FREE STUFF

[yogitunes]

You guys have got to try this...it works

on the back of a box of detergent is a toll free number...call them...lets say TIDE...tell them something like the powder is clumped up...they will send you coupons to get several boxes FREE

same thing for dish soaps, bath soaps, shampoos etc...

manufacturers love to hear from you...but compliments only get you cents off coupons....complain about a product you love and they'll send you free stuff...sometimes their free coupons other times they'll send you whole cases in the mail

TRY IT!....can't tell you how many things I got for free

 

[joeekaitis]

My LAST box of Banquet frozen fried chicken . . .

. . . was free when I called to complain about the weight shrinking from 32 ounces to 28. They sent a coupon and a letter begging me not to go.

 

[davek]

Don't go too far

I bet they keep files of who complains too much and you'll see some of this dry up if you use it too often. Besides, don't complain about products you like or they might change them.

That said, you're right. I got a free sample of All free & clear once (not one of my usual brands), single use bottle like a hotel shampoo. I used it to pretreat a greasy spot on a navy blue Polo shirt (a real RL one). It bleached the spot a sort of light purple color. I wasn't terribly mad, as the shirt was a couple years old and was getting worn anyway. I emailed them about it and they sent a coupon for a large bottle of All. Unfortunately, they continued to insist that there was nothing in All F&C that could do that. I trust All in its diluted wash form, but not for pretreating now. Also, a coupon for the product you've complained about seems a little strange to me!

I've also complained about Hunt's tomato cans with oregano, basil, & garlic looking too much like the regular ones. They're often carelessly mis-stocked and you have to check every can when you're getting them to make sure you're getting what you want. I can't have my chili tasting like spaghetti sauce! They sent freebie coupons as well.

I've called to report a malfunctioning Coke machine before and gotten freebie coupons out of it.

 

[autowasherfreak]

We bought a bag of cat food once which turned out to be dog food and I went online and told Purina about it, and they sent me all sorts of free coupons. I had to send them a sample of the food, they paid for the postage.

 

[laundromat]

here we go back to the late 60's

My Mom got a bar of Palmolive Gold which was similar to Dial.They're both deoderant enhanced bars."Don't wait to be told----you need palmolive Gold."She broke out severely and sent a letter to them.They sent her a check for $100 and about $200 in coupons.The letter of apology and a phone number to call were filed.

 

[yogitunes]

yeah...common sense don't go overboard...but you can get a few things free...why not...thats what the companies want anyway...INPUT...from the consumer....and you kinda get "paid" for your opinion...

What really bugs me is I have bought many NEW appliances and only got maybe a sample or a coupon for $1.00 off...for the price you pay for the appliance you should at least get a full box to try out....my kenmore limited did come with a years supply of TIDE and dryer sheets...they all should do this...I got my CALYPSO set with a 1 year guarantee if I didn't like it I would get a complete refund...not many offers like that...but I really liked them and kept them...no problems so far compared to most.......

 

[danemodsandy]

Joe:

" My LAST box of Banquet frozen fried chicken . . .

. . . was free when I called to complain about the weight shrinking from 32 ounces to 28. They sent a coupon and a letter begging me not to go."

That was a far cry from my own experience with Banquet. I sometimes used to fall back on their Hungry Man TV dinners when time was a problem, usually the fried chicken. They changed it from an assortment of light and dark to all dark, which I don't care for. My complaint was answered with a coupon, like yours, but the letter said basically, "Well, we aren't hearing any other complaints, and maybe you'll get used to the change."

From that day to this, no ConAgra product has entered this house. And it's not like they're easy to avoid; they're huge and they make everything. Still worth the extra shopping to me; I won't do business with a company that has no more respect for consumers than that.

 

[davek]

danemodsandy, Hungry Man is Swanson, not Banquet. Make sure you're boycotting the right people.

 

[danemodsandy]

davek:

Yeah, Hungry Man is Swanson's, I checked and you're right. But whatever name Banquet used for its large TV dinner was what I meant. It has been about three years since I bought anything ConAgra, so I've forgotten Banquet's name for that kind of thing. Believe me, Banquet was the offender.

They're not the only ones who are tone-deaf to consumer complaints; Colgate-Palmolive wasn't exactly wonderful when I complained about their recent cutback of their Palmolive All Family Mild soap from a 4-ounce bar to 3.2 ounces. Their response was a few coupons for a few cents off on C-P products I never use, and the accompanying letter was a weaselly masterpiece of corporate double-speak. For one thing, they referred to the downsizing as "conversion" of the product, which supposedly made it a "value." Since when is it a value for a consumer to get hit with a whopping hidden price increase?

I still use C-P products, because I've been using them forever, but the feeling about the company has never really been the same.

 

[perc-o-prince]

You guys have got to try this...it works

I assume you mean if you have an actual complaint about a product, and you're not suggesting making false complaints to get free goods (um, theft???)?

Chuck

p.s.- Before anyone says companies have things like this built into their budgets, this is why prices keep going up! How many thousands of people not on this list do you think have made false claims to get free or discounted goods? We all pay for this one way or another. Not making any judgements, just sayin'.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Nevermind. I just re-read the initial post... "complain about a product you love and they'll send you free stuff..." My question is answered.

Chuck