload a Starbucks Card, an authorization process runs for the transaction amount before charging. It validates the card number, status, available credit or funds and billing information against what the bank or card company has on file, and your bank or Starbucks may contact you for more information first. After authorization your bank may hold the amount from your credit line or available balance, or place a temporary hold on a debit account, for a period set by your bank. Your card is charged only on fulfillment. If the transaction is cancelled, Starbucks will request an authorization reversal on your behalf; reversal times vary. Starbucks recommends contacting your bank about its authorization and reversal policies.
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If you use a credit or debit card to purchase or reload your Starbucks Card, prior to charging your credit or debit card, an authorization process will occur
The authorization process will validate the credit or debit card number, status, available credit or funds and billing information to ensure that it matches what the bank or card company has on file.
Your bank or Starbucks may attempt to contact you for additional information prior to authorizing the Transaction amount.
Your bank may hold this dollar amount from your credit line or available balance for a short period of time determined by the policy of your bank before your Transaction is fulfilled.
Regardless of whether you use a credit or debit card, your card will be charged only upon fulfillment of your Transaction.
If your Transaction is cancelled, Starbucks will request an authorization reversal on your behalf. Reversal times may vary.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies when a credit or debit card is used to purchase or reload a Starbucks Card.
Hold length is determined by the bank's policy, not Starbucks.
Reversal times may vary.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice
Balance stays in the base currency; use abroad is converted at that day's rate with no Starbucks fee
Amounts loaded are denominated in the currency of the country where the Card was sold (the base currency). Cards purchased in the United States may also be used in Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Mexico and Australia. A purchase in another country is converted from local currency to the base currency using exchange rates applicable on the transaction date and deducted from the balance. No fees or other charges are made to the Card for the conversion, but your bank or card provider may charge a separate fee if you use a credit or debit card or other accepted payment method to load the Card outside the U.S.; Starbucks receives no portion of it and does not control it. The receipt shows the balance in the local currency of the store. Transactions on the website are denominated in U.S. dollars.
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All amounts loaded onto your Starbucks Card are denominated in the currency of the country in which it was sold (the "base currency").
Starbucks Cards purchased in the United States may also be used in Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Mexico and Australia.
No fees or other charges are made to your Starbucks Card for the currency conversion.
However, note that your bank or card provider may charge you a separate fee if you are using a credit or debit card or other accepted payment method to load your Starbucks Card outside of the U.S.
Transactions that occur on our website are denominated in U.S. dollars. Currency conversions are based on currency exchange rates applicable on the date of the Transaction.
Qualifications & exceptions
The 'no fees' statement is about the Card's currency conversion, not fees your bank or card provider may charge.
The list of countries applies to Cards purchased in the United States.
Rates applied are those applicable on the date of the transaction.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Procedure
Reload in store or online, with optional auto-reload; stop it 24 hours ahead; loads cannot be reversed
You can reload in store or link a payment method to your Starbucks account and reload manually online or set up automatic reload. With auto-reload you set the reload date or the balance that triggers it and provide payment information. Starbucks emails confirmation of the automatic reload terms, bills your credit or debit card on the schedule and amount you selected, and emails you after each reload. You can change preferences at any time, but changes may take up to 24 hours to take effect. To stop auto-reload you must log in or call at least 24 hours before the next scheduled reload. Once dollar value is loaded, the transaction cannot be reversed.
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You can reload your Starbucks Card in-store or, to make reloading your Starbucks Card easier, you can link a payment method to your Starbucks account
With automatic reload, you simply set the reload date or the balance at which you want to reload your Starbucks Card and provide us with payment information.
We will send you an email confirming the automatic reload Transaction terms and bill your credit card or debit card according to the schedule and amount you have selected.
You can change your reload preferences at any time, but changes may take up to twenty-four (24) hours to go into effect.
you must log-in to your Starbucks account at
at least twenty-four (24) hours before the next scheduled reload.
Once the dollar value is loaded, the Transaction cannot be reversed.
Qualifications & exceptions
Changes to reload preferences may take up to 24 hours to take effect.
Discontinuing auto-reload requires action at least 24 hours before the next scheduled reload.
Once value is loaded the transaction cannot be reversed.
Not stated here
The text does not say what happens to a reload scheduled less than 24 hours after a stop request.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license
eGift purchases charge your payment method at purchase, even if delivery is scheduled later
The eGift program lets you buy and send a virtual Starbucks Card by email or through certain social media and messaging platforms. You choose the design and dollar value, within certain limits, and pay by credit card, debit card or certain other electronic payment methods. You may choose when delivery happens, including the same day if your form of payment is approved. You authorize Starbucks to charge your chosen payment method at the time you purchase the eGift, regardless of the delivery date you choose.
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Starbucks eGift Card
allows you to purchase and send a virtual Starbucks Card via email, or via certain social media and messaging platforms.
You may choose the design and dollar value (within certain limits) and complete your purchase using a credit card, debit card, or certain other electronic payment methods.
You may choose when to have your eGift delivered the same day, provided that your form of payment is approved.
