I guess I will go ahead and throw in my 2 cents.
First off, I do not see anything wrong whatsoever with AG throwing in some free merchandise as a good faith gesture to try and make up for their screw up. Isn't that good business? Shouldn't they try to make the customer happy?
Calling it a "bribe" is just trying to put a negative spin on what AG did in giving the free merchandise. I don't think that is fair....unless it was done in exchange for posting the information here at Autopia (and there is no evidence that is the case).
Whether or not the free merchandise is sufficient to make up for the actions/mistake etc. is a judgment call that the customer must decide for themselves. But regardless of the answer to that question, I don't understand how someone could actually criticize them for trying to make the customer happy following their mistake.
I've personally never had a single issue with AG, and I have ordered from them far more than any other vendor. The only negative thing is that the order has to be shipped across the country, so it takes a little longer.