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How To: Evaluate If The Free Laptops and Plasma TVs Giveaways Are Scams
cleverdude.com — A detailed step by step guide on how this guy was able to sort through all the scam offers and score himself a 2 Sony Vaio laptops and a $1000 Visa gift card.
savingadvice- 1288 diggs
- digg it
- Henry, on 10/12/2007, -3/+37This worked maybe 2 years ago?
- Landonr, on 06/30/2008, -4/+24Yeah, This is definitely a lot harder now.
- JGuest, on 10/12/2007, -16/+25I just got my MacBook Pro in the mail for free. Picture here http://i18.tinypic.com/2dw4zg5.png . These work today too sir...
- tjkisst, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1A friend of mine got his wii too: http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mywiikh5.jpg
- RBasil, on 10/12/2007, -5/+60@jguest
I have some swamp land in Florida for sale. You interested? - NinjaDuck12, on 10/12/2007, -16/+7@jguest
Nice picture of your screen. - Quag, on 10/12/2007, -5/+21I've done a few of these sites before with good results. If you want to attempt one I would suggest looking through this forum for tips first: http://forum.freeipodguide.com/ I'm not affiliated, just trying to help out.
- Cputerace, on 10/12/2007, -17/+2While it is hard to actually get the end product of a free tv or laptop, you can make money off these companies, check out the below post. I have made about $750 off similar programs:
http://digg.com/tech_deals/How_to_make_money_off_the_Free_iPhone_companies - jus1haz2, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13I got a free shuffle and video ipod from freepay but they screwed me on my 360. idk there real its just a pain in the ass to complete all the *****. its alot faster to go get a job and earn the money for the device lol
- indicas, on 10/12/2007, -9/+2Did anyone manage to get the url? All I could get was an iPhone/smartphone offer my friend sent to me..
http://tinyurl.com/328bu2
Has anyone gotten this one?? - arcooke, on 10/12/2007, -8/+5@ jguest
The weirdest thing just happened... I went to the site you took a screenshot of. As always, I typed in a bogus email address first to see what the "offers" were like. The email address I entered was poop@plop.com (poop/plop is an inside joke between my best friend and I). When the page pulled up, all the blanks were filled in. The thing is, they were filled in with Kevin Mitnick's information (famous hacker). All the information checks out.. the address, the zip code, the area code..
Try it yourself.. onlinegiftrewards.com .. enter poop@plop.com as the email address.
What are the odds of that................ anyone want to try out the phone number and see if Mitnick answers? :) - tdogg241, on 10/12/2007, -1/+28Greetings, friend. Do you wish to look as happy as me? Well, you've got the power inside you right now. So use it. And send one dollar to Happy Dude, 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield. Don't delay! Eternal happiness is just a dollar away.
- Henry, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11@mixxoys: That's what she said.
- aschocobo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6i'll more than likely get dugg down for this, but...
not all of these are scams. i've done a few of these. No, they don't fit the dictionary definition of 'free' (you DO have to pay something), but compared to what you'd be paying at retail price, these offer things are pretty cheap(i got a second wii this way for ~$30.00, and i'm looking to get a ps3 for about ~$70). the one thing you do have to have though, is patience, and a ***** of it. in my experience, the typical time from the sign-up, all the way until the time you get your gift is about 4 months. some of the offers come with free gift cards (so far i've gotten a $30.00 amazon card, 1 for pizza hut, and $50.00 gift card for gamestop, as well as some other stuff that i probably wont use.)
one typical mistake people make when doing these things is not following the directions exactly as they are given. other mistakes: forgetting to cancel offers on time, or forgetting to cancel offers you won't use.
the company that i've had no problems with is YFDirect/Netblue. their phone number is legit, you can easily contact them, and the people there seem like they actually want to help you.
also, the guys over at scam.com were really helpful when filtering out the shady stuff, so that helped a lot as well. a lot of these sites are scams, so you can't blame people for not trusting them, but if you're really looking for something but can't get it any other way, its a nice last ditch option to try. just be careful though... - cwshea, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10@jguest
I have 10 million dollars that my uncle left for me in Nigeria before he was murdered by rebels.
