Same here. Starbucks is a giant corporation, but each branch has the same people in them from day to day, if you stop by the same branch on your way to work every morning, then you'll soon be chatting to the staff.

I don't know the dynamic behind the free stuff tho'. It could be Starbucks policy, it could be just the staff being nice to a familiar face who doesn't just bark an order at them, or it could be them deliberately screwing their employer. Probably all three at one point or other.