Arriving at Paddington earlier in the week, I was inconveniently assailed by hordes of samplers pressing cans of Natural Born Cola (or branding to that effect) upon me. I say inconveniently, because after a morning of planes, trains and automobiles (not necessarily in that order) one of the last things you need is something else to drink. Conveniences - of the public variety - yes. Twenty-four hours later, retracing my steps, I noted the sampling unit had gone - just when I fancied a cooling beverage as I hot-footed it for Heathrow. But it wasn't only me - en route to the great western terminus I'd marvelled at the Guinness-Book-of-Record-breaking attempts I'd witnessed to get six hundred people onto a double-decker bus... and another one... and another one (well, they do move in threes). And at bus stops... such crowds you'd think Beckham was signing autographs prior to the game. But where were the cola samplers when tired and thirsty London needed them? A little bit of tactical flexibility and - wow - what reach they would have achieved, what satisfaction they would have delivered to the capital's normally subterranean denziens flushed blinking into the daylight. And the bus companies...? I didn't hop aboard myself, preferring Shanks's, but did they take their chance to convert their serendipitous sampling opportunity into repeat purchase? Thanks for riding with us - take this voucher - come back again - travel free every Wednesday... I wonder???
