Chain coffee brands often attract loyal customers with membership discounts, and Mstand's black gold card 50% off benefit was once a reason for many consumers to keep spending. However, some members have discovered that to maintain their status, they need to accumulate spending of 6,000 yuan within a year, which translates to buying 316 discounted drinks to meet the threshold, while scalpers offering proxy orders on second-hand platforms can provide discounts as low as 15% off, and they have not been banned. What confuses members even more is that when they helped friends place proxy orders, they were banned by the system. When official membership discounts are far inferior to scalper prices, the appeal of the membership system is being tested. If the brand tacitly allows proxy orders to exist, will it lose more loyal users? [more…]

Mstand has long been known as a "merchandise maniac," and its recent launch of two limited-edition denim bags quickly sparked a buying frenzy. However, some consumers noticed during checkout that a 100-yuan member discount appeared in the discount section of the mini-program's settlement page. When stacked, this meant that for just 19.6 yuan, they could get a three-use card package originally priced at 100 yuan, plus a 28-yuan Americano. After this anomaly was shared online, a large number of users rushed to register as members in the mini-program to try to replicate it, but few succeeded. Was it a system glitch or a traffic-driving tactic? How did the company handle it afterward? This article will sort out the whole incident. [more…]

Manner Coffee's bring-your-own-cup discount has always been a highlight attracting consumers, and many customers, in order to save 5 yuan, are used to bringing their own cups to buy coffee every day. However, recently a customer was refused by a barista when using a Nai Xue limited-edition milk tea cup, while on social media someone succeeded in buying with the same type of cup, raising questions about inconsistent enforcement standards across Manner stores. At the same time, whether plastic takeaway cups can be used as bring-your-own cups has also become a hot topic of discussion. This article will sort through the course of events, the differences in plastic materials, and the views of various parties, and bring related recommendations from the Front Street brand. [more…]

Chain coffee brands typically rely on well-developed membership mechanisms to boost user loyalty, maintaining emotional connections with customers through occasional perks and birthday surprises. However, a recent announcement from Peet's Coffee about changes to membership benefits has drawn attention: starting April 29, the birthday cake slice voucher for V2 members will be canceled, and the half-price drink voucher in the upgrade gift for lower-tier members will be adjusted to a 30% discount voucher. This means V5 members and below who have spent less than 1,000 yuan will no longer enjoy the birthday cake perk, leaving many loyal customers caught off guard. The brand's move may be aimed at curbing freebie hunters, but it could also drive away some long-term supporters. [more…]

Starbucks recently launched a Happy Holiday Member Night event for Gold and Diamond members, allowing eligible users to book free in-store participation through the official App. However, after the event ended, a large number of feedback posts appeared on social platforms, with many members calling the experience extremely poor: the new product tasting consisted of only one mini drink, limited-edition badges were in short supply, the coffee lecture and interactive games were simply canceled, and there were no discounts on merchandise purchases either. Some participants also pointed out that the quality of the event varied by store, and stores that attached greater importance to it still delivered a decent holiday experience. Starbucks employees, meanwhile, revealed that rushed preparation, insufficient bookings, and last-minute situations could all dilute the effectiveness of the event. Why did this member event receive such polarized reviews? This article will sort through feedback from all sides and the reasons behind it. [more…]

At the same Luckin Coffee store, for the same drink, different users may see prices on the mini-program that differ by several yuan—and paid members may even be charged more than regular users. Recently, some consumers told the media that they suspected they had been subjected to "big data price discrimination" when buying drinks at Luckin. A reporter's investigation found that the system pushes different coupons to different accounts, resulting in "a different price for the same cup of coffee for each person." This phenomenon has struck a chord with many netizens and sparked widespread complaints, prompting people to re-examine the value of loyalty programs offered by chain coffee brands. [more…]

Recently, Luckin Coffee has once again become the focus of heated discussion. An investigative reporter's on-site tests revealed that some stores do not offer direct offline ordering service; customers can only place orders by scanning a QR code via the mini-program or app, and when staff place orders on their behalf, payment must be made at the original price, which differs by several yuan from the discounted price after using coupons online. Meanwhile, the reporter also noticed that Luckin's mini-program requires users to provide their phone number and other information during the login process, and its privacy policy mentions the possible collection of browsing history, app installation lists, and other content, raising doubts about excessive information collection. In response, Luckin customer service explained that the discount calculation in the ordering system is complex, and staff-assisted orders may result in price discrepancies, while many consumers expressed understanding, believing that ordering on-site means giving up online discounts. This article will provide a detailed review of the incident and the views of all parties involved. [more…]

