Coke – the stingy side of life
I was talking my friend Tricia (hello Tricia!) last night, over dinner, about the difficulty of trying to winkle money out of people here in the name of charity, and she told me a story so ridiculous that my voice got to a pitch where usually only helium takes it, as I shouted “What? Are you kidding me?â€
She had applied to Coca-cola here for some soft drinks for an event that she was running up in Ondangwa, where she works.  Not many drinks, mind – only enough for 120 people. Considering how much Coke spends on advertising alone in this country, you’d think they wouldn’t mind providing a few measly cans for thirsty people.
Anyway, she told me, she sent them a proposal, and phoned every week for several weeks, asking after it.  Every single time, she got the response “It looks good, it looks promising. Call back next week.â€
Eventually, the day before the event, she rang in desperation, and said “Listen, do you think you could tell me whether you will be able to provide any beverages for my event tomorrow?â€
“Ummm,†said the coke lady. “Let me see – how many people are coming to your event again? 300?â€
Trish reminded her that it was only 120 people in total.
“OK,†said the coke lady. “How does two litres sound?â€
Trish said she just couldn’t believe it – it would have been less insulting if they’d just told her to fuck off. Anyway, she said she’s not quite sure whether she’d fully replaced the receiver before she said the word “Bitchâ€, but I’m sure it doesn’t really matter.
December 8th, 2006 at 2:50 pm
sure it wasn’t 2l per person???? how crazy. as a seasoned (jaded/retired) corporate fundraiser, i could give you many examples of swiney corporate behaviour.. turning up for the ‘big pitch’ at renowned oil company in difficult location waiting an hour for meeting to be told by prissy madam that they’d ‘just’ cancelled, taking significant donor round programmes in balkans in much (dire) need of funding to be told she’d already decided not to support said charity any more (once we got there obviously!!).. i even went to much-maligned tobacco co just to see how terrible they were. alas i had bronchitis at the time. did that stop them chuffing through the meeting? swines. i think there’s a real case of the bigger the co. the arsier it is with charities.
December 9th, 2006 at 11:48 pm
Hi Rach
Just read your last few emails and enjoyed the newspaper headlines. Horse rapist??? The mind boggles. Also hope you’re enjoying Heart of Darkness. I think Conrad is very good – and very appropriate during an adventure. Have you read Lord Jim?
But, actually, part of the reason for this email is to send a message to Mel, who obviously from the above comment is the Mel who is an ex-colleague of both of us. Several of us are meeting for a drink after work on Thurs 21 Dec. Nathalie, Stephen, Tom and me + possibly 1 or 2 others. It would be great if you could join us. Not sure of the venue, but somewhere around Old St. Obviously you are invited too, Rach! If you can make it my no. is 07817 535559. Martin
Sorry for using this as a message board. Is that completely inappropriate? If so, put it down to my age.
December 11th, 2006 at 9:50 am
Ugh – I still can’t believe tobacco companies hand out cigarettes like sweets at external meetings. Foul.
Martin, you may use the comments for anything you wish – I’ll also pass on your message to Mel. I hope you don’t get too many total strangers phoning your number! I wish I could come to the gathering, but alas, on 21 December, I will be living it up in Maputo, eating fresh crab, and tanning my bod. Have a glass of mulled wine for me, and also a lovely Christmas. XX
January 9th, 2009 at 9:38 am
hi
llenv8g3iswk6ef2
good luck
January 10th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
hi
llenv8g3iswk6ef2
good luck