A $2 discount or a free chips and drinks card can help bring customers back.

What should you provide to a customer who has previously tried your brand?

• A. A free meal
• B. A $2 discount or a free chips and drinks card
• C. A loyalty point
• D. Access to exclusive deals

Answer: (B)

Offering a $2 discount or a free chips and drinks card to a customer who has previously tried your brand is an effective strategy for several reasons. First, it provides a tangible benefit that encourages repeat business, reinforcing customer's positive experiences with your brand while also enticing them to visit again. The modest financial incentive of a discount is easily perceived as a gesture of appreciation, making customers feel valued and fostering loyalty. Additionally, the option of a free chips and drinks card enhances the overall customer experience without overwhelming them with an expensive free meal—this makes it a practical choice for both the business and the customer. Such rewards can also effectively promote upselling, as customers might feel more inclined to purchase additional items when they already have free sides or drinks. Access to exclusive deals or loyalty points is also beneficial, but they may not be as immediately appealing or actionable as a direct discount or a free item. Implementing direct values like the $2 discount or free chips and drinks card allows for a more straightforward and impactful way to create a positive interaction with returning customers.

When a customer has already tried your brand, what do you offer to bring them back for a second bite? If you’re playing with Jersey Mike’s seasoned playbook, the best move is a simple, tangible gesture: a $2 discount or a free chips and drinks card. Yes, it sounds modest. But that modesty is what makes it powerful.

Let me explain why this little incentive often beats bigger freebies or abstract perks. It’s not just about saving a couple of bucks; it’s about signaling appreciation in a clear, immediate way. A customer who’s already tasted what you serve wants to feel seen, not sold to. A $2 discount or a complimentary chips-and-drinks card says: “Thanks for stopping by again. Here’s a small reward for coming back.” That warmth matters—especially in a world where choices are many and attention spans are short.

Why a small reward works so well

• It’s tangible and quick. People love instant gratification. A simple discount or a free side feels like a friendly nudge rather than a commitment. You’re removing the friction that sometimes stops a returning customer from pulling the trigger on another visit.

• It communicates appreciation. If a brand isn’t careful, customers can feel invisible after that first encounter. A visible reward—a card, a coupon, a quick digital code—tells them they’re valued and worth a little extra effort.

• It’s inexpensive to implement, but high in impact. The price tag isn’t big, yet the payoff in repeat visits and word-of-mouth can be surprisingly big. The math is friendlier than you’d expect when you factor in the value of a repeat guest and the potential for upsells on the next visit.

• It nudges behavior without overwhelming margins. You’re not giving away a free mega-meal; you’re opening the door for another purchase with a friendly spark. It creates a scenario where the guest feels they’re earning value, not receiving a handout.

Two practical ways to put this into action

• A $2 discount on the next order. It’s straightforward, easy to communicate, and hard to misinterpret. For a customer who’s already tried your sandwiches, a couple of dollars off can be the difference between “maybe I’ll swing by” and “I’ll swing by now.” If your point-of-sale system supports it, you can issue a quick digital code or print a small, eye-catching slip.

• A free chips and drinks card. Think of this as a tiny loyalty perk with high perceived value. The idea isn’t to hand out freebies all the time, but to offer a reward that increases the likelihood of a second visit. It can be scaled to cover a handful of upgrades—chips, a drink, or a combo add-on—without blowing up costs. And the card itself becomes a physical reminder of your brand, tucked in a wallet or purse until the next visit.

A quick note on why not over-idealize loyalty points or exclusive deals every single time. They’re great tools, but they can feel intangible or require a future payoff. A direct $2 discount or a tangible free-side card creates an immediate, easy-to-understand value. It’s not that loyalty points are bad; it’s that, for a customer who’s already tried your brand, a concrete reward often lands with more clarity and impact.

Putting it into practice without breaking the bank

• Make it easy to redeem. A simple code, a scanned card, or a quick tap at the register should be all it takes. Complication kills momentum. The goal is to remove any extra steps that slow a returning guest from saying “yes.”

• Promote it subtly. Use friendly signs near the register, friendly staff prompts, and brief, upbeat mentions in your post-visit follow-up emails or text messages. The message should feel natural, not pushy.

