Someone once said "Every man has his price" and I suppose that's true. I know it's true for me, but in a weird sort of backwards way. It isn't large sums of money that tempt me. I don't play the lottery and I've come to realize that money just isn't my main motivator. It's free stuff that really gets me.
In my real-life job I end up with sales people trying to contact me on an annoyingly frequent basis. They practically beg for my time, but do they ever offer free stuff? What they don't realize is that I'm a sucker for trinkets, tchotchkes, freebies, whatever you want to call them.
Recently, I made a momentous decision. I decided not to renew my subscription to Wired. Considering the fact that I've got about 5 years worth of issues stashed away in the garage, this was indeed a big decision. The reason? Well, I just didn't feel like a valued customer anymore. Maybe it was the fact that they forgot to send me an issue over the past year or it could be the fact that the issues arrive so late that I've already seen them at the newsstand before they come to my house. Or maybe it was the lack of free gifts. I see plenty of offers for free stuff to new subscribers, but what about me? I've been a loyal subscriber for a long time now. Shouldn't I get something?
I just subscribed, for the first time, to World and I'm happy to report that I received a free book Let Freedom Ring by Sean Hannity. Fortunately, I draw the line at some things. For example, The Weekly Standard was offering tote bags. Okay, I guess I'm not that desperate for free stuff. I still get the magazine but they can give my tote bag to someone else. Next year, maybe Wired will give away something to "new" subscribers. If it isn't a tote bag, they might just have me back. Until then, I'm shopping around.
Posted by jdmays at August 4, 2003 05:44 PM