I need _your_ help to get it out of Nigeria before I are be killed.
:-/ - CyberInferno, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1I actually just did one of these using a company called "rewardpath" (just do a google search for "free playstation 3" (or anything else you want free and you'll see their stuff. All their sites end in "-rewardpath.com"). I got my free Playstation 3 with no hassle at all. Got credit for all my offers in a timely fashion. The longest I had to wait was three days to get credit. It's also not a referral-based thing so you don't have to bug your friends. It's the 60GB model and overall I spent (exactly) $24.99 on offers. They changed the requirements while I was doing it, but of course those new requirements didn't apply to me so it was a little easier than it is now. It's definitely legit, though.
- xigxag, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3The bottom line is there are tons of these sites out there and they are (mostly) legit. The problem is finding which ones are the best to complete (most reliable/trustworthy, fewest offers to do, time from completion to receiving item, etc.) You have to really be smart and do your research (as someone mentioned http://forums.freeipodguide.com is a great resource to figure the whole scene out. Also http://www.ratetheoffers.com is a good place to see which advertiser offers have the least hassle.). I'm out of the freebie world now, as many of the best offers dried up since there were so many people scamming the easy offers to get credit for their gift. That's basically what it boils down to. These sites get paid a good chuck of money from the advertisers (blockbuster.com, diet-pills, tickle tests, etc.) for referrals. They are supposedly delivering customers as you actually have to sign up for an offer with credit card and all. One of the best tricks for doing this stuff is getting a bundle of prepaid Visa cards. I get them from the Simon kiosk at the mall, but I understand banks will issue them also. Then when you sign up to the offers you don't have to worry about cancelling on time to avoid the auto-charge after the free trial.
I got a $1000 check (offered as alternative to the 42 Plasma that retailed for $1300), 360 premium, 60 gig iPod, and an iBook G4, along with some other assorted stuff. These are still alive and kicking, just not quite as profitable as a couple years ago.
- rarkai, on 10/12/2007, -8/+79How To Evaluate If The Free Laptops and Plasma TVs Giveaways Are Scams:
Answer: yes.- tHePeOPle, on 10/12/2007, -2/+40Homer: "Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter."
- Cputerace, on 10/12/2007, -21/+1If you feel they are scams, you should try scamming them back, you get about $.50 each time you enter your email address or zip code when you do it through the company below. I have made about $750 on these companies so far:
http://digg.com/tech_deals/How_to_make_money_off_the_Free_iPhone_companies - rune420, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5The golden rule of capitalism:
"Nobody ever gives you what they didn't already take" - IronKurton, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If there is any doubt, there is no doubt.
- Abudiwa, on 10/12/2007, -7/+9aren't they all scams?
- rshu4you, on 10/12/2007, -3/+47Microsoft has sent me $150,000 so far by forwarding their E-Mails........
- EtherGnat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I would say that they are indeed all scams, but not all of them are crooked. Many of the sites will indeed follow through with their offer, but only if you man to complete their byzantine and time consuming requirements which can make it nearly impossible to successfully complete the required tasks. If you're careful and dedicated you can make out, but for most of us it's not worth the risk/effort.
- musntSurfatWork, on 10/12/2007, -7/+4umm, because the words free and anything else in the same sentence?
- smellythai, on 10/12/2007, -6/+19Thats how I got my macbook, my iPod, and my television. Its just a little extra work and money, but it pays off.
- 2keysmatt, on 10/12/2007, -2/+50if it's extra work and money, how is it free.
- OMGWTFROFLMAOx2, on 10/12/2007, -11/+49Seriously, that's how I got my own home based business started as well. I'm making over $10,000 per month now!
- plncrzy, on 10/12/2007, -14/+7@omgwtfroflmaox2
I dugg you up because my sarcasm meter is not broken, apparently unlike many others' today. :) - spliffy, on 10/12/2007, -8/+4it's mainly just the huge influx of junior high kids. no reason to bother with sarcasm, you'll just get dugg down.
and speaking of dugg.... aren't we going to get a "i'm a mac, i'm a pc" ad today? Maybe the kids have latched on to a new corporate viral marketing campaign.
so hip. you go guys. digg rocks now!
