Loyalty at What Price
I ran into someone I recognized that worked at a bank when I first moved here. She looked pretty much the same. I don’t look the same so she didn’t recognize me. I realized she worked at a bank I did business with three banks ago. It makes me wonder why I’ve switched my banks.
When I lived back East, banks always gave incentives for starting a new account. For the most part it wasn’t bad stuff. I still have a set of steak knives I got from a Savings and Loan Association. Anyone here old enough to remember Saving and Loan Associations?
I remember having sets of dishes, cutlery, glasses, coffee makers (back then percolators). It brings to mind that gas stations would also have promotions where they would give away drinking glasses with every fill-up. Supermarkets also had give-aways. The best anyone could expect these days is some destined for the land fill, plastic crap with a company logo on it. Have you noticed how hard it is to find a company that gives away a free calendar these days?
I have no idea why I switched from First Interstate to Bank of Astoria to TLC, but it certainly wasn’t for the SWAG.
posted by The Guy Who Writes This at 4:00 AM
16 Comments:
We are preparing to switch banks because the one we are using now is laying off employees. Not a good sign. I remember getting free stuff all the time when I was a kid. Mom would make my dad go to a certain gas station because she wanted a whole set of the glasses they were giving away. We would only go to the grocery stores that gave green stamps. The local A&W gave away free root beer mugs once a month. Nowadays anything you get free is not even worth throwing away. A few years ago we went to a different bank to open a business account and they were giving away free stuff. I looked around at the prizes and said "No toasters?" They all looked at me like I was crazy. I got a plastic combo stepstool & toolbox instead. I wanted a toaster.
LOL...give away at banks. I have followed one person around for years. She was the VP at one bank that ended up being Wachovia. Then she left Wachovia and went to Virginia Commerce and I pulled all 7 accounts out of Wachovia and followed her. Amy is awesome!!! One of the many things she does is call me if a check hasn't deposited on time and I'm getting low on funds.
I remember when we came to the states our kitchen cabinet was filled with nothing but glasses from gas stations with cartoons on them. We saved green stamps too. There used to be a store around here were you could buy things with them.
I opened an account at a bank located at 11th and Commercial in Astoria. The year was 1961. I still have an account in that building and the phone number is still the same but I bet there aren't 2 people in town that could recall all the times it has changed names. I still have my original account booklet stamped with deposit or withdrawal. It remained First Federal for at least 10 years. After that though it changed names more times than Liz Taylor changed husbands. I can remember about 6 or 8 of the names but there easily twice that, and I still bank there.
Last time we changed banks, it was because the podunk one in the tiny town to our west didn't have Internet banking. So we switched to the town to our east.
i might switch if there was hendricks gin involved.
What about the rum that makes you cock up your leg involuntarily at odd moments?
Darev, brother I feel your pain.
Tango, I thought banks gave away guns when you open a new account in Virginia.
Anon, that US Bank, or was it Sterlig
Donna.Who would have though we would go from pass books to dealing with on-line banking with direct deposit all in our lifetime.
Irish, it's easier to just buy a bottle.
Tango, Give up on Gray Goose?
I remember when mustard used to come in a glass that had hearts spades diamonds and clubs on them. Sturdy glass too...which reminds me of the first time buyer country rube that went to the liquor store. Kinda looked like he just fell off the turnip truck. He asked the clerk what kind of gin they had. The smartass clerk answered that they had oxygin, hydrogin and nitrogin. Well says the rube...where I come from we got three kinds of turds. Musturd, custurd and you you stupid shit.
Just back from NJ Guy - that 30mph vehicle of yours just won't cut it there. Holy crap - when did the States go from 55mph to autobahn style driving?
Moose
No, but the should give away free ammo. :)
Sterling now. Prior to that it was Klamath First, Washington Mutual, whatever bank it was that sponsored the TV show Northern Exposer, Columbia Savings, and it had 4 or 5 other names that escape me right now. I have been loyal to that building which is in a great location and has had no significant remodels over the past 50 years. The layout is same. Only the carpet, furniture, faces and signs change. Never got a toaster out of them either.
I remember savings & loans - I put my money from my first job in one. Can't say I miss them though.
I remember gas station glasses, green stamps and savings and loans...I just forget the important stuff now that I'm old.
S&H Green stamps are still redeemable. I found 20 books in the free pile at a garage sale. I gave them to an enterprising youngster and he mailed them off and got back a check for $35.00
Moose, Jelly used to come in a glass, too. Some gas station glasses were attractive, especially from Shell. Esso glasses looked cheap. And NJ Driving,I couldn't keep up there anymore.
Tango, Is ammo expensive?
Anon, you should get the toaster from their break room just for your loyalty.
Al, I miss the era.
Teri, that's why I'm writing this stuff down now.
Anon, that worth going through grand-ma's kitchen towel drawer.
Just to let you know Mom still has glasses from one of the gas stations you worked at or your brother did. I'm not sure..
Robb, right on most counts. The yellow glasses with the black bands came from the Shell Station down by the old soft icecream stand which was a Torino"s pizza when I left. The red white and blue eagle glasses came from Mobil across the street.
My brother worked at Esso and I worked at Power Test.
Post a Comment
<< Home