----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:42 pm Free iPods! Anyone do this stuff? ----------------------------------- So.. browsing ebaumsworld.com one day (well today actually) I notice a banner.. "Shoot an iPod and win one for free!" Since I was bored of watching people get hurt I decided to take aim. I was directed to www.freeipods.com. After doing some research I find out this is totally legit! You sign-up... follow a link to another advertising offer, follow through or cancel after completing the offer, and then get 5 referrals of people to do the same. Once this is completed they send you an iPod! Totally free! You can do a search on google and find multiple websites tooting the legitimacy. So... who wants to follow this link and help me get a free iPod? I'm just guessing here but I'm pretty sure referalls are not allowed, for obvious reasons. Follow that link and you'll be one of my referrals :) ----------------------------------- Notoroge Wed Jun 08, 2005 6:52 am ----------------------------------- I think it's only available in the United States. In case you live there, go right ahead. But be warned that somewhere around only %10 - %20 of people that go through this process ever get their iPod. And you still have to invest some money (~$50 buying offers, maybe more). But in the end, you still get your free iPod. ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Wed Jun 08, 2005 7:10 am ----------------------------------- I live outside the United States. May I participate in this offer? Good news for residents of the UK and Canada! www.freeiPods.com is now available to residents of the United Kingdom and Canada. Residents of the United Kingdom and Canada are now welcome to join and complete offers on www.freeiPods.com. At this time, www.freeiPods.com is the ONLY website that allows residents of the United Kingdom and Canada to join and complete offers. All websites (with the exception of www.freeiPods.com) only allow US residents to participate. Anyone living outside the US may NOT join, or complete offers. Anyone who joins outside the US and attempts to have a product delivered to a US address is in violation of our terms & conditions. We limit users to US only because our advertising partners often do not provide their services outside the US, and only pay us for US residents. This is right off the freeipods.com website. Canada can participate in Gratis' iPod offer only. Not any of their other offers like free flat screen TVs. And. I signed up for the Columbia House offer. No payment is made. They ship the DVDs and then you have so many days to cancel and return the package. So I pay for shipping... Big Deal! ----------------------------------- Notoroge Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:24 am ----------------------------------- I didn't say Columbia House was a bad deal. I'm actually subscribed to it. I'm specifically talking about www.FreeiPods.com You'll see in due time. ----------------------------------- betaflye Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:26 am ----------------------------------- Basic pyramid scam, you sign up sell out so many of your friends to offers and recieve a "reward". No thanks. ----------------------------------- Amailer Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:16 am ----------------------------------- We should just lock such topcis so that people won't get trapped in these crappy spam thing -.- damm you all! ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:56 am ----------------------------------- This is the kind of skepticism that prevents you from getting a free iPod. :P ..But if everyone is against then let me know and I'll remove first post. ----------------------------------- Amailer Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:37 am ----------------------------------- or because I have tried it and it did happne? hence the "damm you all" :roll: ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:44 am ----------------------------------- Did you try FreeiPods.com? If so what happened? Give me some feedback here... ----------------------------------- Amailer Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:48 am ----------------------------------- Spam... email...spamming (yes, i know I should have used an email that im not using) and i didn't win anything :? anyhow alll bs. ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:51 pm ----------------------------------- Well you didn't complete what your were supposed to do then. I'll post pictures when I get my iPod. ----------------------------------- lyam_kaskade Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:47 pm ----------------------------------- Now, call me crazy, but it occurs to me that anyone in the business of giving away free ipods would end up going broke quite quickly. Which leads me to one of two conclusions: 1. They're lying. or 2. There's some horrible catch. ----------------------------------- Paul Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:58 pm ----------------------------------- Not necessarily, if everyone EVENTUALLY gets an ipod, they can earn money through the pyramid scheme quite easily to cover all their expenses. The thing is, I myself have witnessed pyramid schemes in action before, the people who join up early DO get money, if your further up enough, you can earn lots of money. The thing is, but the time ti gets really popular, the masses of people joining in won't get squat :P ----------------------------------- [Gandalf] Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:00 pm ----------------------------------- Nothing in this world is free anymore :cry: Personally, anything like this I ever see, I ignore and forget about within the next 15 seconds. ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Thu Jun 09, 2005 9:17 am ----------------------------------- This is not a pyramid scheme. In a pyramid the earlier you join, the MORE profit you make on those beneath you. This is and advertising chain. Certain companies (ie. Columbia House) pay freeipods.com to advertise for them. FreeiPods.com uses this money for the iPods to promote their site. So initially to some people.. giving away iPods sounds crazy. But the amount that this site makes from the advertisers far exceeds the amount they spend on iPods. Do a search on google and check for testimonials if you don't believe. ----------------------------------- md Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:09 am ----------------------------------- Testimonials can be faked. I beleive the way to get an Ipod is to get five of your friends to join, and then they must also get 5 friends to do so; so it's not as simple as it would appear. ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:52 am ----------------------------------- Once you get 5 friends to complete an offer then u get your iPod. You don't have to get them to refer 5 friends, otherwise it would be never ending and no one would get iPods. Your friends only need to refer 5 friends if they want to get an iPod. ----------------------------------- lyam_kaskade Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:46 pm ----------------------------------- So, by advertising to a mere 6 people (you plus five friends) the Gratis Network makes enough money to pay for an ipod (and presumably, still make a profit). Hmmmmm... Perhaps this advertising business is more lucrative than i thought... Also, there's a piece in the terms and conditions you may have missed: (g) Posting your referral link in places where it is not welcome, or spamming your referral link online in any capacity is strictly prohibited. If we see or receive complaints about your referral methods that we deem risky, we may place your account or accounts on hold. I know it was blocked by a moderator, but just in case you posted it in anywhere else. ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Thu Jun 09, 2005 7:00 pm ----------------------------------- ooh.. thx for pointing that out. I didn't notice that section. I haven't posted anywhere else but I guess I have to be more careful. For everyone else then; You should still check out FreeiPods.com. It may be worth your while. ----------------------------------- SuperGenius Thu Jun 09, 2005 7:10 pm ----------------------------------- i like to keep this in mind: "if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is." why would someone give you a product worh at least $250 for getting a few friends to join or whatever? ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Thu Jun 09, 2005 7:16 pm ----------------------------------- i like to keep this in mind: "if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is." why would someone give you a product worh at least $250 for getting a few friends to join or whatever? Did you even read the last post on page 1!? I didn't think people would need a Business Marketing degree to understand this... ----------------------------------- Notoroge Thu Jun 09, 2005 7:23 pm ----------------------------------- i like to keep this in mind: "if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is." why would someone give you a product worh at least $250 for getting a few friends to join or whatever? Did you even read the last post on page 1!? I didn't think people would need a Business Marketing degree to understand this...Heh, I thought I said this already. Not everyone gets their iPod. For the amount of money they're making, giving out a few iPods won't hurt. Also, think about it this way. The amount of people they're advertising to, increases exponentially by each "generation" of subscribers. 1 --> 6 --> 36 --> 216 --> 1296 --> 7776. Lots of advertising revenue. ----------------------------------- md Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:13 am ----------------------------------- Once you get 5 friends to complete an offer then u get your iPod. You don't have to get them to refer 5 friends, otherwise it would be never ending and no one would get iPods. Your friends only need to refer 5 friends if they want to get an iPod. When they say complete an offer they mean that you must get 5 friends to do the same... and probably for all those friends to do so as well. Look at it like this. The offer is that you get five friends to complete the offer and you get your iPod. So for each of those five friends to complete the offer they too must get five friends, and each of those five friends must do the same. This makes it extremly difficult for you to get an iPod; it is infact a never ending pyramid of people who must rely on the people below them to get their iPod. If one person fails to complete the offer then everyone up to the top level also fails. The reason why this is not a "pyramid scheme" according to the law is that you don't pay money to those above you; all you do is give your personal information to the company running it all. And to be honest personal information is for the most part worthless in the eyes of the law. You won't get an iPod out of this, trust me. If you do I shall do whatever you wish; limited of course by reason. The only way for you to get an iPod out of this is for you to be selected as one of the random people they do send iPods out to so that it looks like it works. ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Fri Jun 10, 2005 6:58 am ----------------------------------- Dude, you're totally lost. You're confusing completing an offer with getting the free item. Here are the steps right from the website: FAQ / Help Frequently Asked Questions and Help I still do not understand how to get my free item. Please give me a more detailed explanation. To get your free item is simple: 1. 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! 