It's Free, There Must Be A Catch

@wolfie34 (26771)
United Kingdom
November 30, 2008 7:56am CST
If something is free whether it's on offline or online do you automatically look for the catch? Nothing in life is free is it? But if you look hard enough you will find things for FREE with no clauses, no small print, no catches, no trick to sign you up to something you don't want! Have you benefitted from anything Free on the internet or non-internet WITHOUT a single catch Are you always sceptical about things that are offered to you for FREE and straight away think nah that's too good to true and automatically reject the offer? How do sort out the real Freebies from the ones with the catches? For example I was giving away 25,000 banner credits for people who advertise for FREE. But I got a very poor response! Amazing you give away stuff and still people aren't interested! So what do you think about something that's FREE?
7 people like this
18 responses
@marty3888 (2355)
• Acme, Michigan
30 Nov 08
It all depends. I would say some things in life are free. It was free to sign up on mylot. And I did get a payout and it did go into my checking account. I think you just learn by trial and error. There are things on the internet that may be free as far as no monitary cost. But you pay for it in other ways. You sign up and you suddenly get a bunch of adware or maybe even a virus. An e-mail that asks you which do you like, Coke or Pepsi. Answer this and we'll send you a $500 gas card is an example. It's free to answer the question, but then you find out, AFTER giving your address that you have to "participate" in these offers. Accept at least 2 offers which you DO have to pay for. It's not necessarily a scam because you may actually see something you want. It's a scam if you do participate and you never get the gas card. But I just signed up for ciao, where you get paid for reviewing products. I signed up for inbox dollars, also free and also making a little money on it. So yeah, there are some things that are free, you just have to watch it.
3 people like this
@marty3888 (2355)
• Acme, Michigan
30 Nov 08
Oh yes, that goes without saying. I very rarely give my phone number out and if I do I give my cel phone no. Ans I never ever give my bank details.
1 person likes this
@suzzy3 (8341)
30 Nov 08
With out destroying your illusion this site makes thousands but it was free to join and I am not knocking it and I am going to continue cause I love this and if I pick up a little money in the mean time more the better.
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
30 Nov 08
Hi Wolfie, Some would argue that although free you still have to use your time to request the free iem so in affect it took time where you could be earning money online or at your place of work instead. I don't argue that one as to me it is FREE. I have had so many freebies that I have lost count of a lot of them but recently in the post from various different freebie sites I visit I have received two bars of soap, fizzing bath salts, perfume samples, fabric conditioner (full bottle) and also for placing an order with a certain company for an item I needed anyway which only cost me £20 I received a free Revlon set worth £30. Also with all the free samples and goods I receive I get money off coupons or vouchers which I then also use at the checkout whether or not I buy the product, most supermarkets let go through the tils providing they sell the actual product to up to 25% of the value of your shop so to me thats free money too. There are some things yes to be aware of, for example a free trial of a product where you need to give bank details not too good as when you go to cancel there is always some small print that ends up costing you in some way so I am wary of these types of offers. We don't get charged yet for the air we breathe either and for the beauty of nature around us, so thats another great freebie that I make use of everyday. huggles. Ellie :D
3 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
30 Nov 08
Oh and forgot to mention the freecycle sites too, totally free items that people no longer require, I have given and received loads from there including computer chairs, stereo systems, rugs etc.
1 person likes this
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I have been very lucky with the freebies and samples. I search all the freebie sites through regular search's. I have received coffee, teas, and many product samples.I have had some that take longer then others to get. Once Krogers gave me a free turkey and yes, I think that freebies can be real and without a catch.I think many people worry that they will be charged somehow and that might be what caused the bad reaction to your banner credits. There are more skeptics then not. Can you continue to try and maybe the next go round, you will have a better response? Best wish's on this for you!
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
1 Dec 08
I used to send off for loads of stuff for my mum, like free household products and she would love the surprise of the postman knocking! I belong to a UK site that lists all the freebies etc, so it's mostly personal recommendations and you get know which are with strings and which are without. The banner offer finished today my friend, but thanks as always!
