Originally Posted by bennos

I actually think this is more about the float than the credit card fees. (Starbucks is large enough to negotiate those fees down, and probably pays the same fees when I reload my card from a credit card as when I directly make a purchase.) Starbucks has over $1bn sitting on gift cards, money that they don't pay interest on (though they do pay double stars, for whatever those are worth), but that they most certainly earn interest on.