Starbucks, Tim’s loyalty program changes leave some ‘not happy.’ What to know

New changes are coming for Starbucks and Tim Hortons loyalty customers in Canada – and some are not happy about it. Here's what to know.

Changes are coming for Starbucks and Tim Hortons customers in Canada – and some are not happy about it.

Starting on Monday, Starbucks said it will be updating its rewards program, increasing the number of points needed to redeem free items.

Rewards members in the U.S. and Canada were first notified about the changes by the American coffee chain in December 2022.

“To ensure the long-term sustainability of the Starbucks Rewards program and to meet the changing needs of our members, we occasionally need to make changes to the program,” Leanna Rizzi, a spokesperson for Starbucks Canada, said in a statement to Global News Friday.

“And while some items may require additional stars to redeem for, other popular items like iced coffee and packaged coffee will need less stars to redeem for and be easier for members to be rewarded.”

Meanwhile, Tim Hortons is also making it more expensive to claim that free coffee for its loyal customers.

Those changes were announced in December and go into effect starting Feb. 21.

In a statement to Global News Friday, Tim Hortons said its rewards loyalty program is “evolving to make every dollar count,” adding that “those who spend more, will earn more.”