Queen of the Freebies
By Patti Chadwick

Since I became a stay-at-home mom 15 years ago, I've learned how to stretch a dollar as far as it can go and how to take advantage of special offers, coupons, rebates, and "freebies."

 In fact, my family has affectionately dubbed me "Queen of the Freebies". Whenever I come up with something free or something extra they tease me and tell me that I am the "Queen". When I am especially proud of my savings or the "stuff" I've acquired through a special offer, I will kiddingly ask them, "So WHO is the queen?" Of course you know their answer!

I had a "freebie" experience recently that gave me a lot of satisfaction. You see, my youngest son, David, and his 3 friends are really into collecting Pokemon Cards. Now, I know there is a lot of disagreement among parents today regarding these trading cards, but regardless, my boy and his friends really wanted the latest card they were giving out to those "first-comers" to the new Pokemon Movie 2000. They rushed to the first showing in our small city (of course David had a free movie ticket and a $5.00 coupon for the concession stand that I'd gotten from a mail-in rebate offer!), so they'd be one of the first in line, thus being assured of getting that coveted "Ancient Mew". To their disappointment, when they were given their card, it was not the expected one, and when they complained to the manager they didn't get any "justice".

When I picked them up, their heads were hanging low and they told me all about their traumatic experience. Having a keen sense of justice myself, this situation upset me. After all, didn't the TV advertise all movie-goers would get this "Ancient Mew" while supplies lasted? Since they were 15th in line, I found it hard to believe that the theater had run out of the card already. I told them to wait in the car while I went in to talk to the manager. The woman was obviously harassed, probably from complaints of many of the children who felt they were being cheated. She apologized, but told me that she couldn't help me. I'd just have to deal with it!

I left the theater and gave the boys the disappointing news. My son pleaded, "But, Mom, isn't there ANYTHING you can do?" I started thinking that there must be SOMETHING I could do to get these boys their cards. I told the boys that, while I couldn't promise them anything, I'd try my hardest to get them their cards. I asked them to pray to God for justice and I assure them I'd do my part. I'd leave no stone unturned!

As soon as I got home, I started on my mission! I called the theater and asked for the name and number of the president of the corporation that owned the theater. I also asked for his address. I called and he was gone for the weekend, so I left my name and number along with a brief summary of my situation. I also mailed out a letter to him along the same lines. Next, I went to the Warner Brothers website and found some contact information and put in a complaint. Now all I could do was wait.

On Monday morning I received an email from the Customer Service Department at Warner Brothers saying they would try to resolve the issue. I also received a call from the C.E.O. of the local Theater. He asked what my complaint was and I began giving him a detailed explanation about what happened. He stopped me in the middle and said, "No problem, ma'am, I will give you the cards. Can you come down and pick them up?" I was thrilled! I told him I'd be right down!

My son and I hopped in the car and drove over to the office to pick up the coveted cards. David kept saying, "I can't believe you got them......I can't believe you got them......Thank you, God!!!!". When we got there we practically ran up the steep flight of stairs into the office. Then C.E.O. came out and apologized to us for the inconvenience and gave us 3 brand new Ancient Mew cards. He also handed me a book of certificates good for 5 admissions to the movie theater - good for admission to any movie. "We don't want to lose you as a customer," he explained.

I was thrilled with the results of my conquest. We had prayed for justice and God answered our prayers - and then some. As we were walking out into the parking lot my son turned back to look at me with a big smile on his face. I asked him what he was smiling about and he blurted out, "Hey Mom, you really ARE the Queen!" According to David and his three friends, I reign supreme!

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