10-09-2006, 05:41 PM
I don't "always assume" because A then B.
I still think that the free milk/free mint analogy is apt. Nowhere on the mint basket does it say "one per customer". I've seen reasonable people take two. I've even seen reasonable people take FOUR, but they are usually the designated mint-person grabbing one for themselves, one for wifey and one each for little Timmy and Jane.
But dumping the whole basket into one's purse or doggie-bag? Sort of sleazy.
Again, taking advantage of a loophole is legal...but that doesn't mean it isn't sleazy. I have not seen any Starbucks statement saying they "approve" of such abuse, but I wouldn't be surprised if (in the name of superior customer service) they just shrug their shoulders and look the other way at the cheap bastards who DO make a condiment into a drink.
Or they might just raise the price for EVERYONE by a nickel per drink. Nahhh, probably not.
Another example? How about a new TV EVERY YEAR? Just buy the most expensive TV at Costco and return it before their 100% refund term expires. Keep doing that and you can be upgrading to a new TV every year for the initial cost of one TV. Illegal? Nope. Sleazy? You bet!
I still think that the free milk/free mint analogy is apt. Nowhere on the mint basket does it say "one per customer". I've seen reasonable people take two. I've even seen reasonable people take FOUR, but they are usually the designated mint-person grabbing one for themselves, one for wifey and one each for little Timmy and Jane.
But dumping the whole basket into one's purse or doggie-bag? Sort of sleazy.
Again, taking advantage of a loophole is legal...but that doesn't mean it isn't sleazy. I have not seen any Starbucks statement saying they "approve" of such abuse, but I wouldn't be surprised if (in the name of superior customer service) they just shrug their shoulders and look the other way at the cheap bastards who DO make a condiment into a drink.
Or they might just raise the price for EVERYONE by a nickel per drink. Nahhh, probably not.
Another example? How about a new TV EVERY YEAR? Just buy the most expensive TV at Costco and return it before their 100% refund term expires. Keep doing that and you can be upgrading to a new TV every year for the initial cost of one TV. Illegal? Nope. Sleazy? You bet!