FREE!
By Conor MuirheadJanuary 20th, 2008
Comments
I enjoy free stuff just as much as the next guy, but sometimes you just gotta laugh at the free stuff advertising. It’s as though if someone wants to display the word free somewehere it must be bold and at least double the size of any words around it. Of course you wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on your free stuff, but is it really necessary?
The other day after school I was waiting for the bus and I was amazed at all the free newspaper bins sitting there at the bench. All of them were free and all of them were labeled as such.I decided to snap a picture thinking: this is a funny thing that we all see every day, I’d like to blog about it.
Since then I’ve thought about it a little more and I realized that there is a lot of free stuff out there! You can find free newspapers, couches, furniture, matresses *gag*, cameras, cups, maybe even cars. According to this other ad that I found, you can find free flat screen tvs and laptops too (looks like PC’s only, sorry) who knows maybe you could even get a free house!
I just wanted to add my bit of free stuff to the world, so here comes this post, free to all of you!
Oh and just in case anyone might have confused my site for one of those ones that you have to pay for, I put up my free billboards for the week. Please enjoy this post because like I said this one’s absolutely free Oh, and this week only, free commenting too! So go ahead and post comments to your heart’s content– on the topic of free stuff is preferred but I’ll take anything.
I’m always fascinated to see the position companies take with this. Is it a free loss leader? Or is it really free? Or is it truly something you would want? I think it is this free frenzy that gives rise to the you get what you pay for. That being said everyone once in awhile we stumble across something free (like food samples at Costco [which might not really be free but subsidized by our other purchases or our membership fees]) that makes us less skeptical. There seems to be a part of all of us that wants something for nothing.
Speaking of Conor I have an iPod pricing question. Also I need some free webwork done!
Loss leaders- as in buy 1 get 1 free are great and get the consumer into the store. Throwing in an extra free tie when you’ve just bought a suit is an example of good business as well, I think. And Costco’s samples have gotten me to buy things I otherwise wouldn’t many a time. I really enjoyed the Free/Giveaway section in the Bargain Finder when we were poor- it was interesting seeing what kinds of stuff people gave away, and super helpful at times to get some stuff for free and make it your own or use it as is. Its also fun to be able to giveaway free stuff.
I HATE it when salesman are touting free stuff- especially the guy at the door with the “Free ” security system. Sure its free so long as you don’t want to actually use it… or phone giveaways enthusiastically announcing “congratulations! you’ve just won x nights and y days to a 5 star all inclusive resort in ARuba….” 10 minutes later ( if you stick it out that long) the catch is you get the accommodation, but must buy the flight through them at a greater cost. I have no patience whatsoever with lying as a sales tactic.
Free design I would like…a design for clothing labels to sew in things I make. I haven’t got a specific idea of what I’d want them to look like, just that i’d like them to be more ‘me’ than the ones I can buy at the fabric store. I found a company on line that makes up 100 each of labels, hang tags and cards for a fantastic price and they will do it from your original design! Not my skill set! I can edit..’more of this, less of that’, ‘no flowers’ & the like, or maybe indicate a general flavour, but not much else. Guess that is why I’m not a designer!
Speaking of Mac, did anyone hear the Mac reference on tv tonight?
The girlfriend loves her iphone, her boyfriend thinks she loves IT more than HIM. The boyfriend says ” I’m not sure I can compete with an iPhone, Jane. I’m not sure ANY man can”
Nate-
I love the Costco samples, and since I never really purchased a membership or products from Costco over all those years shopping with Mom, I guess for me it was all totally free!
With the iPods I can get you a 15% discount, that goes for anything else Apple for that matter. What kind of web work we talkin here bro? Send me an email!
Mom-
I’m totally with you on those lame sales tactics- they stink! I didn’t hear anything about that mac reference on the tv, what show was it on?
I noticed though that Daria had an MacBook Air ad on Boutique Cafe, I thought that was pretty sweet!
So are you saying you would want a design done for a label for the clothing that you make?
Yes, for clothing that I make. The place I found makes up the label for you so it can be sewn into the clothing, you just send them your design. They also have some ’stock’ choices if you want to check them out :
http://www.customcouturelabelcompany.com
Ideally 3 different ones would be great, cuz I make things for my own kids (so made by Mom with Love- only something better), for my grandkids, so it needs Nana Lovin’ conveyed, and finally for friends, so indicating its from/by Catherine .
I’ve also always wanted a calling card that I could give someone with my name and email on it, maybe a phone number? I’m always torn there cuz sometimes it’d be nice to give out all the info: name addy phone, but others you want to limit it to just email, y’know? Maybe if it were printed off the computer then I could choose different versions depending on what I want to give out?