2. 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. 3. 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. We have many sites that use this model, and these websites vary in the number of people you will need to refer who complete an offer. For instance, FreeiPods.com requires 5 referrals while FreeFlatScreens.com requires 8 referrals. This is due to the cost of the free item. If you would like a more detailed explanation, please click on the Terms & Conditions at the bottom of this page for complete requirements and details. Nowhere here does it say your friends have to refer people for you to receive your iPod. ----------------------------------- Andy Fri Jun 10, 2005 7:03 am ----------------------------------- just because they didnt say it doesnt mean its not true.. thats the whole point of fine text, you cant sue them if its in the gray area ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:22 am ----------------------------------- And again... that's the kind of skepticism that prevents you from getting your free iPod! And I did find on the site that it says to promote your link in forums and on MSN and blogs. So... I'll post pictures of my iPod when I get it. The rest of you can use your Walkmans... ----------------------------------- md Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:08 am ----------------------------------- Ok, so I got it a bit wrong; they've changed the way it works since I last paid any attention to it. But that doesn't make it any better a scheme; so if you do get an iPod I will be most suprised. ----------------------------------- Notoroge Fri Jun 10, 2005 2:26 pm ----------------------------------- And again... that's the kind of skepticism that prevents you from getting your free iPod! And I did find on the site that it says to promote your link in forums and on MSN and blogs. So... I'll post pictures of my iPod when I get it. The rest of you can use your Walkmans...And I'll be laughing in your face when you don't. Whilst listening to my new iPod-mini that came in the mail today. Apple.ca styles. :) I say if you're going to get something, get it because you earned it. Seriously. I'm harsh, even on myself. But that's the only way to ensure your own stability, not relying on others to give you everything. Eitherway, I still stand firm that this is a scam, or at the very most, way too much work and uncertainty for its worth. ----------------------------------- Amailer Fri Jun 10, 2005 2:27 pm ----------------------------------- So... I'll post pictures of my iPod when I get it. The rest of you can use your Walkmans... You do know you can actually buy and iPod right? Anyhow, it might work but I'v yet to hear from someone who has actually recieved an iPod that is free. ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Fri Jun 10, 2005 2:58 pm ----------------------------------- And I'll be laughing in your face when you don't. Whilst listening to my new iPod-mini that came in the mail today. Apple.ca styles. :) I say if you're going to get something, get it because you earned it. Seriously. I'm harsh, even on myself. But that's the only way to ensure your own stability, not relying on others to give you everything. Eitherway, I still stand firm that this is a scam, or at the very most, way too much work and uncertainty for its worth. Hypocrisy! You're telling me you only have what you've earned? And wouldn't enjoy free stuff? Have you EVER downloaded a song or movie off ANY file sharing program? And don't tell me that's different.. cuz it's not. ----------------------------------- SuperGenius Fri Jun 10, 2005 3:49 pm ----------------------------------- Hypocrisy! You're telling me you only have what you've earned? And wouldn't enjoy free stuff? Have you EVER downloaded a song or movie off ANY file sharing program? And don't tell me that's different.. cuz it's not. i've had enough of this topic. Someone please lock this and we can be done with it. IT IS DIFFERENT! you wouldn't have done anything illegal, or semi-legal to get a free ipod (which you won't because this is a scam. USE YOUR COMMON SENSE!) but to get a free song or movie would be a whole different situation in terms of legality. I could write anything i felt like on a web page. Does that make it true? my message is, dont trust shady web sites. Use your bloody common sense! ----------------------------------- Paul Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:15 pm ----------------------------------- If you think its a scam, you don't have to convince other people. If you don't think so, you don't have to defend it. Whether he receives a free ipod matters not to anyone else. If any one else believes in this, you don't have to dissuade them anyway. All he's done at the start of this thread is inform people of this opportunity, whether or not people want to participate is not for anyone else to decide. So there is no arguement, no use being standoffish. ----------------------------------- RaPsCaLLioN Fri Jun 10, 2005 7:15 pm ----------------------------------- Well said. ----------------------------------- lyam_kaskade Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:29 pm ----------------------------------- Hmmm...to register, you have to complete one of the Gratis Network's affiliate offers. For each affiliate offer completed, the Gratis Network is paid by it's affiliates somewhere between $25 and $90. This makes between $150 and $540 for each completed offer. Then there's the people who complete an offer and don't get enough referrals. Furthermore, if everyone in Canada and the US signed up for free ipods, following the pyramid structure perfectly, a good 80% of them couldn't possibly find enough referrals. Sounds pretty evil to me, but hey, everyone likes to make money. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeipods http://people.bu.edu/jbrock/ipod_analysis.htm