Well, I just explained my situation:
I am a 21 year old Med Student at UCLA - I'm BROKE! This laptop was a gift from a family friend, and now that I had to send mine back, only to have it delayed two weeks (even though they shipped it today). Due to this, I am now forced to rent a laptop to complete my schoolwork (which is not exactly true, I am now borrowing my poor brother's machine). Renting a Laptop is 20 bucks a day (which is really expensive). I asked if they could either get me my computer faster, or help offset the cost of this renting.
They offered me an iPod Shuffle, but I got a free Nano when I ordered the laptop. So they let me pick from a selection of stuff from the store (all like 50-60 bucks), and I picked a Speck See-Thru case.
I got it in yesterday, several days before my laptop even comes in
EDIT: What I would do in your case is simply explain that you are frustrated and NEED your laptop, then ask if they can do anything to help. Be nice to them and they will give you stuff. I was and they did