Bargain advertisements are all around. When you go to a foreign city, at the airport, hotel, restaurant or bus, as soon as I see a free newspaper or magazine I pick it up. When I first started doing this I would lighten my load of paper by tearing out and throwing out the advertisements.
I saved the article to hear about local sights I should see, the history of historic buildings I should see, grisly murders in dangerous areas I should avoid .- and if I had to wait at a station I had reading matter and information to share.
Save Or Throw Away?
Later, it was often the other way round. I would jettison the articles about luxury shops I could not afford to visit, local minor celebrities I would never meet. I kept the advertisements for two for one offers on entry to public buildings, transport passes, one off exhibitions and nearby restaurants offering a free glass of wine.
This is what I do nowadays, even when coming into my home cities (London and Singapore). I keep up to date with new attractions and offers for my overseas family and friends and to tell tourists on the train into town.
Magazines
Airports are not the only places with offers. In the UK in London and in many cities you will find local language magazines. Often a restaurant takes a magazine which features that restaurant and others nearby.
Postcard Ads
On one occasion in Asia, in Vietnam, in Siem Reap, on the way out of a restaurant, I picked up advertising postcards which offered a free drink. We had already paid our bill, and ordered a different cocktail to the one offered. However, we had booked again for the following week, and were able to use the offer. I kep it in my handbag all week, so that I did not delay lookinfg for it, nor forget it on the next occasion.
I picked it up from a huge pile of identical postcards. My family said, "No need to take it. They will still be there when we come back."
When we returned the postcards were all gone. I didn't know whether they had been grabbed up by visitors in the busy Christmas and New Year week, or whether the management decided they no longer needed to lure in customers because they were now, briefly, full.
Negotiating
It didn't matter. The important thing was that I had the offer. Would they honour it? The waiter hesitated. My husband pointed out that we were now regulars, and the free drink offer had brought us back. Yes, they gave us the free cocktail. The important thing is to mention the offer when booking and when asking for a table. The restaurant does not want to think they have made a certain amount of money and get a nasty surprise at the end. You don't want to sit worrying whether they will honour your offer, nor to have to hunt for it when your taxi has arrived to take you home.
Much better to be sure at the start. The waiter can bring your free drink, present it saying your free drink. You smile at him. He smiles back confident that you will like him or her and the service and probably leave a tip.
Singapore Flag
In Singapore sometimes the trains and buses have ads hanging from the overhead rail which supports the straps you hold when standing.
On my last journey, I didn't see any ads hanging. Often I am too busy looking at my map or phone and counting bus stops and looking at landmarks to check when I will reach my destination.
If I am with a friend, or talking to a new acquaintance, I am too busy to look around and grab materials which i fear makes me look like an impecunious freeloader or hoarder. However, on this occasion, I saw an ad which had fallen to the floor and I picked it up.
Cleanliness and Washing
Regarding picking things up off the floor or the ground, I am in two minds about this. I want the item. But I don't want to get my hands dirty, nor carry dirty items in my bag nor in my pocket.
If I pick up something which is washable, at the next train station or bus interchange (almost always beside a train station) I find a toilet and wash both my hands and the item I have picked up.
Singapore train stations always have toilets near the entrance.
Some laminated items can be wiped or washed. If not, I can take a photo with my phone, then throw the paper in a bin and wash my hands.
Some of the items are time sensitive. They may even already be out of date. Sometimes the offer has expired but the information is useful because it alerts you to a nearby location of an interesting restaurant or handy fast food place.
My latest find is from McDonalds.
About The Author
Angela Lansbury
I saved the article to hear about local sights I should see, the history of historic buildings I should see, grisly murders in dangerous areas I should avoid .- and if I had to wait at a station I had reading matter and information to share.
Save Or Throw Away?
Later, it was often the other way round. I would jettison the articles about luxury shops I could not afford to visit, local minor celebrities I would never meet. I kept the advertisements for two for one offers on entry to public buildings, transport passes, one off exhibitions and nearby restaurants offering a free glass of wine.
This is what I do nowadays, even when coming into my home cities (London and Singapore). I keep up to date with new attractions and offers for my overseas family and friends and to tell tourists on the train into town.
Magazines
Airports are not the only places with offers. In the UK in London and in many cities you will find local language magazines. Often a restaurant takes a magazine which features that restaurant and others nearby.
Postcard Ads
On one occasion in Asia, in Vietnam, in Siem Reap, on the way out of a restaurant, I picked up advertising postcards which offered a free drink. We had already paid our bill, and ordered a different cocktail to the one offered. However, we had booked again for the following week, and were able to use the offer. I kep it in my handbag all week, so that I did not delay lookinfg for it, nor forget it on the next occasion.
I picked it up from a huge pile of identical postcards. My family said, "No need to take it. They will still be there when we come back."
When we returned the postcards were all gone. I didn't know whether they had been grabbed up by visitors in the busy Christmas and New Year week, or whether the management decided they no longer needed to lure in customers because they were now, briefly, full.
Negotiating
It didn't matter. The important thing was that I had the offer. Would they honour it? The waiter hesitated. My husband pointed out that we were now regulars, and the free drink offer had brought us back. Yes, they gave us the free cocktail. The important thing is to mention the offer when booking and when asking for a table. The restaurant does not want to think they have made a certain amount of money and get a nasty surprise at the end. You don't want to sit worrying whether they will honour your offer, nor to have to hunt for it when your taxi has arrived to take you home.
Much better to be sure at the start. The waiter can bring your free drink, present it saying your free drink. You smile at him. He smiles back confident that you will like him or her and the service and probably leave a tip.
Singapore Flag
In Singapore sometimes the trains and buses have ads hanging from the overhead rail which supports the straps you hold when standing.
On my last journey, I didn't see any ads hanging. Often I am too busy looking at my map or phone and counting bus stops and looking at landmarks to check when I will reach my destination.
If I am with a friend, or talking to a new acquaintance, I am too busy to look around and grab materials which i fear makes me look like an impecunious freeloader or hoarder. However, on this occasion, I saw an ad which had fallen to the floor and I picked it up.
Cleanliness and Washing
Regarding picking things up off the floor or the ground, I am in two minds about this. I want the item. But I don't want to get my hands dirty, nor carry dirty items in my bag nor in my pocket.
If I pick up something which is washable, at the next train station or bus interchange (almost always beside a train station) I find a toilet and wash both my hands and the item I have picked up.
Singapore train stations always have toilets near the entrance.
Some laminated items can be wiped or washed. If not, I can take a photo with my phone, then throw the paper in a bin and wash my hands.
Some of the items are time sensitive. They may even already be out of date. Sometimes the offer has expired but the information is useful because it alerts you to a nearby location of an interesting restaurant or handy fast food place.
My latest find is from McDonalds.
About The Author
Angela Lansbury
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