Snapshot of the source text at fetch time, not a live mirror of the policy page.
Plain-English summary
Starbucks' terms of use contain several significant user risks. It includes mandatory arbitration and class action waivers (risk_flags-1), limiting users' ability to resolve disputes through traditional court proceedings. Starbucks also disclaims liability for many types of damages, including lost profits, personal injury, and loss of user information, with the user's sole remedy being to cease use of the services (risk_flags-3). The company claims a broad, royalty-free license to use user-submitted content and ideas without compensation (risk_flags-4), and it will own exclusive rights to any work created from such ideas (risk_flags-5). Users are also required to indemnify Starbucks for their actions on the platform. Furthermore, the terms state that Starbucks offers no guarantees regarding mobile orders or product availability (risk_flags-7), and can change the terms at any time with continued use signifying acceptance (gotchas-1).
90% confidence
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Risks
5 findings
Critical issues that pose direct and substantial risks to users, often with significant financial, privacy, or legal implications.
Not clearly stated:
high95% confidence
Mandatory Arbitration and Class Action Waiver
This agreement includes a mandatory arbitration clause that limits your right to a trial by jury and prevents you from bringing, joining, or participating in class action lawsuits. Most disputes will be resolved through individual arbitration.
Why it matters: You waive your right to a trial by jury and cannot participate in class action lawsuits against Starbucks. Disputes will be resolved through individual arbitration, which has less discovery and appellate review than court.
These Terms include an arbitration agreement that governs any disputes between you and us. In arbitration, there is less discovery and appellate review than in court. This arbitration agreement and other provisions will: Eliminate your right to a trial by jury to the extent allowable under applicable law; and Substantially affect your rights, including preventing you from bringing, joining or participating in class or consolidated proceedings in arbitration and litigation.
Terms of Use, paragraph 5 · Citation strength: strong
high95% confidence
Sole Remedy is Ceasing Use
The user's only remedy for any issues is to stop using the sites or participating in mobile features.
Why it matters: If you experience a problem, your only recourse is to stop using the service, which may leave you without compensation for any damages or losses incurred.
THE USER’S SOLE REMEDY IS TO CEASE USE OF THE SITES OR TO CEASE PARTICIPATION IN MOBILE FEATURES.
User Content, paragraph 12 · Citation strength: strong
high95% confidence
Broad License to Use User Content and Ideas Without Compensation
By submitting or posting User Content or Ideas, you grant Starbucks a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, fully-paid up, and royalty-free license to use, sell, reproduce, prepare derivative works, combine with other works, alter, translate, distribute copies, display, perform, publish, license, or sub-license your content and ideas without acknowledgment or compensation.
Why it matters: Starbucks can use your User Content and Ideas in almost any way it sees fit, including commercially, without paying you or giving you credit. You also release Starbucks from any claims that such use violates your rights.
However, by submitting or posting User Content on the Sites, you grant Starbucks and its designees a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, fully-paid up and royalty free license to use, sell, reproduce, prepare derivative works, combine with other works, alter, translate, distribute copies, display, perform, publish, license or sub-license the User Content and your name and likeness provided in connection with such use of your User Content.
User Content, paragraph 4 · Citation strength: strong
high95% confidence
Starbucks Owns Exclusive Rights to Works Created from Submitted Ideas
Starbucks will own exclusive rights, including all intellectual property rights, to any work it creates or has created from an Idea you submit or a similar idea of its own.
Why it matters: If Starbucks develops a product or feature based on an Idea you submitted, they will own all intellectual property rights to it, and you will not have any claim to ownership or compensation.
Starbucks shall own exclusive rights, including all intellectual property rights, to any work it creates or has created from the Idea or a similar idea of its own.
User Content, paragraph 8 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence
No Guarantees on Mobile Orders or Availability
Starbucks does not guarantee that orders transmitted via Mobile Features will be successful, accurate, or securely transmitted/received, that orders will be as placed or ready at the suggested time, or that any particular item ordered will be available.
Why it matters: You might experience issues with mobile orders, such as incorrect orders, delays, or unavailable items, without recourse, as Starbucks disclaims responsibility for these aspects.
