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Thursday, October 22, 2015

If you don't ask, you'll never know.

There is no such thing as a stupid question, right?

I don't know if I completely buy into that. As a server, I can certainly tell you that I've heard a lot of stupid questions. For example:

"What's the yellow rice?" Ummm...I'm pretty sure you just answered the question within your question.

But that's another story for a different day.

As of late, I've been the queen of getting discontinued items for free by asking stupid questions. 

About six months ago, Francesca's was having a BOGO 50% off sale, which included perfume. Over the last year, I'd been silently pining after their Indigo Waters scent, and when I didn't see it on the shelf, I asked "do you not sell Indigo Waters anymore?" The sales associate immediately bent down and started rummaging through the stock shelf as I followed up with, "don't worry about it, I'm not buying it today, I'm just curious." She stood back up and presented me with a full size "tester" bottle and said, "we can't sell it anymore, so you can have it for free!" A $30 bottle of perfume...for free. 

About two months ago, I was in Francesca's again (whoops) and as I began chatting with the associate, I mentioned my perfume story. Two minutes later, she presented me with another bottle of the same perfume. For free.

About five minutes ago, I was putting my order in with the barista at Starbucks. I wanted a sweet treat, so I asked the barista what happened to their chocolate frappuccino cookies. She said they were discontinued but she would check the back...and 30 seconds later I was presented with these five chocolate frappuccino cookies...FOR FREE. 



Most importantly, this last week I took the plunge and did something that I was utterly afraid to do: I emailed two of my professors to ask them for a positive letter of recommendation for me for graduate school. For months, I'd been beating myself up about completing this task. As a post-bacc, my options for letters of recommendation are extremely limited, and despite the fact that I used to blatantly ask people for money for a living, the thought of asking professors to help make me look good for graduate school left me shaking in my boots. But I did it. I asked. And you know what?

They said yes.

Case in point, always ask. Ask the stupid questions, ask the silly questions, ask the personal questions. Because if you don't ask, the answer is always no. And if you don't ask, you'll never get free perfume. 


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6 comments

  1. I went into Franscesca's last week with a hole in my new sweater and they basically were like, "oh well the material just makes holes" haha. I kept it, but your story is much better! Sounds like you're similar to me..I hate asking for help...I will avoid it forever or let it secretly stress me out until I have some kind of meltdown. Even just knowing something like that it on my to-do list will give me anxiety. This is a bad example, but I was on a trip once with a (very) old boyfriend and his family for a weekend I felt so sick, but I didn't want to tell anyone/ask for anything, and then finally I told his Mom, and she said this - "god helps those who help themselves" and it's always stuck. I am not religious at all (they were very), but to me it just meant, no one's going to do it but us. So I try to think of that sometimes. Anyways, they're really discontinuing those straws already??? I never tried one, but it seemed like a good idea! And look super cute, which counts for something lol!

    x. Morgan

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    1. Oh no! That's the worst...I've never had an issue with holes in their clothing, but that's happened to me with another store and it totally turned me off from going there ever again haha. That's too funny about your old boyfriend's mom...I'm not very religious either, but I do like that quote! Your interpretation of it almost ties into one of my favorite quotes, "it always seems impossible until it's done." I recite that to myself at least once a week!

      But yes, ask your Starbucks barista if they still have them! They're scrumptious...pretty upset they're gone already lol :)

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  2. So crazy (and also awesome) how many free things you've been able to get yourself lately, keep it up girl! And yay for the recs you're getting!

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    1. All by accident! Haha. I'm going to ask for those discontinued chocolate straws at every Starbucks location now. Thank you! :)

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  3. I am definitely going to have to start trying this, and I'm pretty sure my first stop is going to be Francesca's. Also, I loved the happy ending about your recommendations! Way to go!

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    1. Do it!!! I have no idea why they discontinued that perfume...such a bummer! Let me know how it goes :) and thank you!

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