Free stuff.

[Deranged Nasat]

Well, it happened again- twice. I went to one of the local privately-run mini-supermarkets, where the owners are known to me, and after buying a few bits they started dumping free stuff on me. I ended up with a fresh sausage roll (quite a large one) and some crisps, as well as a drink. A rather filling lunch, for nothing. Then, at dinner, I ate at my local Chinese- again, they know me- and I got half the stuff I had there on the house. This happens to me quite a bit, in multiple places. Twice in one day got me thinking- this does happen to other people, right? Getting free stuff thrown at you, or having the bill halved on an apparent whim? Because, pleasant as it is, it's a little confusing sometimes.

So, anywhere it happens to you?

 

[Jan]

Showing appreciation for good customers is the smartest thing a business can do these days.

I've had it happen at restaurants where I was a regular pretty often. One time shortly after my mother died, a restaurant my parents had frequented for years comped an expensive meal for seven people after we let them know of her passing. I've never had it happen at a grocery store, though.

Jan

 

[iguana_tonante]

You must kick off some nurturing instinct to people. Or you just look like a starving artist that need a few sandwiches.

 

[Finn]

I once got a free tire after getting a flat on the way to work.

Oh, and even better. A couple of years back, I went to a Ben & Jerry's in Georgetown. The menu had indicated less than $2.00 for a waffle cone. The only ones visible at the time was the huge ones. I ordered one only be told I owed them around $6.00. I backed down saying they didn't specify which cone on the wall. After walking away from a big cone with two scoops, They ran over and gave it to me for free.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

I got a freebie at my favorite bath shop a couple of weeks ago. My niece and I were doing a little shopping and this shop is my favorite. They gave us a strawberry massage bar (it's a lotion bar!). And those things aren't cheap.

 

[Brent]

Are you hot? Cause hot people end up getting more free stuff than ugly people like me.

 

[tharpdevenport]

I get all the free air I want. Lots & lots of free air.

 

[propita]

The only freebies I get is when i look around at See's or Godiva. I don't go there much. I don't need the sweets no matter how good they taste.

 

[MetalPants]

I have never gotten anything for free.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Well, it happened again- twice. I went to one of the local privately-run mini-supermarkets, where the owners are known to me, and after buying a few bits they started dumping free stuff on me. I ended up with a fresh sausage roll (quite a large one) and some crisps, as well as a drink. A rather filling lunch, for nothing. Then, at dinner, I ate at my local Chinese- again, they know me- and I got half the stuff I had there on the house. This happens to me quite a bit, in multiple places. Twice in one day got me thinking- this does happen to other people, right? Getting free stuff thrown at you, or having the bill halved on an apparent whim? Because, pleasant as it is, it's a little confusing sometimes.

So, anywhere it happens to you?

Do you live in Mario Land? Do you come from Flower Village? Because I...am going to stop this rant before it's begun.

Consider yourself lucky (for the free stuff, not for avoiding the rant) .

Do you have an influential family?

 

[Kestra]

On occasion, but it always makes me feel a bit uncomfortable and sometimes I insist on paying.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

Consider yourself lucky (for the free stuff, not for avoiding the rant) .

Do you have an influential family?

No, not in the slightest . If I did it might help explain it; as it is, I have no idea why people give me free stuff .

Are you hot? Cause hot people end up getting more free stuff than ugly people like me.

Oh no, I wouldn't say hot. Reasonably attractive, I suppose .

Or you just look like a starving artist that need a few sandwiches.

Quite possibly.

 

[jamestyler]

There was one recently that I was oddly happy with, seeing as I like free stuff.

I went to the local store to buy beer. The manager stopped me and asked if I'd like more, I said no... I had more than enough. Then he told me not to worry about being charged. I walked out with four cases of beer for the price of two.

Still no idea why, but I wasn't complaining.

 

[RandyS]

Yep. I get free stuff all the time.

Of course, you probably weren't talking about stealing......

 

[Thor Damar]

Alas, this never happens to me. Must be my Facial Hair of Evil(TM), or my Charlie brookerqst personality...

 

[tharpdevenport]

Oh, I forgot -- one of the Wal-Mart stores here has two clear, plastic containers at the bakery on the counter above the show cased cupcakes and cookies, with free samples. Reese cookies, white chip Macadamia nit cookies, various doughnut holes and rings, rice crispie treats, so forth. I help myself every single time, unless it is something I don't like.

Thanks to that free stuff I've gotten to try a couple things I would normally not have purchased, and bought some Reese cookies and got someone else hooked and in the end the free cookies ended up moving four unit from just me.

 

[sojourner]

^wow, so you got free samples intended as free samples? AMAZING.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I get free stuff all the time, but just from regular people, not businesses. I think the last time I got something free from a business was the last time I was in New York City, in 1989. Me and the woman I was with went for a pizza to a little pizza shop about a block from Central Park. We ordered just a regular pizza, but the Boss took an inexplicable liking to us and put on a big show of seating us and telling us to wait for his masterpiece. And a masterpiece it was-- a huge, gigantic, custom-made pizza with just about every topping there was. It was delicious. Best pizza I've ever had. And he just charged us for the regular pizza.

Obviously, DN has The Charm.

 

[SVD]

Only thing I can think of off the top of my head like this is getting charged for a small Icee at Burger King when asking for and getting a medium.

 

[Captain Ice]

It's been a while, but when I was involved with the Arizona Restaurant Association, my credit card would periodically be brought back by sheepish looking servers with notes attached to my credit card to the effect of "You know your money is no good here." After a while, I learned to make sure I had $10 to $15 in cash on me when I went into certain restaurants so I could tip the staff.