Starbucks' $450 Metal Gift Cards Expected to Sell Out in Minutes If you want to drop hundreds on an artisan Starbucks card, you need to hurry-- all 1,000 are expected to sell out shortly after they go on sale today.
By Kate Taylor
Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
Starbucks has a Christmas present for the coffee lover who has everything: a $450 metal gift card.
But you need to be quick if you want to share the gift of Starbucks: the coffee chain is only selling 1,000 of the uber-expensive stocking stuffers.
This is the second year that Starbucks is offering the limited edition card, which comes preloaded with $400. (Yes, you're spending an extra $50 for the card itself.) The card goes on sale on Gilt.com today at noon EST.
The ultimate present for the Starbucks junkie will only be on the market for a few minutes. Last year, the card sold out in about six minutes. This year, it will be even faster: In 2012, Starbucks offered five times as many cards, 5,000 to this year's 1,000.
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Why can't people wait to get their hands on the pricey gift card? Starbucks realizes that their gift cards of all values are holiday favorites. Last December, 1 in 10 adults received a Starbucks gift card of some sort. This year, Starbucks is the No. 3 most-desired gift card, according to a survey by GiftCardRescue. Plus, the artisan metal card comes with automatic Gold-level status, meaning the owner can claim a free birthday treat, refills on coffee and tea and special deals.
Ultimately, however, the biggest perk of the premium gift card is in its exclusivity. Anyone can spend $450 at Starbucks, but only 1,000 will be able to do so on a classy metal card this December.
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