Birthday freebies are promotional rewards offered by various brands to consumers who sign up for their loyalty programs, email clubs, or rewards applications. These offers typically include complimentary food items, retail discounts, or entertainment perks available during the birthday month or on the actual birthday. To access these rewards, consumers generally must provide personal details, including birth date, and agree to receive marketing communications. Many programs require sign-up at least 24 hours to seven days prior to the birthday to qualify for the current year's reward.
Restaurant and Food Birthday Freebies
A wide variety of restaurant chains offer complimentary food and beverages to members of their rewards programs on their birthdays. These offers range from full meals to desserts and drinks.
Coffee and Breakfast
Starbucks provides a free birthday drink, food item, or coffee to members of the Starbucks Rewards program. To qualify, users must sign up at least seven days before their birthday and include their birth date on their profile. The reward is delivered via email during the birthday week and can be redeemed by presenting the registered Starbucks card or mobile app.
Caribou Coffee offers a special birthday coffee drink (usually the member's usual order) through their membership program. The program allows members to earn 2 points for every $1 spent and provides a free medium beverage after the first visit.
Dunkin' Donuts has shifted its birthday offer; instead of a free drink, members of the DD Perks program now earn 3X reward points on the day before, the day of, and the day after their birthday.
IHOP offers birthday freebies for members of their rewards program, though specific details on the nature of the freebie are not provided in the source data.
Casual Dining and Full Meals
Starbucks and Caribou Coffee are highlighted for morning beverages, while Olive Garden offers a free birthday dessert to eClub members who dine in. Red Lobster provides a random birthday freebie to rewards program members. Ruby Tuesday members receive a free dessert or an add-on Garden Bar option within seven days of their birthday via the Ruby Rewards program.
PF Changs offers a complimentary dessert to Gold Rewards program members. TGI Fridays provides a "free birthday surprise" to Fridays Rewards members. Acapulco (a California-based chain) offers a free entrée up to $15 with no purchase required.
Fast Food and Quick Service
Jamba Juice rewards members with a free smoothie on their birthday, provided they have accrued a minimum of 15 points in their rewards account.
Wingstop offers a freebie on the birthday for members of "The Club." The specific item is not detailed in the source material. A&W offers a free small root beer float to members who sign up, available in numerous states including Alabama, Alaska, and Arizona.
Moe's Southwest Grill offers a free birthday queso or guac, depending on the member's tier within the Noodle Rewards program. The reward is added to the account on the actual birthday.
Pizza Hut offers a birthday reward to members, recalling the historical "Book It!" program that provided personal pan pizzas.
Desserts and Treats
Nothing Bundt Cakes offers a free mini-bundlet via their rewards app. Baskin-Robbins offers a free 2.5-ounce scoop of ice cream to members of the Birthday Club. Edible Arrangements offers a free 12-count chocolate-dipped fruit box during the birthday month to rewards members. However, this offer requires that the member has made at least a $29.99 purchase (excluding discounts, delivery, and tax) within the calendar year of the birthday. Additionally, birth date information must be input at least 24 hours prior to the first day of the birth month.
Subs and Sandwiches
Jersey Mikes offers a free sub every year to rewards program members, along with other exclusive offers. Subway (implied by context) offers a free medium sub with purchase on the birthday for rewards members.
Retail and Apparel Birthday Freebies
Several retail brands offer discounts or free gifts to loyalty members during their birthday month.
Beauty and Cosmetics
Sephora offers a free birthday gift to Beauty Insider members. The program allows members to choose between several different birthday gift options. Ulta offers a free gift and 2X points on purchases during the birthday month to Ultamate Rewards members.
General Retail and Apparel
Kohl's Yes2You Rewards members receive a surprise gift or discount on their birthday. However, a purchase is required prior to the birthday month to trigger the delivery of the gift.
Macy's Star Rewards members receive a free birthday surprise annually. Tiered rewards are also available, and store cardholders earn cash back on purchases.
DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) VIP members receive $5 off a pair of shoes during their birthday month.
The Children's Place offers a 20% discount on purchases to celebrate a child's birthday for members of their Birthday Club. The program allows users to earn 1 point for every $1 spent, with 100 points equating to a $5 reward.
Aerie and adidas offer birthday coupons (specifically $5 off for Aerie). For adidas, the birthday offer is available to users who are at least Level 2 in their rewards club. Abuelo's offers "special offers" for birthdays.
Entertainment and Other Birthday Freebies
Entertainment
Redbox offers a code for $2 off a rental at a kiosk or On Demand to customers.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema offers a free dessert, milkshake, or candy to members.
Medieval Times offers a "surprise" to children who join the Birthday Club. Historically, this has been a free ticket to the dinner and tournament experience, though the specific reward is not guaranteed.
Zoos and Aquariums: While specific brands are not listed in the source data, it is noted that many zoos and aquariums nationwide offer free admission on birthdays. For example, Georgia residents can receive complimentary admission to the Georgia Aquarium.
Terms and Eligibility Requirements
Most birthday freebies require specific actions to qualify:
- Sign-up Timing: Many programs require sign-up at least 7 days before the birthday (Starbucks) or 24 hours before the start of the birth month (Edible Arrangements).
- Purchase Requirements: Some offers, such as Edible Arrangements and Kohl's, require a prior purchase to unlock the birthday reward.
- Point Thresholds: Jamba Juice requires a minimum of 15 points to redeem the birthday smoothie.
- Tiered Rewards: Moe's and adidas offer different rewards based on the member's tier within the loyalty program.
- Geographic Restrictions: A&W and Abuelo's have specific state availability lists for their offers.
Conclusion
Birthday freebies provide U.S. consumers with opportunities to enjoy complimentary food, retail discounts, and entertainment perks. By joining loyalty programs and eClubs at brands such as Starbucks, Sephora, and Jersey Mikes, individuals can secure annual rewards. However, consumers must be mindful of specific eligibility requirements, including sign-up deadlines, purchase minimums, and tiered reward structures, to successfully redeem these offers.