McDonald's customers left with 'zero value' collection of free hot drink stickers after company ends program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafé coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
“I tried to use them and was told they were no longer accepting them and that they had expired, but there is no expiry date on them.” Deluca said. “My 416 cards worth of free coffees have zero value right now."
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The rewards program saw customers fill cards with stickers collected with every coffee purchase – for every seven coffees bought, one is free.
Deluca isn't alone in her upset. Catherine Schuck of Brooklin, Ont. said her family had also been collecting the rewards for many years and were too surprised to be told the 80 free coffee cards they had been holding had no value.
“For them to say we know you purchased 600 coffees and you have the cards, but too bad, " Schuck said.
CTV News Toronto reached out to McDonald's, which said in a statement: “In 2021, we announced the launch of our MyMcDonald’s Rewards program via the McDonald’s app. This rewards program unlocks generous rewards for our guests that go beyond just hot coffee and tea.“
“As part of the migration to the new rewards program, guests were given notice in May 2022 through a variety of communication channels, including in-restaurant signage, that restaurants would be transitioning to cups without McCafé Rewards stickers and cards and that completed sticker cards could be redeemed on or before December 31, 2023.”
“We understand that some guests were disappointed by the discontinuation of the on-cup McCafé Rewards sticker program. However, for those who require any assistance with digital rewards, our trained crew is always available to help our guests.”
Patrick Sojka, the founder of Rewards Canada, a website that monitors loyalty offerings, said holding on to points in some programs can lead to larger rewards, but with others, it's better to use them as soon as possible.
“We always say as soon as you can use them - use them,” Sojka said, adding “With these food and coffee programs as soon as you can get rewards, redeem them, as there is no real value in holding on to them."
Schuck said from now on that’s what she plans to do and said “Don't hold onto things, use them as you have them is what I would say now.”
Deluca feels she deserves something for the coffee card vouchers she has and said “I would like to get back the value of the 416 coffees, to get my coffees that I should be entitled to."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Inspires a sense of adventure': Sask. man conquers Mount Everest
A Saskatchewan man made it to the summit of Mount Everest earlier this month.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event. The family asked for privacy and that people honor Murray by being kind to one another.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Hamas rocket attack from Gaza sets off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv for the first time in months
Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza that set off air raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday in a show of resilience more than seven months into Israel's massive air, sea and ground offensive.
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Indianapolis 500 delayed as strong storm forces fans to evacuate Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed as a strong storm pushed through the area Sunday, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.