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March 7, 2006 - Two for TwoTwo more responses today, bringing us to 21. Burt's Bees (#10) sent over a free stick of their beeswax lip balm. Dunkin Donuts (#79) sent over a book of five gift checks, each good for $1. Thanks to Burt's Bees and Dunkin Donuts.March 7, 2006 - A Few Side NotesCompanies With EyesI received an e-mail today from a customer support gal over at Eden Foods (#55) assuring me that Eden Foods does, in fact, listen to their consumers. This is obvious, seeing as how she took the time to contact me personally. I was assured that they did receive my letter and that my "stuff" was on its way. Whatever stuff I happen to receive at this point I consider incidental — the fact that I was contacted personally is the point worth stressing. It's also worth emphasizing that my e-mail address was not on any of the 100 letters I'd sent out, so Eden Foods obviously found me via this site. Thanks to Eden Foods for being a company with "eyes" to the public. Upgrades Several people have e-mailed me asking me why I put Pepsi at an "uneventful" status in my table of companies, seeing as how they did send me some nice items (a pen, pencil, stickers, etc). This actually crossed my mind, even before being asked about it. My original standpoint may have been an unfair one. I guess after being "spoiled" with $32 worth of free air (Fellowes), a pen and pencil just didn't seem to do it for me. Maybe I was expecting a case of Pepsi or something. So, I went back and reviewed the goodies I'd received. Carma Labs sent me a $1.29 jar of Carmex, and I gave them a YES status. Pfizer, on the other hand, sent me $1.50 in coupons, and I gave them an UNEVENTFUL. I guess receiving the actual product (regardless of its price or value) was more exciting than receiving the coupons. The coupons psychologically seemed like more of a "pacifier" than actually receiving product. The product itself was something much more tangible. With that said, I have "upgraded" Pepsi, Pfizer, and Biotene from UNEVENTFUL to YES. After all, my letters did ask for "samples" or "anything else". Fair is fair. I have opted to leave Reynold's and Church & Dwight at UNEVENTFUL, because I still consider their coupons "incidental" (their letters both indicated a "no" response, more or less). Thanks to Pepsi, Pfizer, and Biotene. Search Engines and A.D.D. I have to wonder if search engines cause (or possibly contribute to) Attention Deficit Disorder. Last night, I'm looking over a summary of how many visitors have been to this site, etc. Included in this summary is a list of phrases that people have put into search engines to wind up at this site. Amongst these:
"Don & Ruth" (well, actually, just Ruth) e-mailed me (in very large, very blue, very italic font) saying:
Well Tom~~no wonder most of them didn't give you free samples........ummmm.........did
you happen to proof-read your letters before sending them to the companies?????? Well
I read them and the way you asked for freebies--I'd ignore you too and some nasty
response too. You have to learn to ask for them nicely not like 'I really enjoy your
product, give me give me give me everything or anything free' Didn't your mother ever
teach you that old saying 'GIVE ME, GIVE ME NEVER GETS, HAVEN'T YOU LEARNT YOUR MANNERS
YET????'
Yours truly, Ruth (who does couponing)
Evidently, being a "couponer" and being someone with a sense of humor are mutually
exclusive. Thanks for the feedback, Blue Ruthie.
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