On a warm day, doesn’t an ice cream cone just hit the spot sometimes? A nice cold, flavorful treat can do wonders to break the heat.
Well, we had experience with something close to ice cream – gelato – which did a great job in cooling us down from the heat on a warm day a few years back. Nothing remarkable about that, right? Well, that’s certainly true, but the fact that we did not spend even a penny for multiple flavors of gelato made it even sweeter! This 15th edition of Squirreling Gone Wild explores how we got the gelato for free, and the merits of this approach.
First off, I have to say that gelato can be pretty darned tasty. I had never had any of it until I was fortunate enough to visit Italy some years back. After getting a taste of it in one Italian gelateria, I was hooked. It got to the point where I was having a scoop twice a day. One day, I had a double scoop in both the afternoon and evening.
Anyway, I don’t get gelato like this on a daily basis, here at home:) Mostly fond memories from a trip abroad. That said, a few years back – while vacationing within the U.S. – we came across a place that had gelato for sale. It was one of those types of days when you want a cold drink or an ice cream cone to break up the day, so this place was a welcome find.
The place was more like a free standing kiosk, shaped like a rectangle. Picture gelato being sold on each side of the rectangle, in the cold refrigerated displays, with a mini “wall” dividing the two sides of the kiosk. This divisor contained supplies, such as cones, cups, and other items. Essentially, if you were a customer or employee on one side, you couldn’t see what was going on over on the other side.
As we approached the mini-gelateria, we went off to the left side of it, and peered into the display. Lots of good flavors were there, and we couldn’t decide what to get. So, we asked for a sample “taste” of a flavor. Then another. Then, yet another.
At that point, you almost feel obligated to get something. At least I would. One sample is ok, but three means you’re serious:)
So, what did we do? We decided to go to the other side, just to see if there were any new flavors. There weren’t, as it was basically the same selection as on the other side. There was a different person working on the other side, however.
While on the other side, we decided to try out one more flavor that we saw initially, but didn’t try. That’s four total samples at this point. You just have to get something now, don’t you think?
Then, we looked up at the price: $6 for a scoop.
Yes, it was $6 for one scoop. $12 for two. Just for this glorified ice cream. Sure, the samples were good, but $12 for two scoops? Are you kidding?
At that point, I thought “Hmmm….you know, I have had enough of the gelato already. Why pay so much when the taste buds were satisfied by the samples, and I’m cooled down now. Besides, the guy here on this side only gave us one sample, so we won’t get that look that we would after walking from four samples….let’s just walk away?”
That’s what we did: we walked away. The net result: $12 in tasty (albeit overpriced treats), for ZERO! Not bad.
Now, I have to say that it wasn’t my intention up front to get free gelato and then to walk away without buying. The intentions were good, and totally legitimate. It’s just that the price was so shocking, that we walked away. That’s how I can rationalize it – I never would have paid that kind of money for the dessert if I had known the price.
While I didn’t do this intentionally, many folks do this with no problem. Anyone who has been in a Costco has seen people swarm to the free samples that are given away. They go from station to station, and eventually try to come back for more if they like what they sampled. There are plenty of other places where samples are offered – and some people take them without intending to even consider a purchase.
What do you think? Do you ever go for multiple samples with the idea that you can get a mini-meal for free? If yes, where do you draw the line?
When I was a kid, you could not keep me away from the free samples. Now, I actively avoid them since I already have a list and don’t want to be enticed to buy something not on it, lol.
We get a ton of free tiny samples from our local icecream shop, but then we buy a half gallon for $15 or two pints for $9, so they never mind at all. 🙂
Crystal – We actually do the same, sort of. The local place offers a variety of really good stuff, and I like to sample on or two things first. Then, I always get a scoop. If I got a gallon and brought it home, I might have to really ratchet up the self-discipline when it comes to desserts! Too dangerous for us:)
I love that you are a Squirreler Gone Wild!
I must say thought that ‘Gelateria’ sounds like it could be a intestinal disease, or something else… 🙂
Anyway, usually the free samples are of foods that are really bad for you. However, I know it made my youngest son happy to go to Costco because he knew he would get a variety of ‘treats’. I also remember growing up and running straigh to the deli when grocery shopping so I could get free hunks of cheese. I have never made a meal of it, but samples have definitely held me over until dinner!
Everyday Tips – funny about ‘Gelateria’. Now that I think about it, that word does sound like a bad affliction! As for samples being food that’s generally not the healthiest, that’s probably true. Of course, those samples tend to be tasty, which is why the work with some people. I’m guessing that if someone offered samples of brussel sprouts, it would be less enticing to people of all ages than samples of pizza or ice cream:)
Every year our Publix has a sample festival just before Thanksgiving. It consists of all the Thanksgiving foods we know and love. My wife refuses to go, but I go and take the little one, the others are to big. Its fun doing the samples. Not as much as the gelato. I don’t see how its wrong to load up on samples and make a meal of it. It’s all in fun.
50plus – the sample festival sounds like fun, around the holidays. I don’t know, that might be more fun than the gelato, if there’s pumpkin pie!
At this point in my life I would have paid the $6.
We have a really cool candy store the next town over that has things like 5 pound gummy bears and the world’s largest jawbreaker. Each of us gets to buy one small thing from there when we visit. My husband likes the licorice bar. It has every kind imaginable, even the nasty salty stuff the dutch like. They also have gelato there (but only $4 a scoop).
Anyway, it’s a good day if we leave there for less than $20, but we consider it a way to keep the place from going under. Someday I may want a 5 pound gummy bear or 10 pound hershey’s kiss for a birthday party.
The only things I usually sample are baked goods at bakeries. The other stuff I just walk past.
Sandy – sounds like a fun place! Cool that you each get one small thing when you go there. Good family fun. Close to where I am, there’s a jelly bean factory that offers a tour, and then drops you off (conveniently) at it’s candy outlet store. The tour its self is free, and they give you a free sample bag of jelly beans. Nevertheless, we each get something anyway, and usually walk out spending at least $3 or so each. Sometimes more. Even grandparents join in! I really enjoy family outings like that.
That is a very steep price and I can understand walking away. However, taking advantage of this system for your personal gain is inconsiderate. What if this was your business? What would you want people to do? The bottom line is to treat people as you wish to be treated. Perhaps the high prices helped defray the costs of people who took advantage of free samples. We all ultimately pay for selfishness.
Purexplorer – Thanks for stopping by and commenting, I appreciate it. As for your assessment of the sampling, I understand your viewpoint, though I’m sure you know I see it much differently.
In our case, we had completely good, honest, fair intentions up front. We had no plan to get excessive samples and then run. We just happened to look up after sampling and then see an outrageous price for each scoop. $6 is extremely expensive by most any standards I know of. The business did offer up samples proactively, and it seemed to be a big part of their business model. We weren’t being inconsiderate by taking samples, and we weren’t being selfish by walking away after seeing such a sky high price.
If I owned a business, willingly offered samples, but charged a super-duper premium price for the product, I would of course realize that some people would walk. In our case, given that we actually had good intentions up front, I can’t see anything at all wrong with choosing not to purchase. I’m glad we did, and got to taste the ice cream for free without submitting to such outrageous pricing – which we discovered after the fact. Nothing at all wrong with that.
I go for free samples every Saturday at the Farmer’s market! Free lunch!