• Track what works. Keep a simple log: who gets the discount or card, how often they come back, and what they tend to order on the return visit. You’ll learn which offers drive the best outcomes and adjust accordingly.

• Time the offer wisely. You don’t want to flood guests with rewards too soon after their first visit, but you also don’t want to wait too long. A sensible window—say a few weeks—helps keep the momentum without devaluing the gesture.

What about the other options in the mix?

• Access to exclusive deals. It’s a credible hook, but it can feel distant if there’s no current benefit attached. For a customer who already knows your brand, a quick, concrete benefit often lands more warmly than a tunnel of “exclusive” promotions that require you to remember a login or a special page.

• Loyalty points. They’re a cornerstone of modern retail, and they work well when there’s a clear path from point accumulation to meaningful reward. The challenge is making the path obvious and the reward immediate enough to matter in a single return visit. If your system can tie points to frequent, predictable perks, that’s great. If not, a straightforward $2 discount can sometimes do better in practice.

• A free meal. The grand gesture is tempting, but it’s also expensive and hard to sustain. A free meal can feel ceremonial rather than practical to someone who’s already tasted your menu. A smaller, recurring incentive keeps days busy with visits rather than emptying the calorie budget and the cash drawer.

A real-world flavor—how it feels in the moment

Picture this: a customer comes in on a Tuesday afternoon, craving something satisfying after a long day. The team greets them by name if you’ve got a simple loyalty reminder loaded in the POS. “Here you go—$2 off your next order or a chips and drinks card for a little pick-me-up next time.” A tiny decision, but the effect is big. The staff member doesn’t just hand over a coupon; they offer a genuine smile and a friendly nudge toward a repeat visit. The guest leaves with a tangible reminder and a sense that the brand values their return.

That moment—the exchange, the little offer, the upbeat tone—creates a memory. And memory is the seed of loyalty. People remember the warmth, the practicality, the feeling of being appreciated. The next time they’re deciding where to eat, that memory nudges them toward your sandwich shop again.

A few practical tips to make this approach sing

• Train front-line teams to present the offer naturally. A casual line like, “We’re glad you’re back. Here’s a little something for your next visit,” can work wonders. The delivery matters as much as the offer.

• Use simple, repeatable language in all communications. Whether it’s in-store signage, a quick text, or a friendly email, keep the message tight: “$2 off your next order” or “chips and drinks card on us.”

• Align the offer with your menu balance. If your chips and drinks card is part of the reward, make sure the added value complements common orders. It should encourage a small upsell that feels like a win for both the guest and the business.

• Consider timing and seasonality. A summer perk, or a back-to-school nudge, can keep the idea fresh. Short-term boosts can re-ignite interest without becoming the default expectation.

• Be mindful of margins. It’s a balancing act. The goal isn’t to erode profits but to nudge a returning guest toward a comfort-food moment they’ll tell a friend about.

A bit of culture and craft around the concept

Customers today aren’t just hungry for food; they crave connection and efficiency. A fast, friendly exchange—paired with a practical perk—speaks to both needs. It’s not flashy, but it’s dependable. And reliability matters in a world full of options. People remember how they felt as much as what they tasted.

If you’re piecing together a learning portfolio for retail or hospitality topics, this approach is a neat case study in balancing incentive value with cost control. It’s about small, human touches that compound over time. It’s about delivering a message without saying a word: we’re glad you came back.

To wrap it up

When a customer has already given your brand a try, lean into a direct, easy-to-appreciate reward: a $2 discount or a free chips and drinks card. It’s a practical choice that signals gratitude, encourages return visits, and opens doors for future upsells. It keeps things simple, friendly, and effective—the kind of strategy that fits naturally into a smooth, customer-first service philosophy.

If you’re exploring topics around customer retention, this example offers a clear, relatable blueprint: offer tangible value, keep it easy to redeem, and let the gesture do the talking. After all, sometimes the smallest incentives are the ones that prompt the biggest smiles—and the most loyal customers. Have you seen this kind of approach work in other brands? I’d love to hear what tiny rewards sparked a repeat visit in your own experience.