Last I visited my favorite liquor store in my state' biggest city for non-alcoholic beers from brands I can't buy in my small town, two of the packages I bought were influenced by the promotional items available to customers who bought them. So, for trouble of nabbing a six-pack of a hazy India pale ale and four-pack of a chocolate cherry stout, I got, respectively, a pint glass and adjustable trucker cap. Do you ever make purchases for necessities, or creature comforts such as booze-free beer, based on the free item(s) you may get with your transaction?

Last I met with my brother-in-law in my town for breakfast, I told him of my recent beverage-shopping and bit of a haul of things other than drinks. He told me of how he has gone even further to obtain gratis goodies from brands he patronizes. He has written at least one company, a manufacturer whose power tools he likes, in order to ask for promotional merchandise for him to wear and otherwise use in order to spread the brand's name. And it worked for him! I'm now inspired to try the same tactic for obtaining freebies. Have you ever done anything similar to what my b-i-l has done?

Back to my last beer expedition (beerpedition?!), the other pack I got was of a Belgian brand I'd never seen prior to that day. Part of the appeal of giving it a go was that there was a $5 rebate on it...which was only, apparently, available by visiting a smartphone app, and I don't currently use that technology. When I was checking out my purchases though, the clerk who took my money also told me of another hat, one looking like the one worn by the brewery's elf mascot, I could've had were I to have bought the same beer around this past Christmas (the clerk checked for me, and, alas, they were out of those caps) . Upon getting home, I wrote the brewery's website to request both a rebate and hat. Would you have done likewise?

Drinking vessels and caps seem to be pretty common giveaways coming from beverage companies. Which of the following items would you like made available from companies from whom you buy goods and services (my list is partially inspired by items I and other people I know have recieved or bought from bands and record companies; take that intro consderation if you like)?

I'm supposing companies can write off the cost of making an distributing prmotional items of the like 'm askig about, but might the effort and money spent on all those fu bonuses be better direxctedby a company in making their products better, or mainitaining the quality of the items they make?