One of the consequences of using a BookBook case for your iPhone is thinking harder about which cards you really need with you on a daily basis. Air Miles, ID, my transit pass, and some sort of debit or credit card all seem like keepers. The Starbucks card I got for Christmas, on the other hand, just doesn’t make the cut – but it’s also completely useless if I just leave it at home.
As it would happen, one of my friends recently mentioned that the Starbucks iPhone app can be used for payment, so I decided to give it a shot. I had already registered my gift card online and added it to my Starbucks account, so all I needed to do after downloading the app was make sure I was logged in. The app is a great way to familiarize yourself with the myriad of options on the menu and a great intro to the benefits of Starbucks’ Rewards system. However, the main reason I downloaded it was the prospect of being able to simply scan and then caffeinate, without the hassle of an extra card.
I know that this isn’t a new feature of the app, but I’ve always been a little skeptical of trying to pay with anything but cards or cash, as it can be a little too easy to be fanatical about the use of technology. This was true in university when some people insisted on typing out notes that were faster (and better) written out on paper, or when people insist on using Powerpoint for presentations, as if it’s some sort of magical faerie dust that hides a lack of preparation. When I first heard of the Starbucks app and their payment system, my thoughts immediately turned to awkward pauses as the machine refused to scan, and my face slowly reddening as I became “that idiot who tried to pay with his iPhone” and held up the line.
But I digress.
The surprising fact is that the Starbucks app works, and it works well. I walked up to the counter a few days ago, showed the app, and the barista knew exactly what to do. I simply had to bring up the barcode within the app, they scanned it (pro tip: make sure your screen brightness is at 50% or higher), and then we high-fived. Moments later my account was a few dollars poorer, and shortly after that, I was ever so slightly more caffeinated. It was a win for all parties involved, and I didn’t need any extra plastic with me.
So the conclusion here is two-fold: on the one hand, I’m surprised at how well the app works and how well-informed Starbucks’ staff are as to its use; but I’m also less skeptical about the prospect of e-payments and our phones merging with our wallets. A little more optimistic, even. Or maybe it’s just the latté talking.
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