I never win anything. In the immortal words of HeeHaw....."If it tweren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all".....so, imagine my surprise when El Hubbo calls me and says that there is a message on the answering machine at home that says I have won something.
Ok, great! I love free stuff! But, I know there is always a catch. I race home to learn more about my prize, get the number to call from the answering machine and make the call. Sure enough! I DID win! I was guaranteed a $100 gift card and the pick of another prize such as two plane tickets or a cruise for two!
All I had to do......(here's the good part)......was drive to Midland, be there 15 minutes early to my appointed time, and I could get my prizes! AND, if I stuck around and completed a survey, then I could have a chance to win $25,000 (or $25,000 shopping spree at the warehouse).
"Wait, warehouse? What kind of scam is this?" I thought briefly. The very nice lady on the phone assured me it was on the up-and-up and was with a reputable business. I did actually recognize the business name, so I decided that the gas card and the tickets would be justification enough to head south on Saturday. 'No kids, no pets, no guests" she further informed me. Such a statement intrigued me.
Saturday comes and with it the babysitter for the kiddos. El Hubbo and I load up and head down the road. Just as we passed the halfway point, El Hubbo asks, "So, I've heard that various law enforcement agencies will use a scenario like this to round up criminals they are after.....what have you done?"
I look at him with horror, then quickly do some thinking, then reply, "I think the statute of limitations has passed on everything...." This did not seem to reassure him.
We arrive an hour early, so we decide to scope out the town. We visited a farmer's market, drove by a former president's childhood home, and meandered about until time to check in for our gas card.
The gentleman at the counter welcomed us into the office, but seemed a little put off when the first words out of my mouth were, "We're here 15 minutes early, where is my gas card?" He frowned and informed me we would get it at the end of the open house. I had not been informed that we were going to an Open House and expressed as much to my new friend. He just frowned and pointed me over to a chair. Finally we are greeted by another gentleman, Mr. Friendly, who would take our survey. OK, good, time to get the ball rolling. He asks a few questions and then informs us we have to listen to a presentation. "Do we get our gas card then?" I ask. (I was at this point obsessing about my gas card.) I think I may have caught him rolling his eyes.
We listen to a nice lady give us her spiel about how great this business was and how crazy we would be not to join. (The membership price was not discussed at this point.)
Ok, so sounds great, where can I pick up my gas card?
We are sent back to Mr. Friendly where he asks us a few more questions and then lowers the boom on the price. El Hubbo and I point out the flaws in their logic for how the club would solve all of our future spending issues. Our little sales rep guy turned from Mr.Friendly to demonic ogre in a flash. Little did he know that El Hubbo and I are rarely individually intimidated, and together we are not a force to be trifled with. We firmly explain that we would be happy to take possession of our gas card, which turned out to be a gas certificate with a bunch of paperwork required. Ha! Fooled them! I work for a state institution - PAPERWORK IS MY LIFE! We got to pick out our "big" prize, which we selected for some hotel stays. Then we were handed a certificate to redeem for some restaurant gift cards, again with tons of paperwork involved. Since we were bad little prospects and didn't buy the membership, we didn't get to try for the $25,000. Pooh.
So, we loaded back up and headed back north, none the poorer, but with a gas card...correction...certificate, in hand. Road trippin' for free stuff with El Hubbo is not a bad way to spend a day!
Ok, great! I love free stuff! But, I know there is always a catch. I race home to learn more about my prize, get the number to call from the answering machine and make the call. Sure enough! I DID win! I was guaranteed a $100 gift card and the pick of another prize such as two plane tickets or a cruise for two!
All I had to do......(here's the good part)......was drive to Midland, be there 15 minutes early to my appointed time, and I could get my prizes! AND, if I stuck around and completed a survey, then I could have a chance to win $25,000 (or $25,000 shopping spree at the warehouse).
"Wait, warehouse? What kind of scam is this?" I thought briefly. The very nice lady on the phone assured me it was on the up-and-up and was with a reputable business. I did actually recognize the business name, so I decided that the gas card and the tickets would be justification enough to head south on Saturday. 'No kids, no pets, no guests" she further informed me. Such a statement intrigued me.
Saturday comes and with it the babysitter for the kiddos. El Hubbo and I load up and head down the road. Just as we passed the halfway point, El Hubbo asks, "So, I've heard that various law enforcement agencies will use a scenario like this to round up criminals they are after.....what have you done?"
I look at him with horror, then quickly do some thinking, then reply, "I think the statute of limitations has passed on everything...." This did not seem to reassure him.
We arrive an hour early, so we decide to scope out the town. We visited a farmer's market, drove by a former president's childhood home, and meandered about until time to check in for our gas card.
The gentleman at the counter welcomed us into the office, but seemed a little put off when the first words out of my mouth were, "We're here 15 minutes early, where is my gas card?" He frowned and informed me we would get it at the end of the open house. I had not been informed that we were going to an Open House and expressed as much to my new friend. He just frowned and pointed me over to a chair. Finally we are greeted by another gentleman, Mr. Friendly, who would take our survey. OK, good, time to get the ball rolling. He asks a few questions and then informs us we have to listen to a presentation. "Do we get our gas card then?" I ask. (I was at this point obsessing about my gas card.) I think I may have caught him rolling his eyes.
We listen to a nice lady give us her spiel about how great this business was and how crazy we would be not to join. (The membership price was not discussed at this point.)
Ok, so sounds great, where can I pick up my gas card?
We are sent back to Mr. Friendly where he asks us a few more questions and then lowers the boom on the price. El Hubbo and I point out the flaws in their logic for how the club would solve all of our future spending issues. Our little sales rep guy turned from Mr.Friendly to demonic ogre in a flash. Little did he know that El Hubbo and I are rarely individually intimidated, and together we are not a force to be trifled with. We firmly explain that we would be happy to take possession of our gas card, which turned out to be a gas certificate with a bunch of paperwork required. Ha! Fooled them! I work for a state institution - PAPERWORK IS MY LIFE! We got to pick out our "big" prize, which we selected for some hotel stays. Then we were handed a certificate to redeem for some restaurant gift cards, again with tons of paperwork involved. Since we were bad little prospects and didn't buy the membership, we didn't get to try for the $25,000. Pooh.
So, we loaded back up and headed back north, none the poorer, but with a gas card...correction...certificate, in hand. Road trippin' for free stuff with El Hubbo is not a bad way to spend a day!
Comments
Post a Comment