BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Uber and Lyft are offering free rides to vaccination appointments, and some companies are offering perks like free food and drink to people who’ve been vaccinated.
But there is definitely a strategy behind these freebies.
Vaccinated people are eligible for a lot of free stuff. They can get a Krispy Kreme doughnut, a Sam Adams beer and even get their vaccination card laminated at Staples or OfficeMax at no-cost.
Ozias Moore, an assistant professor at Lehigh University’s business school, says these perks help grab customers’ attention, and they make companies look good, too.
“There’s a motivation for the companies to show some corporate social responsibility, but clearly the payoff for the companies is to get the customers back, and potentially, identify new customers,” Moore says.
Companies like Trader Joe’s, Dollar General and McDonald’s are also offering their employees paid time off, or extra pay, to get vaccinated. Ozias says that’s another way to signal to the public that stores and employees are safe to come back to.