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October 13 – Lincoln Park, Illinois –
The Lincoln Park Trixie Society announced the unanimous support of the new Starbucks Duetto™ cross-platform prepaid debit Visa.
The Duetto™ Card is a Visa credit card and a Starbucks Card all in one. That means Starbucks customers can use it as a Visa credit card everywhere that Visa credit cards are accepted. And the reloadable Starbucks Card can be used in most Starbucks locations. Either way it’s used, the Duetto™ is a fast, secure and convenient way to simplify the confusing world of personal finances.
A Starbucks spokeswoman explained the importance of the hybrid card in a private unveiling event at the West Armitage Starbucks on Sunday. “It’s the first-of-its-kind Starbucks Card and Visa credit card in one that rewards customers and benefits the Lincoln Park community,” said the spokeswoman. “And it makes life a little simpler and more convenient for those who don’t have the time or bandwidth to think too much about which form of old-economy currency to use when traveling to work or just tooling around the village.”
Some members of the Society will receive a special Duetto™ card in the mail in the next few weeks, confirmed Jill Martin, the Society’s Director of Membership. “We’re pursuing an exclusive agreement with the card company,” said Martin, “which would provide members a card with the distinctive Trixie Star on it, so they can get the appropriate service when ordering more complex drinks. I think this is just Starbucks’ way of saying they appreciate all we do for the community.” Additionally, members earn 1% in “Duetto™ Dollars” with every Visa purchase made using the Duetto™ Card. Each month, these Duetto™ Dollars are loaded directly onto your Starbucks Card Account for use at Starbucks.
Members were exuberant at Sunday’s event. Jen Shanely commented on the broader economic implications of the Duetto: “I am just so excited that I can load cash onto my Duetto™ at Starbucks and then go start a tab with it at the Marquee Lounge. People said globalization of the economy just won’t work, but this really proves that we can have one global currency, and be the better for it. This just proves how Starbucks really gets the bigger picture.” Other members were excited that they could use the card just like a Visa in social situations, even when their other cards have been maxed out.
Some members, in recent focus groups for the Duetto™ Card, are eager to include CTA fares in a single card, along with the credit and coffee offerings. “Imagine if we only had to carry one card to buy all our necessities,” mused Cal Ferguson. “I could wake up, go to Crunch and buy a Dakota Green Tea; then stop by Starbucks for a latte; then jump on the 151 to my fabulous job at Accenture; then stop by au Bon Pain for lunch; then scoot up to Tilli’s for a cosmo after work — all with one card!” More techie members of the focus group suggested that Stabucks implant a Duetto/CTA chip into customers’ palms to help track their purchases and whereabouts as well as provide seamless buying convenience. Starbucks marketing executives say that may be part of a future initiative tentatively called the Bestia. No details are currently available.
Some critics do not share this enthusiasm.
According to some media sources, the Duetto™ is part of a nine-phased plan created by Starbucks official Strategistas that outlines increasing saturation of the coffee, pastry and consumer credit markets. “‘Starbucks has completed the coffee-distribution and location establishment phase of its operation, and is now ready to move into Phase Two,’ read a statement from Cynthia Vahlkamp, Starbucks’ chief marketing officer,” quotes one independent news outlet. Some believe Duetto, the Italian word for ‘two,’ is a clue that there is indeed a master plan by Starbucks to continue expanding its domination in new markets.
Starbucks employees at the Sheffield/Armitage Starbucks were not able to confirm the conspiracy theories about the Duetto. “I saw a flyer posted in the break room about that card,” said Jenna Halworth, Maestra Barrista. “But it pretty much just told us how to load money onto the card for customers, and gave us a hotline to call if we had trouble with the magnetic strips.”
Note:
Some cards were misprinted with what appears to be an inverted five-pointed star, rather than the copyrighted Trixie Star. Members who do not receive their official Trixie Star emblazoned Duetto™ card are encouraged to contact Jill Martin.
# # #
For details:
Ashley Munroe
Director of Communications
Lincoln Park Trixie Society
aburke@lptrixie.com
773-509-5033
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