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| Music, media, libraries and my tortuous ascent into the middle class. |
My first girlfriend in college majored in Human Ecology, which is kind of the fancy college name for Home Economics. She had a project where they wrote to a company in praise of their product. Usually the company will send you something free in return. So she wrote to Zapp's Potato Chips and sure enough, we got some free chips in the mail.
A couple years ago I wrote to Blue Runner, telling them how much I loved their Creole Style Red Beans. They sent me 4 cans of beans! I hit the jackpot!
The absolute queen of vegetarian frozen meals is Amy's Kitchen. I was afraid to write an email, because how would they know where to send the free stuff? Here's a copy of the letter I wrote. Notice the syncophantic tone of voice.
Dear Amy's Kitchen,My wife and I are longtime vegetarians. We are also both librarians, and we’ve done our research. For quick vegetarian meals, Amy’s is the best.
At our local Albertson’s we call the vegetarian frozen foods section, the Amy’s Section. We’ve been big fans of the Veggie Loaf Whole Meal for a while now, as well as the Enchilada Dinners and the Country Dinner Whole Meal. And the Mattar Paneer is the best frozen Indian meal that I can find.
Now that a Whole Foods Market has opened in Baton Rouge, we have access to nearly all of your products. The Tofu Rancheros is my new favorite breakfast. Since a visit to Costa Rica, I’ve begun to think that black beans should be included with breakfast more often.
I usually sprinkle some Cajun seasoning on whatever I’m eating, but my wife enjoys your dinners as is. Keep up the good work, and keep coming out with new dinners. I always like trying new things.
Sincerely,
Mike Waugh
It's easy enough to criticize corporations and companies, but I think you gotta go ahead offer some praise to the ones you like.
This is the first time I've written a letter to an non-local company. I'll let you know if anything yummy comes of it.
Nicely pointing out defects can also get results. Year ago when I was a SMOKER, I wrote to the manufacturer of Kool Cigarettes to let them know that I was a Kool smoker and really had no intention of switching but I was slightly annoyed with some hard chucks of tobacco I had been experiencing in my Kool Milds. They sent me a letter of apology and a "Kool" tin with like 6 packs of cigs in it. Now a days you might not get the same results because of how society is on the tobacco industry's back. More recently, I got a free night coming at the Logan Holiday Express because I e-mailed them and told them I had enjoyed my stay there but their flat sheets as a bottom sheet drove me insane trying to keep in from winding up in the middle of the bed. Which they finally did by morning.
When ever I feel the need to complain to a company I always try and point out the good things about their product or service, etc. If I can.
Do you think if I wrote the IRS and tell them they are doing a fine job, they would give me a refund this year instead of making pay more?
In a litigious society such as ours, we owe it to ourselves and the balance of the planet to offer praise where it is due. Thanks for doing your part to keep the planet spinning correctly on its axis.
Posted by: Noma at January 15, 2006 07:53 AMI must admit that I sent a complaint to Amy's about two years ago--I wasn't happy with the taste and texture of their breakfast toaster pastries. They responded promptly by sending me a brochure listing their available items and a coupon for a free item. I really didn't feel like I was begging for free food from them--I just wanted them to have the feedback. The funny thing is that I've actually gotten used to them now, although I don't think they've changed.
Posted by: Carl Seiler at January 16, 2006 10:13 AMI really didn't feel like I was begging for free food from them...-Carl
Well I have no shame, because I am begging for free food!
But that is seriously hilarious that you have already written to Amy's.
In fact, I thought I was crazy to write to companies. Now I see that I am not alone.
Posted by: Mike Waugh at January 17, 2006 12:10 PMMom,
I'm glad you didn't write Kool to say that your cartons didn't seem to come with as many packs as they did before your secret-smoker teenage son came home from Louisiana School.
Posted by: Mike Waugh at January 17, 2006 12:23 PM