Check Your Starbucks Receipts, You May Be Getting Screwed Out Of Free Refills, Syrup [Check Your Receipts]

Over at Racked, a reader is reporting that despite taking advantage of Starbucks new "reward card" they were being screwed out of the promised free syrup. What's up with that, Starbucks?

I started to use a Starbucks pre-paid card when i saw your promotion that when a purchase is made with a registered card, syrups would be free. After looking at the transaction history on my card, only one time was the syrup free, that was the transaction on 04/17/2008 for $3.92. All the others i was charged the full price. It's not that big of a deal, its a matter of Starbucks advertising one thing but actually not delivering. Has this promotion been terminated? If not, what is the issue? One would think with sales slowing down and the stock price at half of what it was, something like this for loyal customers would work properly.

Starbucks wrote back with an apology "for the inconvenience" and said it was a training issue: "In addition to partner education, we are also working to make it easier for partners to ring up your purchase correctly at the point of sale," said the big green caffeinated mermaid.

This is the second time we've heard reports of people not actually getting their Starbucks rewards. They'll probably get it figured out eventually, but in the meantime... check your receipts.

Mass Effect DRM Causing Backlash Among PC Gamers [Backlash]

If you'd like to play the PC version of Bioware/EA's hit XBOX 360 title "Mass Effect," you'd better have an internet connection. Why? Because in order to remain "activated" the game will need to reauthorize itself via the internet every 10 days. Go 11 days without checking in and your game won't work until you do. Some gamers are saying that this requirement makes them feel like criminals, and doesn't make a lot of sense for a game that otherwise doesn't require an internet connection.

From the Mass Effect forums:

It is good that Bioware and EA want to kill piracy — but really, though; at what expense?...If somehow a copy of MEPC game gets out w/out any protection around comes out, that copy won't be hindered by any checks. Why should a legitimate buyer of MEPC have to pay money to be treated like he's a pirate when he isn't the pirate?

Say you, the legitimate MEPC owner, has lost their Internet connection — and it's say not on your end, but your ISP's. What now? Will you be locked out of your legit copy of your game for NO REASON?

Say you, legitimate MEPC owner, tried to get your copy verified online from its online check — but, for some reason, EA and Bioware's servers are down. Or say, too many MEPC users are booting MEPC at once to get verified and you just can't connect for a good while — whether it's 2 minutes, 20 mins, or 1 hour or more. That's an inconvenience. So, will the game boot b/c you can't get your legit copy verified?

Let's hope EA and Bioware are planning on operating these servers in perpetuity, because Mass Effect is very addicting, and if you don't agree, my level 60 Adept Nemesis will Singularity your ass.

What do you think of this style of DRM? Are they punishing the ones who don't steal? Or is this necessary to protect their investment?

Your Economic Stimulus Payment Questions Answered By The IRS [Taxes]

The IRS has a new and improved stimulus payment FAQ up and running on their website, so if you have additional questions you should check it out. Of note, the IRS has now definitively said that those who owe back taxes, or have delinquent child support payments or student loans will have their payments offset.

Here's another common question...

Q. I have moved since filing my 2007 tax return. How will my payment reach me?

A. You should file a Form 8822 with the IRS and a change of address notice with the U.S. Postal Service. This will ensure your check is sent to your new address. Without your current address, the check could be returned to the IRS as undeliverable.

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