- growlzor, on 10/12/2007, -5/+31Nothing in this world is free avoid these offers at all costs. There now you don't need to read the article
- kevisazombie, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I get free beers all the time!
- modulo1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6There's a sign at my local bar that says "Free beer tomorrow".
So I went in the next day to get my free beer, the bartender just pointed to the sign.
- turpenine, on 10/12/2007, -12/+22step 1. go to http://www.freeipodguide.com/
step 2. ask if the site is legit//do a search
step 3. do the site
step 4. ???
step 5. profit.
note, I am not affiliated with freeipodguide, they just rock. - dcbebop, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11Which sites did the laptops and TV come from? That's more useful than the actual article here.
- neoknight, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8but yet people keep on digging it.
those 1 Milliiiiiion users of digg, i tell ya...
- neoknight, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8but yet people keep on digging it.
- jiiimmyw, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14If he can be bothered to go through all of that process, including the reading in full of the T+C's, then good for him, he deserves the free stuff. I however, can't be arsed.
- TheRedCoat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5You sir, are a true Englishman.
- tokyomonster, on 10/12/2007, -6/+5I got a free ipod from one of these.
- ph3rny, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6If they cannot afford to give one away to every person that has the ability to connect to their site it is most certainly a scam
to hell with that they are all scams - scottauth, on 10/12/2007, -2/+46My friend did this kind of easily. The process:
1. Be an attractive female
2. Create Myspace profile
3. Submit a ton of pictures
4. Add a bunch of guys as friends
5. Post bulletin about Free iPod, Mac Mini, TV, etc...
6. Wait for the mail to arrive- catalysis, on 10/12/2007, -4/+27#1 is optional.
- bennyboy371, on 10/12/2007, -0/+33I'm currently doing that. Replace #1 with:
Post pictures of attractive female.
- MaxPayne3476, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1The only service that I can verify legit is the Gratis Network promotions. It used to be a lot easier when the referring programs were cheap, but I've heard it is much harder now!
- Raider007, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2i got an ipod from one of these, they actually paid me to get a free ipod (one of the offers i made money on)
and I also got an iBook last year for $30 worth of stuff and about 2 hours on the phone canceling said offers - Tu13erhead, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11Lots of these sites are legit, it's just really hard to complete what they want you to do. I got $1000 in gift cards from ExclusiveRewards.com a few years ago. One of the main reasons why I was able to was that none of the offers required you to refer anyone. Essentially I signed up for 6 trials/items and cancelled the trials or returned the items after they went through with the site.
That said, I spent a while researching the site before I jumped in. I took very tedious notes/screenshots of what happened and made sure to cancel everything immediately.
Final cost: $23.50
If only the site hadn't closed, I'd do it over and over. :) - flamingmb, on 10/12/2007, -4/+50I know the offer is legit if: 1) the banner is flashing 2) I am visitor #xxxxx 3) if I have to hit something within the banner.
/sarcasm - mibrownfinger, on 10/12/2007, -9/+3i won an xbox 360, two copies of gears of war, and a tshirt from http://www.servermechanic.com/
The contest is over now though, but it was legit, and free. didnt even have to do any offers.- Blandyman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3That, as you said, is a CONTEST.
There's a difference.
I won an Anarchy Online contest a few years ago. I won a Radeon X800Pro, a copy of Anarchy Online and all its expansions, and a t-shirt.
That's not one of these "giveaways", that was a regular ol' contest.
- Blandyman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3That, as you said, is a CONTEST.
- scorchedearth, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Some of these companies are real. Check freeipodguide and anything4free for information on who is legit and who is not.
I used to work in the industry so I know that it works if you choose the right website. I know a guy who has 4 fancy LCD/Plasma TVs in his house from these kinds of sites.
I just can't be bothered myself. - subarusqueege, on 10/12/2007, -7/+5sure ya did......................
