Panera Is Changing Sip Club Rewards And Reddit Is Furious

When Panera Bread’s Unlimited Sip Club first launched back in 2022, it was the first of its kind. It also offered undeniable value for soda enthusiasts and Panera fans. Priced at $10.99 per month, it gave diners the chance to sip on iced coffee, hot or iced tea, lemonade, and plenty of soda choices—and there were plenty who earned their money’s worth at their local Panera’s drink station.

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But a dark day has arrived for Sip Club members. Sure, they’ve faced challenges and unwelcome changes before, like price increases. Now, however, the perks of Sip Club are disappearing and Reddit users are sounding off (and plenty angry!).

Panera’s Sip Club Will Introduce New Limitations

According to a Reddit user, a local Panera location has confirmed that the Sip Club will see changes this August. The unlimited drinks are about to disappear and be replaced with a monthly limit of 30 drinks.

Yep, that’s right: The formerly unlimited and fan favorite Sip Club program will now restrict members (even if there are 31 days in a month). And there’s another change, too. New drinks added to Panera’s menu or drink station will not be included.

Currently, Sip Club membership includes unlimited hot and iced coffee (one drink every two hours), hot teas and select iced teas, fountain drinks and select other beverages, and other rewards and savings. 

Technically, Panera’s Sip Club does already have a limit and restrictions on new items like the recent summer drinks. Since members are limited to one drink every two hours, there is a cap on how much one could theoretically sip while hanging out at Panera. But, as one Reddit user pointed out, “dropping it down to basically once a day is a crazy change.”

Sip Club Members Are Losing A Ton of Value

Panera’s current Sip Club members aren’t exactly thrilled that they’re about to pay the same price for far fewer drinks—and get way less value. Reddit users are particularly angry about the change and many are swearing off the restaurant altogether as a result with comments like, “I’m not surprised. Panera has been going downhill so bad these last couple of years. Once my sip club membership ends I bet I’ll never set foot in a Panera again.”

As one user put it, “Panera just seems like it’s doing everything it can to drive away business.” Another said, “I’ll be canceling my membership soon and won’t give them any more money. [T]hey lost a long time customer, too. Panera can burn.” Other users are even threatening to take their fight to the law: “That’ll be an easy complaint to file with Consumer Affairs and my state AG office. The annual plan I’ve already paid for specified the conditions of the agreement.”

But, of course, Panera is going to do what Panera wants to do. Reddit, on the other hand? Well, users are planning to voice their frustration to customer service offline in hopes the plan will change.