Just Ask For It

Just Trying LJ Talk

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 00:16:09 GMT

Message me if you want :P

Nintendo Part 4 - Rejected

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 19:28:31 GMT

I got a letter back from Gail over at Nintendo North America.
Also sorry for the delay I've been really cracking at my senior design project and I should be going beta this next week. So I could use a few "testers" once I get some server space.

and on to the email:

------------------------------------
Dear Greg

The concept is great, but sorry, we can't participate.

Best of luck to you,

Gail Tilden
Nintendo of America
------------------------------------

Wow... Wiijected. I mean I'm sure they are busy but the automated response had more feeling than this. I'm not in the mood to quit so I might return to them in the next few weeks. I should *really* have a new request out this coming week. I'm thinking based on the suggestions of many that I should hit up some record labels, or even bands themselves. So keep an eye out for that.

On a personal note thanks:
speedglow
kurokaen
thelowedge
electrickitten
sonofdarold
luckeyisis
rockitqeen
foole
For adding me back!

Also if any readers are located in Cincinnati, I think I recognized a few of you at Christies Karaoke on thursday.

-Later

Nintendo Part 3 - A New Request

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 16:19:07 GMT

Sorry for the delay, I've been knee deep in my senior design project, but today I decided to take a break and try Nintendo again.

So searching around the internet I came up with some valid email addresses for real people at Nintendo North America. If you are reading this and you are a NOA employee sorry for spamming you. :)

Subject: A Nintendo Fan With A Request
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To whom it may concern:

Hello, my name is Greg and I run a blog on livejournal.com ( http://justaskforit.livejournal.com ) where I ask companies to part ways with some of their products. I know the purpose of the blog might seem trite to some, but I sincerely believe that it is a worthwhile endeavor. Granted I am just starting but already two companies (InBev, USA & Russell Stover's Candies) have participated. I was hoping to add Nintendo to the list as I am a life long fan of Nintendo products. If you have any questions or concerns, please address them, or check out the blog at the address above.

I picked up my Wii during the second holiday release and have quickly become addicted to it. Twilight Princess deserves every award it has received and more. This is the first game I've felt completely immersed in. It has set the bar incredibly high for action role playing games and in some ways all games on all systems. I have no doubt that Nintendo will continue to release blockbusters of this caliber for the life of the system.

The Wii I believe is the first system that makes it "all right" to play video games. Case in point: My grandmother enjoyed this system and had no trouble using it, granted it was the party games on Super Monkey Ball, but this is from a woman that has trouble using a cell phone. It truly is an entertainment system and not a video game console, and for that reason alone the Wii deserves praise.

I have had some trouble with the system. Not in game play and operation but in finding accessories for the console. Particularly I've had trouble finding a "classic" controller. All the vendors in my area have been sold out of the product since the last release wave, and I can't wait to download some of the classics of my childhood. I was wondering if you could send me a classic controller? If not, I understand and appreciate you taking the time to read this.

Again thanks for your time.

Sincerely,
Greg @ Just Ask For It

Russell Stover - Update

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:07:53 GMT

I got this email from Cari @ Stover's today:

Hi Greg-

I'm glad you and your friend enjoyed the chocolates. It's always fun to hear what people think, even if they don't like everything. We've got some even crazier flavors if you can believe it. In any case, all are on sale now via the web. I'm putting up the New Products link this weekend and you'll be able to find everything we've rolled out (the Soho is available on the Whitman's side of things). I think the prices are really affordable, too.

Good luck with the blog-
Cari

Click Here for the product page!

So internet sales will start this weekend for everyone that wants to pick some up.

Later -

Russell Stover - The Chocolate Is Here

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:40:55 GMT

The Russell Stover package came by UPS yesterday.

The reminder tag told me to expect redelivery anywhere from 2:00 to 5:00, fortunately UPS was there at 2:00 sharp. This is the package they had for me.
(note: pictures link to their larger version over on flickr)

Inside were these two lovely boxes:

The first is a pink Elvis embossed tin filled with a large selection of Russell Stover chocolates. The second is a red faux-alligator skinned box filled with 5 delectible candies. This smaller red box is the new Whitman's candy line Soho.

