I couldn't agree more w/ what Eric had to say. You see a lot of this strongarm/smear job discount crap around here lately. And since it seems there's no standard for what retribution anyone receives (aside from maybe "squeaky wheel gets the grease"), I've even found myself offended at how one person's jumbled order earns them 7 hoodies, a gear bag, and a toaster oven, while all's I got was a sticker.
and this is NOT strictly held to mmamuscle. not remotely. Nor is my tirade any indication of my experience w/ Paul and his company.
I just worry that folks come and read threads with "oh, my merch was 5 minutes late, and so I PM'd the owner and he got me a private w/ Rickson" and then start making similar demands from merchants for extra/free swag. Which you know, fine, discretion of the merchant, but I somehow figure that in the long run, it's going to lead to price increases for the rest of us.
Example: If I go to burger king and they give me onion rings instead of fries, I drive back through and say "hey man, I ordered fries." They usually apologize and give me my fries. Not fries PLUS two apple turnovers, a whopper, a book of coupons for my next 10 visits, and a foot rub while I wait.
if your order got hosed, fine, you deserve some compensation, but dang. don't take advantage. where's the honor in that?