Dave Taylor answers free tech support questions about a wide variety of business and technical topics, including blogging, iphone help, ipod help, AdSense, MySpace, Sony PSP help, Mp3 players, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux, SEO, Mac OS X, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Can I really get a free iPod, free PSP or free notebook computer?

I recently came across one of these sites, and thought it looked legit: Notebooks4free.com

Is it legit? And is there any catch? Any way to avoid paying for an offer you pay for? Thanks Dave!

Dave's Answer:

I have seen a lot of these sort of offers in my own mailbox, inviting me to go through some hoops and get a free iPod, free Sony PSP, free notebook computer, free TV, and just about any other gadget that is at all desirable, so I decided I'd try to go through the steps required to see if it really was legit or not.

I don't recall whether it was the same group as "notebooks4free.com", but I went far enough in their never-ending signup process to recognize how it all works, so let me share it with you and then you can decide for yourself if you think it's legit or not.

Lots and lots of companies pay online publishers for leads driven to their site, and many more pay a percentage of first transactions or a commission to publishers who are responsible for the acquisition of a new customer. For example, if you were to click on a specific link on a page and sign up for an American Express card, I might be paid a $5 or $10 commission once you were approved.

For the company, $5 or $10 is a cheap customer acquisition cost (many companies like America Online pay $50 or more for each new customer they bring into the fold) and for a publisher, well, it's pretty easy money for a link on their page. A win:win.

But is it? Well, while many people involved with these programs simply add a link or two to their site and hope for a few signups a month as a small incremental revenue trickle, others make that the focus of their efforts and create Web sites or promotional campaigns with the express purpose of getting people to click on their links.

Now you can start to see how this works. If Notebooks4free can buy an older Dell laptop from a surplus store for $299, say, and can require that you sign up for at least 40 offers that pay them $10 each in commission, they'll earn $400, subtract $299 for the cost of the laptop, charge you double or triple their actual shipping costs, and pocket $100-$150 for your efforts.

It's informative to notice the small print on one of these "free giveaway" sites (emphasis added to highlight the key clause):

"These promotions are brought to you by [company name] are subject to participation terms and conditions. Receipt of incentive gift requires completion of offer terms, including: age and residency requirements, registration with a valid email address and may require completion of user survey and participation in sponsor offers and shipping address verification."

$299 is a fairly expensive item for this sort of transaction, which is why something like an iPod shuffle is ideal: it's cool, sexy, and only $70 from an online vendor. Now the bar is lower: potential winners only have to bring in $150 in revenue, say, to "qualify" for a "free" iPod shuffle. The company makes $80, you sign up for promotional offers you're interested in anyway (theoretically, at least) and get a free iPod.

So now you can see how they work, and indeed when I went through the process with one of these promotions, I found that it was a never-ending series of signup offers, and I was forced to accept at least one offer on each page (and sign up with my personal data with those vendors) before I could get to the next page. Unsurprisingly, I also noticed that each page suggested it was the last but somehow I always had just one more set of offers to review.

After all, if they're paid for your signups regardless of whether you "complete" the series, these companies have a strong incentive to make it a real pain in the booty to sign up for enough to ship out the device. Think of it this way: if signing up for 40 offers gets you a laptop and earns them $150, why not require that you sign up for 50 offers, or 75? You get through 10 or 15 if you're enthused, give up, and they now get $100 or $150 without ever having to ship a product.

But it's not fraudulent, because if you did sign up for all of those many, many offers, they really would send you the free iPod, free Sony PSP, free notebook or whatever.

My conclusion: these offers are "legit", but it's a fool's game and you'd be far better off coming up with another way to acquire the device that you lust after.

Help others find this article at Del.icio.us, Digg, Netscape, Reddit, and Stumble Upon

Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics (Article 6504)
Tagged: free ipod, free notebook, free psp, online scams
Previous: Do my AdWords ads only run in the mornings on Google?
Next: How do I add a cool background to a MySpace account?

Subscribe!

Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader.

Comments

Could the web page guarantees "this is the last offer" been considered a fraud?

Since I've heard of no one got a free give-away from the offers. Wondering if an end exists.

Posted by: Anthony at May 2, 2006 1:47 AM

Thats a good point i bet there are some offers that go to 100+. Also one will have to deal with all the spam and what not that one will get after one gave aways ones personal info multiple times.

Posted by: Souren Eriksen at May 14, 2006 8:14 PM

Yup, this turned out to be legit and many more sites started like this. I've personally gotten 3 ipods, 2 psps, and cash doing this. I expect much more in the future. :D

Posted by: mark at July 1, 2006 12:35 AM

I am one of the poor saps who fell into this trap of free products. I was not patient enough to reach the end, but it wasn't just patience that deterred me, it was the thought that the product I was trying to attain wasn't in fact free. You actually have to pay for most of the offers you sign up for...and shipping and handling on top of those; not to mention the tons of endless spam coming to my invade my inbox. It's just not worth it. If someone tells me I can get something for free, then I shouldn't have to pay one cent.

Posted by: Mel at October 3, 2006 1:54 PM

is there a site were i can get a free ipod?

