Freebies

Nothing is free.  Oh sure, people tout that "this is free" or "that is free", but really everything costs something.  Free e-mail costs you the time it takes to delete all the spam it collects.  You send for a free television offer and find out that the shipping and handling costs more than the product.

One woman saved up a zillion coupons off disposable diapers because the manufacturer promised a free toy for her child.  Six months later (after she sent in her shipping and handling) she's still waiting for the toy.  After she took her problem to the media, the manufacturer agreed to refund her shipping and handling.  What did this free offer cost this mother?  Six-months of dashed expectations and a mound of red tape just to get back to where she started.

Today in my e-mail, I received these "free" offers:

Win a $500 Shopping Spree



GET 250 COLOR BUSINESS CARDS FREE!



FREE custom lipstick with any custom product purchase from ....com!



Get your FREE credit report

Reading my credit report would cost me peace of mind.

Free mousepad



Free BonziBuddy Download

This one might cost me my marriage.

FREE instant message/dating software

Some freebies entice you by the threat that this deal will end soon.

Click below to see how this FREE (for a very limited time) opportunity can help
you make a never-ending cash flow stream.

[URL removed to protect the gullible.]



This deal is so good that the offer is followed by this disclaimer:

The previous was an advertisement. The views expressed in it are those of the
Referralware only. As with any business you could make more or less money than
the results described. Your results will be based on your individual monetary
investments, business experience, expertise, and your level of desire. There
are no guarantees concerning the level of success you may experience, other
than Referralware's product performance & return policy, if applicable.



100% Risk Free

Remember at the beginning of this very limited offer, the word FREE was used?  Whaddya know?  This free offer costs $124.99, unless, of course, you opt to pay more.

Well, this particular offer has two price options. Either $124.99, or $249.98. (You'll be shocked when you find out why more people will select the higher priced option)

Not me.

What really started me steaming about freebies was my free airline ticket.  I made my trip to Indiana by cashing in 35,000 frequent flyer air miles.  I didn't mind paying the tax and the new airport security fees on this free ticket.  However, when I needed to make a change in my return trip, my sister spent two hours on hold waiting for a ticket agent.  By the time she got through 120 minutes of Music from L and every special offer the airlines has to offer (free, of course), the agent told her, "Your sister will have to call herself."

Why did she think my sister was calling?  If I was too sick to go home and thus needed to change my ticket, then I was too sick to sit on hold for two hours until my (free) number came up.

Yes, I finally got my ticket changed after I spent an hour of my free time waiting to talk to the ticket agent myself.  When I finally had my turn, the transaction took about 30 seconds.  By the way, did you know that I can use my frequent flyer miles for a free trip to Hawaii?