One of our favorite rewards programs, Starbucks Rewards, is making some major changes as of October 16, 2012.

Here is a summary of the changes:

No more snail mail postcards for rewards.

Free drinks and food rewards will load right onto your Starbucks Card. They will send you an email when you have earned one. All you’ll need to do is bring your Starbucks Card or mobile app to a participating Starbucks store and tell the barista, “I’ve got a free reward waiting.”

I kind of wish this started in 2013 because I am not sure many customers will remember that it is on the card. Apparently, Starbucks was spending about a million dollars a month on mailing out free drink coupons. This is much more efficient.

Free Drink or Food on your birthday

You can use the “free drink” reward on food now as well as drinks. Treat yourself to a multigrain bagel, a slice of lemon loaf, salt and pepper popcorn – whatever looks delicious.

Free drink after 12 stars instead of 15 stars

The free rewards will come even faster. Gold members will earn a free drink or food reward every 12 Stars instead of 15.

No more syrups and soy milk on the house.

This is terrible for us non-dairy milk drinkers. We have soy lattes and this is a big cost that Starbucks is giving it’s customers.

No more free Tall beverage when you buy a bag of whole bean coffee.

This was a little perk for getting their coffee but many people might look elsewhere.

This is the third major change to the program since first launched by Starbucks, according to popular Starbucks blog, Starbucks Melody.

I hate that they removed the free soy milk and syrups and as a Gold Member we should get this perk.

What are your thoughts on the changes?