Yesterday, I wrote about how Denny’s offered a free Grand Slam breakfast to anybody who came in on Tuesday, February 4.
Today I learned that not only did the promotion create a flood of business… it also generated hundreds of phone calls.
W…

Good for nutri-system’s business. LOL

Seriously, they say free doesn’t work, but I’ve seen it proved time and time again that it does.

The email spam rules are what ruins it for me. If I see FR*EE or some other variation in the title, I don’t look. I just delete the message without opening it. It comes across as a gimmick, and I’m too busy to play with those.

For me to open it, it will have to be someone I know well – and then I’d tell them what I thought about it.

@Daniel – Good ideas don’t necessarily lead to business results. I like to know the results before I judge a commercial good or bad.

@Ron – No Denny’s near me, so I didn’t have a clue until I saw this news article.

@Perry – I’m like you. I’d rather go to a paid meal or event just to avoid the crowd. If I hear of an offer like that, I make a mental note to steer clear.

@Martin – You’re probably right about Nutrasystem having a lock-in for Week #2. I’ve never gone through their ordering process.

@John – I almost mentioned that in this post, so I’m glad you brought it up.

@Teresa – The takeaway is that making a free offer can work, so long as you have a way to make your money back in future sales.

@Bruce – Amazing! They could run a great headline from that. HUNDREDS FLOCK TO DENNY’S. FIRE MARSHALL CRASHES PARTY & SAYS, “NO MORE!”

@Tony – Well, yes. There’s always that. ;-)

SURPRISE: They were not permitting any more people inside as FIRE MARSHALL HAD BEEN CALLED!!! Dennys was full to capacity, parking lot full, with people and cars in line, and street into the lot was also backed up.!!

All for 2 runny eggs, some burnt bacon and a couple flapjacks. They were issuing rain checks which I got.

Amazing what advertising the RIGHT OFFER can do :-)

He kicks off the deli opening by going around and leaving coupons for free lunch sandwiches at offices in the near by area. This really jumps start the business. The amount he ’spends’ giving away sandwiches is less than a years worth of advertising and far more effective. With each free sandwich he hands additional discount coupons. After the deli get going he sells it and starts another.

Kennedy’s comment is that he thinks that is terribly under used technique.

John
http://www.DirectMarketResults.com

As for the free NutraSystem – they probably have a lock-in for the following week’s payments with a ‘Don’t like it, don’t continue’ guarantee or the like. So it’s not really free.

Bit like BOGOF as you suggested which isn’t really free – but it outsells 50% off, half price and 2-for-the-price-of-1.

When my wife went by on the way to work at 9AM it was still out the front door, down the walk, and into the Denny’s portion of the parking lot. Still maybe 10 yards out the front door.

We only eat at Denny’s when my wife wants her car washed (car wash is right next to Denny’s).

I’d say free does work. As soon as I saw the ad, I made a conscious decision to avoid Denny’s on Tuesday. :)

I don’t think the guy that hit his boss where it counts with the snow globe is getting a promotion anytime soon. They did get free Doritos in that office though.

So free does work. In one case it’s called stealing and vandalism though. :)

I show up for work this morning at 6:30 and can’t find a parking space; I was bewildered. Went out for lunch and there were people lined up into the street. There must have been over 100 people in line.

Now I know why.