Are Free iPods a Scam or Not?
Free iPods
Have you signed up for your free iPod yet?
Status:
5 referrals obtained!
By this time, most everyone has heard about the "free iPod" deals out on the internet.
The intelligent people who hear about this deal immediately dismiss the entire plan as a scam. The gullible people who hear about this deal end up with free iPods. Go figure.
The most popular site offering free iPods has caused quite a frenzy. First, there was a flurry of people claiming that they really did get a free iPod. Then there was a flurry of people saying they qualified for a free iPod, but they were still waiting to get theirs, and they were pessimistic. Then there was a flurry of people saying they finally got their free iPod. Then there was a flurry of people saying they finally believed the second generation of free-iPod'ers, and had finally decided to join up and go for the gold. This is precisely where I entered the story.
You've got questions? Of course you do? Still skeptical? Of course you are. Here are some answers for you:
- Is this really for real?
What . . . you mean that just because you read my blog entry, you don't believe it's legit? Fair enough. I wouldn't believe a random blog entry, either. Read an article on the free iPod deal at Wired.com. Even they admit it's legit. - How does it work?
Basically, you sign up and complete an "offer." You can pick from various offers. Right now, there are items such as "Join the Columbia House DVD Club and get 5 DVDs for $.49 each," "Start your free trial of Appéra tooth whitener," "Get a free 7 Day Trial of Trimlife Trio," "Sign up for a free 30-day trial at eFax," etc. My personal advice is to go with one of the free trials and cancel near the end of the trial, unless of course you were already thinking about getting involved with one of the deals (like Columbia House). Then, get five friends (or even enemies or strangers, if they are willing) to sign up using your referral link and complete an offer themselves. Once this is all done, they ship you an iPod! - How can they make money off of giving away free $200+ iPods?
Apparently the company behind this deal gets money for sending people (prospective customers) to the specified sites. If they give an iPod to a person, that means they fulfilled the obligation and had five people sign up under them and complete an offer. So, five referrals costs them one iPod . . . and not everyone who completes an offer bothers to get all five referrals, and never picks up an iPod. Easy money for the company.
Just to recap, here's information from the site about how to get your free iPod:
To get your free item is simple:
- Join our website.
You create an account with our website by filling out the simple form on our main page. Give us your email address and create a password, and hit next. That's it!- Click and complete an online offer from our website.
These are special online offers that our advertisers are offering, and can be found once your are logged into your account, and on the "Complete Offer" page. You will simply have to choose 1 (one) of these offers which you are interested in, and complete the necessary steps. Offer instructions will pop up once you click on that offer, just make sure you have disabled any pop-up blocking software.
You will receive credit for this offer, once you have completed all of the necessary steps, and we have received confirmation of credit from that offer provider.
You can see the status of this credit on the "Check Status" page of the website. You are also free to try more than one offer.- Refer people who also create an account, and complete an offer.
You will need to refer new people to sign up with our website by having them click on your referral link. They must click that exact link in order for you to get credit. Once they have joined, they must also complete one online offer from their account. Once you have the appropriate number of referrals who completed an offer, and once you yourself have completed an offer, you will then be eligible to receive your free product.
I'm not going to lie to you. After reading the post, I'm sure you are well aware that the links above all head to referral URIs. You're helping people by getting them closer to a free iPod, and I'm helping you by informing you about the whole deal. Of course, you could chop off the referral portion of the link, but then you'd be helping no one . . . except for Freepay. These referral links are not for me, as I have already received my free iPod! Read here about my free iPod!
This entry was posted
on Saturday, March 19th, 2005 at 01:42 by Novac and is filed under All, Apple, Computers, Economics, Free, Free iPods, Freepay, Fun, Gadgets, Internet, Me, Me, Me!, Media, Music, Technology, freeipods.com, iPod.
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March 23rd, 2005 at 10:06
Dude…are you MIA??
March 24th, 2005 at 05:42
It's interesting that you wrote this 25 mins before the following post.
I have gone three days without posting before, you know!
March 24th, 2005 at 11:15
I cannot live 3 days without something new and informative.
April 5th, 2005 at 05:44
Did you get a free iPod yet?
I am still skeptical. To me, "free" means you don't have to pay anything. Don't you have to pay for the DVDs, the shipping of the DVDs, and whatever else the other offers include?
But basically I'm skeptical because I don't think anyone can make money giving away iPods, no matter how clever their business model is.
April 5th, 2005 at 08:38
I haven't gotten a free iPod yet because people like you haven't signed up yet!
There are deals you must pay for, and there are deals you can cancel within XX days without paying for.
As far as the business model goes, you'll have to read the Wired article I linked to for those types of details.
April 13th, 2005 at 13:51
Well, I've signed up and passed it on. Have you gotten any other people to respond yet? I can see how easy it is for the companies to make money off this… it's tough to get 5 friends who know you well enough to be willing to shill out cash!
April 15th, 2005 at 00:49
Hey, it's tough to get 5 friends, period!
Yes, I have had enough people join under me to get the free iPod but I need them to also complete their offer. What does this mean?
So, I'll bet a couple people joined up and then didn't bother completing their own offer, and never will. For those of you who are responsible, I know you will get around to completing the offer. Of course, you need to complete an offer to get your own free iPod anyway!
April 18th, 2005 at 08:40
Alright I signed up and in the next two days should have credit for getting the Napster to go….I have to say though that it is intresting that you can't use Napster and iPod without burning your napster downloads to cd then downloading them to the iPod. So get a free iPod by signing up with Napster…seems like Apple could be a little friendlier but I know better.
Napsters take on it…
Apple has chosen to keep both iPod and iTunes closed off from Napster and every other music service. Napster's philosophy is different. A Napster subscription gives you more ways to listen on more players for less money.
Tank out
April 18th, 2005 at 08:48
Apple? Friendly? Interesting concept. They have proven differently, especially with the iPod/iTunes phenomenon.
April 19th, 2005 at 08:54
Actually it is business as usual for them. Since I haven't done much with them in the last few years I thought they may have changed their spots, but alas nope
And what no thank you after all that ranting about no one helping you out….pfft
Tank out
April 19th, 2005 at 16:01
My thanks go out once I have an iPod in my hand!
April 22nd, 2005 at 12:16
pfft
September 27th, 2007 at 18:32
[...] Read up on how to get your own free iPod! [...]
September 27th, 2007 at 18:34
[...] You too can be like the Queen. Get started immediately by signing up for a free iPod, or read up and find out more on the subject. [...]