Is Starbucks killing FourSquare specials?

Being an early adopter of FourSquare means that you both love the product and recommend it to friends, AND are constantly wishing for more features, better stats and a simplified way of seeing specials data… or maybe that’s just me.  A couple of weeks ago FourSquare partnered with Starbucks in a move that had me applauding along with everyone else.  $1 off make your own frappuccinos for being the mayor of your Starbucks?  You bet I’ll take one with at least an extra shot of espresso. It wasn’t until about a week later that I started to notice something interesting; I wasn’t finding specials for a lot of venues that I knew had specials.  I could locate the place and then see the “special here” but whenever I would see “special nearby” in a specific area I found it to be Starbucks.  Lately I’ve been encouraging a number of restaurants to actively engage their fan base in defining a FourSquare special (FourSquare Owner).  A lot of times that leads to dishes that are off menu or unique cocktails that are still being tested out.  Now, everywhere I go the ...

Mr. Owner – Please don’t play foursquare

You’re at one of your favorite haunts, a small restaurant, a dive bar, or your Friday night spot which has somehow become your Tuesday and Thursday night spot. (We’re not judging)   You come here often, you might be considered a regular, perhaps you even believe that you single handedly keep the fish tacos on the menu.  You pull out your phone to FourSquare to the world and hopefully tempt your friends into joining you at ‘your spot.’  You launch the application, find your spot, check in, add some text to throw to twitter and Boom.  This is where it hits you.  Who is this Frank Washington guy?  There he is, as always, on top of the screen occupying the mayorship of ‘your spot’, yet there is no way Frank Washington has been here more than you.  Who is Frank Washington?!? Frank Washington is the morning stock employee, or the line cook, or the owner.  Bottom line is he has to be there, he works there. While FourSquare is a great game, colonizing the world over, the game is meant to benefit the customer.  It might not be possible for you to keep your inner Napoleon at bay all the time, but realize ...