You authorize us to charge your credit card, debit card or other chosen electronic payment method at the time you purchase your eGift regardless of the date you choose for delivery.
Qualifications & exceptions
Dollar value is chosen only within certain limits that this section does not state.
Same-day delivery is available only if the form of payment is approved.
The charge happens at purchase, not at delivery.
Not stated here
The eGift value limits and the supported social media or messaging platforms are not listed here.
Cross-references
contrast (model-proposed): Credit or debit purchases are authorized first; your bank may hold funds until fulfillment — contrast: eGifts are charged at purchase regardless of the delivery date, while the loading section says the card is charged only upon fulfillment of the transaction; the text does not say whether an eGift purchase is fulfilled at purchase or at delivery.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception
eGifts are refunded only if unused and with the original receipt
Starbucks says it will give refunds only for unused eGifts, and only with the original receipt. This is a narrow refund route that sits against the general rule that Card value is nonrefundable unless required by law or permitted by the Agreement.
Supporting quotations
We will only give refunds for unused eGifts with the original receipt.
Qualifications & exceptions
Both conditions apply: the eGift is unused and the original receipt is provided.
Not stated here
The text does not say who can claim the refund or how long after purchase.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license
Starbucks may run promotions under extra terms and change or end them at any time
From time to time Starbucks may, in its sole discretion, run promotional programs tied to the Starbucks Card program. Promotions are subject to these terms and to any additional terms shown with the Promotion. Starbucks reserves the right to modify the terms of any Promotion at any time, up to and including terminating it.
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Promotional Programs
From time to time, we may in our sole discretion, run promotional programs associated with the Starbucks Card program
Such Promotions are subject to these terms, as well as additional terms as indicated in connection with the Promotions.
We reserve the right to modify the terms and conditions of any Promotion at any time, including and up to terminating the Promotion.
Qualifications & exceptions
Starbucks decides in its sole discretion whether to run Promotions.
Additional terms for a Promotion are indicated in connection with that Promotion and are not in this source.
Not stated here
Promotion-specific terms are not supplied here.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Company commitment
No activation, service, dormancy or inactivity fees, and Card value never expires
Starbucks says it does not charge activation, service, dormancy or inactivity fees on the Card. The Card has no expiration date and the value on it never expires. Separately, the Fraud section lets Starbucks cancel all affected Cards and retain the related balances without notice if a Card or balance was sourced or derived from fraud or other unlawful means; that is a different circumstance from expiration.
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Fees and Expiration of Card Balances
We do not charge any activation, service, dormancy or inactivity fees in connection with your Starbucks Card.
Your Starbucks Card has no expiration date nor does the value on your Starbucks Card ever expire.
Fraud Associated with Your Starbucks Card or Card Balance
we may in our sole discretion, cancel all impacted Starbucks Cards and retain all related Starbucks Card balances without notice to you.
Qualifications & exceptions
The no-fee statement lists four named fee types; it does not address other kinds of charges.
Cancellation and balance retention for fraud-sourced Cards, stated in the Fraud section, applies in its own circumstances.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license
Cards bundled with merchandise: returns of the merchandise part are at Starbucks's discretion
Some Starbucks Cards are merchandise or are bundled with merchandise, with a price equal to the Card value plus the merchandise's retail value. The Card and merchandise must be bought together. Where the parts are separable, Starbucks may in its sole discretion allow returns of the merchandise if you keep only the Card. Where they are inseparable, Starbucks may in its sole discretion allow a return with a refund of the merchandise value and a replacement Card loaded with the original Card value. In either case the return requirements are those for other merchandise unless Starbucks specifies otherwise at purchase.
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Starbucks Cards That Are Also Merchandise
Some Starbucks Cards are also merchandise or are bundled with merchandise
to the extent that the components are separable, we may in our sole discretion allow returns of the merchandise component if you choose to keep only the Starbucks Card.
In cases where the merchandise component is inseparable from the Starbucks Card, we may in our sole discretion allow you to return the item by issuing you a refund for the value of the merchandise component and a replacement Starbucks Card loaded with the original value of the Starbucks Card component.
the requirements for returning the merchandise component are the same as the requirements for returns of other merchandise unless otherwise specified by us during your purchase of that merchandise.
Qualifications & exceptions
Returns are allowed only if Starbucks chooses to allow them, in its sole discretion.
Return requirements follow other merchandise returns unless Starbucks specified otherwise at purchase.
Not stated here
The ordinary merchandise return requirements are not in this source.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Procedure
Starbucks corrects balance errors it believes occurred, but must be told within 60 days to be obliged to review
Starbucks will correct the Card balance if it believes a clerical, billing or accounting error occurred. To dispute a transaction or correction, call Customer Service. If you give enough detail, Starbucks will review your claim and tell you what it finds, correcting any error promptly after the review, or explaining what it found if there is none. Starbucks has no obligation to review or correct a billing error unless you give sufficient notice within 60 days of the transaction in question.
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Billing Errors, Corrections
We will correct the balance of your Starbucks Card if we believe that a clerical, billing, or accounting error occurred.
Assuming you provide sufficient details, we will review your claim and tell you what we find.