Luckin Coffee has officially entered the Hong Kong market, with five stores opening simultaneously, located at Mira Place, MCP New Town Plaza, New City Mall in Mong Kok, Shatin Centre, and Des Voeux Road Central in Sheung Wan. During the opening period, region-exclusive packaging materials and limited-edition sticker badge activities were launched. However, its Hong Kong pricing has sparked widespread discussion—the signature Coconut Latte is priced at HK$42. Although members can enjoy an opening offer of HK$15.9, it is still considerably higher than the mainland price of 29 yuan in Futian, Shenzhen, or 18 yuan after discount. Compared with brands such as Starbucks and Pacific Coffee, Luckin's price advantage is not obvious, and some consumers bluntly say they would rather buy it in Shenzhen. Industry analysis points out that Hong Kong's rent and labor costs are higher than those on the mainland, and mainland restaurant brands going to Hong Kong generally raise prices. Whether Luckin can continue its mainland coupon marketing model and maintain a平价 positioning remains to be seen. [more…]

Mstand, a chain coffee brand, recently suddenly cancelled its long-term promotion where members who bought 10 cups could exchange them for 1 free cup, without any prior announcement, and forcibly converted users' accumulated points into credits. After the adjustment, these credits can no longer be redeemed for free drink vouchers and can only be exchanged for discount vouchers with limited value, triggering widespread dissatisfaction among many long-time users. Some customers were just 1 cup away from redeeming a free coffee but found the promotion had been taken down; users with thousands of accumulated points in their accounts even said outright that the points had become "useless." In fact, Mstand has repeatedly cut member benefits in recent years, and this adjustment without warning has been criticized for harming the rights and interests of too many users. This article reviews the course of the incident, user reactions, and the changing trajectory of the brand's membership system. [more…]

On the first anniversary of Nayuki's listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, it launched a virtual stock game for its 50 million members. Consumers earn 1 Nayuki Coin for every 1 yuan spent, which can be used to buy and sell virtual stocks tied to the rise and fall of real Hong Kong stocks, and even supports leverage of 2x to 10x. Nayuki Coins can also be redeemed for cash coupons, discount vouchers, and merchandise; a MacBook Air requires 200,000 Nayuki Coins. This move has sparked huge controversy. Some lawyers point out that it is essentially a non-circulating token, but the virtual stock trading and leveraged gameplay may involve financial risks such as illegal fundraising. Meanwhile, Nayuki's Hong Kong stock price has fallen all the way from its issue price of HK$19.8, closing at only HK$6.65 on the first anniversary of its listing, a drop of more than 60%. [more…]

After two consecutive quarters of disappointing sales performance, Starbucks' new CEO Niccol has begun adjusting the company's business strategy, significantly scaling back the frequent discount promotions previously offered and instead turning to new approaches such as loyalty points and limited-time specials to attract customers. This move aims to reverse the sales decline while reshaping Starbucks' brand positioning as a "community coffeehouse." However, reducing discounts may also push some consumers toward more cost-effective alternatives. This article will examine the background of Starbucks' strategic adjustment, the specific measures involved, and the potential impact they may bring. [more…]

A post about a Luckin Coffee service experience recently sparked discussion on social media. The poster said that while organizing an office event, they ordered 60 drinks from a local Luckin store. When picking up the order, they found the coffee had not been packed into boxes and had to carry it to the car bag by bag, while the staff did not offer help on the grounds that they could not leave the store entrance. The customer also complained that the entire order had no discount and said that even if they ordered 600 cups next time, they would not choose this store again. However, most netizens sided with the staff, arguing that chain coffee stores do not normally offer group-meal discounts, and that Luckin has strict requirements for food safety and operating procedures, making it difficult for employees to leave their posts to help with carrying during peak hours. [more…]

Luckin Coffee recently launched its final co-branding campaign of 2024, teaming up with Chu's Agriculture to introduce an improved version of the Chu Orange Latte and a series of merchandise, with a "New Joy Orange Scratch Card" included in designated bundles. The prizes are quite generous, including 500 vouchers for 99 free coffees, 2,000 vouchers for 66 free coffees, and 100,000 vouchers for 1 free coffee, while those who don't win can still receive a 48% off drink coupon. However, many consumers discovered that simply holding the unscratched back of the card up to a phone flashlight allows faint text beneath the coating to be seen through the light, revealing the prize without scratching it off. This discovery sparked widespread discussion about the fairness of the campaign, with some users worried that store employees might use this method to pick out the big prizes in advance, though Luckin employees came forward to deny such speculation. Front Street Coffee continues to follow developments in the coffee industry and brings you the latest news. [more…]

