Use Design for Good – Not for Making Me Pay More for Lunch
With photo quality printers being sold for under $100, even beginning designers can afford to create press quality samples to show clients. Some of these samples are of an even higher quality then the final printed pieces. So everyone is happy except me, who now has to pay more for lunch.
When at the office, my car usually is parked about 5 foot from the Subway sandwich shop next door, so naturally, I end up getting lunch there at least once a week. Subway has, for as long as I have eaten there, given ‘stamps’ with each sandwich purchased. Collect enough of these stamps, and you get a free lunch, but no more.
Why? Counterfeit stamps are part of the answer. I think if you ask enough questions, you’ll find every designer has a story of forging something (the majority of which I find are practical jokes), but when it comes to taking away my free sandwiches, I draw the line. So please, design for good only.
June 14th, 2005 at 9:18 am
So it’s actually official. Some shops around here stopped offering them in the last couple of years because of counterfeit stamps. I figured they were just paranoid. (This Subway was one of those that looked locally-owned with a million 8.5×11 big-bold-black-text on white-copy-paper signs alerting you to spend at least $5 if you want to use a credit card, don’t lean on the glass, we’re out of turkey today, only 1 refill per customer, and wear shoes. Sad, though. I love coupons. Especially the ones that reward you. Maybe they’ll come up with a digital system? For example, some Von’s grocery stores in Southeran California have gas stations, and reward you with $.06 less per gallon for every so many dollars that you spend. However, that would probably be quite expensive to install at every Subway location.Has anyone seen a counterfeit Subway stamp? I wonder how obvious/well-done they are…are they on glossy paper…or are they cut out with an exacto knife on gummy-backed paper like the real stamps?
June 14th, 2005 at 9:23 am
Of “hire” quality? really? I guess that’s a combo between a good looking and hard working print.
Wow, I can’t believe the stamps are gone… I always looked forward to the free sub when going to the print house every few months. Looks like my free lunch is gone too.
June 14th, 2005 at 12:25 pm
My spelling however is not of this counterfeit caliber. The typo has been fixed.
June 14th, 2005 at 8:47 pm
I’ve actually talked to a local manager and he said they had stopped using them because employees were stealing them and then selling boxes and boxes of them on e-bay and elsewhere.
But who knows. Either sounds credible.
Maybe they were selling boxes and boxes of conterfeit ones.
June 16th, 2005 at 8:16 am
This is a perfect example of where technology needs to combat technology. How about a swipe card or something?
If the offer is an overall success for the company, they will find a way to keep it going.
And yes, please design for good only.
June 16th, 2005 at 12:42 pm
I’ve always said (sip) that if designers wanted to we could counterfeit just about anything. Just drive someplace (sip) with a $100 scanner, a $100 inkjet printer, a powerbook, a lighter power adapter and you got enough technology (sip) to get some forging done. Of course a laminator would be useful… um where was I? Oh right, (sip) but as designers we must use our powers for good and not scam big business (sip) and get free capuchinos at Starbucks… because that would be wrong. (sip)