How I Get Laptops and Plasma TVs for Free
How many of you get those spam emails with “Your $1000 Home Depot Gift Card is waiting for you” or “Click here to pick up your free 42″ Plasma TV”?
I did, and I got 2 Sony Vaio laptops and a $1000 Visa gift card out of it.
You see, not all of those emails are scams. And this article is going to give you a little insight into how these sites work.
How I got started
Two years ago, a coworker tried out some offers for a free XBox and Apple iPod. He had to complete 4 advertiser offers for each “gift”, but he did the offers and eventually got the Xbox and iPod. I decided to give it a shot too.
I immediately went for the big stuff. My first offer was a Sony Vaio I received in my Hotmail account. I looked at the terms and conditions and I only had to complete 6 offers with no referrals. Looked good to me!
How do these things work?
I’ll try to run down the basics for you. Each promotion site is slightly different:
- Most sites require you to complete a certain number of advertiser offers. I’ve seen them vary from 2 to 20 required offers. You have to pay for these advertiser offers, but they’re usually 7 or 30 day trials, which you can cancel at any time and just pay shipping or for one month of the product. Other offers could require you to complete an auto loan, buy furniture, or sell your first child. I’ll give you some tips on this later.
- In addition to advertiser offers, some sites also require that you refer a certain number of other participants. This means you need to get friends, family or strangers to sign up for the same deal as you. Plus, you have to wait till they complete their offers before yours is finalized. Always avoid offers that require referrals!
- These sites also require you to sign up with your name, address, phone and email, and then “fill out a brief survey”. This survey consists of numerous screens of “Do you want information about Student Loan Consolidation” or “Do you like coupons”. Just click No for everything and get to the good stuff.
- These sites make their money from the advertisers. The advertisers make their money from the shipping on free samples (that cost almost nothing to make), but mostly from people like my sister who signs up for Columbia House and keeps forgetting to cancel the Featured Selection!
How do I pick out the safe sites from the scam sites?
The providers of these “free” offers are getting trickier and more strict, so they’re always changing tactics. However, these few tips should always help make the search a little safer:
- Whether you get an offer via email or browse directly to a site, check the Terms and Conditions FIRST and read it COMPLETELY. The T&C will tell you how many offers you must complete and whether you need to get referrals. Also, it should provide some methods to check your account and maybe how to contact the site owners.
- Google the name of the site. For example, “Product Test Panel” or “Consumer Incentive Promotions”. You’re bound to pull back some listings on Scam.com and other sites. Don’t let this deter you. Read all that you can about the provider and make your best judgment on how reliable and trustworthy they may be.
- Finally, look up the site on the Better Business Bureau’s official site. Most providers have multiple aliases, addresses and phone numbers. Jot down the company’s information and then test out those phone numbers. If you get a live person, great! But, most likely, you’ll just get a voicemail. Leave a message to see if they’ll get back to you. Just tell them “I’m interested in your free promotion, but I want to make sure I can contact you in case there are issues. Could you please call me back or email me at …?”
My methods to beat their system
I’m not the most diligent person with regards to keeping track of information, except when it comes to money. I don’t want to get shafted out of hard-earned money, so here are my methods:
- I verify the site credentials as stated in the above section
- I obtain a screenprint of every web page they give me, except the survey pages. I personally print the pages as PDF files, but you can also accomplish the same task with screen prints. The important pages are the homepage, Terms and Conditions, and each offer page
- I view the offers on ALL the offer pages BEFORE I sign up for anything. That way, I can see whether the offers will be too steep to complete or aren’t worth the promotional product. The sites let you advance through the offer pages and return to prior screens.
- I complete the prescribed numbers of offers presented on each offer page. For a 6 offer promotion, I usually get sent to 3 pages, where I complete 2 offers per page. The first page has the inexpensive offers with free trial periods. Each successive page has more expensive or more difficult to fulfill offers.
- As I complete each offer, I add the offer details into a tracking spreadsheet. You can download a sample spreadsheet here. I completed this spreadsheet for a Plasma TV. However, I decided to take a $1000 Visa Card instead
- I make sure to complete all the offers in one session, and I don’t delete my browser cookies. Many of the promotion sites use cookies to track who you are and what promotions to show you, as well as to display your account. Just try not to delete your cookies until you’ve complete all the offers and made first contact with the promotion team.
