Some Starbucks Offering Free Drinks Amid Computer Outage, Reports Say
SEATTLE (CBS) – A reported computer outage affecting Starbucks is resulting in free drinks for some customers, according to social media reports.
Twitter lit up Tuesday morning with reports of free coffee available at locations where the computers aren't working.
@Starbucks computers were down at the one I go to. My order was on the house because of it! Valuable business lesson I learned today.
— Jake McKnight (@JakeMcKnight) May 16, 2017
The system @ Starbucks on north Ave is down so they're giving away free drinks , rt to save a life ????????????????????????
— Michelle (@micheladaa98) May 16, 2017
#Starbucks at @TheShopsAtCanal giving away free drip & ice coffee. Says system is down. Seeing reports of other outages nationwide.
— Carlie Kollath Wells (@carlie_kollath) May 16, 2017
PSA: The Williamsport Starbucks is giving out free coffee because their system is down!!!
— Michaela Phillips ❤️ (@Chaela_Phill) May 16, 2017
S/O @Starbucks for the free latte this morning bc registers were down! Now that's awesome customer service! #Starbucks☕️
— Nick S. (@drshort88) May 16, 2017
In Chicago, long lines were seen at one Starbucks giving away complimentary coffee.
After their computers crashed, some Starbucks began to give away free coffee (Daley Plaza). Then the crowds came. https://t.co/lDFU52H7jS pic.twitter.com/VkrRuMf4Vb
— CBS Chicago (@cbschicago) May 16, 2017
A Starbucks spokesman told Bloomberg that the outage affecting payment systems happened during a routine technology update.
"We were doing a technology update for our store registers in the U.S. and Canada, and a limited number of those locations remain offline," Reggie Borges said. "Stores are still open. Customers are still able to get their orders."