Hi, Edwin

I could easily keep Edwin and never go back to that hotel chain ever again.

That's what I'm saying. This is less manipulative capitalism and more customer experience. It would hold literally no weight on my decision to stay there or at that chain (assuming it's a franchise) again. If the room sucks it sucks. Duck won't fix it. It's a far cry from McDonald's putting toys in happy meals.
- But if there were two equal rooms (excluding the duck) at competing hotels for the same price, I'd go back to the duck hotel.
  That doesn't make it manipulative. Like you said, it's customer experience and that can make the difference.
- It's not about that. It's about getting people to post online about the cute duck they got from the hotel. It's to plant a positive association of the chain in the subconscious of people scrolling by and seeing the cute story.
  A year from now with 2 hotels across the street from each other for the same price, they won't even remember why they have a positive association with the chain. But it'll be there.
  But I also don't mind it. If providing a positive experience drives a positive e perception and more money for a business that's fine. It's okay to manufacture good press by doing good things.
I'd probably never go back on purpose. I couldn't leave him, but I don't want to clutter my apartment with ducks.
- Thought the same. If they are smart it's a different animal every time, which would complicate things
I stayed at a hotel a while ago that left a little plushie on the bed when I checked in. It was a generic wolf plushie, kinda scratchy, not especially high quality, with a goofy little detective hat with a pineapple pattern (the hotel was called Stay Pineapple) sewn onto its head.
It said on the tag that if you took the plushie home with you they'd add $35 or something to your tab when you checked out. That's the manipulative capitalism part. They didn't have the plushies in a little gift shop -- I almost certainly wouldn't have bought it if they had -- they put it on my bed so I'd already have picked it up and hugged it and stuff and have to "leave it behind".
I very much feel the sentiment in this tweet.
It's not even that good of a plushie. Why did I take it home?

I had one in my hotel room with the note „we give a duck“.

Edwin does not move me. I would leave Edwin where I found him.

You monster
- I know.
I appreciate useful convention merch/promotional handouts, but I have no problem looking a rep right in the eyes and telling them “No thanks.” Followed by “I’m just going to throw this away once I get home.” if they insist.
It might make me sound like a jerk, but I’m not going to collect plastic waste. Let someone who might actually want that whatever take it home.
- That would be using your powers for good.

Question is, do they change the name for every customer or is it 'Edwin' for everyone.

Because of I had to change rooms and there was Edwin's clone, I might think Edwin is just a fake doppleganger, perhaps even a robot.

Then I'll have to stuff both of them it in a closet and block it with a chair or a table just so I can sleep. Just sayin'.

What does this have to do with capitalism?

It's to encourage loyalty, like wearing branded clothes, using branded bags, or loyalty programs. This one is very benign though, so I don't find it in any way something to complain about.
- Also marketing.
  A good hotel with good service may get a reference here or there, but a decent hotel that gives you a cute thing to take with you, post pictures of, and tell people all about the cute quirky thing some place or other does?
  People do the advertising for them.
  It's like the snarky tumblr/twitter/facebook fast food pages.
Dude sniffs his own farts

I could see this place being popular with programmers

In my experience, that strategy often consists of unleashing angry, obscenity laced tirades on your rubber duck and I'm not sure the other hotel guests would appreciate that.
Can confirm I’m a programmer and I want that duck.
I’ve actually wanted a programming duck for a while, alas I struggle to be motivated to get one.
Also with Ernie.
Also Wrangler owners

My brother has a business supplier who keeps sending beanie babies with his order and like . . . what are we supposed to do with this trash?

A supplier my work purchases from gives a small "gift" once your orders reach a certain dollar value. We were laughing because we hit the "free calendar" tier and it was the most amazingly lackluster beach calendar with the most overused beach stock photos that we've all seen at least a dozen times each

Do you have any cheese?

My hotel just left a dead hooker in my mattress.

Our hotel in New Zealand gave us a free teddy bear with exactly the same wording. Ofc we took it

Was it Edwin?
- No it was The George in Christchurch

Edwin is full of phthalates

Recently I bought a watermelon soda ( I hate artificial watermelon flavored things) just because it had Demon Slayer characters in it . I am 29 years old and I'm ashamed of myself

So which hotel is this?

If I had to guess the Apex branded ones, I stayed at one in Glasgow that left a rubber ducky in the room I don't remember the note though.