To Sample, or Not to Sample... That is the Question

Remember the last time you visited a grocery store that gave out samples of something you particularly liked? How many samples did you have?

If it's something being scooped into a small cup, and given with a small plastic spoon, are you less likely to go back for a second sample? As opposed to a bin with what seems like 4,000 grapes and a heap of toothpicks next to it... How about then- most likely going to have more than one grape?

When I sample food items in a grocery store, particularly fruit items, I am very likely to pick up 2 or 3 chunks of fruit just with one toothpick. Multiply that by several run-throughs, and you'll find that a few people like myself could deplete an entire produce section in a mere hour.

Now, naturally I expect that studies have shown that offering free samples actually does entice more customers to buy a particular product, but to what extent?

Do some companies, like Whole Foods, just experience a large enough profit overall that they can afford to give out free samples, making people more likely to return to the store again and to buy various other items in doing so? Is that the idea? I rarely ever see a Safeway or Giant giving out samples. In all honesty, though, thinking about the free samples when I walk by a Whole Foods is actually what does draw me inside more often than not. If that's the company's goal, then good job! I get sucked in for the cream cheese dips, the guacamole, the grapes, the occasional strawberries, the shakes, crackers, tortilla chips, and not as often the cheese.

*Whew*

And once I'm inside, I try my hardest to resist buying something. However, it seems that right next to each free fruit display, there seems to be a big stack of something that's on sale. Sometimes the deal is too good to pass up. Other times, I feel that any profit the company might potentially make on my frozen fruit purchase has already been undone in the form of free samples that I've consumed earlier in the adventure. For me it's a moot point.

Tell me how you behave when the free samples go out, and what motivates you to go into a store. I go to Safeway for the low prices, and often only buy Sale items. I go into Whole Foods for the free samples, and on the off chance that I do buy something, you can bet it's on Sale.

So, what's a company really get when it puts out free samples in its grocery stores? Return in the form of more frequent customer visits, or return in the form of selling more of the item on display?

Kicking the [Oil] Habit

With the price of oil going through the roof, it seems that riding a bicycle has become an increasingly better alternative to driving. Riding a bike to and from work is hard work. Starting after a mile, one generally begins to sweat, and it can be quite an arduous trek getting from home to the office. You may have to do it in the snow, or on 100 degree days. It's rewarding in its own right, however people typically ask themselves how practical it is to bike to work.

Now, granted, biking to work doesn't work for all people. If you live too far away from your office, then biking is out of the question. Even if you don't live that far away (5+ miles), you may still find yourself worrying about not being able to respond quickly enough should you get a call from the school nurse about your kid being sick. A number of "life" criteria, essentially, must be met in order for biking to become a viable alternative to driving. Hence, with respect to this phenomenon, the following list has been compiled.

1) One must have a bicycle to ride. Generally, a newer than older bike is better, mainly for reliability's sake.

2) One must carry a lock with them wherever they go. As a result of the risk of theft, the bike commuter must always bring with him/her a lock of moderate quality. A cheap cable lock won't do- it's almost asking to have one's bike ripped off. A heavier lock, for example a chain w/ padlock, is the best way to go. Once one obtains a quality lock however, the weight of the lock can become an issue.

3) One mustn't have kids. Quick response is necessary when dealing with kids... and quick response, while the wind may feel quick on one's face whilst riding, cannot generally be achieved with a bicycle.

4) One must have changes of clothes at their workplace, and have a place to change into those clothes. Invariably, there are 5 months of the year where one is guaranteed to sweat on his/her jaunt to work. Unless one showing up to work smelly and sweaty is an appeal or is necessary for one's job, having a change of clothes there will probably be necessary.

5) One must get to know their local bike shop professionals by first name (for the following reason).

6) One needs accessories. Starting with a floor pump, one will also inevitably need a tire gauge, a helmet, a lock, a chain of sorts to accompany the high-quality lock, a bell, front and rear lights/reflectors, and lubricants. After one's got all that, he/she guaranteed at some point to face either a blown tube or a busted tire/wheel. To repair a flat, one will need to visit his/her friend(s) at the bike shop again. Beyond all this, a rear rack with panniers should also be a consideration.

7) One may be safer in one's car than on one's bike...given the tendency for bicycle accidents, particularly in cities.

Add additional points in the comments section.

As you can see, there are a number of criteria to consider when you're looking to become a bike commuter. Namely, the finances and the sweating are to be remembered when deciding. Affording a bike and its accessories, however, is still a pretty minuscule investment compared to an automobile. In fact, everything above would probably cost less in an entire year than car insurance for just six months. Consider it. Even then, you can calculate the gas you'd save by riding rather than driving- the gas savings alone should be enough of a convincer to switch.