This may be the smartest thing they’ve ever done.
Einstein Bros., the marginal bagel bakery chain, is offering what they describe as the biggest bagel giveaway ever (do people keep track of these stats? Guinness? Anyone?). All you have to do is visit Einstein Bros.’s Facebook page and click on the Free Bagel tab. Indicate that you want to be a fan of Einstein’s (don’t worry, there’s no lie detector involved) and you’ll receive an electronic coupon for a free bagel with schmear.
What does Einstein’s get? A huge boost to its Facebook base and a lot of potential eyeballs for direct marketing.
What would The Ethicist say about joining up to get a free bagel and then de-fanning?