Posted by: Luke at March 23, 2007 1:51 PM

get notbook free

Posted by: hanee at April 21, 2007 10:20 PM

thank you

Posted by: darrell howard at May 4, 2007 12:41 PM

I have gotten 3 laptops and have 2 more on the way, all for under $150 each. I ain't no fool. All it requires is good research and patience.

Posted by: gengwall at May 23, 2007 9:26 AM

Where is a website that you can get a free psp for with no cost?

Posted by: Marko at June 9, 2007 1:04 PM

It’s smart too get multiple email accounts for spam mail. And if you are going to buy the products anyway then it may be worth your trouble? I don’t know I’m just a newb at this get-things-for-free game

Posted by: Jane at June 29, 2007 2:43 PM

Where is a website that you can get a free laptop for with no cost..??

Posted by: aprie at July 3, 2007 11:47 AM

I'm an IT. But I haven't own computer (my computer is damaged recently).Please give me a laptop. Thank you very much

Posted by: Van Minh at July 9, 2007 10:35 PM

You can totally get a free Ipod!
My bestfriend just got hers yesterday - the 30GB one. Now I'm on my way to getting mine :)

You just have to sign up for one of those one year subscription things. I chose the video games because my boyfriend loves it. haha and he isn't complaining one bit. I cancelled it so I don't get billed anymore and haven't had problems.

Why the heck not, you know? It's free.

Posted by: Brandy! at August 16, 2007 12:23 PM

i keep on getting on the omputer trying to get stuff for free but i have to fill out an offer first is there anyway i can do that without signing up for the offers

Posted by: danielle at September 4, 2007 3:28 PM

Hey what about the work at home programs, have you come across any that are real? I am a home school mom and would not mind working from home for some extra income. I do not know if these on-line work from home companies are real or safe, not to mention free or low cost(by low cost I mean less than $50).
What are your thoughts?

Thanks for your time.
Tina

Posted by: Tina O at September 10, 2007 3:51 PM

please i live in nigeria .which is in calabar,cross river state at 15c azekiwe .please iam really in need of a laptop but i dont have money to have one .That is why am asking for assistance.please can you just send me one.GOD BLESS YOU.THANKS

Posted by: utibe augustine eyo at October 20, 2007 2:39 AM

It's all about the research...
you are using your time to exchange for the money...
in the end, it's worth it, some of those sites only ask to finish one offer and referral 4 friends. Which is a bit easier if you know how to promote it.

Posted by: Mgccl at October 20, 2007 8:37 PM

As long as you use legitimate networks, it is possible to get a free item. Granted it does take some work, but in the end it is more than worth it.

Posted by: Jose at December 12, 2007 7:39 PM

Hi dave taylor how are u today i hope good. My name is maribel i was wondering if u could give me a free laptop it doesnt matter what kind iv'e been wanting one since i could remember i dont have no money two buy one i have to take care of my two kids and there not cheap also my bills. dave i would really apreciate if u would really give me one at no cost. thanks alot dave taylor.

Posted by: maribel at February 7, 2008 11:25 AM

Yeah, there are sites that makes you go through hoops like that. Not like the site I'm using though. You only need to do one or two offers..

But they compensate the loss by getting you to get others to sign up for those offers too. Certainly easier than those sites that Dave tried.

But yes, those are really not scams. It worked for me.

Posted by: azul at February 8, 2008 3:12 AM

hello,my name is anthony nobel.pls i need a free dell laptopto run my IT programme.laptops are too expensive to get here and i cannnot afford it as a student.please,reply me on what to do
thanks

Posted by: anthony nobel at February 14, 2008 2:26 PM

hi
my name is khurram alishah i nedd laptop because i working for big project! and i am professional in (IT) and laptop is two expensive and i can not afford! and i am student, so please tell me what i do!

thank you very much

Posted by: khurram at February 19, 2008 10:43 AM

i need a psp please, ill do anything, i have had 4 psps and they get lost. please give me another one

Posted by: justin maxwell at February 19, 2008 12:09 PM

i wish i get for real my mom and dad can,t afford it but if you do give me psp i will be proud

Posted by: TERRY at April 23, 2008 5:13 PM

People! Just Google for this stuff. It is all over the net!

Posted by: mark at April 30, 2008 12:17 AM

Can I Really Get Stuff For Free???
Like A PSP, Earnyourstuff.com Says u Can,
But i dont no wether to beleve it,
PLEASE HELP ME

Posted by: Vivian at May 5, 2008 12:34 AM

Hi my name is lianet and my b-day is towmarrow and i really want a FREE 8gb green ipod nano video but i dont want to pay any program requierments or have to use a credit card to pay i just dont want my parents to pay anything please help me. I REALLY,REALLY,REALLY WANT ONE AND GREEN IS MA FAVORITE COLOR.

Posted by: Lianet at July 9, 2008 9:11 AM

Hi its lianet again i have one more question, is this stuff true i mean i have been in a lot of websites that say that you can get something free but then when i register it says i have to complete a program requierment or buy something else so i plese ask u to send me a 8gb green ipond nano video i live here in miami florida.

Posted by: Lianet at July 9, 2008 9:21 AM

i just want to win a psp and i am

Posted by: moizahmed at August 2, 2008 1:48 PM

I wan't free psp.But aford it.

Posted by: jonathan arko at August 22, 2008 2:35 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!