- Once the offers are completed, I keep checking my account daily to see when the offers are validated. In all 3 times I did these promotions, some offers didn’t report back to the provider site, so I had to fax proof of the offer completion.
- Also, and most importantly, I make sure I cancel any and all offers I completed before their trial period ends. Some offers also require you to return the product for credit, so make sure you do, and send it via certified mail.
How much have I spent on these promotions?
- Sony Vaio PCF-V505ECP Laptop = $95 (my daily laptop)
- Sony Vaio VGN-FS790B Laptop = $30 (Clever Dudette’s laptop)
- $1000 Visa Gift Card (was for a Plasma TV) = $300 (Bought a new grill, pressure washer, and curio cabinet)
Total Cost = $425. For about $3600 worth of stuff, not a bad deal. However, these deals count as gift income and you’ll be required to pay income taxes on the retail value. However, not all promotion sites follow through with the paperwork. Read into that as you wish…
When I come across a good offer, I’ll present a walk-through on this site. I thought I had a good one with Product Test Panel, until I viewed the final offer page. They only gave 3 offers, and I had to complete 2. Only one of the offers would have cost me less than $1500. Definitely not worth it!
So, if you follow my tips and methodologies, keep all records, and follow up consistently, then you could score yourself an “almost free” Plasma TV, Gift Card, Laptop, or even a Vespa Scooter!
Have any of you completed these deals? Have you been scammed? Are you like my sister and forget to cancel the offers?
Like Steven Segal? Check this article out.
Hmm, I’m either lucky, or not lucky at all, because I don’t receive any of these offers in my inbox to try out. Any links to various offers?
The only time I tried this was to get an iPod a few years back, but it required referrals. I stalled at around 3 of 5 referrals and never got around to finishing it.
Recently, I haven’t been receiving many of these offers via email, and the ones I do get are for smaller gift cards, but some more bigger ticket items are coming through now.
I’ve found it difficult to find direct site links for these offers, but you can try www.producttestpanel.com to get a taste. I balked at their “Page 3” offers (see end of article above), so I’m not confident the offers would be any better for their other promotions. But they do change, so give it a shot.
I always assumed these deals were scams. I tried one of these a couple years ago for a $75 gift card and never received it.
Probably the most complete and best how to post I’ve come across on these. Nicely done.
Interesting enough, if the company is legit and doesn’t get you what they promise, you can take it up with the BBB. They will give you a case number and argue what you think you should get. I wouldn’t ask for too much … someone I know got their credit account closed with a zero balance. I wouldn’t try it too often but it worked with them.
Oh, and you have been dugg
I work for RewardsGateway.com, the site listed in the sample spreadsheet. I dont know how you get around the car loans that you HAVE TO have financed to you (we get proof from eloans / roadloans). If you somehow do, congrats. Although, our terms and conditions state that you may only do this once per household so you’re kind of bending the rules and I’m sure something legally could be pursued.
Hey Blake! I had worked with you on the free Plasma TV (the one exchanged for a gift card) last year. You were helping me with the cookies problem where my browser wasn’t displaying the same stuff anymore.
Do you have any insight to add to the process?
i would absolutely pay you to get me an lcd tv
Very nice! I have received an Ipod Shuffle and a Nintendo DS for free but still had a hard time convincing people to try it out….
Any chance you could list links to the sites you used?
Blake, not sure if you’re referring to me about an auto loan requirement or not. I didn’t choose an offer for an auto loan when I completed my deal, and I’ve only done 1 deal with Rewards Gateway. So, I didn’t have to get around any auto loan because there were other options for offers.
Anyway, I’m actually recommending doing these offers if you can find one that fits your needs. If you need an auto loan at the time, then go for it. I didn’t need it, but I did pick up a case of wine for $10 a bottle.
I see these on Craigslist all the time. I’ve thought about trying them before, but I don’t know who’s reliable and who isn’t …
Walking people threw this process is considered fraud if I am not mistaken.
So thanks for screwing everyone else.
Just for the record I can also verify that these sites do send out gifts
thanks for nothing
guelah75
I’ve always assumed they were all scams. I’m looking forward to one that isn’t a scam that I can try.
Yeah, explain to me how it’s fraud. I am educating the consumer on how to be able to finish one of these promotions while still sticking to the terms and conditions of the offering site.
