DC Trawler

You Can Get A Free Cup Of Starbucks Just For Talking To A Liberal

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Or, if you’re determined to be wrong about everything, you can talk to a conservative instead. Just as long as it’s somebody who disagrees with you politically. That’s the idea behind Starbucks’ latest harebrained scheme.

Julia Guilardi, Boston Globe:

Want a free cup of coffee? Starbucks has got you covered.

All you have to do is drink it while talking to someone you disagree with. That’s the premise behind the coffee behemoth’s collaboration with Harvard Business School startup ‘Hi from the Other Side’…

Here’s how it works: Users can sign up for the app via Facebook and are then paired with someone nearby who identifies with the opposing political party. Each user then receives half of the information necessary to unlock a Starbucks gift card. Then, once both participants meet up, they can work together to unlock the gift cards and receive a complimentary cup of java.

Sounds like a lot of work just for a free cup of joe. I wouldn’t drink Starbucks even if you paid me, but given the choice between shelling out for their overpriced sludge or having to talk to a liberal, I’d get out my wallet in a heartbeat. If you have more patience than money, though, you can find out more here.

Nice effort, Starbucks. If you start putting as much effort into the taste of your coffee as you put into these little publicity stunts, let me know.

(Hat tip: Dana Eisenberg)

Update: A clarification from Henry Tsai, founder of Hi from the Other Side…

There’s a bit of incorrect information in the piece, and I wanted to make a clarification: this is not a partnership or collaboration/initiative with Starbucks. This limited contribution of under 300 gift cards is a gesture of support from Starbucks for us to incentivize participation (Starbucks store employees are not involved).

So noted!

Tags : starbucks
Jim Treacher