It can be costly to break promises…

Starbucks offered a free coffee in a email. As you’d expect, the email got bounced around and suddenly Starbucks had all and sundry walking into their branches demanding their free drink. They took action and rescinded the offer. And now face the rath of the lawyers with Starbucks now facing a lawsuit for fraud. Doh! No doubt someone in marketing is getting beaten up; it was probably a great idea in the workshop but did anyone stop to question all the eventualities? Sometimes you need a pessimist in your midst, someone with a questioning mind that has a negative slant. Someone who can pick holes in your well thought out scenario. Pass your idea by old grumpy in the corner. You never know, they may just save you a lawsuit.

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