- peregrine, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5Well I will say this is interesting and I do have some extra time on my hands....maybe I will get me a macbook for school.
- VinceNoir, on 10/12/2007, -8/+4Oh... I thought it said, "How to Ejaculate Free Laptops and Plasma TVs". Now that's one HOWTO I'd love to see. Especially seeing how I'm into medical sound play.
- n3il89, on 10/12/2007, -6/+6"Always avoid offers that require referrals!" Using referrals works fine...I got a xbox 360, ipod nano, ps2, and psp that way. They work great. TRAINN is the most reputable site to do this. They are 100% legit and are great to deal with
http://www.trainn.org/- anamanaman, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I thought pyramid schemes were illegal
- xigxag, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Yeah he's right. Especially now that the DIY sites are becoming harder and harder to complete as more people are figuring out how to scam their system. The referrals are just as legit, it just takes some work. I just get some prepaid Visa cards and head over to my friends house and use their computer to do an offer for myself (You have to actually go, as they will track IP and whatnot). Another alternative is to trade referrals with those on sites like freeipodguide.com, or just be an internet whore and spam your links everywhere (please god don't).
- dmorris68, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0@anamanaman: It's isn't a pyramid scheme. Very different thing. They are either referral based (a single-level linear model, not a matrix or pyramid), or are DIY.
- Hackzaur, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0The digg affect: site down
Awww, and I was really looking forward to it ;)
Hilarious post by flamingmb:
I know the offer is legit if: 1) the banner is flashing 2) I am visitor #xxxxx 3) if I have to hit something within the banner.
/sarcasm
hehe - antdude, on 10/12/2007, -7/+11Google Cache: http://72.14.209.104/search?hs=sUq&hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleverdude.com%2Farticles%2Ffinances%2Fhow-i-get-laptops-and-plasma-tvs-for-free%2F&btnG=Search
Copy and Paste With Poor Formattings:
How I Get Laptops and Plasma TVs for Free
06Mar07
Sony VaioHow many of you get those spam emails with “Your $1000 Home Depot Gift Card is waiting for you” or “Click here to pick up your free 42″ Plasma TV”?
I did, and I got 2 Sony Vaio laptops and a $1000 Visa gift card out of it.
Plasma TV
You see, not all of those emails are scams. And this article is going to give you a little insight into how these sites work.
How I got started
Two years ago, a coworker tried out some offers for a free XBox and Apple iPod. He had to complete 4 advertiser offers for each “gift”, but he did the offers and eventually got the Xbox and iPod. I decided to give it a shot too.
I immediately went for the big stuff. My first offer was a Sony Vaio I received in my Hotmail account. I looked at the terms and conditions and I only had to complete 6 offers with no referrals. Looked good to me!
How do these things work?
I’ll try to run down the basics for you. Each promotion site is slightly different:
1. Most sites require you to complete a certain number of advertiser offers. I’ve seen them vary from 2 to 20 required offers. You have to pay for these advertiser offers, but they’re usually 7 or 30 day trials, which you can cancel at any time and just pay shipping or for one month of the product. Other offers could require you to complete an auto loan, buy furniture, or sell your first child. I’ll give you some tips on this later.
2. In addition to advertiser offers, some sites also require that you refer a certain number of other participants. This means you need to get friends, family or strangers to sign up for the same deal as you. Plus, you have to wait till they complete their offers before yours is finalized. Always avoid offers that require referrals!
3. These sites also require you to sign up with your name, address, phone and email, and then “fill out a brief survey”. This survey consists of numerous screens of “Do you want information about Student Loan Consolidation” or “Do you like coupons”. Just click No for everything and get to the good stuff.
4. These sites make their money from the advertisers. The advertisers make their money from the shipping on free samples (that cost almost nothing to make), but mostly from people like my sister who signs up for Columbia House and keeps forgetting to cancel the Featured Selection!
Product Test Panel
How do I pick out the safe sites from the scam sites?
