Starbucks Debuts $450 Steel Gift Card

Would you pay $450 for a $400 gift card? Starbucks thinks the 1-percenters will. The coffee giant has launched the Starbucks Metal Card. The specialty gift card is made specially-etched steel, which costs $50 to create and is loaded with $400 to spend—thus the $450 price tag. Calling it a super-premium gift card, Starbucks will only make 5,000 metal cards and will only sell them on luxury goods Web site Gilt.com. The card bearer will receive gold-level Starbucks card membership benefits, as well, including gifts and free refills on brewed coffee and tea.

This is a card for the 1 percent,” cultural anthropologist Robbie Blinkoff told USA Today. “It’s all about status, and to tell you the truth, I don’t know if I’d want to be seen with one of these.

Starbucks, however, hopes to target the growing market of consumers looking for exclusive goods. The card coincides with a limited brew $7 cup of coffee launching at just 46 Starbucks stores nationwide.

Gilt.com executive vice president says the appeal of the card is its exclusivity.“When you’re waiting in line at Starbucks, the next person in line won’t have it” he told USA Today.

Starbucks vice president Ryan Records emphasized the limited number of metal cards available. “Some stores will never even see this card,” he said. “Five thousands is a pretty small number.

The Starbucks Metal Card will be offered Thursday on Gilt.com to Starbucks members only. Remaining supplies will be available to everyone on Friday.