We have no obligation to review or correct any billing error unless you provide us sufficient notice for us to review your claim within sixty (60) days of the date of the Transaction in question.
Qualifications & exceptions
Review requires that you provide sufficient details.
The 60-day period runs from the date of the transaction in question.
Not stated here
Whether Starbucks may still choose to review a claim after 60 days is not stated.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception
Starbucks may refuse or limit Cards it reasonably suspects are fraudulent, and disclaims liability for third-party fraud
Starbucks will not accept a Card, or will limit use of a Card or balance, if it reasonably believes the use is unauthorized, fraudulent or otherwise unlawful and considers the action appropriate to limit its risk. Starbucks says it does not control who may sell preloaded Cards or the price or denominations independent sellers offer, so it has no liability to you for any third-party fraud or unlawful activity associated with a Card balance.
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Fraud Associated with Your Starbucks Card or Card Balance
We will not accept any Starbucks Card, or will limit use of any Starbucks Card or Starbucks Card balance, if we reasonably believe that the use is unauthorized, fraudulent or otherwise unlawful, and we consider such action appropriate to limit our risk.
Starbucks does not control who may sell preloaded Starbucks Cards, nor can we control the price or preloaded denominations offered by independent sellers.
Consequently, Starbucks has no liability to you for any third-party fraud or unlawful activity associated with any Starbucks Card balance.
Qualifications & exceptions
Refusal or limits require Starbucks to reasonably believe the use is unauthorized, fraudulent or otherwise unlawful and to consider the action appropriate to limit its risk.
The no-liability statement concerns third-party fraud or unlawful activity associated with a Card balance.
Not stated here
The text does not say how a refused or limited Card holder can contest the decision.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license
Starbucks may cancel Cards and keep balances sourced from fraud, without notice
If Starbucks discovers that a Card or balance was sourced or derived from fraud or other unlawful means, it may in its sole discretion cancel all impacted Cards and retain all related balances without notice to you. It may use retained balances to help offset its liability to card companies, networks and issuers of lost or stolen credit and debit cards used to buy or load Cards.
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If Starbucks discovers any Starbucks Card or Starbucks Card balance was sourced or derived from fraud or other unlawful means, we may in our sole discretion, cancel all impacted Starbucks Cards and retain all related Starbucks Card balances without notice to you.
We may use retained Starbucks Card balances to help offset our liability to card companies, networks and issuers of lost or stolen credit and debit cards used to purchase or load Starbucks Cards.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies where Starbucks discovers a Card or balance was sourced or derived from fraud or other unlawful means.
Cancellation and retention are in Starbucks's sole discretion and without notice.
Not stated here
The text does not say whether a legitimate holder of an affected Card has any route to recover value.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception
You are responsible for all Card transactions, including unauthorized ones; replacement only for registered Cards
Starbucks asks you to treat your Card like cash and not disclose its information. If the Card or its information is lost or stolen, whoever has it may use it, and you are responsible for all transactions on your Card, including unauthorized transactions. If the Card is lost, stolen or destroyed it can be replaced with the balance remaining when you contact Starbucks, but only if you previously registered it. Separately, Starbucks and its affiliates say they have no liability for unauthorized access to, or alteration, theft or destruction of a Card through accident, misuse or fraudulent means or devices by you or any third party.
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You should treat your Starbucks Card like cash and not disclose your Starbucks Card information to anyone.
If your Starbucks Card or Starbucks Card information is lost or stolen, anyone who obtains possession of either may use your Card. You are responsible for all transactions on your Starbucks Card, including unauthorized transactions.
However, if your Starbucks Card is lost, stolen or destroyed, your Starbucks Card can be replaced with the balance remaining on it at the time you contact us, but only if you have previously registered it with us.
Disclaimers and Limits of Liability
In no event shall Starbucks or its affiliates have any liability for unauthorized access to, or alteration, theft or destruction of a Starbucks Card through accident, misuse or fraudulent means or devices by you or any third party
Qualifications & exceptions
Replacement with the remaining balance applies only if the Card was previously registered and uses the balance at the time you contact Starbucks.
The liability disclaimer in the Disclaimers section covers unauthorized access, alteration, theft or destruction through accident, misuse or fraudulent means or devices by you or a third party.
Charges & Financial Obligations · User right or choice
Report a lost, stolen or damaged registered Card to freeze its balance and move it to a replacement
If a registered Card is lost, stolen or damaged, report it as soon as possible online through your Starbucks account or by phone. The registered Card balance is protected from the time you notify Starbucks. Starbucks will freeze the remaining balance when you notify it and load that balance onto a replacement Card.
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If your registered Starbucks Card becomes lost, stolen, or damaged, report it as soon as possible either online through your Starbucks account at
Your registered Starbucks Card balance is protected from the time you notify us.
We will freeze the remaining balance on your Starbucks Card at the time you notify us and will load that remaining balance on a replacement Starbucks Card.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to a registered Card.
Protection runs from the time you notify Starbucks, not from the time of loss.
Not stated here
The text does not say how quickly the replacement is issued.