My latest book, “The Adventurers Of A Free Lunch Junkie” has touched a responsive chord among those seeking ways to stretch their budgets as it described how I had 50 lunches and dinners “on the house” at restaurants such as Ruth’s Chris, Morton’s etc.
While it might be stretching it a bit to call the book a runaway bestseller, I have sold more copies on Amazon than I have given away. Therefore, I decided to add a breakfast edition. Would you like to know how to start off the morning with a smile on your face, a full stomach, and not have to open your wallet? I can hear the resounding, “Yeahs” all the way to Boca Raton.
I must admit I stumbled on my first breakfast ‘freebie’, but that doesn’t diminish its value. The brakes on my Toyota Matrix (2006 model with 22,000 miles) started to act up so I drove to my Toyota dealer. The showroom and service department are gleaming edifices and you can tell they overcharge on everything in order to be able to shell out so many bucks on this automotive palace.
I left my car with Tim, a pleasant service attendant, and told him my car’s problem. He replied that it would be an hour before they would have my car diagnosed. I didn’t mind the wait because I remembered that they serve free bagels, cream cheese and coffee to the waiting disabled-car owners. I don’t know how many bagels I ate but I was trying to get ahead of the game before the bill came.
An hour later Tim reported that the brakes were OK but would need replacement very soon and that it might be best to get it done now. The mechanics had taken all the wheels off and checked everything. Since I don’t plan to use the car very much I told him that I’d wait awhile. He said, “Fine” and that my car would be ready in 20 minutes, which gave me just enough time to get another bagel and coffee.
I felt like the man on death row who ate a hearty meal as he awaited the executioner, as I tried to guess how much I’d be on the hook for. At the Cashier’s Desk the young woman printed out a sheet for me to sign. The total bill came to zero. Yes, there wasn’t any charge for all that work. You might wonder whether I felt guilty about all the food I had eaten. Well, in this business there isn’t any room for guilt.
So now whenever you feel like a free breakfast take your car in to your nearest Toyota dealer and make up a story about something being wrong with your car.
Bon appétit.
i like free breakfast
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