Rich people and caffeine addicts of the world have been all a-flutter this week over the news that Starbucks and Gilt were planning to sell a $450 limited edition gift card made entirely of steel. But, bad news, it appears the Metal Card sold out instantaneously, denying people everywhere the chance to learn what it feels like to set a pile of money on fire. As Washington Post style reporter Megan Buerger reports on Twitter: "Less than 5 seconds and the @starbucks metal card is reserved on @Gilt. WTF."
Of course, Starbucks and Gilt only released 5,000 of these babies, which come loaded with $400 worth of credit and automatic gold-level Starbucks membership benefits (such as free drinks, sometimes). USA Today reported earlier this week that Starbucks members got first crack at the cards yesterday before they opened up to the public today, and there's already some speculation on Gilt's Facebook page that the cards sold out yesterday and were never really available today at all.
Indeed, here's one harrowing tale from Facebook user Frank Anthony Celaya, who says, "Gilt is such a BIG LIAR. I waited since 8:22 AM (Pacific Standard Time) for the Starbucks Metal Gift Card to go on sale. I even took screen shots of the count down clock from 60 seconds and once it turned to 1 second, I hit refresh and the damn gift card was sold out! They said there were no [presale] happening, YEAH RIGHT!!! I didn't even ask for that , the lady said it on her own. They presold these cards. GILT SUCK!!!"
So, deepest sympathies to everyone who just missed out on an opportunity spend $450 on coffee. But hey, there's a waitlist?
· Limited Edition Metal Starbucks Card [Gilt]
· All Starbucks Coverage on Eater [-E-]