Freebies and Other Benefits of Subscribing to Local Business Mailings via E-mail

Have you ever gone into a restaurant, movie rental store or other business and had them ask for your e-mail in some way? If so, were you quick to tell them that it was none of their business because you were afraid of getting harassed with junk mail? I used to be like that, but then I came to realize that signing up for these e-mails had benefits after all.

I think the first time I volunteered to give my e-mail to a business, it was for a drawing at a Taco Bell for $25 worth of food or something. I knew I might get junk mail, but I went ahead and did it anyway; the lure of free food led me astray. I didn't win, but I did get an e-mail from Taco Bell shortly thereafter with a buy one, get one free coupon for a new menu item. Since I was a frequent patron back in college, this was exciting. They have consistently sent one of these coupons every month for a different item.

But it didn't stop there, my friends. Somehow I must have given them my birth date, because every year near my birthday, they have sent me a coupon for a free combo meal. There were no strings attached; it was completely free. There was an expiration date, but it could be printed and used multiple times in one week.

I tried to be honest and only use it once, but someone could do some serious damage with a week's worth of combo meals. They never asked to see identification, either, so I suppose I could have given them to friends. Once, they even messed up and sent me the free combo meal coupon when it was nowhere near my birthday.

Another store I've had good luck with is Movie Gallery. When I first signed up for a membership, they asked if they could have my e-mail for a free rental drawing. In the last year, I have won three or four free rentals. Plus, every month they send me an e-mail with a buy one, get one free coupon and show all of the newest releases available or coming up. The coupon has a limit of only being used once per week per member, but that still means four free rentals a month.