FREE
STUFF ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!!
LOVE
IT!!! TO LAME :-/
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| At Baskin Robbins with Laurie getting my free Birthday Cone! |
Yesterday was my Birthday. For all of those who missed it, I am still
registered at Home Depot and Lowe’s.
A
Birthday is a wonderful day to celebrate by doing good things and giving of yourself
to others. I could have done that, but I
didn’t. Maybe next year. Now, those of you who are judging, admit
it---there is at least a part of that special day that you enjoyed being
honored and, well, a little selfishly pampered.
So don’t judge me too harshly.
(Actually when it comes down to it, our birthdays really ought to be
celebrated as our Mother’s special days, but that is a subject for another
post). As a note, this is not about my
family or friends whose honor for me on my birthday is always a treat and for
which I am always grateful. NOTHING that
any business can do can compare with the love shown to me by my family and
friends. I hope that they know how
grateful I am for the and how much it means to me that they care to simply wish
me a happy birthday. No, this post is
simply about those business with which I have some sort of relationship.
Yesterday,
I decided that I would reap the benefits from those commercial enterprises
which I “faithfully” support for twelve months just to stay on their good
sides. And there were some good
ones. After dropping my friend, Rob at
the airport, I had some time to kill before I had to get to work. I pulled into a Denny’s parking lot (I had
nothing from Denny’s--) and did a search in my gmail inbox under “Birthday”. After relegating to the spam folder those who
were celebrating THEIR birthdays I looked down the list of those whose subject
lines started with something like “we want to celebrate your birthday”. The first one that I found was a hit! Jamba Juice!!! A free small smoothie or juice of my choice!
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| At Jamba Juice with Helpful, friendly staff!!!
Jamba Juice is an example of how I think an
enterprise can really tell you how they love you as a customer. No BOGO free. No “if you buy an entrée for
$40.00 we’llgive you a free sprinkle on your cupcake.” Just a free “Come in and get a free smoothie or
juice (limitation on the size)” of your choice. HOW COOL IS THAT!!! So I
did. I had to drive 2.5 miles to do it,
but it was worth it.
I got to the Jamba
Juice at 4th South in Salt Lake City with about 15 minutes to get to
work and found it nearly empty with one customer. I walked up to the cash register and was greeted
by a friendly little clerk. Since it was
my intention to not spend my money today, I wanted to ensure that I could use
my coupon on my special day. After she confirmed that and I punched my phone
number into the key pad, she asked me what I wanted. I said, “You choose!” (It was the least I
could do since she was giving me a free smoothie. I think it had strawberries in it. I know
there was sugar. Another worker made my
Jamba Juice smoothie and then I asked for one more favor, “Would you mind
posing with me for a selfie”. The girl
who made the smoothie quickly responded, “I’m good” (which I long ago learned
translates to “NO WAY!”). I certainly
can forgive her…I mean she probably already has a grandfather and doesn’t need
to adopt another one. This put the
cashier on the spot and she, forced smile included, obliged. Jamba Juice rocks!
After getting to work, I culled through the other
offers. Among the free stuff, no strings
attached with maybe limitations to size, are Baskin Robbins (free scoop of ice
cream) Jersey Mikes free sub and fountain drink (although I think you actually
have to get it on your birthday – some offers are good for two weeks to a
month), Dukes, El Pollo Loco (defined free entrée), IHOP (free Rooty Tooty
Fresh N Fruity stack of pancakes), Yogurtland ( free 16 oz of free FROYO) and
Red Robin (free hamburger). These
businesses LOVE ME!! At least that is
what they are telling me when they give me free stuff, no strings attached. Oh,
I almost forgot, the West Jordan Smith's Marketplace on 5600 West last year gave me a HUGE free Sundae,
a Band accompanying their entire department head staff in singing me happy
birthday and DID take a selfie with me. I wanted to go back, but my schedule
was too tight! (I think they were surprised
when a 60 year old, not a 6 year old, showed up to take them up on their offer
for the free sundae, but a 6 year old could not have tackled that massive
Sundae---they still have not put an age limit on their free sundae offering).
Next in line for those who really appreciate my
business – BOGO free. Falling into this
category are Rodizio Grill (yours is free when you buy an entrée), Golden
Corral (BOGO free), and Cold Stone Creamery ( BOGO free). Provided these opportunities don’t run out
before I get to them, I’ll use them. And they have guaranteed at least one
visit from me this next year.
In the, “somewhat appreciate me” category are the
“discount or dessert” category. Those
include Magleby’s (entrée choice up to $10.00---I am pretty sure most of their
menu is over $10.00 unless I just order fries), Café Rio ($5.00 – again, most
of their entrees are around $7.99 if you order the special), Olive Garden (free
dessert), Salty’s restaurant (free dessert), Regal Cinema’s (free popcorn-no
strings attached but, come on, I’m not going to the theatre just to buy popcorn
equivalent to what I can pop in my microwave), Costa Vida (free dessert), Chili’s
(free dessert). These are businesses
that I wonder if they really love my business.
I mean, after all, there are strings attached. They’re saying thank you
with a dessert I probably wouldn’t order or a discount, sometimes deep, that is
really a way of saying “Hey, you ought to buy more from us on your Birthday.”
It’s my birthday, not yours.
I am the first one to admit that you cannot run a
business on just giving away free stuff (unless you are google). I know, I’ve tried it. But, it just seems to me that a free meal to
a customer, no strings attached is a great way to ensure their patronage. Hey, it’s all about the customer, right?
But, in the COMPLETELY LAME category are these
businesses. 1-800- flowers I think tops
the list. Free shipping on flowers. Now
why would I celebrate by buying myself flower on my special day? I’m not even sure I LIKE getting flowers (I
rarely get them). How is that a celebration? Or, how about Hertz and Sixt. Hertz said I could get 275 gold points on my
next rental and Sixt offered me a $20.00 deal on a one day SUV rental. Really?
I have to expend brain power to decide if the Hertz deal is worth
anything and the SUV rental—No thanks!!
Admittedly, I am not in their top tier of customers, but why even bother
with it. Plenti – Rite Aid – 25% off of
a purchase. Like I am buying cough drops
to live it up on my birthday? Oh, and
Lyft, keep your video to yourself. It wasn’t
that cute.
But to the businesses who offer “free stuff”
under the guise of wishing you a happy birthday: Make it worth something to the consumer. You will never be as cherished and loved by
me as my family and friends. But, you
might get my loyalty. At least until my
next birthday. That’s gotta be worth
something, doesn’t it?
At least, that’s the way I see it.
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