Say It Ain't So, Joe
| posted by Fast Company staffOn summer mornings, I often stop by Au Bon Pain on my way to work to get an iced coffee. At $1.40 for 20 ounces, it's a pretty good deal. Even better, Au Bon Pain (French for "cheaper coffee than Starbucks") also has one of those punch card deals where every sixth drink was free.
So, imagine my shock this week when, going to get a new drink card, I discovered they'd gone and upped the ante. No longer would that jolt of free caffeine be hitting my lips after paying for five; Now I've got to buy seven before reaping the fruits of my patronage. Outrageous, I tell you! Au Bon Pain, what's up with that?
Still, it is nice that they still offer the free-drink program, a rarity these days. Subway stopped its own decades-old free-sandwich promotion two months ago after it found people had been making counterfeit stamps.
How many companies still do this sort of promotion? What's your favorite?
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Recent Comments | 11 Total
August 11, 2005 at 5:22pm
TrishI think Village Inn still has a free pie card. After you buy 6, you get one free.
August 11, 2005 at 5:52pm
CathiMy favorite is Johnny Carino's they give you a free lunch after purchasing five.
August 11, 2005 at 8:18pm
AjjuMoe's does it
August 12, 2005 at 12:57am
SoftwareChroniclesI love Aubon Pain! It's such a cute little cafe. The one I go to has an international staff which adds to the chicness of it. I love their coffee also. They also put their left over pastries at half price in the afternoon.
August 12, 2005 at 3:09am
Greggstarbucks nemisis The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Company has a card, flimbsy as it may be. After acquiring 12 joe stamps to land one free, I always end up sacficing my card to the washing machine gods, leaving behind a lifeless clump.. Not near the reward of even the 7 punch AP, but a las in AZ you take the Joe as it comes.
August 12, 2005 at 9:20am
BenActually, Subway's been testing in some areas (I got one on a business trip in Idaho) a mag-stripe card that stores points which are then redeemable for free subs.
The redemption rate ends up being about the same as the old Sub Club stamps.
August 12, 2005 at 12:43pm
EspenAu bon pain - French for "the good pain"...
August 12, 2005 at 1:51pm
mingFat Burger used to have a good deal. Buy 8 burgers and the 9th was free. Now, they have stopped it, saying another promotion would be taking its place. But sadly, nothing is being done...
August 12, 2005 at 4:37pm
Jim DurbinQdoba's Qcard is pretty sweet - if only because we eat there twice a week.
I can never tell if we're actually getting our value - but we're going to eat there anyway.
August 12, 2005 at 10:28pm
PaulNoodles & Co. has, I think 9 noodle dishes then get one free.
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