This word is commonly associated among antiquarians and relates directly to the concept of customer loyalty programs. What is it, what does it mean, and which famous US novelist wrote about it in the late 19th century?

teash

Is it Green Stamps? Sperry & Hutchinson (S&H Green Stamps) began offering stamps to USA retailers back in 1896. Stores gave them as bonuses with every purchase based on the amount you bought therefore a reward for customer loyalty. I am not sure this is right as I am having trouble finding the novelist! Aug 02 06, 2:14 PM

peasypod

No, sorry teash. Think creole.... Aug 02 06, 3:29 PM

gdec1

Lagniappe- a small gift given a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase, such as a 13th beignet when buying a dozen, or more broadly something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure; a bonus. Mark Twain writes about the word in a chapter on New Orleans in Life on the Mississippi (1883). He called it "a word worth travelling to New Orleans to get". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagniappe Aug 02 06, 5:17 PM

peasypod

Nice One gdec, someone mentioned a Baker's Dozen here the other day, which sparked my memory of this expression. Aug 02 06, 5:52 PM