The providers of these “free” offers are getting trickier and more strict, so they’re always changing tactics. However, these few tips should always help make the search a little safer:
* Whether you get an offer via email or browse directly to a site, check the Terms and Conditions FIRST and read it COMPLETELY. The T&C will tell you how many offers you must complete and whether you need to get referrals. Also, it should provide some methods to check your account and maybe how to contact the site owners.
* Google the name of the site. For example, “Product Test Panel” or “Consumer Incentive Promotions”. You’re bound to pull back some listings on Scam.com and other sites. Don’t let this deter you. Read all that you can about the provider and make your best judgment on how reliable and trustworthy they may be.
* Finally, look up the site on the Better Business Bureau’s official site. Most providers have multiple aliases, addresses and phone numbers. Jot down the company’s information and then test out those phone numbers. If you get a live person, great! But, most likely, you’ll just get a voicemail. Leave a message to see if they’ll get back to you. Just tell them “I’m interested in your free promotion, but I want to make sure I can contact you in case there are issues. Could you please call me back or email me at …?”
My methods to beat their system
I’m not the most diligent person with regards to keeping track of information, except when it comes to money. I don’t want to get shafted out of hard-earned money, so here are my methods:
1. I verify the site credentials as stated in the above section
2. I obtain a screenprint of every web page they give me, except the survey pages. I personally print the pages as PDF files, but you can also accomplish the same task with screen prints. The important pages are the homepage, Terms and Conditions, and each offer page
3. I view the offers on ALL the offer pages BEFORE I sign up for anything. That way, I can see whether the offers will be too steep to complete or aren’t worth the promotional product. The sites let you advance through the offer pages and return to prior screens.
4. I complete the prescribed numbers of offers presented on each offer page. For a 6 offer promotion, I usually get sent to 3 pages, where I complete 2 offers per page. The first page has the inexpensive offers with free trial periods. Each successive page has more expensive or more difficult to fulfill offers.
5. As I complete each offer, I add the offer details into a tracking spreadsheet. You can download a sample spreadsheet here. I completed this spreadsheet for a Plasma TV. However, I decided to take a $1000 Visa Card instead
6. I make sure to complete all the offers in one session, and I don’t delete my browser cookies. Many of the promotion sites use cookies to track who you are and what promotions to show you, as well as to display your account. Just try not to delete your cookies until you’ve complete all the offers and made first contact with the promotion team.
7. Once the offers are completed, I keep checking my account daily to see when the offers are validated. In all 3 times I did these promotions, some offers didn’t report back to the provider site, so I had to fax proof of the offer completion.
8. Also, and most importantly, I make sure I cancel any and all offers I completed before their trial period ends. Some offers also require you to return the product for credit, so make sure you do, and send it via certified mail.
How much have I spent on these promotions?
* Sony Vaio PCF-V505ECP Laptop = $95 (my daily laptop)
* Sony Vaio VGN-FS790B Laptop = $30 (Clever Dudette’s laptop)
* $1000 Visa Gift Card (was for a Plasma TV) = $300 (Bought a new grill, pressure washer, and curio cabinet)
Total Cost = $425. For about $3600 worth of stuff, not a bad deal. However, these deals count as gift income and you’ll be required to pay income taxes on the retail value. However, not all promotion sites follow through with the paperwork. Read into that as you wish…
When I come across a good offer, I’ll present a walk-through on this site. I thought I had a good one with Product Test Panel, until I viewed the final offer page. They only gave 3 offers, and I had to complete 2. Only one of the offers would have cost me less than $1500. Definitely not worth it!
So, if you follow my tips and methodologies, keep all records, and follow up consistently, then you could score yourself an “almost free” Plasma TV, Gift Card, Laptop, or even a Vespa Scooter!
Have any of you completed these deals? Have you been scammed? Are you like my sister and forget to cancel the offers?
Share This
Filed under: Finances, How-To |- munkeystump, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6dugg down for that guy buying a curio cabinet.
- fober, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I barely have enough time to read all of that much less attempt any of those steps.
Back to mindlessly surfin teh intarwebs. - nefty, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Dugg up for that guy mentioning a Vespa Scooter.