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
30 Nov 08
Hi wolfie! I used to always think that way, that nothing was free anywhere and never read anything at all concerning the promotion. Over the years I have become aware that, if you read the small print VERY carefully then it is possible to find many things absolutely free. When shopping for food and the like offline Inotice all the 'buy 1 get 1 free offers' about here nowadays in attempt to beat rising prices and that really helps. Online I don't buy anything except airline tickets usually and I always wait for a free trip to UK before booking. They come quite frequently and the only smallprint is that it is usually not available at weekends but that's not a problem for me I am also aware on many earning sites offering free upgrades or free refs and I have adhered to some of them too. So I AM always careful about the small print but YES I do believe many things are absolutely free - you just have to find them
2 people like this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
30 Nov 08
I love the free upgrades! And I always take advantage, also word of mouth and recommendations and knowing a 'mutual' friends helps a great deal too!!!!!! And another cliche is 'It's not what you know, it's who you know!' so true and yes so many companies almost rely on people NOT reading the small print and that is how they've got you in their clutches LOL! Hope you are well my friend!
3 people like this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
30 Nov 08
I can't believe it's advent tomorrow! Things are on the up for me, it's funny how life twists and turns doesn't it and when realization strikes it can be very therapeutic and burden is taken off your shoulders! Maybe the half empty glass is starting to fill at last! Hugs x
2 people like this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
30 Nov 08
Fine thanks wolfie (excluding the first season's cold) and all is getting back to normal. Hope all is well your end too!
2 people like this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Hi wolfie! That is the problem! You can't trust anyone so if there really is something that is truly free with no strings attached it is hard to be sure! I have on occasion taken a chance and got a few things for free. Not that they were any big deals! I get an email every day from that freebies site. I have sent away for so many things that were supposed to be free and sent for filling out forms. I was supposed to get all kinds of things like t-shirts, key chains, flashlights, lotions, perfumes, makeup. The only things that I ever did receive were the food items! They were the only honest ones! The rest were all bs! They only wanted personal info I guess! So like I said you really can't trust those "free" sites! I never received any of the "good" stuff! I am careful about those really suspicious sites telling me that "I have won something". Those I know are definitely not real! Oh well, like you said you don't get something for nothing!
3 people like this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
1 Dec 08
I was, still am in actual fact filling out forms for competitions and for free stuff! I guess companies have their logos on some freebies so you are doing the promoting for them so it's a small price to pay in actual fact! They give out crumbs to what they are actually getting paid!
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Dec 08
Nothings ever free..and if it is free its only free so that you'll buy something else..or more of what you got free! True DAT!
3 people like this
@balasri (26537)
• India
30 Nov 08
Personally I don't fancy anything free.I always feel that everything should have a right price to their value.You always have to earn or buy things to feel the full value of it.I haven't got anything free so far and I don't believe in anything taht comes free.As you say nothing comes free.
1 person likes this
@balasri (26537)
• India
1 Dec 08
The friendship is created and nurtured with great care and becomes priceless.You just cannot take it for granted as with the things those are available free.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
30 Nov 08
Apart from friendship on Mylot, that is free isn't my friend! But it's also very priceless too!
1 person likes this
@nannacroc (4049)
30 Nov 08
So many people have been caught out so many times that most people are sceptical. I know I am but have learned to ask people and read the small print before rejecting the offers. I now take up some offers once I've checked them thoroughly but still reject most as I usually find a catch in the small print.
1 person likes this
@nannacroc (4049)
30 Nov 08
I like to be different so I always read the small print first. There again I'll read anything.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
30 Nov 08
Companies rely on you not reading the small print and sometimes there can be tonnes of it to wade through, is it any wonder why most don't bother and they've got you! Hook, line and sinker!
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8770)
• United Kingdom
1 Dec 08
I would always be wary of "free". I look for the catch because there usually is one. I have got free things before from websites which are trying to sell things. Obviously they have a motive for sending free stuff i.e. they think I will go and buy the product in the future. If I see something and can not find a catch or anything which asks for sensitive information then I might go for it anyway but I do find that it is almost impossible to find something which is genuinely free with no catch at all even if the catch is just something like having to sign up for a newsletter that you don't want.
