• December 2012
    The First-Ever Metal Starbucks Card
    Starbucks teams up with ritzy online retailer Gilt to offer its first-ever metal gift cards. Made of solid stainless steel and emblazoned with a geometric design, the $450 cards come pre-loaded with $400 and also imbue purchasers with gold-level Starbucks membership benefits (mainly, occasional free drinks). The cards sell out instantly, leading angry customers to spew conspiracy theories ("Were the cards ever even available at all?!") and turn to eBay, where the cards fetch prices of over $1,000.

  • December 2013
    Rose Gold Mania
    For the second year in a row, Starbucks partners with Gilt to launch rose gold metal gift cards priced at a heady $450 (though they come loaded with $400 for future lattes and Cranberry Bliss Bars). Only 1,000 of the cards are available and they sell out almost instantly, quickly popping up on eBay where sellers demanded astronomical prices up to $4,999.
  • November 2014
    How About a Nice $200 Keychain?
    The chain unveils sterling silver keychain gift cards; priced at $200, they are loaded with just $50, though they do come packaged in an awfully fancy red pouch and red gift box. (Other offerings this holidy season include $100 bedazzled coffee mugs and $50 Christmas ornaments shaped like Starbucks cups.)
  • December 2014
    Starbucks Goes Solid Gold
    Starbucks drops jaws when it unveils a 10-karat hammered gold gift card said to be worth $5,000. Tragically for coffee-loving one-percenters, the card was not actually available for purchase: Only ten were made, and they could only be won in a company-wide sweepstakes. (Winners were also blessed with "free Starbucks for life.")
  • April 2015
    Here Mom, Have This Overpriced Gift Card
    Starbucks seizes Mother's Day as yet another opportunity to market gift cards at inflated prices: A limited-edition stainless steel and ceramic card featuring "laser-etched floral details" comes pre-loaded with $50 and sells for — you guessed it — $200. Only 1,000 are available, and the cards, packaged in very fancy gift boxes, sell out well in advance of the actual holiday.
  • November 2015
    Blinged Out
    Starbucks kicks off its holiday season "Brilliant Collection" with a silver, Swarovski crystal-encrusted stainless steel keychain gift card. The launch flew in relatively under the radar thanks to the red cup controversy that dominated headlines for weeks. Priced at $200, it comes with $50 loaded on it — making that one very pricey keychain. Cards are currently selling on eBay for anywhere from $150 (for an empty card) to $300 for one retaining its $50 gift card value.
  • December 2015
    The Color of Champagne
    Starbucks continues the "Brilliant Collection" with another crystal-encrusted $200 card; besides the color — an appropriately opulent shade of champagne — it's otherwise identical to its silver sibling. The card sells out in days and quickly pops up on eBay for only slightly inflated prices.
  • Mid-December 2015
    The Bling Continues
    Hey look, it's another $200 crystal-encrusted Starbucks gift card! This latest edition, however, is covered in deep blue Swarovski jewels approximately the color of Bradley Cooper's eyes. (And hey, at least shipping is free?)