• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Free iPods? Harder than you think... (Article)

Status
Not open for further replies.

Doth Togo

Member
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1771223899144212/

Free iPods from FreeiPods.com? Engadget gets the scoop
Posted Jul 16, 2004, 10:50 AM ET by Peter Rojas
Related entries: Portable Audio



So Gratis Networks has set up a site called FreeiPods.com that is giving away your choice of an iPod mini, a 15GB iPod, or a $250 gift certificate to the iTunes Music Store. All you have to do is sign up, click on one of their offers, and then convince five other people to do the same. We smelled a scam in there somewhere, or possibly scamola, and since our whiny emails to the company asking them to explain how exactly this worked went unanswered, we decided to just call them up to try and sort things out.

The company rep we spoke to insisted that this thing was for real and that they had already given away about 400 iPods to people. To get it to work you actually have to sign up for one of their sponsors’ offers (like the Columbia House DVD club, the GM credit card, AOL for Broadband, etc.) and also get five other people to also take them up on one of their offers. Gratis Networks picks up a decent referral fee for every one that’s completed, and since it’s a lot harder than it sounds to also get five of your friends to sign up for AOL (for example), they only have to ship out free iPods to a relatively small percentage of people, while simply pocketing the cash for anyone who is able to only get four people or fewer to sign up (the company rep admitted that they lose money whenever someone gets five people to complete orders, since it means they have to ship out an iPod). Anyway, if you’ve got five friends you can convince to do this who also think they each have five friends they can convince to do this, you might just find yourself just maybe getting a free iPod.

[Also, forum threads are located on this URL]
 

Celicar

Banned
I just completed my offer and now on the site it says my account is being verified and so are my referrals. Wait 7 business days.

So I hope it actually comes. I would be pissed if they made some bullshit excuse up.
 
This doesn't really tell anyone anything... lol. The site itself tells you to complete these offers and obviously it isn't easy convincing others to do the same. No one thinks they can get something for "free".

There's a massive thread on this stuff at SA and I know a few people who have personally gotten things. It definitely works, it just takes time.
 
Yeah, nothing really new here. It's basically like a pyramid scheme: you need a bunch of people signing up for stuff on the "bottom" so that the people above them get free stuff. However, that "bottom" will be bigger than the upper groups combined.
 

Celicar

Banned
Well if mine actually comes, I'll take pics and rub it in all your naysayers' faces.

People on other forums I post on say they've received theirs. That is why I tried it. And I had a pretty awesome way of getting referrals. Got them all in under a week.
 

aoi tsuki

Member
i contemplated the free iPod deal, but passed because

1. i'm wary of "something for nothing" deals.
2. It really is too much trouble for me to bother getting people to sign up and cancel the required offers (and then make sure they're cancelled).
3. See #1.

FWIW though, i'm sure you guys will get your stuff, and i'm sure you'll enjoy it.
 
I myself am in the middle of a Conga Line... it'll take another month or so before it's my turn :p.

But if you want to help me get it sooner, I'll paypal everyone who completes an offer under me $5 :p.
 

EGM92

Member
miyuru said:
Doesn't work for me.

However, I live in Canada...

:'(


So... this isn't for people who live outside the US? Not even Canada? I can get 5 referrals easily :D I Can probably get a good 10-15 if needed I know a lot of stupid people with a lot of money to spend.

EGM92
 

Celicar

Banned
Well I placed my order, and it now says it is processing. The site says it takes 1-2 weeks to ship out so now I just gotta wait.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom