My regional and local offices merged recently and decided to commemorate the occasion with a free t-shirt for the staff. How this improves our lives or careers I have no idea. I do know that someone has to pay for free t-shirts that most of the recipients will not wear. And that someone is all of us.
Freebies are everywhere. There’s no such thing as a free lunch but you may get free loofahs, water bottles, mouse pads… and even holidays. We may think we’re getting a better deal but the truth is that we could have paid less for the products in the first place. The ultimate ‘freebies’ are the ones banks give away. To entice you to invest. Honestly, the only thing you should consider is a fund’s past, present and potential future performance. Not the DVD player planted to distract you from reading the fine print of the many charges to be slapped on your money. I mean, someone has to pay for the bankers’ bonuses and parties. And the freebies.
It’s time to open our eyes and speak our minds. If our loyalty (credit cards) and judgement (investment schemes) should be rewarded, let it be rewarded with cash rebates. But before we start talking about ‘freebies’, let us concentrate on the quality of the stuff we’re buying in the first place.
And for my boss in case he’s reading this, my free t-shirt doesn’t fit me.
Purchase freebies aside, maybe it’s just us. Too cynical. Or too embarrassed to wear the tees or think it loser. We received the 2007 corporate T-shirt and I see at least a few of my colleagues in it everyday. They were enthusiastic and happy to receive it. Think of it as one up for team building/corporate loyalty.
is that you, zapzap?
believe the last time i actually one of those commemorative/team building t-shirts was way back in varsity. and only during the orientation camps. all other attempts to put me in one of those have been resisted & proved futile.