OK guys, calm down. You both have valid points. On the one hand, why should the shop go giving free stuff when they don't have to (perfectly good, money making argument), on the other, why not give free stuff when it doesn't cost them anything and is likely to make the customer happy?
I think it boils down to the large chain store vs. the small one-off store. The small store will happily throw in a few freebies because (a) the chances are that you're talking to the owner, his/her family, or at least someone with an interest in the business doing well, rather than an employee who's never met the people that he/she is making money for, and only (really) cares about how long until the end of his/her shift, and (b ) the large chain stores couldn't really care less about return custom (at least up to a point) because they know that they have the cheapest prices (usually!) so people will come back regardless of the service.
Finally (if I understand correctly) nshockeyplaya was buying his new tank in the chain store because of the cheap prices. Generally speaking cheap prices = poor service. If you expect more for your money, then I'm afraid that you have to pay more money! If you fly first class you get more free stuff than you can handle, if you fly economy you're lucky to get your own seat - as I said in my first post - that's life!