The Soho chocolates are what Cari refered to as the candies for an "adventurous" palate. I will let the candies flavors speak for themselves:

- Pear praline
- Sea salt caramel
- Madagascar vanilla brulee
- Pistachio nougat
- Cacao truffle
- Raspberry ganache

I fully expected going into this that I would not like at least a few of these candies. My live in lady friend invalidity and I found all of the candies to be superbly delicious. My favorites were the pear praline and the pistachio nougat. Simply put, these candies have an unexpected flavor. I have got so used to the coconut/caramel/creme fillings of normal candies that it was a shock to find some of the flavor combinations twirling around in my mouth. These are not your grandmothers chocolates. The only criticism I have is the packaging. The red alligator box reminds me too much of a Liz Claiborne perfume box. I was hoping for something a little sleeker. The criticism is weak though because once you taste the candies you wouldn't care if it came wrapped in newspaper.

From what I hear on the internets the Whitman's Soho chocolates and a few other new Russell Stover chocolates will hit the market this spring. I would strongly suggest picking some up.

I was very pleased with the Russell Stover package and invalidity and I are still working on the Elvis tin.

Thanks again Cari and the Russell Stover team!

Check back soon for the Stella glasses.

Russell Stover - Missed Package

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:34:16 GMT

So looks like I missed my package from Russell Stover's yesterday. I will be chained to my abode from 2:00 - 5:00 EST today to see what I got. More pictures and an update later!

Nintendo Part 2 - Denied

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:38:53 GMT

Message(#6851-000559-3292\5593292)

Hello and thank you for contacting Nintendo,

Just to let you know, we can't send a Wii Classic Controller to you at no charge, but you may be glad to hear that one can be purchased from the online store on our web site at http://store.nintendo.com or directly from our Consumer Service Representatives at (800) 255-3700. Our CSRs can be reached between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Sunday.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please let us know!!

Sincerely,

Nintendo of America Inc.
M. Michel Grimaldi

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think it's pretty obvious that I didn't talk to the right people. I knew I shouldn't have used a webform. Thinking about it rationally the people that respond to these emails are more than likely minimum wage* screen readers in the pacific northwest, they wouldn't have the authority to send me what I want. I'm not giving up yet, I'll have to dig for some real email addresses.

I should have a request out to a different company today. And the Stella stuff and the Russell Stover Candies should be here this week.

Later-

*theres nothing wrong with making minimum wage, it's only that these people don't have the authority to give stuff away.

Some of you might have questions:

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 17:46:53 GMT

For everyone that is wondering why I added you as a friend -

Hello, my name is Greg and I live in Cincinnati, OH. This blog chronicles an experiment of sorts to see how much you can get from companies by simply asking. This post adds a little more detail.

If you don't want to read more, or aren't interested in reading this, leave a comment and I'll remove you from my friends list. I don't know if I have committed some serious livejournal faux pas but if I have bothered you I am sorry and I'll correct it as soon as possible.

I'd like to make a few things clear.

     ~ I won't be offended if you don't add me back.
     ~ I'm not doing this out of greed. It's a social experiment.
     ~ Also, I don't see anything wrong with friending strangers
      how else do you meet people.

With that said -

      To the person that left the Nick Zedd comment and deleted it. I still don't understand the reference, and I tried to leave you a comment but it said I was banned from your journal. So, yeah I guess I'll take that hike you suggested but I still don't know what to do. Do you want me to take you off my f-list? I thought the comment was funny, although I'm sure it would have been way more funny if I didn't have to wiki Nick Zedd. So, I guess I'm sorry we couldn't be friends.

And on that note I'd like to applogize in advance to anyone I have offended, or ticked off, or rubbed the wrong way, or et cetera.

To the rest of you Thanks! I appreciate your support.

Oh PS -
This is me

You can check out the Flicker here.

Russell Stover Part 2 - The Goods

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 22:13:15 GMT

The lovely men and women of Russell Stover's have responded to my request. Specifically Cari an E-Commerce manager for Russell Stover's Candies. Again I am amazed by the quickness of their response. When I started this I never thought I'd get responses back so quick, I envisioned waiting and waiting and resending requests ad infinitum. You know companies are on the right track when they take the time to write a personal response back to the "little guy".

