One of the advantages of working in downtown DC is that a lot of companies use this market to advertise new products. Several times a year I’ll get off the Metro and there will be t-shirted temps with big totes handing out product samples. I’ve gotten loads of gum (unchewed, which is always a bonus), soap and shampoo, deodorant (Wait a minute . . . that guy wasn’t wearing a t-shirt and wasn’t giving deodorant to anyone else. Hmm.), bottled water, cereal, and even an M&M’s ice cream bar.
This morning as I was raised from the depths of the Metro by one of the few working escalators, I saw a whole bunch of people in yellow t-shirts bearing the words “Change Agent” and carrying big canvas totes. “Change Agent” made me think they were with the Obama campaign. In addition, they were far more numerous than is usual for such a giveaway. Sweet! What manner of enticement was ahead?
I eagerly moved forward to accept my share of the luchre and was handed . . . a card. A laminated postcard. It turns out they were from Research in Motion and the cards direct you to a web site offering “discounts” on Blackberries to government employees. That’s it. No food, no personal hygiene products, no Blackberry, no blackberries (the fruit), not even a coupon. WTF is up with that? I want my monkey-man!
The way I see it, RIM owes me a free sample. I don’t care what it is, so long as I get what’s mine. In the meantime, I have an official corporate grudge against them. Next time I see their t-shirted “Change Agents”, I’ll just keep my nose in my Blackberry and walk on by.
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