Here’s a question to further this discussion,
WHAT IS THE BEST THING, (or top 3 things) YOU EVER GOT FOR FREE ? The WORST? and Why?
You guys are all getting so thoughtful and reflective.. i personally am just in for the blog read trying to gleam more info on my brother… which so far has been very info’ee and not so nitty gritty. You know like do you shampoo then body scrub or body scrub then shampoo? or How’s that kidney stone? or did you have a good wipe out on your bike yet? or the time you had the grumpy/possibly crazy bus driver? or When was the last time your slit split walking to church? or What chapstick do you like?
As for this Free stuff. It’s true. And I am one Consumer who is quite frankly drawn to it and will pretty much take the free Ice Tea just to have gotten something free.. mind you i wouldn’t drink it but its the thrill of Free for me. Perhaps this just answers mom’s questions..I obviously have not received high quality free stuff and so i make up with the little stuff. I personally blame it on the Sears -Wish catalog. Slash mom you can hardly ask a question you have not answered yourself. I am curious to see what Daria thinks considering she is the receiver of FREE MASTER! Is it addictive Daria? Does it get old? How does it feel to be the Master of Free?
Wow that is a long comment… perhaps that is what you are looking for… I should really go back and blab longer on Katie’s now since technically she has a higher loyalty from me re: readership and she is giving me technically what I want. Hmmm..
Mom-
That sounds like some fun little projects that you have in mind. I would love to hear about some of the ideas that you have for what any one of them would look like. I’m sure you could just print off half with just email info and the other half with all the info and just keep both in your purse at all times, kinda like how Dad has the different colored business cards with him all the time.
As for the best things received free…hmmm, that’s a toughy. I will just do some of the best and worst that I’ve received lately to make it a little easier, oh and to clarify free will be defined in this list as things I didn’t have to pay money for and that wasn’t a personal gift. Here goes in no particular order.
Best
1. OS X Leopard - Best OS ever.
2. $40 that Katie and I (Katie spotted the cash) found the other night in front of a store on the ground when we went out for dinner. As you can imagine we ended up going out for dessert that night too!
3. Airplane ticket to California!
Worst
1. Recent free toys that came in the Apple Jacks cereal box - Lame with a capital “L”
2. Can’t think of anything
3. Still can’t think of anything, sorry.
Nicole-
I thought I would get some good feedback from you on this one. When I think of someone who loves free stuff and/or a good deal, I think of you. I’m so glad that you passed on some of that to me back in the days of Value Village’s prime.
As for some of the personal stuff, my most exciting news is my upcoming trip to California, I’m totally thrilled about it. Apart from that my other exciting news is my 4.0 GPA in school. Why don’t you send me some personal stuff and I’ll see what I can think up in the meantime.
Oh, and I love your comment, it’s totally what I’m looking for, so keep it up!
Take care eh!
What is all this about California?
apperently i am behind! I too love a good costco sample, however am totally jipped when it’s seafood and I can not partake, it’s like I have been cheated out of something that i somehow think that i deserve.
The best free thing that I ever got was free oil for my gussle car back inthe day at the husky gas station. It did come with cheesy pick-up lines from the attendants but it was free!! As far as I knew anyways, the poor chumps that may have paid for that out of there paycheck or maybe they just ripped the company off in my behalf. What i don’t know won’t hurt me. right? Now I am sitting here feelign as though I owe husky some $$. Apperently not so free oil anymore now there is guilt.
Love free stuff but it doesn’t happen often. Oh I did go to a free welcome wagon event where I got a lot of free crap i didn’t want but I also won a door prize that was an awesome toy for Seger worth like $25!!! maybe I am luckier then I remember!
About the California thing… SonicWALL is flying me out to Cali in the beginning of Feb. along with Dad. It should be a total blast! I’ll let you know how it goes. Oh, and I can’t tell whether that was Nate or Daria that asked the question the name and email don’t match
You . Dad. California.
I am GREEEEEEN with envy that he gets to hang out with you!
Pouting also.
Mom -
Katie’s right there with ya!
My momma is the QUEEN of free stuff. She has horseshoes up her butt when it comes to winning stuff. I hope I’ve inherited it. Conor and I did win that Deceptively delicious cookbook (YES!). I love free stuff. Sigh. If only more things were free. I don’t actively search for free stuff, but I still LOVE it. Sometimes I do get turned off free stuff just by how it can be so “in your face” advertised. When that happens I feel almost like scum accepting. The other day at a cool store at Cherry Creek North there were some really tasty free candies. Conor and I definitely didn’t leave without saying, “no.”
BLOG SLACKER!
i will be expecting a post tomorrow flight or no flight
ummm so you have time to play with your banner but not post…hmmm..
Find FREE frequently updated content over here.
:)