Oh, Starbucks.

Let me start by saying I'm not really a fan of Starbucks. I don't boil over with hate for it like some people do. I mean, it's perfectly fine, but I actually prefer McDonald's coffee, even if it is the only thing I'll get from there.

But I somehow manage to get at least a few Starbucks gift cards a year, and there's a location practically across from my office, so I'll use the cards up.

When I went to that particular Starbucks a few weeks ago, I ordered a vanilla rooibos tea and brought it back to the office without taking a single sip. When I finally did, something seemed wrong.

I removed the lid and saw that I had half a cup of tea. This was a venti, the tallest cup Starbucks has, and it was half filled. Once I removed the tea bags, it was less than half full. And no, I hadn't asked them to leave room for milk, and even if I had, this was ridiculous. Half a cup? Could they not spare the hot water?

I went to the Starbucks web site and sent a comment. Maybe I invested 60 seconds? (Love you, internets!)

Within a day, I received an email, apologizing for the half-cup of tea.

Within a week, I received two cards, each good for a free beverage of my choice.

Here's the card:

I'm impressed by the design and the way Starbucks continues to market itself, even as it tries to cover its own ass.

However, the card makes me wonder: Is this sent specifically to people who've complained about getting half a cup at Starbucks? Are there really that many complaints about the same thing?

Producing a die-cut, folded, full-bleed card like this is not a cheap affair. If the "cup half full" is just meant to be a metaphor for half-hearted service or a bad drink, that's one thing. But I wonder whether Starbucks actually has legions of people walking out of its stores with half a beverage.

I'm also wondering if I'll receive any 'tude next time I go in with one of these tickets. It'll be like wearing a sandwich board that says, "I COMPLAINED ABOUT YOU."