Preliminary Feature Writing Practice 2

 2.Many freebies no longer are free. Because of rising expenses and other problems, American business establishments are eliminating many services and other amenities once offered their customers free of charge. Many of the services that gasoline stations used to offer for free to attract customers have gone the way of the dinosaurs—they have become extinct. Gasoline stations no longer wash windshields, and many no longer even provide the squeegee, the windshield cleaner or the towels so customers can do it themselves. One station owner said he quit offering the service because his customers reportedly were using too many cleaning towels, which cost a two cents each. Service stations have also discontinued free giveaways—free car washes with a fillup, free glasses and steak knives, free road maps—because of the increasing costs of the freebies. "We can't justify the cost of the freebies. We don't make much profit on a gallon of gas and if you start giving things away to attract customers, we end up making nothing. We found that we weren't getting enough new customers to cover the cost of the free items," said Cecil LaCette, manager of Southside Service. Some gasoline stations restrict the use of their washroom facilities and charge for the air used to inflate tires. LaCette said: "When you buy new clothes, you no longer expect to receive a free wooden or plastic hanger. When men buy a pair of slacks, alterations—which used to always be free—may cost $10 to $20." Along with the disappearance of those items go free gift-wrapping, which was benefit to many last-minute holiday shoppers. Coffee or soda refills, once free at many restaurants, no longer are free. And many restaurants serve water only upon request. 

 

    With great devastation, times have changed when it pertains to money. Many services that were offered for free are now being charged. Nothing is free anymore. "if you start giving things away to attract customers, we end up making nothing." The manager of Southside Service, Mr. LaCette, has given great reason as to why he no longer gives anything away for free anymore. When things are free you will without a doubt receives tons of customers. Everyone loves free things, however you make no real profit giving things out for free. Everything has to come at a cost. The establishments that have cancelled their freebies services ad charge now are thinking in terms of making profit for their business, instead of being robbed of money. You make nothing out of being generous enough to give away free things and the business suffers ultimately.