The EMAIL:
--------------------------------------------------
From: Cari
Subject: A Request From a Fan of Your Candies

Hi Greg-

First, I appreciate your blogging efforts. I saw you just started, so I can only imagine what it will look like in a year or two. In any case, I have sent you a couple of our products. One is a new product by Whitman's (which we own) and it's an effort to modernize the brand. It includes chocolates for an "adventurous" palate. I'll be curious what you have to say about them. I believe you're also getting an Elvis Valentine tin just because I think they are cool.

Good luck-
Cari
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks again Cari this is above and beyond what I expected. Readers- Remember Russell Stover's next Valentine's Day. And Cari? Maybe you can get Russell Stover's to make a Singles Awareness Day chocolate box for those among us who aren't paired up.

Pictures will be posted as soon as the chocolates arrive.

Nintendo Part 1

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 18:38:12 GMT

So, if anyone has a Wii, you know that finding accessories for it is close to impossible. I figured I might see if Nintendo could fix that for me.

Trying to find an email to send my request to turned out to be a pretty difficult task. After getting a few emails bounced back to me I figured my only course of action was to use the Customer Service: Contact Us form on the Nintendo website. As a rule I don't really like using these things because I prefer making a personal connection with the person(s) I am making a request from. Alas, it wasn't in the cards today.

The Email:
----------------------------------------------------------
To: Nintendo
Subject: To whom it may concern

To whom it may concern:

Hello, my name is Greg and I run a blog on livejournal.com ( justaskforit.livejournal.com ) where I ask companies to send me some of their products for free.

I picked up my Wii during the second holiday release and have quickly become addicted to it. Twilight Princess should easily be voted game of the year. The innovative user control on the Wii had me sold at first glance and it goes without saying that the Wii is truly the only next generation console on the market.

I have had some trouble with the system. Not so much in gameplay and operations but in finding accessories for the console. Particularly I've had trouble finding a "classic" controller. All the vendors in my area have been sold out of the product since the last release wave.

Therefore I was wondering if the fine folks of Nintendo could send me a classic controller?

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,
Greg @ Just Ask For It
http://justaskforit.livejournal.com/

----------------------------------------------------------

The Automated Response -

THANK YOU!

Thank you for your email. Your message has been forwarded to a Nintendo of America
Customer Service Representative. Due to the unprecedented popularity of the Wii, we're
currently experiencing extremely high email volumes and it may take upwards of 4 or 5
days before we are able to respond. We appreciate your patience and understanding, and
will respond to your email as soon as possible.

If your email account has a restriction for SPAM, please update your account
to accept email from nintendo@noa.nintendo.com.
----------------------------------------------------------

Well it doesn't look like I'll get as quick of a turn around as I did with Stella but heres to hoping!

Thanks For Adding Me -

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 18:06:13 GMT

alannalp, invalidity, littlealbert, nomadmatan, perigune, scarlett_wfu, shutuptaylor

Edit: 1:30pm EST (Thanks Too!)
crazybob60fortysevenbtegshmivejournal

Edit: 1:50pm EST (Thanks Again!)
krss

Thanks to you all also!
woodstockmajere
scarletswidow

Shout outs to -
rakshi
pawsie
robotdeer
fontosaurus
robinhood
aubkabob

Questions

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 07:06:56 GMT

On the heels of the Stella success I was wondering what my next request should be?

Post your thoughts.

Stella Artois Part 2 - Response

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 06:51:12 GMT

" I would sooner savor but a sip of perfection than drink from the cup of mediocrity"

Got an email back today from the fine folks of InBev USA.

From: Doug
Subject: A Request From a Loyal Customer
---------------------------------------------------------
Greg,
Thank you for sharing our passion for Stella Artois and the Chalice glass. I would like nothing better than to allow you to enjoy your favorite beer in the appropriate glass. As we say at InBev:
" I would sooner savor but a sip of perfection than drink from the cup of mediocrity"

I will ask Linda, my Assistant to have 6 Stella Artois chalice glasses sent to your home.

Cheers
---------------------------------------------------------

I still can't believe I got a response back so quickly, truly the fine folks at InBev USA care about their customers. I suggest you all pickup and enjoy some Stella Artois or Becks because I know I will. Pictures of the chalice glasses will be posted as soon as the package arrives, then we will all share a toast.

