Here you will find examples and links of using either the complaint or compliment letters in order to make become a better consumer. Sure, you can get free stuff, but the real point is to get what you pay for and know how to protect yourself as a consumer and have a voice in the marketplace. Even if you don't receive items like those listed here, just remember that someone read your letter and that makes the writing of it important.

The $39 Experiment -- This guy sent 100 letters to 100 different companies to try to get free stuff.

Some responses to our class letters:

Amy A 06 – Free guitar string  (complaint)

Jackie D 07 – 2 Free ice-creams from Kopp’s

Mike T 07 – Publicity pack from Cleveland Indians (compliment or star) and 2 free meals from Arby’s (complaint) 

Rebecca S 07 – Gift card for free jeans from the Gap and offer to repair old ones (complaint)

Mike R 07 – Offer from Direct TV to compensate for programming problems (complaint)

Karen K 07 -- Free t-shirt from Spencer gifts (compliment) and promise of free items from McDonalds (complaint)

Ryan M 08 -- Replacement DVD at Best Buy for scratched one (complaint)

Carly A 09 -- $10 gift card from Fred's downtown (compliment)

Kelly G 09 -- $25 gift card from Maggiano's (compliment)

Ricardo V 09 -- $30 gift card at Best Buy (complaint)

Nicole J 10 -- $30 gift card at Next Chapter bookstore (compliment)

Amanda R. -- Three 'things' of Rishi tea with a hand-written letter and anecdote about letter being read to office staff; $ value unlcear (compliment)