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Jack Dorsey: Today Starbucks Signed up for Square

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Re: Jack Dorsey: Today Starbucks Signed up for Square

#51
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Square will process Starbucks U.S. credit and debit card transactions": Wikipedia says that Starbucks has $11.7 billion in revenue every year. I would assume that a majority of that revenue is through a card. I am not familiar with Square's revenue but I feel that this will at least double their transactions. Am I correct?

"I would assume that a majority of that revenue is through a card." Really? I almost never use a card for café type purchases. Maybe if I were buying a meal, but for a coffee or two I'm 99% likely to use cash. (Note: mine is an Australia-centric view, perhaps things really are very different in the USA?)

Yes. The vast majority of payments I see in Starbucks in the US are via credit cards (or debit cards). With modern PoS systems, paying via card is faster and more convenient than cash, not to mention other benefits (rewards on cards, being able to better track spending)

Re: Jack Dorsey: Today Starbucks Signed up for Square

#52
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One cool feature about the Square mobile app is you can set up geofenced "tabs" that automatically get opened if you get close enough to an establishment. So you keep your phone in your pocket, walk into Starbucks and order a drink as you do every morning. You tell them "put it on John's tab." You get a receipt in your email immediately thereafter, and never have to pull out your phone or wallet.

The cashier is just going to look at me totally lost. Even in Silicon Valley, maybe one in 100 customers is going to use Square. I don't see the value for Starbucks customers either.

Tons of small businesses in San Francisco use Pay With Square already, and they don't have the rigorous employee training procedures that Starbucks has.

I use Pay With Square all the time—at tiny bakeries, big coffee shops, and restaurants. No one will look at you lost.

It's convenient because I don't need my wallet, I don't need to sign a receipt, and I don't need to do anything other than order and walk away.

Re: Jack Dorsey: Today Starbucks Signed up for Square

#53
post #9
post #4

Can someone explain me what it means for customers? As far as NYC goes, each Starbucks accepts Visa, Master Card, Discovery and American Express (the card that plenty businesses hate). So what is the benefit for the customers?

One cool feature about the Square mobile app is you can set up geofenced "tabs" that automatically get opened if you get close enough to an establishment. So you keep your phone in your pocket, walk into Starbucks and order a drink as you do every morning. You tell them "put it on John's tab." You get a receipt in your email immediately thereafter, and never have to pull out your phone or wallet.

Question: Yesterday I saw you in Starbucks and heard you say "put it on John's tab". Today I see you are 2 behind me in the queue. What stops me from strolling up to the counter, big grin and saying... Put it on John's tab please?

Wouldn't the proximity of your phone mean they would take the payment from you even though you haven't authorized it?

Re: Jack Dorsey: Today Starbucks Signed up for Square

#54

This announcement makes me happy, for Square and Jack Dorsey as a young business leader. I love everything about the business idea, execution, design and tone of the overall strategy. Noteworthy points from the press release The partnership terms include: - Customers will be able to use Pay with Square, Square’s payer application, from participating company operated U.S. Starbucks stores later this fall, and find nea…

While I'm happy for Square, I'm saddened that Starbucks gets special treatment. Why is Starbucks (a well known brand) getting a personal post written by Jack, when Square's "goal" is to promote and help small businesses?

Maybe a more subtle way of informing the world about this partnership was better.

Re: Jack Dorsey: Today Starbucks Signed up for Square

#55
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One cool feature about the Square mobile app is you can set up geofenced "tabs" that automatically get opened if you get close enough to an establishment. So you keep your phone in your pocket, walk into Starbucks and order a drink as you do every morning. You tell them "put it on John's tab." You get a receipt in your email immediately thereafter, and never have to pull out your phone or wallet.

The cashier is just going to look at me totally lost. Even in Silicon Valley, maybe one in 100 customers is going to use Square. I don't see the value for Starbucks customers either.

It's a humanizing experience actually. Try it once or twice. My mind was blown the first time I paid with my name using Square, and since then I have explicitly sought out coffee shops which have it, because of the quality of the experience.

Re: Jack Dorsey: Today Starbucks Signed up for Square

#56
post #32
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Skeuomorphism can be horrible if it's not done properly!

Actually, horrible is pretty much the default.

Designers in the house! I literally could not absorb the content of the 'letter' because the design hurt my eyes so.

Re: Jack Dorsey: Today Starbucks Signed up for Square

#57
post #2

Wow, huge deal for Square. I'm very curious what the terms of the deal are: presumably Starbucks isn't willing to pay much more than what their current processing fees are (maybe a tiny bit more for the premium of being able to use Pay with Square?), so Square must be losing a decent chunk of change in exchange for the huge marketing and growth this gets them.

I have heard that Pay With Square causes people to spend more money.

Re: Jack Dorsey: Today Starbucks Signed up for Square

#58
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

NFC hasn't taken over yet. Pay with Square offers something pretty close feature-wise, and is establishing residence in the market. Once NFC works well, Square can adopt it and rule.

There is also the chance that Square (and similar geolocation- and photo- based heuristics) will make NFC superfluous. Why NFC when a human-to-human word or gesture is faster, more natural, and just as reliable?

Because eventually they will want to get rid of as many humans as they can in your caffe latte experience. Or more prosaicly so that you can order a snack from a snack machine too.

Re: Jack Dorsey: Today Starbucks Signed up for Square

#59

I really do not see the benefit of this deal. Square - sure, another bunch of retailers. Starbux, not so much. NFC will take over and then square is out. can someone explain?

"NFC will take over"

Care to evidence that assumption just a little bit?

Re: Jack Dorsey: Today Starbucks Signed up for Square

#60
post #53
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One cool feature about the Square mobile app is you can set up geofenced "tabs" that automatically get opened if you get close enough to an establishment. So you keep your phone in your pocket, walk into Starbucks and order a drink as you do every morning. You tell them "put it on John's tab." You get a receipt in your email immediately thereafter, and never have to pull out your phone or wallet.

Question: Yesterday I saw you in Starbucks and heard you say "put it on John's tab". Today I see you are 2 behind me in the queue. What stops me from strolling up to the counter, big grin and saying... Put it on John's tab please? Wouldn't the proximity of your phone mean they would take the payment from you even though you haven't authorized it?

I'm pretty sure that a picture of the customer appears on the cashier's iPad app/register.
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