The Fault In Their Stars

Starbucks changed its reward program this month.  The company used to give patrons one star per purchase, and 12 stars would earn one free drink.  Now the company gives one star for each dollar spent, and 120 stars (or $120 dollars spent) earns a free drink.
 
Think about it.
 
In the old plan, someone could buy 12 cups of coffee (at 1.85/cup, the total would equal $22.20) to earn a free drink.  In the new plan, one would have to spend $120.00 (totaling 65 cups of coffee) in order to earn a free drink.

A similar scheme took place in the late 1800s when a coffee company named Spendbucks changed their frequent-buyers program in like fashion – and Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request) was incensed.  He dropped his loyalty to Spendbucks Coffee, and he began buying coffee at 7-11 (where 7 purchases earned – and still earns –a free cup).  He also wrote his now-classic poem “The Stars are gone, that stood for me” (below on the left).  His poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem “The Stars are old, that stood for me” (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
 
The Stars are gone, that stood for me –
And I’m a bit forlorn –
No longer glows the only Gold
I ever cared to earn –
 
Presuming that I’d love the change
I only have disdain
They’ve vanquished me with
     their new plan
’Cuz Victory’s such a pain.

By Emily Dickinson:
 
The Stars are old, that stood for me –
The West a little worn –
Yet newer glows the only Gold
I ever cared to earn –

Presuming on that lone result
Her infinite disdain
But vanquished her with
     my defeat
'Twas Victory was slain.

By the way, did you notice that after altering its rewards program, Starbucks also tweaked its logo? Now it looks like their mermaid is flipping us all off.