actions&events/wordofmouse

13

tpm editor enters Second Life, clueless

This is dishonest, for you are supposed to

contact Nectar “if you believe points have been

incorrectly awarded to your account”, but it’s

probably not legal

Or consider those loyalty cards that offer a

once-only, 10% discount when you register your

first purchase (www.debenhams.com). Go to

the local retailer looking affluent and well

dressed. Once you have accumulated say £300

of potential shopping, make sure that you are

invited to register for the loyalty card. Agree,

somewhat reluctantly, but provide some

incorrect details regarding your credit card

(your old address will do). After several

attempts, the registration will fail. You will look

perplexed. The manager will be embarrassed.

Apologises will be exchanged and it is very likely

that they will give you the discount anyway

(otherwise, you can still walk out without buying

anything). You just gained £30, as you can now

get another 10% discount next time you register.

All this may seem applicable only to nerds,

middle-managers and desperate housewives,

but even high-flyers can barter. They just use

frequent-flyer miles. According to The

Economist, in January 2005 “the total stock of

unredeemed miles was worth more than all the

dollar bills in circulation,” and you can exchange

them for almost anything (www.points.com).

The temptation is to pocket the miles earned

through someone else’s money. Last February,

for example, the Parliamentary Standards

watchdog complained that the Commons

Speaker, Michael Martin, had used air

miles earned with public money for his family,

the ultimate proof (Mr Martin, not the

watchdog) that Britain is an advanced

information society.

Of course, one day all barriers between

points-systems will be lifted. People will then

use only World Credits (www.fireflywiki.org

/Firefly/FireflyMoney) to purchase anything in

the whole universe, independently of ordinal

numbers. I look forward to being able to swap

my L$ for a socially responsible coffee

(starbucks.co.uk/en-GB/_Card).

3RD QUARTER 2008tpm