Many times I blogged about coffees. For a couple of years, 3in1 coffee has been a part of my morning habit. Besides blogging and social networking, sipping coffee starts my day. There was a time that I spilled coffee on my keyboard. It was a disaster, I had to deactivate the built-in keyboard and connect an external one. In my first year of blogging I posted about 3in1 coffee’s advantages over separate coffee, creamer, and sugar. No matter how I love 3in1 coffee, I was tempted to be desirous of something else. And the power of free caught me in the bull’s eye.
It’s not because of the advertisement lately. The appeal to emotion “para kanino ka bumabangon?” or “timpla mo masusunod” doesn’t appeal that much to me. Yet, one day when I was buying grocery items, a reddish mug, a limited edition Nescafe mug for free, captivated me. I had to buy separate coffee and creamer. Goodbye 3in1 coffee for a while. The word free overshadowed my habit, and changed my mind drastically. Though, the decision was not that complex, it’s a proof of irrationality. The “limited edition” reinforced my desire for free. In my mind I said to myself: I have to buy now or else I wouldn’t get that mug!
The word FREE is powerful. Marketers, however, should use it ethically.
