There have been some discussions from time to time about gifts that companies send to their shareholders. Since I got one today, I thought I would start a thread. Please post what gifts, freebies, coupons, or discounts you are receiving with your annual reports. Since these change all the time, let's keep posts confined to current offers rather than "Two years ago Enron sent me a free guide to preparing financial statements".
Some companies base their freebies on whether shares are directly registered or registered in street name. For newbies, if you bought your shares through a broker and you don't have a physical stock certificate in your possession, your shares are most likely held in street name. If you have an actual stock certificate or are buying shares directly from the company through a direct purchase plan, dividend reinvestment plan, or employee stock purchase plan, your shares are most likely directly registered in your name.
Reportedly, Wrigley's only sends gum to directly registered shareholders.
There has also been some discussion as to whether or not you will get freebies if you subscribe to the company mailings in electronic format. That is, would Starbucks still mail me a gift card if I were receiving the annual report via email?
Please include this information in your posts.
I'll go first...
Starbucks sent me a $3.50 Starbucks Card! Shares are registered in street name, and I receive shareholder communications via snail mail.
Cool! Hope I get one with my $1 Sharebuilder stake in them!
I just got the DISNEY report, and while no "feeebies", there was a BankOne Disney credit card app which would give you a leather band DISNEY WATCH upon approval, supposedly for shareholders only.
this doesn't come with the annual report, but I know Royal Caribbean cruiseline gives onboard credit to shareholders, anywhere from $50 to $250 depending on the length of the trip. There is no restriction on how long you have to hold the stock too, so you can buy and sell the same day, as long as you can show proof that you own at least 100shares.
Victoria's Secret (Intimate Brands) used to send out coups for free panties and other goodies in the annual report...the last year or so they stopped doing it, and then they were bought back by the parent company Limited.
Some companies base their freebies on whether shares are directly registered or registered in street name. For newbies, if you bought your shares through a broker and you don't have a physical stock certificate in your possession, your shares are most likely held in street name. If you have an actual stock certificate or are buying shares directly from the company through a direct purchase plan, dividend reinvestment plan, or employee stock purchase plan, your shares are most likely directly registered in your name.
Reportedly, Wrigley's only sends gum to directly registered shareholders.
Second, there has been some discussion as to whether or not you will get freebies if you subscribe to the company mailings in electronic format. That is, would Starbucks still mail me a gift card if I were receiving the annual report via email?
when you own a lot of companies, you will receive a lot of reports --> receiving junk mail. So a lot of cases I choose to receive the electronic form to reduce the junk mail. The question is: would I still receive the freebies?
<< when you own a lot of companies, you will receive a lot of reports --> receiving junk mail. So a lot of cases I choose to receive the electronic form to reduce the junk mail. The question is: would I still receive the freebies? >>
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