Most retailers and service providers these days, are involved in cut-throat competition. As a result, today's world is marked by a great deal of rivalry among product and service providers. How would they ensure that their sales revenues rise higher than those of their nearest competitors? Well, they do what the snake tried to do in the Garden of Eden. Instead of the apple that Eve was tempted to take a bite of, the companies of today offer freebies at every available opportunity. From free gifts to discounts and sales, customers today are really spoilt for choice.

A great example of how organizations try to pamper their customers is that of the several department stores of today. Walk into a decently large department store, get a bill of more than a certain amount, and you will be inundated with discount coupons and freebies of all kinds. From beauty products at bargain-basement prices to electronic goods with a whole lot of free add-ons, to discount coupons to the newest restaurants -- these are just some of the many freebies that consumers are given. The primary aim is to buy the business of the consumers.

A very good example that shows how the providers of various services try to impress the customers is that of credit cards. If you look at it objectively, a credit card is at heart nothing but a loan given on the basis of one's income. Yet, credit cards have now almost become like status symbols. Like cars and houses in posh localities, the greater the number of credit cards that you have, the greater is your monetary status in society. Yet, is it really fair to describe credit cards as being an honest indicator of your wealth? Just look at all the discounts that they offer to make sure that more and more people do business with them.

First of all, credit cards are no longer the privilege of the wealthier sections. Middle income groups also have access to them these days. Moreover, the options of cash back credit cards make it a viable option for people who tend to spend no more than a certain amount on their credit cards. Some cards sell themselves on the basis of being interest-free for the first three months. Such offers are immediate incentives for people who are unwilling to waste too much time doing research on the best buys in the market. A few incentives do go a long way in winning over customers.