Later-

Russell Stover Part 1 (A Valentines Day Request)

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:00:41 GMT

Well, I haven't heard anything back from Stella Artois, but my hopes are still high. As I was thinking about Valentines Day it crossed my mind that in the spirit of love and all I should ask Russell Stover if they could part ways with a little bit of chocolate.

Whenever I think about V-Day I think of candy. My mother used to get my sister and I small 10 piece heart shaped boxes of Russell Stover candies each year. As I grew up and started giving the candy I always stuck to the same brand. Somehow Stover candies, more than candlelit dinners and Hallmark cards, have come to symbolize this holiday* for me.

Russell Stover Candies Inc. is one of the largest manufacturers of boxed chocolates in the US. They employ over 4000 people across the nation and have sales upwards of $300 million a year. Which I'm sure is several hundred thousand boxes of candy.

Russell William Stover and his wife Clara started the company that would bear their name in 1923. The company started when in 1923 Russell and Clara Stover started making candy in the kitchen of their home in Colorado. They began experimenting with new recipes and they came up with several tasty confections. Soon they started selling the candies under the name "Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candies." (I've always wanted a Bungalow.)

Looking through their site you could only contact customer service through a form submission. I don't have anything particularly against mail forms but I'd like to know who I'm sending my message to. (It feels more personal.) So a quick search of the internet reveals a few marketing email addresses and a Russell Stover Candies Outlet email address these should do fine.

The Email
-------------------------------------------------
To: Russel Stover
Subject: A Request From a Fan of Your Candies

To whom it may concern:

That always seems like a dreadful way to start a letter. My name is Greg and I am a senior at the University of Cincinnati trying to complete my computer science degree. I've started a blog on livejournal.com (http://justaskforit.livejournal.com) where I ask companies to send me some of their products. The premise may seem trite but I guarantee it is not a trivial matter. I plan on giving each company a spot light and I also share with my readers the history and quality of said companies products. As it is Russell Stover is only the second company I have attempted to contact in order to receive free products, so I'm hoping you can help me out a bit. Please stop by my blog at http://justaskforit.livejournal.com/ and take a look around. (You'll see I've been a fan for a long time.)

So I guess I should get around to the "asking" part. Could you please send me a sample of Russell Stover's candy?

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Greg Asher
"Just Ask For It" - justaskforit.livejournal.com
justaskblog@gmail.com

NOTES:
--------------------------------------------------
*Holiday - Yeah so I'm not sure if Valentine's Day should be considered a holiday.
Check it out on wikipedia.

As some of you may know...

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 08:46:52 GMT

I can't spell and my grammar* is worse than a Jim Belushi sitcom.

Edit:
------------------
*Thanks Super Editor invalidity

Stella Artois Part 1

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 08:37:11 GMT

So I was sitting here thinking about what my first request should be. Then I got to thinking, "I'm a little thirsty.", and what finer beverage is there to quench your thirst than the tasty Stella Artois? I mean any beer served in a chalice is a beer born for me. Although I'm sad that most bars here in cincinnati don't make a fuss about the Pouring Ritual and rarely serve this lordly drink in its proper glass.

From the Stella Artois website: Stella Artois is one of the worlds best selling beers and is enjoyed in more than 80 countries.

There has never been a truer statement uttered in Flash Site design form.

The CONTACT:
InBev USA
101 Merritt 7
P.O. Box 5075
06856-5075 Norwalk, Connecticut
Tel +1 203 750 66 00
Fax +1 203 750 66 99 / Customer Service : +1-800-268-BEER

Finding who to send my plea for free beer or stuff to on the main Stella site was a bit daunting. Finally I discovered that the US distributer of Stella Artois is InBev USA. InBev was formed by a merger between Labatt USA and Beck's North America. This company is building into a power house of fantastic beers. (Bass, Becks, Stella, Labatt Blue, and Labatt Blue Light) They have more than 200 brands and is the world's largest brewer by volume. A quick look at their management chart gives me a few names to send my plea to, The first Patricio Miguel - Zone President of North America, Steve Cahillane - Chief Marketing Officer, and Jo Van Biesbroeck - Chief Sales Officer.

