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SF Chronicle looks at "free iPod" schemes

updated 05:25 pm EST, Fri March 18, 2005

\"Free iPod\" schemes


San Francisco Chronicle looks at the widespread circulating online. "This one is from something called Incentive Reward Center, which is typically reached via Web-site banner ads and promises a free iPod ... What it doesn't say is that the offer terms will expose you to reams of spam and marketing solicitations ... [it] will almost certainly cost you money." The Incentive Reward Center is in fact a Florida business entity called Theuseful.com, "which is in fact a fictitious business name registered by another Florida business entity called NiuTech." As for NiuTech, the Better Business Bureau says the company has an "unsatisfactory record ... due to unanswered complaints concerning advertising and delivery issues." A supporter of the service said one of the pitches he was required to sign up for cost about $150. "I wouldn't recommend it to the average person ... You really have to know what you're doing, signing up for things and then canceling them. You have to document everything you do."


by MacNN Staff

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  1. l008com

    Addicted to MacNN

    Joined: Jan 2000

    0
    03/18, 07:52pm | report spam | Reply |

    some

    For some this maybe be true, but the original free X web site, from gratis internet, has been reviewed time and time again, and its not a scam at all.

  1. QualleyIV

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0
    03/18, 11:35pm | report spam | Reply |

    Let's see if it's legit

    Well, let's find out if it's legit. Here's my link - I promise I'll post if I actually get a Mini...

    http://www.FreeMiniMacs.com/default.aspx?r=16367420

  1. chulitomio

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2004

    0
    03/19, 07:21am | report spam | Reply |

    Sad

    It should take two seconds for anyone with even a modicum of common sense to figure this out without the help of a newspaper investigation.

    I'm not sure what's worse, the shysters, or the idiots who keep them in business by accepting their scams.

  1. TylerDurden

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Dec 2001

    0
    03/19, 04:58pm | report spam | Reply |

    Not quite "Free"

    What makes this c*** a scam is that they pitch it as "Free iPods!" And while you may actually get an iPod (or Plasma TV, or whatever) if you jump through their hoops, it ain't gonna be exactly free.

    In my book "free" means somebody offering something for free just gives it to you when you ask for it, and you don't have to do anything for it in return... If they end up wanting you to do this or do that or do any amount of work for it, then it ain't free anymore, it's trade. And these programs usually want you to sign up for something and either pay for it or cancel after you've signed up, then you have to pitch and sell the program to 5 or more other people and they have to sign up with the program, and who knows what other c*** you have to put up with, hours deleting spam e-mail? who knows... Sounds like work to me and not quite "Free" anymore. A more honest banner ad would say, Work for an iPod.

  1. abe2

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Dec 2004

    0
    03/19, 06:03pm | report spam | Reply |

    Remove "e"s, replace ch

    Remove "e"s, replace "h" with "a", and you'll have the truth.

  1. PookJP

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Jan 2001

    0
    03/19, 08:58pm | report spam | Reply |

    abe2

    Take that act on the road. You'll be a star!

  1. skateray

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2000

    0
    03/19, 10:40pm | report spam | Reply |

    Don't Talk Unless....

    Don't Talk Unless you *REALLY* know what you are talking about.

    I just got a free iPod Shuffle (1GB) from the gratis website. (www.freeipodshuffle.com). It took me less than a week to complete everything, and I have not gotten ONE SINGLE PIECE OF JUNK MAIL on the account I gave them. I spent 0$ for a ipod shuffle, which costs 150 bucks, so sounds free however you look at it.

    Its stupid when people try to knock the gratis site when they haven't even created an account or tried it. I know about 10-20 people who have gotten free stuff, and its really easy. If you think this is *hard* then you are really lazy.

  1. Detrius

    Professional Poster

    Joined: Apr 2001

    0
    03/19, 11:59pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: Don't Talk Unless

    skateray: the gratis website that you point people towards still requires you to refer three people to complete offers before you can get your free iPod. This is better than requiring ten or twenty, but it is STILL a pyramid type scheme. The fact that it is a smaller number means that more people will be capable of getting an iPod, but the bottom line is that eventually, a VERY large number of people will be unable to ever complete the process because there will be no one left to refer.

    Despite the fact that you got your iPod and don't get spam, this is still a SCAM, albeit probably a legal scam. It's the absolute worst type of semi-legal marketing out there. You really shouldn't push this stuff on people.

  1. resuna

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2005

    0
    03/20, 07:21am | report spam | Reply |

    One way to do it...

    Let's say you have to get five sign ups. If there's at least six schemes out there to participate in, get five of your friends and each of you sign up as the primary in one scheme, and get the rest to sign up as the referrals. You'll each get one free item, and nobody outside the group needs to be involved.

  1. skateray

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2000

    0
    03/20, 01:07pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: Detrius

    I never forced this on anyone. I never forced this on you. I just asked some of my friends, and they said sure! The reason why this site works is because most people only complete one offer for a friend, and then never do anything more with their account. i have completed 5 offers for friends, and the world is not going to end. Yes, theoretically at some point people wont be able to find people to refer anymore, but that won't ever happen because people like you are too afraid to try something like this and there will always be people who have never heard of this offer. Even if you couldn't find enough referrals, its not like your life is over, you just didn't get something for FREE and gratis dosent owe you anything. Yes, it is pyramid like, but that is just the way that it works, its not like the people higher up are getting rich off of you, they are getting the same prize you will get. Its pretty fun to say that I got a free ipod, and i know that all my friends didn't care about completing an offer for me, because they are really easy and free.

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