You are the lucky one, you get free gift, but ...
By femimi
@femimi (872)
Indonesia
April 20, 2007 2:35am CST
I got free gift coupon last day (I don't know from where they knew my address) which mentioned that I am the lucky one who can get their free gift from their store (the gift depend on the number you must scratch in the coupon, and usually good gift, like cellphone, tv, microwave, etc.) And I could come to their store and showing my id and then I can get the prize.
But.... oh I already know this negative promotion since I was a kid, because it's also not the first time I got that free coupon gift. So, first you must be feel very lucky, very happy, and curious with the prize, and then you will go to the store, showing the coupon which you get, and the staf also welcome you warmly, and congratulate you, and told you, that you are a lucky person.
After that, they will ask for your ID, and make a copy from your ID, and then you can see what's your gift in it. But... it's not the end of surprising journey... the last think you must do before you get your gift, they will offer you their products, and you can't get the gift without purchasing special products from them, sometimes the price are also unreasonable. And guess what if you don't want to buy the products (means you also don't get your prize), they will force you and because your ID still in their hand, you can do nothing except listen to what they said, and maybe buy one products which cheaper enough but no gift prize by buying the cheap product. And some clever buyer candidates will angry with them and strickly deny to buy their products until the staf will let you go.
And last day, I laughed with my hubby when I got that free gift coupon again. I torn it and throw it to the dustbin. I remembered when I was with my mom went to that kind of store, such not happy experience. And we bought nothing there. And until now the promotion practice still happen, I amazed and wonder how many people got caught from this silly things.
Have you got the same experience like me in your country?? Do you believe it in the first time when you get free gift coupon?? Or there are something odd promotion activities in your country which force and caught someone to buy the products??
6 people like this
19 responses
@crackhead (1826)
• India
20 Apr 07
Who won't be liking free gifts. But i hate it when i am supposed to provide some details and then they will ask us to pay some money as a formality.
Once when i was a kid i had a mail saying i got a free Television set and i was asked to pay 1500/- Bucks, Which i paid and then collected the mail cause i was so happy to receive that Television. Then after opening the gift pack i went nuts cause there was nothing in the pack except some papers which were asking me to fill few more addresses whom would be interested in taking such kind of offers. Then i was really disappointed that i lost the money as well as that was a big cheating program.
Till then i have stopped trusting in these free gifts which ever i receive my mail.
2 people like this
@lovesfreedom (1245)
• United States
20 Apr 07
I always trash those things because there is always a catch. I love it when they say for just the cost of postage and handling. Well then, it isn't really a free gift is it? If it says free, I don't expect to pay anything. I made someone angry once when I called and said, if I have "won" this free gift, why didn't you just send it to me and not a card saying I had won and I wanted to know exactly when I had entered to win it.
It is the same with emails that say, claim your free gift. You go to the site and they want you to sign up for all kinds of junk you never wanted in the first place.
No, I think if I want something, it is better for me to just buy it.
2 people like this
@kgwat70 (13387)
• United States
20 Apr 07
I get those coupons and promotions all the time and do the same thing you. I throw them away or stick them in the shredder. The way that I see it is that rarely anything is free. I know that they are trying to sell something when I get a coupon or voucher for a free gift. There is always something behind that. It is their way of luring you in. It is pretty deceptive but your best bet is to trash it.
2 people like this
@hmike_d (1529)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
That's sounds uninteresting on me because first of all, it would still mean questionable. How can u have a free stuff at this time? When you happen to, then it must be a scam or a trick mode of operation to sell a product or even make fraud to you.
It is more important to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings from time to time. You dont have to trust most like strangers.
It's painful to be in that loop and you should think they're wicked and could fool you. Well, its really a kind of hateful selling. Beware!
@firefoxacai (12)
• Indonesia
15 Oct 07
hi femimi,
last time i got around 3 coupon, that marketing scheme is widely known in my country, the other way, they did open a shop in the mall, fill it with things that look luxurious but not branded. then wait in the escalator and giving gift coupon...
if you scratch it, then it will shown that you already got the prize. "i personally believe that every coupon they give you, will win the prize". then you come back to claim the gift, and everything like femimi said will happen, they make people confuse by praising the winner, giving a lot of "oh look so luxurious" item, try to make you buy the things, swipe the credit card, make you sign the agreement that you bought the things without objection.
i hate this kind of this "gift coupon prize winning" scheme marketing. but we cannot sued them.. here.. in my country.. especially after you sign that agreement.
ps : that kind of trick still exist right now in my country :)
1 person likes this
@tater03 (1765)
• United States
21 Apr 07
It only took me one time to do this and I learned my lesson. The funny thing is my seven year old can now read and he just doesn't get why I won't go and get the free gift. He sees that free and he thinks it really is. I am sure that this gets quite a few people that's why they keep sending them out.
1 person likes this
@lossforredwords (3620)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
Oh men! my mum always receive those kinds of gift but we just ignore it cause a friend of my mum had an experience with this and yeah, they are annoying and they will try and force you to buy something or if not show them your atm card or credit card.
I once receive this invitation and just out of curiosity of how they do there operandi I visit the store but I never give my id just a close atm account card and they will ask you lots of question about your personal information.. and so I just play along but in the end I just told them .. I'm not really interested and the agent got a bit pissed off..lol.
1 person likes this
@evlo173 (434)
• United States
20 Apr 07
My mom used to and still is receiving the free coupons. Once she tried to claim her free coupon prize, a free vacation to the bahamas, she went to some fancy hotel just to claim this free prize. They asked for ID, a credit card to pay for something, and she didn't claim the free gift. It was embarrassing and the people there looked at her wierd because she didn't have a credit card. Now, when those free coupons came to our house, it goes in the garbage.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
21 Apr 07
ive been a victim of that kind of sort but it goes this way" its like a man will approach in the mall in the groceries area (outside cashier)and ask for your receipts and if it reach the minimum like for example a hundred bucks ..he would tell you that you got a free gifts for reaching that amount and give you one plus a purchase for their product..isnt it tricky? but i did not buy it telling him that ive no budget for those things or got one already stuff..
1 person likes this
@gemini1960 (1161)
• Philippines
21 Apr 07
no, not ever yet..but since those in malls giving you some free fliers stating about new product if you buy one and earned some discounts.
1 person likes this
@apakabar2007 (1693)
• Netherlands
20 Apr 07
Well, nothings is for free !!!! I have piles of those coupons and I just ignored them. Once, I did and I really regret it. It took me sometimes to get rid off this offer I joined (accidently because of the free gift) and it did eventually cost money. So, I stop looking at this coupon....but my daughter use it for playing with her friends (at least it has some usefull)...hehehe..
1 person likes this
@terallion (37)
• India
20 Apr 07
Though this kind of thing doesn't happen in my country, I am sure someone will learn the trick and start this sales gimmick. What we must remember is nothing comes free. There is always a catch. It is better to find out all the details before going to the store, but ensure you don't reveal any details about you not even your telephone number.
1 person likes this
@ironstruck (2298)
• Canada
21 Apr 07
I learned long ago in life that if you hear the word "free" you should instantly be on your guard.
There is often a price for everything.
You can get a few things for free.......Like bad advice, or perhaps a cold.
1 person likes this
@kkerix (403)
• United States
20 Apr 07
hi, i always remember golden rule, your not going to get anything for free.
number two, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is,lol.
thanks, oahu lopaka
@KissThis (3003)
• United States
20 Apr 07
As a child my parents taught me that nothing in life is free so I don't even open the offers up. Sometimes I give them to my children to play with because they like to do the scratch off parts.
They must get several people who do try to claim the prizes though. Why else would they keep the practice up if they didn't.
1 person likes this
@chemstudioweb (24)
• Australia
1 Jul 07
There are many scammers outside that harm us. So beware of providing any of your personal detail. But wait, I found this site who actually giving a gift and not sure if it's another scam or what. Help me to find out by just simply sign up from here http://www.toys4free.com/chemstudioweb
2 minutes sign up and see what happen if I get enough referral. I will keep updating the news about this.