STARBUCKS DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES THAT THE SITES ARE MERCHANTABLE, RELIABLE, AVAILABLE, ACCURATE, FIT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NEED, NON-INFRINGING, FREE OF DEFECTS OR VIRUSES, ABLE TO OPERATE ON AN UNINTERRUPTED BASIS, THAT THE USE OF THE SITES BY THE USER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS APPLICABLE TO THE USER, THAT USER INFORMATION OR ORDERS TRANSMITTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SITES (INCLUDING AS PART OF MOBILE FEATURES) WILL BE SUCCESSFULLY, ACCURATELY, OR SECURELY TRANSMITTED OR RECEIVED, THAT ORDERS WILL BE AS PLACED OR READY AT THE SUGGESTED TIME, OR THAT ANY PARTICULAR ITEM ORDERED WILL BE AVAILABLE.
User Content, paragraph 11 · Citation strength: strong
Data Use
1 finding
How your data is collected, processed, and shared with other companies.
Not clearly stated:
medium85% confidence
Consent to Data Actions Consistent with Privacy Policy
By accessing or using the Sites, you consent to all actions Starbucks takes with respect to your data that are consistent with their Privacy Policy.
Why it matters: You are agreeing to Starbucks' data handling practices as outlined in their Privacy Policy by simply using their sites.
By accessing or using the Sites, you consent to all actions that we take with respect to your data consistent with our Privacy Policy.
Privacy, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Cancellation and Renewal
1 finding
Terms related to how and when you can cancel services or subscriptions, and how renewals are handled.
Not clearly stated:
medium95% confidence
Starbucks Can Terminate User License and Access Without Notice
Starbucks reserves the right to terminate your license to use the Sites and block your future access without prior notice and at its sole discretion.
Why it matters: Your access to Starbucks' sites and services can be revoked at any time without warning, potentially disrupting your ability to use their features.
Notwithstanding any of these Terms, Starbucks reserves the right, without notice and in its sole discretion, to terminate your license to use the Sites and to block or prevent your future access to and use of the Sites.
Potentially overlooked clauses that could lead to unexpected outcomes or inconveniences for users.
Not clearly stated:
medium95% confidence
Terms Can Change and Are Accepted by Continued Use
Starbucks reserves the right to change or modify these Terms or other related policies at any time and at its sole discretion by posting revisions on the Sites. Your continued use of the Sites constitutes acceptance of these changes.
Why it matters: The terms of service can be updated at any time without direct notification to you, and by simply continuing to use the service, you agree to these new terms.
Starbucks reserves the right to change or modify these Terms or any other Starbucks policies related to use of the Sites at any time and at its sole discretion by posting revisions on the Sites. Continued use of the Sites following such changes or modifications to the Terms or other Starbucks policies will constitute acceptance of such changes or modifications.
Changes, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence
No Responsibility for Third-Party Platforms in In-App Delivery
Starbucks states it has no liability or responsibility for the acts or omissions of any third-party platform or delivery contractor involved in In-App Delivery, including food and product handling.
Why it matters: If issues arise with your delivery order through In-App Delivery, such as problems with food handling or errors by the delivery contractor, Starbucks disclaims responsibility, leaving you to resolve issues with the third-party platform.
Starbucks has no liability or responsibility for the acts or omissions of any third-party platform or delivery contractor, including with respect to food and product handling.
Privacy, paragraph 3 · Citation strength: strong
Protections
1 finding
Commitments and features that benefit users, enhancing their rights, privacy, or security.
Not clearly stated:
Protection95% confidence
Age Restriction for Site Use
The Sites are not intended for use by anyone under the age of 13. Users between 13 and 18 may only use the Sites under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian.
Why it helps: This helps protect children by restricting direct access for those under 13 and requiring adult supervision for teenagers, which can mitigate risks associated with online interactions and data collection for minors.
The Sites are not targeted towards, nor intended for use by, anyone under the age of 13. A USER MUST BE AT LEAST AGE 13 TO ACCESS AND USE THE SITES. If the User is between the ages of 13 and 18, he or she may only use the Sites under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian who agrees to be bound by these Terms.