- ncapone, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1It sure is slow on Digg today...
- Mactard, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Some of these are real, there is a thread over at broadband reports, about 20 something people have received their Mac books. Some people spent as little as 147 dollars. Lucky them.
- Hackzaur, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0Hint:
google the link at the top of the page and select "cached" (in blue) under the description. It's googles shot of the page! Nifty when there's no mirror - bennyboy371, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Many of them are real, I don't understand why so many people here don't believe it. You want to know how these people make money? They're affiliated with all of the companies that they use as their offers, and they cut you off after a few months from continuing if you haven't done it yet. Need 19 referrals? They make plenty of money if you make it to 18 and shaft yourself. Plus, I hear the shipping times take up to several months on some of them. No, its not a replacement for working, but if you have the means... why not?
- seuaniu, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4I'll save everybody the trouble of reading this and evaluating these companies:
Step one: If their advertising something worth over $200 for "free", its a scam.
Done. - Bob_Oliver, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5How To: Evaluate If The Free Laptops and Plasma TVs Giveaways Are Scams
* Sony Vaio PCF-V505ECP Laptop = $95 (my daily laptop)
* Sony Vaio VGN-FS790B Laptop = $30 (Clever Dudette’s laptop)
* $1000 Visa Gift Card (was for a Plasma TV) = $300 (Bought a new grill, pressure washer, and curio cabinet)
Total Cost = $425 != Free- Electrox3d, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4actually you got something for free... if it wasn't the laptop, then it was the offer you did to get the laptop, or if you say you paid for the offer, but then you got a laptop, then the laptop was free... one of them is free, but you have to pay for one to get the other...
- potterboy, on 10/12/2007, -11/+1http://xbox360s.freepay.com/?r=35358629
- BINGOWasNameO, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3dang. Dugg mirror couldn't even index it. Site must have went down instantly.
- EtherGnat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Dugg mirror has been nearly worthless recently. Hopefully they can get things back on track, they've been a great asset to the Digg community.
- emoney33, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2Anything4free.com pwns freeipodguide. and even though no one will want to hear it, freebie sites do work. yes, you have to put some money into them, especially these days, but you make much more than you pay. check out A4F's gallery for proof: http://www.anything4free.com/forums/index.php?act=module&module=gallery
in particular, the user emoney.- mkpeaches, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1A4F FTW!
- upgrades, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2This is a pretty good article. I work for RewardsGateway.com, the company referred to in his sample spreadsheet. I don't know how he got around the auto loans that you HAVE TO have funded (and we get proof from roadloans / e-loans). Also, there's only legally allowed one winner per household..so he's kind of breaking our terms and conditions and i'm sure something legally could be pursued.
- RolltheStampede, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Rewardsgateway is one of the worst freebie sites out there. I did one of there sites a few months back and was hung up by customer service, lied to on the phone annd my account was never updated and I never recieved my gift even though I fulfilled all the requirements.
- subarusqueege, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Does all the junk mail come free as well?
- lazn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6One thing I wonder about is taxes.. I won a laptop online and ended up paying so much in taxes for it that I wished I hadn't won it.
- bennyboy371, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Was it more than what the laptop was worth? Was it even half?
- zadadka, on 10/12/2007, -2/+51. Advertise.
2. Give away expensive white goods.
3. Profit.
So, how does that work then?
TANSTAAFL.
Someone pays, somewhere, and you can be sure its not those giving out the goods. - malavalla, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3free = 0 dollars
- JStraum, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Sure, you're smart but getting an Xbox for doing about $30 in offers is still a pretty smart deal too...wouldn't you agree?
- DenTPuzz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9I helped some guy out in Nigeria with an inheritance problem. I'm just waiting for him to deposit the funds into the bank account I sent him the details for...
- devilbody, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@ arcooke
I did this with another e-mail address (at onlinegiftrewards.com) , I entered in jguest@yahoo.com for fun and got someone named Justin Guest (also includes home number, address, zip code)
Perhaps it works with other email addresses. Never knew that. Kind of scary. - nbcivic, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0there's no such thing as a free lunch. first rule of economics.
