So, some of you may know that my day job is an expense report auditor. It's perfect for me really because I don't have to deal with people on a face to face 'customer service' kind of basis that much and I get to write politely caustic emails fairly often.
So I come across an expense report that has this thing attached. It's a plastic credit card type card that says "Taste of Vino" on it and the Whole Foods label. Hmmmmm. Is it a bribe? I check the report and find nothing that seems to indicate that they would have tried to pass this thing off as a receipt. I take the card out, put it on my desk and toss the report in the file pile when I'm done.
I come across the card again today. I have no idea who's report it was attached to at this point. I decide to google.
Wine lovers can taste before they buy or just have a little drinkipoo while they shop at the new Sauganash Whole Foods. Stop by the cheese counter to get your rechargeable Vino Card and add any amount you’d like in $5 increments. Snag a real glass from the shelf, peruse the 16 selections available “on tap”, and select the wine you’d like to try. Prices per taste are illuminated above each offering, ranging from 75 cents for a nice Spanish rose to $3.25 for a fancy Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon. Just insert your card, position your glass under the desired spout, press the button, and out comes your wine at the perfect serving temperature. You might just find yourself volunteering to do the grocery shopping more often.
Dude, so should I totally try and use this thing or not?
meredith [email] said at 6:43 PM 05-06-2008: I'm really inclined in this direction. As long as it's not connected to their bank account or something, right?
julie [email] said at 4:17 PM 05-07-2008: Honestly, you're asking us --US--- if you should take advantage of a happy accident/mystery and thereby get inebriated at a grocery store? My dear, what did you think we'd say? I venture to guess that at least one of our number is drunk in a grocery store RIGHT THIS SECOND! Or exploiting an accident for personal gain!
brandon [email] said at 3:33 PM 05-07-2008: I don't know, what if you go in for you sip, and, the card having been reported stolen by the transaction triggers a heavy, iron cage to slam down upon your athletic, yet humanly-frail wrist, trapping you like a trashing, 19th century Canadian beaver, as a klaxon sounds, summoning the manager and his store detectives to apprehend yourself. What shame! What ignominy! And all for a thimblefull of claret, a shaker of shiraz, a half-measure of Hide-and-Seek Prancing Stallion Valley? Is it worth the risk? I say no.
brandon [email] said at 3:57 PM 05-07-2008: Wow, that would be really convenient, wouldn't it. What's really going on here, Meredith, is this some kind of reverse sting? This smells like entrapment. What kind of trouble are you in?
julie [email] said at 3:46 PM 05-07-2008: Give the card to an underage relative, send them to Whole Foods to get drunk, then sue the company for allowing it to happen, retire from your day job, and you'll never have to face the dude who gave you the card again.
