Sounds like a nifty albeit prank of a product from Amazon. These buttons make sense for a certain audience, so I can’t tell if this is a legit product or something announced on the eve of April 1st. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up for an invitation and see what happens.

This dash ain’t so bad since I already visit a variety of locations.

I guess it makes sense to make this dash easy. The chance to win a year’s of Starbucks will probably draw in many contestants.

Don’t go very often? Starbucks knows and gives you the creampuff dashes like buying four drinks to receive $5 in credit. Easy right? But once the coffee from those four drinks infuses in your system, you’re on your way to caffeine addiction. All to get back $5, and you know that $5 is just going to feed your addiction. For us already addicted, Starbucks throws us a pittance with $5 after 10 transactions or $10 after 16 stars.

For this 2013 holiday season, what kind of dash offers have you received? I’ve heard of:

• 4 for $5, 6 for $10
• 5 for $5, 8 for $10
• 7 for $5, 10 for $10
• 10 for $5, 16 for $10

Even if you knew about this dash, you couldn’t join unless your specific account was offered this deal. Before, someone could forward you the Star Dash link, and you could sign up. Try that now, and you won’t see the promotion for your account.

Did you know about the Star Dash that starts today? Seems like this dash is for the “pros,” the caffeine addicts, the gold level members, the hardcore Starbuckers. Instead of the lower goal of 12 stars for $10, this Dash demands 20 stars for $10 or 10 stars to earn $5.

You got a little less than two weeks to complete the dash so drink up (or eat up or charge up)!

Sunday, September 9, 2012 marked the end of Starbucks’ 12 Star Dash. Did you finish the dash or did you coffee out along the way? I started with a simple iced coffee on Day 1, August 27. The SBUX treat receipts were still active so I have a couple two-a-days to finish up August.

In September, I had a steady stream of visits, culminating in my final drink, a seasonal Pumpkin Spice Late (PSL) with whip cream. Normally, my drinks are all non-fat, no whip, but this drink was an anomaly. I got the non-fat part, but the barrista still topped off the PSL with whip. Oh well, I took the drink as a reward for finishing the dash.

On a side note, I thought the PSL was completely transformed with the whip. Normally, the drink tastes hallow, if you know what I mean. I like the spices and flavors, but it’s probably the non-fat and no whip combo that eviscerates the drink. Just with the whip alone, there was a whee! factor that I guiltily enjoyed.

Back to the Dash. When all was said and done, I totaled up the cost of participating in the Dash. I missed the transactions for two visits, estimating $4 per visit. The result came out to $57.48 in 13 transactions, which averages out to $4.42 spent per visit. All of that to get $5 in Starbucks credit, an 8% return. Worthwhile? Ehhhh, so so, but nevertheless fun to do. I did set a personal best of Starbucks visits with 24 in August 2012.

Here are some caveats. I didn’t split any purchases into singles to maximize my Starbucks (Gold) Rewards card. On one occasion, I bought some extras like a pumpkin scone and Pumpkin Spice VIA packets (which is selling well).

I’ll leave you with pictures of the $58 of yumminess I enjoyed while dashing.

Can. Much better chances than this one.

One down, 11 to go…