Bribery? HA! Like a guy is going to move millions of dollars over to me because he got a $100 hockey ticket if another guy has a better deal for him. Or someone is going to do a $10MM loan for $100 ticket that will cost him tens of thousands of dollars more compared to the next guy. Sure.
Its all about spending time with them and getting them one on one for an extended period. No business owner can cut 3 hours out of his day to sit down and talk. But he can go to a hockey game, or play a round of golf on the weekend.
And more often than not, its a big "thank you" after the deal is done and referrals are pushed.
Well, you can’t have it both ways.
Treating a guy to $100 sports ticket either HELPS business or it does not. A “thank you” before the sale is the same as a “thank you” after the sale.
If it doesn’t help business, I doubt a corporation would do it.
I guess we will have to agree to disagree.