Apple Gift Cards (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014)

This collection of Apple gift cards spans the years 2005–2014, and includes gift cards for use in Apple Stores, the iTunes Store, and Starbucks. Apple Store gift cards can be redeemed in brick-and-mortar or online Apple Stores for purchases. iTunes Store gift cards can only be used at the iTunes Store for digital music, video, app, or downloaded purchases.

The special Starbucks card in this collection was sold as a standard Starbucks gift card, but it also allowed two free song downloads in the iTunes Store. When I learned about this offer in 2007, I purchased 25 of these cards at $5 each (the minimum amount allowed for this promotion) and received 50 free song downloads on iTunes (and $125 in Starbucks purchases).

All of these cards have been redeemed.

Starbucks+iTunes Counter Display (2007)

This Starbucks+iTunes counter display was used in a suburban Chicago Starbucks during the second iteration of the “Pick of the Week” promotion. The display matches the cards that are red with white accents.

The original promotion began on October 2, 2007, with the Starbucks and Apple partnership to give away “Song of the Day” cards on the iTunes Music Store. The partnership continued for several years with a few variations.

Because this counter display was well-used, it definitely shows signs of wear. I happened to be at the Starbucks sitting at the counter the evening when a new display was delivered. The barista on duty allowed me to have this retired display instead of disposing of it.

Source: Wired

Starbucks+iTunes Free Song/App Cards (2007)

Beginning on October 2, 2007, Starbucks began a partnership with Apple to give away “Song of the Day” cards in collaboration with the iTunes Music Store. The first Song of the Day was Bob Dylan’s “Joker Man.”

Each card was printed in color on two sides. The front of the card featured the artist and/or band, and the back listed the terms and conditions of the promotion and included a 16-character code to redeem the free song on the iTunes Music Store.

After the first iteration of this promotion, a few other versions were offered, all with the same size card, but with different designs. Later versions of the promotion turned into weekly offerings. Special collections were also added such as music festival tie-ins (e.g., Lollapalooza) and music-related TV shows (e.g., The Voice). Also, Apple Books titles and free Apps from the App Store were added to later cards.

My collection includes hundreds of these cards from all the versions of these promotions: Song of the Day (light blue/gold accent card design); Pick of the Week (red/white accent card design); Pick of the Week (metallic silver/white accent card design); and Pick of the Week (white card design including song, book, and app options).

I collected these cards personally during my frequent trips to Starbucks. When available, I grabbed the white “divider” cards that were used by store personnel to show the promotion dates for each offer.

Source: Wired