- malavalla, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1 @nbcivic dine and dash baby
- RolltheStampede, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1not free but cheap
- pd69, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2I did not want any of that referal stuff so I created A blog and im going to try and make enough for a mac mini from adsense and surveys. Im documenting my progress on http://totallyfreemacmini.blogspot.com/ any comments or suggestions are welcome.
- Agret, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I suggest you don't post your blogspam on digg, cause y'know we don't click that ***** here.
- Wonderkind, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3At a website I "kinda" trusted, I clicked a banner for a free dinner for two at Ruby Tuesdays.
I was supposed to answer a some polling questions. After reading ads and answering about 100 questions for 20 minutes I just said *****-it. Too expensive for a free dinner. - JStraum, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Wow, pessimism abounds!
Sure there is nothing for free...just ask Capital One what they spend every year on marketing. For example, say they spend a million dollars. For this million dollars they get 10000 new customers - so each new customer "cost" them $100.
So wouldn't it make good economic sense for Capital One to pay an advertising affiliate a $50 finders fee for every new customer they can find? No hassles with marketing, no speculation simply a set amount for said new customer. Check out places like commission junction and see what sort of commissions companies are willing to pay for new customers...it's crazy money!
Enter the freebie networks. They put up a "too good to be true" website and get the "gullible" to sign up. They will give you a new ipod if you would be willing to complete X offers. You complete the offers and the freebie network pays for your new ipod with 75% of what they made in commissions...where's the scam? - markmcleod, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I did these sites a while back, when they were mostly owned by Gratis. All in all I got a free Mac Mini, 60gb Photo iPod, 19 inch Viewsonic LCD, $250 cash, and an Xbox. There was a site called refstop.com where you could sign up and swap "referrals", like I'll do an offer for you if you do one for me. It worked great, I believe I got all the free items in less than two months. refstop also let you rank users, similar to eBay, so you know who was trying to scam. These sites were great for those with little cash but with a lot of motivation. I had a spreadsheet to keep track of all my offers, but still managed to miss a couple cancellations. I still have bottles of Serenity Now pills and cat chews.
- nnnr, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1http://www.treasuretrooper.com/147244
You can do them for money here as well - pentomino, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I remember when Kevin and Alex actually promoted a "free iPods" site on The Screen Savers, even interviewing the guys who ran the company. They got their iPods, of course. But they never mentioned the main problem of referral sites: they're more commonly known as pyramid schemes. Suppose you do have four friends that'll sign up for free iPods at this site. What are the chances that all four friends have each four friends that'll sign up for free iPods too? Maybe one of them will, but the other three will have nothing to show for their efforts but useless subscriptions to four useless services and a grudge against YOU.
- maddla, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Dear Sir or Madam,
Send me 10,000 dollars via western union and I will turn that money into thousands of Mac Laptops.
Send 10,000 dollars to Croituru Ion 11449 ST b19 Nigeria.
/sarcasm----
whatever happened to making money by actually doing something that benefits society. - nitrojunky24, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2how much junk mail (snail mail) do you get I mean you must be empting 90% of your mail in the trash and how many telemarketing calls? I mean all those companies must advertise the heck out of you now that they know where you live.
- boutros13, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I've done a few of these sites--I got a 60gb photo Ipod (this was almost 2 years ago), a $75 Visa gift card, a car charger for my Ipod, a Logitech MX1000 mouse (which is awesome, still use it to this day), a G4 iBook (this was just before the MacBooks came out...grr), and most recently, a check for $2000. My total spent was somewhere around $300 out of pocket. Granted, I spent a lot of time researching, reading forums, etc., but as a poor grad student, spare time is a lot easier to come by than spare money. As for the spam mail/telemarketing calls...hasn't been even a slight problem. I'm on the national Do Not Call list, so I get no telemarketing calls, and I just used a throw-away email address for each of these offers. Sure, after I did 'em I got tons of spam...but who cares? I just dumped the email addy.
- RoflMyWaffle, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1heres a better way. if it offers a free laptop or plasma tv, its a scam
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