Starbucks is "Stretching the truth" of VIA's success.

I just read this morning on AdWeek a story of the success of Starbuck's VIA.

This is a complete fabrication. I have been waiting for Starbacks to make this claim ever since VIA came out.

For months after VIA's arrival, Starbucks would use a practice where they would give you your coffee for free if you also bought a "discounted" VIA package. In essence giving you the VIA for free while you still paid the same amount for your coffee (or possibly less, I can't remember). However, you were technically purchasing VIA at a discounted rate (the price of your coffee) and getting the drink you ordered for free, registering sales for VIA.

Over a few months, Im sure i registered close to 20 "sales" of VIA without ever ordering it.

Im all for giving free samples and getting new product out there, but for Starbucks to claim that this give-away is a sale is beyond misleading, it's a lie.

Someone (hint, hint, AdWeek) needs to perform some slight diligence on this claim and it will quickly unravel.