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Inside the Free iPod Offer
jonathanhowell writes "David Lazarus, The SF Chronicle's tech guy, has an article in today's paper with an interesting investigation into the work you have to do to get a "free" (as in beer) iPod. I'm trying not to call it a scam, because it appears completely legal, if ethically challenged." From the article: "What it doesn't say is that the offer terms will expose you to reams of spam and marketing solicitations, that the user survey is actually a lengthy marketing ploy, and that the sponsor offers needed to qualify for that free music player will almost certainly cost you money."
I just drop mine on the ground, and have my employer buy me a new one.
http://www.firstcallpaintball.com/
I'm glad I won't have to worry about falling for those stupid "Free iPod" scams. As soon as my Nigerian friend returns my savings "fiffty fould" I can buy as many iPods as I want!
Cool, eh?
iPod Shuffle: $99
iPod Photo: $349
wasting your time, money, and creating a new e-mail address because you got r00ked by a net dot scam: PRICELESS
"For everything else, there's legitimate commerce."
-- often wrong; never in doubt
No, no, no. You have it all wrong. See, it's not a pyramid scheme. It's a MATRIX. It works _completely_ differently from those old "pyramid schemes". :-)
</sarcasm>
please mod this STORY down as "this is not news - just plain obvious"
If there's one thing Slashdot needs more of, it's bad grammer.
Now when you say "patently" obvious, do you mean as in Intellectual Property or Leather Shoes?
--
Or expect sex in return... I know I do.
If this were Fark, I'd say it needed an [obvious] tag. That or, "I'd hit it". Whatever.
Okay, so a philosopher, a philologist, and a philatelist walk into a bar...
Posting and reading on Slashdot is a valuable use of your time??
and i suppose you'll also be saying those penis pills are a scam too...
It's because saying "free as in XYZ" demonstrates what an excellent understanding the poster has of open-source licenses. Shut up and be impressed. :P
No, it's the sanity part that I fall short on. Which one do you fall short on?
Now maybe all you iPod owner wannabe's can remove the "Get a free ipod" link from your signature lines? For that matter, why not remove the free mini mac offers while we're at it?
I think Slashdot should loose the bad grammer.
As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
Us belters though, we've still got grit!
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
A looong time ago, I tried the "Green Laser Pointer" scheme, a protytype of this one (I think also run by Niu). That was about three years ago. I never got the green laser pointer, but my mail server still gets about 800 spams/day addressed to the pseudo I used.
Just shut the fuck up and stick to the topic, how's that?
Is this what people talk about when they never get laid?
But how do you fit it all through the glory hole? :)
You mean all I have to do is tell them I'm 12" by 2" and they give me a free iPod?! Cool.
I might drop a hint about all my ex's calling me "Rammstein" and see if they throw in a free iTMS voucher.
You are a horrible, horrible person! As punishment, I hope that other people with phone numbers similar to yours also do this.
"I have a good idea why it's hard to verify programs. They're usually wrong." --Manuel Blum, FOCS 94
"First, let me assure you that this is not one of those shady pyramid schemes you've been hearing about. No sir. Our model is the trapezoid!"
I.O.U One Sig.
TINSTAAFL = There is no such thing as a free lunch. In this case, there is no such thing as a free iPod, as you have to not only sell your information to spammers, but also apply for offers for more services on the web as well.
I I present a new acronym:
TINSTAAFI = There is no such thing as a free iPod
Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.
Do you mean "there" was a mistake? I'm pretty sure you do.
We're very sorry for the inconvenience. Those reposnsible for the sacking have also been sacked.
Do not fold, spindle or mutilate.
No wonder why your family is poor. They should spend their free time learning instead of goofing off with "free offers". Some people throw their time in the trash as if it wasn't worth enough.
What's in your wallet?
If I had something in my wallet I wouldn't need a FREE iPod, now, would I?