These sites state very clearly what the requirement for each offer is before you sign up. For credit cards, you generally need to receive it and make a purchase or balance transfer. For trial offers, if they don’t say that you need to keep it for more than the trial period, then you’re free to cancel, right?
Prove me wrong and I’ll say I’m sorry. And go look up the definition of fraud. Who am I defrauding? The promotional sites? They get their advertiser dollars. The advertisers? You’re completing their offers per their terms, or else they won’t report you as completing the offer. Everyone gets what they want out of this and the system works for legitimate sites.
So,
I’m curious. If, in fact you get something other than say a 1000 visa card, do you still have to claim?
🙂
Also, these are normally REAL businesses? Or some guy with a bunch of extra product with a website.
@guelah75
If they are legit offers by legit companies, how can a walkthrough be fraud? How is it any different than Consumer Reports magazine outlining their purchase experiences?
It sounds like you are just bitter because you don’t want people honing in on your little niche.
@cleverdude, thanks for the guide. All these offers sounded too good to be true to me as well. It sounds like the catch is that it takes a certain amount of effort and at least somewhat of an investment as well. It also sounds like the trick to making it work is organization. Anyway, I appreciate the help.
I’m curious what would happen if you completed these offers with say one of those visa gift cards that only has X amount of dollars on it (say 5 or 10 ) if you would be able to get the free stuff easily that way
@Jake – Do you mean claim them as taxable income? Yes. But you’re going to be paying less than half of what you would have bought the product for.
To your second question, there’s probably both out there, but it takes a well organized person to create the type of site the professional companies use (unless there’s some template out there). Look them up on BBB.org to be sure though.
@Guy – The advertisers won’t say you completed the offer if they can’t charge you for whatever you signed up for. I never got any “free” product without ensuring I complete everything.
However, it’s also good to use a credit card that you wouldn’t mind canceling if you need to. DO NOT USE A DEBIT CARD. I definitely should have put that as a BIG tip. I’ve gotten billed by Lean Life PM numerous times even though I’ve canceled my account with them long ago. I eventually got a new card number.
Blake, it’s fraud because the gift companies say so. They say that posting walk-throughs on blogs, forums and websites constitutes fraudulently helping someone else get their gift. If, and it’s a pretty big if, they catch you, both parties will be DQ’ed. It happens, I know it happens.
And as for who is getting frauded by this, do you really think that the advertisers pay these sites that much that you could get your laptop and everyone make money here? IDK how much that laptop is worth but let’s say $1000 divided by the six offers is $167. That’s what each advertiser would have to pay out for the gift site to break even. Obviously the advertisers don’t pay that much. Though in the past a couple have paid just over $100, most pay around $10-25. Gift sites defend on bleedage, so when you walk someone through their fulfillment rates go up and they start to lose money.
Just think for a second. If everyone on digg follwed your advice and signed up, how long would the gift companies stay afloat? I would imagine not very long. Of course NT has changed some of their policies which makes doing their sites impossible so it really is a moot point anyway.
It’s a shame for all these people to get the advice now since the scene is on it’s deathbed. I’ve been doing it for 18 mos. and it’s been fun, but the party is over.
I don’t know why people are relying on the BBB. The BBB is supported by the businesses that pay to be BBB members, and the BBB will be VERY relectant to publish negative information about a member in good standing. It is a private club, not a consumer advocacy group. The public has been duped by the BBB for years. Caveat Emptor.
hey hey hey, everyone just calllm down. I’m sure “blog walk-throughs” have been done dozens or hundreds of times in the last couple of years. The industry will continue to thrive because people will still sign up, and forget to cancel. I know I did. And it’s no secret to tell people to remember to cancel- that’s what eveyone has in mind anyways when they are signing up.
I’ve received an iPod and 360. But I ended up paying more than I would have liked, as well (I’m a procrastinator with these kinds of things).
Very cool article. Thanks for posting. I’d like to get your thoughts on some of the offers that mention in the fine print something along the lines of:
“We reserve the right to substitute your prize with a similar prize if your requested prize is not available”
They way I read that is that they can stretch the word “similar” into anything, and any prize can become unavailable if they want to make more $$$ off you. If the laptop isn’t available, or they don’t have the funds to get you that laptop, they will claim its not available, and give you a 3 year old nearly obsolete desktop computer or something like that.
Am I just being paranoid, or could (and do) they really do that?