1 person likes this
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
1 Dec 08
There are many free thing available but of course we do have to take care. That means not giving ouot heaps of personal information and certainly no bank account or credit card details. Many companies offer freebie samples to encourage people to try their product and hopefully buy it after trying it. Other companies give away promotional gifts/samples to encourage you to take out a new internet or mobile/cell phone plan with their company. Open a bank accouont, join their health fund of whatever. By giving away these gifts to tempt us and the freebie gift can be of a good quality and in fact they mostly are a quality item. The downside of course is that you have a t-shirt, beach umbrella, handbag or whatever branded in HUGE BRIGHT coloured letters "XYZ COMPANY". lol My partner gathers up whatever free samples she finds, either on the internet ir in the stores. Some we use for ourselves and others are out away and incorporated into many of the gifts that we give. She has set up a special email account for freebies so if gets full of junk, it is not the end of the world. If she has to give a phone number then she uses the fax line, which can be used for phone calls as well. If any calls to come to that number then they go directly to the answering machine so we are not really bothered by them. We have a post office box for our business mail and so that is the address she uses. Of course she does not give our any of our bank or credit card details. Doing those few things is a good idea and most of the freebie samples she applies for actally arrive. So yes we do believe there are free things in this life and she only ever asks for things that we can use. Other free things are the air we breathe and the rain we sometimes get plus a nice sunny day BUT ONLY because the government has not worked out how to tax us on those things. However I am sure they are working on it. lol
2 people like this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
1 Dec 08
Good point, most of the stuff that is free we tend to take for granted, like the beautiful sunsets, mother nature at her finest, wildlife etc etc etc... Where would we be without them?
1 person likes this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
1 Dec 08
I have seen most time sthere are catch with the free gifts. Many times have got few gifts that are helpful. In internet, as such have not got any free things till now.
1 person likes this
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Hey wolfie, That's a real good question. How do you sort out the real freebies? For that matter, are there any real freebies? Even when someone tells you here on mylot that they found a real money maker, are they just trying to lure you in as a refferal? The only true freebie that I have found is Mylot. They actually pay you to make terrific friends and learn things from kind and thoughtful people. Beyond Mylot, is there truly freebies out there? leenie
@dieorfly (763)
• Slovak Republic
30 Nov 08
I learned nothing in the life is for free. Maybe in your particular case it was free and without any catch. But if we talking about free stuff which offer companies there must be something why the act like that. So I do not believe free offers and I am totally skeptic to them. I do not sign up anywhere, not fill any personal info just nothing. Usually when you investigate further you will find the catch and you will just smile about it. But I think there is still lot of people who can be manipulated if they see word FREE. Otherwise there will be no companies which offers free stuff if it would not work for them.
• United States
30 Nov 08
I'm an avid sampler. I have a rubbermaid bin in the bottom of my linen closet full of free samples of things such as shampoo, conditioner, soaps, household products of every kind. I go to sites that offer free samples and sign up to get as many as I can every month. I throw them all in the sample bin and if I run short of shampoo or conditioner because I forgot to buy some I always have a back up. Also before I had both of my sons I found so many places to sign up that I ended up with a dozen free cans of formula, and maybe 10 free diapers, the expensive kind, so that's a third of a pack of diapers I didn't have to buy. As for making free money online with offers and surveys. The price you pay is an email account flooded with lots of junk. I do thinks like fusioncash.com and inbox dollars. I've learned that the best bet for those is to make an email account dedicated to doing those offers and let it be filled up with spam and third party offers. So there'smy way of geting a little something for nothing but my spare time.
@kellyjeanne (1576)
• United States
4 Dec 08
Only a few times have I ever received anything free. You do have to read very carefully so you don't get swindled. I have received free address labels through the Internet and free samples of food and such by mail. So, it is possible, but, not very often. Purrs, Catwoman=^..^= & Mija
• Canada
30 Nov 08
My smiles are ALWAYS free! :)
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
30 Nov 08
Your smiles always light me up and they make me feel warming and glowing sis x
• United States
1 Dec 08
Nothings ever free...and if it is free its only free so buy something else or more of what you got free! Real Talk...
• India
30 Nov 08
its totally fake ..there is no nothing like FREE ... three IMP things are needed to make people live..air,water & food.. in olden days we get benifited of air and food ..now this two things are also become payable..is it so ? how extent govt should responcible for it ?
1 person likes this