Some info/some rant.

Re: use your own cup for a small discount and 25 points is still in place. And really the only reason I go to Starbucks anymore. Generally brewed coffee once a week, maybe with a refill, and then treat myself to a specialty drink on occasion using points. I have noticed that I used to be able to get a large specialty drink with points, but that now seems limited to the medium drinks.

Re: refills, I noticed, mainly in 2021, that refills for members were problematic, like 'we don't do that', etc. But I haven't had that issue for awhile. I am guessing that was related to employee turnover.

Rant, and I'll try not to get into bad OMNI here. Pre-COVID, I'd work at a local Starbucks for a couple of hours, 3-4 times per week, before I went to the office. Even though it was a very busy store, I was rarely distracted and the employees were always friendly. During COVID, late 2020/a lot of 2021, when the store reopened for sit downs, not only had the employees changed, but their cheerful demeanor also changed. And it was quite clear they didn't want customers staying in the store. I caught at least two eye rolls when starting to sit down, a couple of comments implying that one should be moving along, etc. as well as having to ask for a key to the restroom.

My local store is one of the unionized stores (and it has been out on strike once). I (but unrepresented) work in an union environment. Unions are generally good, IMO. But the reasons for this store unionizing are, well, rather weak. I watched a video of the local president, in tears, when being interviewed about the strike. Nothing about wages or benefits, but about having to stand up working until break time, and about Starbucks reopening the stores and not allowing employees with at risk families to stay home with pay for an unlimited period of time. That said, this employee seems to no longer be at that store. In addition, the employee unfriendliness has not changed. And the foot traffic (this store does not have a drive-through), is dramatically less than pre-COVID.

So between the price increases over the past two years, the devaluation of points, and the unwelcoming environment, my Starbucks visits are now minimal.

And I've joined Panera's 'sips club' which is a fairly good deal for hot coffee, hot and cold teas, lemonade, and sodas, unlimited for $11/month. (There is a limit of two hours between types of drinks, i.e. if I get hot coffee at 6 AM, I'd have to wait until 8 AM to get a cup for a cold drink.)