Buzzfeed is correct:
PEOPLE. ARE. FREAKING. OUT.
Summary of events: Starbucks changed their reward system. You now get 2 stars for every dollar spent instead of one star for each purchase. Instead of 12 Stars to get a free drink, it is now 125 stars to a free drink. So if you only get one coffee per transaction, it is going to take you a bit longer to get your stars and your free drink.
Here's my math:
Basically. Every $62.50 gets you a free coffee now (in this new system) instead of after every 12 purchases you get a free coffee. My normal coffee is about $4.90 which means every $58.80* I got a free coffee. Starbucks is ripping me off about $4. Which is almost the amount of a free coffee.
*Also. To the private tutor I had in Jr High and High School for Math I have to tell you that if there was coffee involved before we could have avoided all of those afternoons at my dining room table.
Additionally, they will have to change their marketing for their rewards program because for Gold Members they call it the "Lucky Dozen" and the "Lucky 125" doesn't have the same ring to it nor does it roll off the tongue. Want to know where everyone's extra $4 is going to? The Starbucks Marketing Department.
The big question: Will this change keep me from drinking Starbucks?
NO.
My current stomach ulcer (who I have named Ursula) is going to keep me from drinking Starbucks.
Thank you for your concern at my time of need.