Further explorations of the InBev website reveals a possible snag in my plan:
InBev Guidelines for Giving. Now I know this is probably monetary contributions I hope they don't mean beer vouchers or swag.

At first the only email I could find was guest@labatt.com, but with further inspection I found that the InBev email had a simple firstname.lastname@domain structure. Very Nice.

TO: Addresses Omitted
SUBJECT: A request from a loyal customer
FROM: justaskblog@gmail.com
To the fine people of InBev USA:

My name is Greg and I run the Just Ask For It blog on livejournal.com ( http://justaskforit.livejournal.com/ ). My mission is to see how much stuff I can get from all of my favorite companies. All my correspondence and materials I get from the companies I submit to are featured in the blog.

Stella Artois and InBev USA is the first company I've tried asking for things from. Stella Artois is hands down a finely crafted and wonderfully tasty beer which I purchase when I can afford it. The only let down I have is that the local pubs here in Cincinnati, OH usually don't serve the beer in its proper chalice or perform the pouring ritual. Granted some may say that these things are trival and do not take away from the quality of the beer, and generally I would agree, but every once and awhile I enjoy a little bit of pomp and circumstance to accompany such a fine beer.

My request is simple and I ask it humbly. Could I possibly have a Stella Artois chalice or even better Stella itself? :) I know it might be a terribly bold move to send out a mass mail to InBev asking for something for nothing but I beg of you to take a moment and revel in the absurdity of it. I know the chalice or beer may be out of the question and I will gratefully accept anything you can offer, and understand if you are unable to send anything. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Greg @ Just Ask For It
http://justaskforit.livejournal.com/

Check back soon for their (fingers crossed) reply!

In the begining.

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 06:53:55 GMT

Just Ask For It was created on a snowy night in February 2007. My name is Greg and I plan on seeing how much stuff I can get from companies for FREE. What is that you say? Another project site doomed to inevitable obscurity and failure? Well that may be so but I'll promise to keep the failure part light and fun.

More Bio Fun! I'm 24, and a student at the University of Cincinnati studying Computer Science. A few years back I had an unsuccessful stint as an adult, so yeah, now I blog and do !homework*. I plan on graduating in June. Hopefully I can get a cap and gown for free.

There are some conflicts. For example, I have an insatiable entrepreneurial spirit combined with as much direction as a blind albatross at sea. These two traits combine to form some amazingly genius ideas. Such as: Pankakes!, the make your own pancakes Benihana style diner; and don't forget the amazing AmishTickler.Net (Not a real site) "the worlds only"** non-pornographic tickle fetish site. Granted these are some of the more esoteric ideas. I have many other great ideas not so off center, such as a federated CAPTCHA service, and my current senior design project FauxTrader. I like to think that I'm the colicy baby of momma Absurdity and papa "Out of the Box Thinking".

PS-I hate Franklin Planners but that guy can sure write a great book.

Question and Answers?

        Q.Are there any rules?
        A. Why yes there are, in fact you can find them at the end of the Question and Answer section.

        Q.Who do you plan on asking?
        A. Anyone and Everyone. I think I'll start with some companies I'd like to get stuff from, then move on to the Fortune 500 list and start knocking away.

        Q.What are you going to do with the stuff?
        A.Umm.. Yeah I'm going to use it. I mean I wish I could say I was going to sell it and give it to the poor, but I'm not. Don't get me wrong, charity is great. Everyone should be charitable and friendly and volunteer. In fact if I do get somethings I can't use or don't want I will give them to my friends/family/needy causes. I promise.

RULES:

1. I cannot pay for anything, i.e. no shipping and handling or membership costs are allowed.

2. I cannot complete "tasks" to receive items, such as surveys and questionaires.

3. I cannot lie about my situation to get the goods. Such as "Hey there was a pinkie toe in my delicious plate of Skyline Chilli; GIVE ME SOMETHING!"

Notes -
----------------------------
* Yeah so note for the inner nerd !homework would be not homework... but some of you knew that.
** This a completely facetious claim. I have not been to every tickle fetish site to see if they are all pornographic nor would I want to because it's kind of scary.