talkmagic.co.uk

I was just surfing the net the other day, when I came across a couple of sites that *claimed* to give away free high-priced goods (e.g. new xbox, flatscreens, apple macs etc). After doing some research and finding many, many videos on youtube that contain people opening their free goods (who say that they aren't just trying to advertise a website nor are they working for anybody), I started to wonder, is this possible? Could I actually obtain a free xbox or ps3 of somekind?

I know I know, many people will just disregard this thread with the words, 'Oh just another scam I've heard many time before.' But that's not what I'm trying to get across.

To justify my point, look at this video from youtube from a popular news channel in america that has reported the market:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ChXTKqZMx2s

Also, from this website, the author of this post received many free goods and also explains HOW it is possible for the companies who give the products away make a profit:

http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/49/42/

I know that I-hacked is a trusted webstie and many people use it to get the best from electronics - so the article in the link IS legitimate and wouldn't be written from someone who is just working from these companies.

Maybe one of you has done one of these deals before? How did it work out? Do you suggest that I try it? All comments are freely welcome.

Have just read through the link provided, and from the description, it is exactly like how pyramid schemes work. Which basically means a few people will benefit, but most wont. And the more people who benefit, exponentially more people at the bottom of the pyramid (and possibly friends) will get screwed. It basically relies on you trying 'get one over' on your friends, by promising them free goods that they possibly wont ever recieve.
Remember...nothing is ever free.

So if I get some willing friends who would complete one offer each, knowing that they are doing a good thing for me, this could work?

*EDIT* How can the pyramid scheme work with this site when you do not have to refer any of your friends to recieve the goods - it can be done all by yourself!?!?

http://home.freepay.com/GB/Blog.htm

So if I get some willing friends who would complete one offer each, knowing that they are doing a good thing for me, this could work?

Yes...but they need to pay for the 'offer', which means your mates will be paying for your freebie. Like I said, you dont get anything for free. But these offers make out that you do.

I tried the other link, but I'm not giving these people my email address just to find out what the con is. So I cant really comment on it.
If everyone who signed up to this got a free xbox/laptop/whatever, then dont you think they would go bust. They have to make the money somewhere. These companies dont just hand their profits out willy nilly. Why would people bother shelling out hundreds of pounds for these goods if it was so easy to get for free.
If it looks too good to be true...it is!

If one of my friends asked me to sign up to one of these so that they could get a freebie, I would wonder how much of a friend they were.

I have pasted this 'explanation from the earlier link. The $90 in the equation is how much you and your friends have to pay for the offer.

In order for you to receive your ipod/Flatscreen/Desktop PC/Handbag you have to refer 5, 8, or 10 of your friends, and they have to complete one of the offers as well. Then in order for them to receive theirs they need to refer others, and son on. So lets just look at why they are going to send an Ipod to you. (1(you) +5(your friends))x$90=$540-$250(ipod)=$290 profit for them just for you signing up.

I read about a scheme like this once. Where you score points everytime you signed some one up then you would earn points every time they signed some one up then everytime the third party. So and so forth. It was actually 10 people you had to each sign up. If you do the maths you have to sign up the population of the world twice.

Some people here aren't old enough to remember pyramid schemes.

They used to be pedalled by 'friends' of the family, 'oh yeah, we just signed up and got a free Teasmade' etc.

But, these things are just the same.

Oh, for the gullible fools who fall for it!

I believe they're called incentive schemes now, Some people believe they can get a free wii or ipod by registering at bingo or dvd rental and referring as many friends as possible that they think that company is so big and wealthy they can afford to give you that free wii or ipod but its a scam unfortunately but I did hear about some students in the US who got free ipods years ago but more often than not you will just get scammed, just like my mother said theres no such thing as a free lunch

i had a free lunch once... but more to the point these schemes dont work id rather put money in a raffle and hope for the best than being scammed....

T.A.N.S.T.A.A.F.L. !

seige wrote:Some people here aren't old enough to remember pyramid schemes.

They used to be pedalled by 'friends' of the family, 'oh yeah, we just signed up and got a free Teasmade' etc.

But, these things are just the same.

Oh, for the gullible fools who fall for it!

I remember a 'freind' coming round to demo a kirby carpet cleaner! pretty sure that was this sort of thing

Yep. Kirby stuff, then there was books, then Video recorders, Hamper clubs, etc. etc.

Always someone who knew your ma and pa and would prey on their friendship. "The starter pack is just £15, and then you will eventually get the Video Recorder worth £300". Trouble was, the starter pack was essentially a 'get as many signups at £15 as you can'

Then, there was the 'avon' type things, I remember Aloe Vera products, there was 'Home Ice Cream/Frozen Yoghurt' etc. where you 'buy' the kit monthly until you have the full set... OR... you go out as an 'agent' to sell the stuff.

Always recommended by a friend.

Always fizzles out within weeks.

Always a bloomin scam. Unless you were prepared to stick at it for the 12 months it takes to 'win'.

Shameful!

These sorts of things are always a big con, I remember years ago, my uncle got invloved in one of the pyramid schemes. Ended up losing quite a bit of money on it, if I remember correctly.

It's simple, and equates to the physical utopia of 'perpetual motion', which relies on the fact of OUTPUT being equal to, or ideally greater than INPUT.

However, if that really were the case, the world would be a much nicer place. I think. I would assume!

Bottom line: rarely do you get something for nothing, and never expect to get more out than you put in. Unless you win the lottery. But there's a 1 in 14 million chance of that. So it's not relevant. And not likely.