A guy named Tom Locke was paying his bills one day, putting stamps on his stack of paid bills, when he looked at a $39 roll of unopened stamps (man, how much to American stamps cost anyway?) and thought to himself that $39 doesn’t get you much these days.
Then he began to wonder just what you could get for $39, or more particularly, how much FREE stuff you could get with $39 worth of stamps and a sense of humour.
The result is The $39 Experiment: Asking Companies for Free Stuff – and it’s hilarious! He wrote to 100 companies and asked for free stuff, and is keeping a running tab of their responses.
His letters are priceless. To Subway, he writes:
Dear Sir or Madam:I’m just writing to you to tell you that I hate Quiznos, and I hate that freaky sock puppet they used to have singing on their commercials. Just what I want – an ugly, mentally disturbed corporate mascot. Anyway, I eat Subway for lunch all the time. I love the roast chicken breast. Can I get some freebies? Free subs? Free chips? Free anything? If you’re feeling generous, I’ll take a free party sub. I don’t have a ton of friends, but that won’t stop me
from eating it! Thanks for everything!
Tom Locke, Subway enthusiast
To Quiznos, he writes:
Dear Sir or Madam:I’m just writing to you to tell you that I hate Subway. I hate Jared. He annoys me. So some fat guy lost a bunch of weight. Who cares? Doesn’t make their nasty, flavorless subs taste any different. Anyway, I love your Classic Italian. I put banana peppers on it to top it off. I usually get that chicken corn chowder soup, a mini chocolate bundt cake, and a bottle of water to finish the meal. Your food quite simply rocks. Can I get something free? Sandwiches, soups, coupons, shirts? Whatever you got. I love the freebies! Thanks for everything!
Tom Locke, Quiznos enthusiast
No response from either company yet. But he has received free lip balm from Burt’s Bees, coupons from Pfizer, and free pens and stickers from Pepsi.
I don’t know whether it’s because I’ve spent years in customer service, or just because I love free stuff, but I think this is the funniest thing I’ve seen in ages!
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Check out the Lazlo Letters on Amazon if you’re not familiar. Don Novello (aka Father Guido Sarducci) creates this fantastic character who sends hundreds of actual letters to companies, politicians, etc. the books chronicle his letters and their responses. HiLARious, I promise!
Check out the Lazlo Letters on Amazon if you’re not familiar. Don Novello (aka Father Guido Sarducci) creates this fantastic character who sends hundreds of actual letters to companies, politicians, etc. the books chronicle his letters and their responses. HiLARious, I promise!
The sub letters are hilarious. Thanks for sharing.
The sub letters are hilarious. Thanks for sharing.
That really is funny. I’ve never tried that approach. It does make you want to try though…
That really is funny. I’ve never tried that approach. It does make you want to try though…
Here’s another way to get free stuff (though, you know – not so nicely)
http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/creditcard/application.shtml
(Saw it at Suburban Bliss this morning and thought of your post)
Here’s another way to get free stuff (though, you know – not so nicely)
http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/creditcard/application.shtml
(Saw it at Suburban Bliss this morning and thought of your post)
Hilarious!
Hilarious!