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115 Comments
- rarkai, on 10/12/2007, -8/+79How To Evaluate If The Free Laptops and Plasma TVs Giveaways Are Scams:
Answer: yes. - RBasil, on 10/12/2007, -5/+60@jguest
I have some swamp land in Florida for sale. You interested? - 2keysmatt, on 10/12/2007, -2/+50if it's extra work and money, how is it free.
- 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 - 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 - rshu4you, on 10/12/2007, -3/+47Microsoft has sent me $150,000 so far by forwarding their E-Mails........
- tHePeOPle, on 10/12/2007, -2/+40Homer: "Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter."
- inactive, 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!
- Henry, on 10/12/2007, -3/+37This worked maybe 2 years ago?
- bennyboy371, on 10/12/2007, -0/+33I'm currently doing that. Replace #1 with:
Post pictures of attractive female. - 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.
- 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
- catalysis, on 10/12/2007, -4/+27#1 is optional.
- Landonr, on 06/30/2008, -4/+24Yeah, This is definitely a lot harder now.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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. - 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...
- Henry, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11@mixxoys: That's what she said.
- 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. :) - 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...
- 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.
:-/ - 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.
- dcbebop, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11Which sites did the laptops and TV come from? That's more useful than the actual article here.
- 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. - rune420, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5The golden rule of capitalism:
"Nobody ever gives you what they didn't already take" - 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.
- TheRedCoat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5You sir, are a true Englishman.
- anamanaman, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I thought pyramid schemes were illegal
- 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. - 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 | - 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... - 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...
- 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.
- 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. - subarusqueege, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Does all the junk mail come free as well?
- neoknight, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8but yet people keep on digging it.
those 1 Milliiiiiion users of digg, i tell ya... - 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. - 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).
- 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? - IronKurton, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If there is any doubt, there is no doubt.
- 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. - dmorris68, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Folks, the industry is very real and very legit. Like any other industry, there are scammers out there, yes. That's why it's so important to do your research at some of the sites mentioned earlier. Yes, I'm affiliated with the forums at FreeiPodGuide, but we're not the only forum/blog/site by far that you can use to educate yourselves. For the record, the following is my freebie take over the past 2 years. As others have said, these really aren't "free" in the literal sense of the word, but the investment is low compared to value. I would estimate my investment in the following pursuits was no more than $500, if that much.
20GB 4G iPod
42" Panasonic Plasma TV
$100 Check
24" Dell 2407FPW LCD Monitor
$100 VISA GC
$720 PayPal
Splinter Cell 3 for XBOX 360
$400 SuperCert
$1100 Check - 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. - tomarocco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I can pay for that stuff in a day and a half of consulting with no strings or games attached...might even be able to expense some of it depending on how I want to do my accounting.
- RolltheStampede, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2THey are legit i have probly recieved more than 20,000 worth of stuff over just this past year.
-
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