There is an old expression regarding winning sweepstakes: Patience, Persistence and Postage. This post is about persistence.
About a month ago, I was having a quick bite with one of my best friends, Stephanie Frisch, in a local pub restaurant and on our way out I scanned the bar for any beer sponsored promotions. I spotted one, went over to waitress and asked for a scratch card. She stated we had to buy a beer. I said we didn’t. I asked to see a card so I could read the rules. She very reluctantly got me one. The first three words on the back were: No Purchase Necessary. We made her get a second card.
We both scratched. Mine said TRY AGAIN. Hers said WINNER. We asked for the prize. The waitress said you have to contact the beer company. We reread the rules and pointed out it said the bar would have the prizes. Could she please get the manager? Off she went. The manager finally appeared, realized what we wanted and disappeared again. Again, he finally reappeared, t-shirt in hand for Stephanie.
The entire time the waitress seemed really annoyed we were bothering her with this nonsense. I am not sure why as the restaurant was empty at that hour so I knew we were not keeping her away from tips.
The moral of the story is; be persistent. Keep going when others will stop and the prize will most definitely be yours.
NOTE: If the background looks very un-pub like, it’a because I took this picture in Starbucks when we met our friend Lisa for coffee afterwards.
Tags: persistance, winning
What a great lesson to be learned! Honestly, I probably would have taken the waitress’s word for it, but this post made me realize I need to look deeper into things before accepting what other people say
Since most employees are exempt from entering their companies contests, they will most likely KNOW NOTHING about it. I‘ve had many run ins with employees who try to NOT give me prizes until I contact head office or show them the legal rules of the contest.
As well, with big chains stores — when head office holds a contest chances are many of the stores will know nothing about it — or not have the entry forms or scratch cards etc. Many times I have had to chase down PINS or cards that my local store does not know anything about. Can relate to the attitude from their employees — I had one employee at our local NAPA auto store tell me that she will make sure I do not win because I bugged her too much for the cards to enter last years stock car trip contest.
I have done the same thing. Now the I work at an ad agency I see the complexity of how those promotions are run. I am hoping being on the inside I can have some influence and see an improvement in the flow of information from the top down. If you get another rude employee, get their name and report them to the VP of Marketing at the sponsor’s head office. These problems won’t get repaired unless we help the process.