This Christmas, I got many fine gifts from friends and family.
Some really cool “brew-in-bag” coffees from around the world.
Exotic orange tea. A book I requested. Skin lotion from Bath and Body Works. Some shirts and a new pair of blinding-white kicks.
Surprisingly…
Not one friend or family member asked for my credit card number or its expiration date prior to the giving.
Or asked for gas money because they had to bring it over.
Or asked for cash to cover their time to shop for it.
Or cash for the gift wrapping expense.
Or threatened to NOT give the gift to me if I wouldn’t promise to do something for them in the future.
I may be wrong, but me thinks…
If you promise to give me something free only if I will do something for you
in return, that’s a BRIBE, not a GIFT.
FREE GIFT is redundant btw. Gifts are, by their very nature, free.
Sorry for the rant, but I’ve reached my limit for marketers offering a FREE GIFT that’s dependent upon me making some payment, or for shipping, or for any future obligation whatsoever.
Or for a trial of this or that. Or if I have to do anything…
It’s not free. Nor a gift.
A gift is FREE. Zero cost or expectation from the recipient. No threat of charge later is appropriate either.
You might have a great offer. But an offer is not a gift. And seldom free.
The best offers, require no bribe. If the offer is great, I can’t NOT buy it.
Work on your offer.
Because what you’re really offering is a Bribe, not a gift.
You’re trying to trick me. You think I’m stupid.
Words matter.
I’ll just say, “No thank you” to your FREE GIFT!
Especially if you claim to be a marketing expert or guru.
Shame on you.