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style) For more specialty coffee beans, please add the personal WeChat of Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), WeChat ID: qjcoffeex Recently, Luckin Coffee has been thrust into the spotlight over price discrepancies for its cheese latte. Some consumers reported that the same drink was priced vastly differently across accounts, ranging from 9.9 yuan to 18 yuan, sparking allegations of "big data price discrimination against existing customers." Luckin officially responded that the price differences stem from store operating costs and randomly issued system discounts, denying any price discrimination. However, this is not the first time Luckin has fallen into such controversy; as early as 2021, the media exposed similar cases. This article will sort through the course of the incident, the views of various parties, and the industry background, to explore the issue of price fairness in online consumption. [more…]

The trademark and unfair competition dispute between Chayan Yuese and Chayan Guanse has finally reached a阶段性 result. The Tianxin District People's Court of Changsha ruled in the first instance that Chayan Guanse lost the case and must stop the relevant infringing publicity and compensate Chayan Yuese 1.7 million yuan in total for economic losses and reasonable legal costs. This years-long tug-of-war over rights protection, from Chayan Guanse taking the initiative to sue Chayan Yuese, to Chayan Yuese resolutely filing a counterclaim and ultimately winning, has been full of twists and turns. Founded in 2013, Chayan Yuese is a well-known local milk tea brand in Changsha, featuring a Chinese style and adhering to a direct-operation model for a long time. It was only in 2020 that it expanded beyond Changsha to Wuhan, Shenzhen, and other places. After winning the case, the brand announced that it would issue discount coupons to members in celebration. This article sorts out the ins and outs of the case, the brand's development history, and the background related to its Logo design, providing a comprehensive interpretation for coffee and tea beverage enthusiasts. [more…]

Luckin Coffee has officially entered Malaysia, with two stores opening simultaneously at Sunway Pyramid and Menara EcoWorld in Kuala Lumpur, regarded as its second overseas market after Singapore. On the first day of opening, many consumers queued up to try it out, and with prices ranging from 8 to 17 ringgit plus a 2.99 ringgit first-cup discount for new users, it appeared to be continuing its low-price strategy from China. However, beneath the excitement, local netizens questioned the value for money, as Cotti, Starbucks, and the local brand Zus had long dominated the market; even more surprising to domestic fans was that bestsellers such as Orange C Americano and Meteorite Latte did not appear on the local menu. With a relatively small number of stores and a conservative product selection, whether Luckin can gain a firm foothold in Malaysia amid fierce rivals has become the focus of attention. [more…]

The chain milk tea brand 1 Dian Dian has introduced the "Supreme Dian Men Ren" membership program, promising exclusive benefits such as birthday gifts and priority order preparation for high-tier members. However, recently some consumers have complained that despite being supreme members, they have repeatedly failed to enjoy priority preparation services, with waiting times no different from regular orders. On social media, many loyal users have also reported similar frustrations, questioning whether the brand's promised member privileges are merely empty promises. This article will review the course of events, the brand's rules, and the actual implementation at stores, and explore the difficulties in delivering member benefits. [more…]

Recently, many BMW owners have been complaining on social media that the BMW APP freezes or even crashes, and the culprit turns out to be the rush for free Luckin Coffee vouchers. It turns out that any Silver Card member verified on the BMW APP can claim one free Luckin coffee voucher every month, while Black Card and Gold Card members can get two. As the number of vouchers is limited, owners faithfully wait for member week, overwhelming the system. Some have compiled detailed guides, others have shared screenshots of their hour-long voucher-grabbing attempts, even joking that they want to "drink back the money they spent on the BMW." This voucher-grabbing frenzy not only reflects the appeal of brand collaborations, but also makes one sigh: so even luxury car owners will race to click for a cup of coffee worth just a dozen yuan. [more…]

Recently, a consumer in Nanjing discovered that after purchasing a drink at a Starbucks, the cup label prominently displayed a single Chinese character "骚" (meaning "flirty" or "lewd"). The store explained that the character was the staff member's membership ID within the app, which was automatically printed on the label due to the use of a coupon. The consumer questioned this, stating that they were not informed about the coupon usage when placing the order, which also involved points issues, and suspected that the staff member was pocketing the difference. The incident sparked widespread discussion online, with both sides disputing whether the name on the label came from the consumer's custom nickname or the staff member's ID, and no settlement has been reached yet. [more…]

Recently, Gu Ming launched a "Summer Buy One Get One Free" campaign, with 8 star products participating, originally intended to attract foot traffic and boost revenue. However, after the campaign went live, store orders far exceeded expectations, and back-of-house staff were forced to handle fresh fruit, whip cream, and other prep work under high intensity for long hours. Some worked 15.5 hours straight, and their hands cramped from peeling grapes. The brand's frequent collaborations, takeout wars, and limited-time offers have left the "farm tea workers" complaining endlessly, and also exposed the disconnect between campaign planning and store staffing and process simplification. This article reviews the real situation of this order surge and the voices of employees, while also offering coffee lovers a product perspective from brands such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]