Beyond Two-Four

As mentioned here, this is my first attempt at creating my own beat transformation. Thanks to Alan Schechner for the ideas and inspiration. Please let me know what you think.

I initially got excited when I got my birthday card from Guitar Center saying to enjoy $25 off my next purchase of $250 or more–by the end of Sept. Then I realized: That’s 10-percent, which I normally get off when I ask for it at my local GC (because I’m such a regular, I guess, and … I ask for it). In other words, it was a nice gesture, but somewhat hollow. Especially since, just days later, I got an email from GC advertising $20 off my next purchase of $200 or more. No birthday message was attached. It was a standard promotion.

Which, to give credit to GC, is what they are good at. I take advantage of these promotions when I can afford to, but I sense an extra step is needed, especially when targeting me directly for my birthday–or anyone.

A counter example: Mervyn’s sent me a $10 gift certificate for my birthday–no minimum purchase. Guess where I spent $70 the next day? It wasn’t GC. Mervyn’s represents an true market-based incentive; in other words, Mervyn’s makes the incentive more enticing with such a practice.

Finally, I had major glitches with a used Roland hihat pedal I got in a trade deal. It needed to be fixed but it was certainly out of warranty and I had no receipt for it. I sent it to Roland last Monday for repair. Today, Wednesday, guess what I received from UPS? A brand new Roland hihat pedeal.

Thank you Mervyn’s. Thank you Roland.