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People are pissed about Starbucks’ holiday cups, but not for the usual political and/or religious reasons: This time around, they’re mad the coffee giant quickly ran out of the reusable red cups that it began handing out to customers for free on Friday.
The plain red reusable cups were rolled out on Friday (in addition to four subtly Christmas-y designs of regular disposable cups) and intended to be given to customers who ordered a holiday drink. Customers who bring the cup back to a store after 2 p.m. between November 3 and January 7 get 50 cents off a medium (grande) holiday drink, but it seems most will never get the chance: Over the weekend, Twitter was abuzz with Starbucks devotees complaining that their local stores ran out of cups within the first couple hours — or minutes, in some cases:
I have not said anything but feel I should. I go to @Starbucks 2 times a day. I was so excited for the reusable cup. I was there 10 mins after opening and they were out. Its so not fair. I was so upset.
— Laura Fagras (@LauraFagras) November 5, 2018
@Starbucks I’m honestly really sad I went to to try and get the free holiday reusable cup and y’all were out. Trying to save the environment here!
— Bryanna Souza (@bryanna_souza) November 5, 2018
Me: All jolly, walks into Starbucks to get my Christmas drink and reusable cup that will discount my favorite Christmas drinks all winter, like my email said.
— brenna (@br3nRoss) November 5, 2018
Starbucks: Oh, we didn't order enough cups. They lasted 2 hours. pic.twitter.com/6jkjrwF34p
@Starbucks I waited to write but I hope ya'll come up with a consolation prize for us for failing for the red reusable cup on Friday.
— Keycsha Bruce (@KeyDeeBee) November 4, 2018
Can we buy the reusable holiday cups?? All of my Starbucks locations in town ran out before I got there. :(
— Jamie Nelson (@jaaamiieee) November 4, 2018
@Starbucks are you going to bring back the red reusable cups that were sold out at 7:09 am Friday? #AskingForAFriend #NotJolly
— Debbie De La Rosa (@debbiescott24) November 4, 2018
Second car in drive thru at open maybe 15 people lined at door ordered my peppermint mocha asked for reusable cup #allgone wow how rude
— Charlotte Tuttle (@CharTalks) November 4, 2018
“Each store had a limited supply for Friday’s giveaway, and we’re aware that some stores ran out,” a Starbucks spokesperson said via email. “Customers who did not get a reusable red holiday cup may now purchase the cup for $2.50 to receive $.50 off their grande (16 oz) holiday beverage order through Jan. 7.”
Of course, anyone who’s actually concerned about the environmental impact of disposable coffee cups can simply bring their own reusable cup, whether Starbucks-branded or not, and receive 10 cents off any drink at any time of day — a discount the company has offered since 1985.
• Are Starbucks’ New Holiday Cups Christmas-y Enough for You, America? [E]
