DU Techies! I have an early X-mas present for your. FREE $400 Apple Ipod

[leftyandproud]

No joke folks...a 40GB Apple Ipod that retails for $399.

We all like freebies here, and I think I found the ultimate free promotion just in time for Christmas.
This offer is limited to one Ipod per household.

A company called The Gratis Network is offering $50 million dollars in Free Ipods to people who register with their site and complete an offer from a national advertiser.

They have a very professional looking website, with multiple forms of contact information. The company has also been featured on CNN, G4TechTV, and Wired Magazine:
http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,64614...tory_page_next1

If you need further proof of this company's legitimacy, you will find they are in good standing with the Better Business Bureau here: http://www.dc.bbb.org/report.html?compid=W1035561&national=Y

If you are interested in a Free Ipod, all you must do is sign up at the site and complete an offer with one of the advertisers. There are numerous offers from Blockbuster Video, BMG Music, The Wall Street Journal, and several online companies. You then need to refer five others to do the same, and upon completion of the offers, they will ship you a free Ipod with no strings attached!!

I'm told the Blockbuster offer is very good. Personally, I chose to apply for the Citibank credit card. I would STRONGLY recommend this for most people because it costs NOTHING to complete this offer. You spend no money at all, and can simply cut up the card and cancel when it arrives. ;)

That's it folks..If you appreciate me passing along this info, please sign up using my referral link. (my family is computer illiterate so they can't sign up)

here is the link....Enjoy!

http://www.freeiPods.com/?r=10874702

[imenja]

1. these offers are ploys

they take your information, bombard you with spam and telemarketing, and make it impossible for you to actually get the so-called giveaway. I'm not falling for it.

[leftyandproud]

3. no folks..here is the deal..

They are counting on you not getting the necessary referals to collect your Free Ipod. Most people will not send the link to five others, and that is how the company makes money. The company has been around for several years now and I highly doubt multibillion dollar corporations like AOL and Citibank would be affiliated with a fraudulent organization.

They are legit..and YES, the offer seems to good to be true. But this is for real folks. Just don't do something stupid like BUYING a product from one of the advertisers. Like I said, just pick one of the offers that requires NO money up front. The GM Card or Citibank Credit cards are two examples. Apply for a card and cancel it when it arrives. I have already done this...and the site has shown that I completed the offer. Now I'm trying to get referrals and I'm hoping you guys can help out, while helping yourself in the process.

[One Taste]

7. wrong

i know a lot of people who have received their free ipod, and they aren't bombarded with telemarketing


as for the spam, just sign up for another email address for this:think:

[benburch]

2. I'm betting you've been had.

I hope you didn't give them either your Social Security number or a credit card!!!

[Wonk]

4. Smells like a bit of a pyramid scheme, imho

except that instead of contributing money to enter on the bottom level of the pyramid you give them tons of personal info, buying habits, and your time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme

Oh, and their site does NOT offer 40 gb iPods, either, btw. They offer a choice of a 20 gb iPod or 4 gb iPod mini.

That ?r=10874702 at the end of the url is your referral number I assume? You're asking us to give you an iPod. I just wanted there to be no confusion about the true nature of your "offer".

[dazeconf]

5. this is actually legit

doesn't ask for ssn or credit card info, and its been verified not to be a scam by a few magazines.

[leftyandproud]

6. thank you

I know someone who received a Free Ipod from them...They got the puny 20GB model and I'm getting the huge 40GB model!

still weighs in at just 5.6 ounces according to the site...

amazing :)

[foreigncorrespondent]

8. Is that an affilate link?

You can go to the site www.freeipods.com and not receive the numbers on the end of the link you have given, and my guess is, it is an affilate link.

So what do you get with your affilate link? The more you refer the better your chance of getting one or what?

And sorry, I can't sign up for this, because I guarantee ya, they won't send one my way.

[parasim]

9. it does work

my son has a bunch of friends that did the thing and got their iPods.

here's a site that has a guide that explains how it works:
http://freeipod.iguano.com/index.php

[ebayfool]

10. First, check out the disclaimers for this freebie/chain letter ...

Terms & Conditions

"We also reserve the right to change the methods through which free items are earned. This may include, but is not limited to, increasing the number of friends you have to refer or adding more steps to confirm that you have a legitimate account. We may also add or remove any product listed as an incentive at any time. If we replace a product, the new product may not be of equal value.
--
Only one account is allowed per shipping address. We do this to ensure quality leads for our advertisers.
--
By signing up for this website, the user agrees to receive emails we or another 3rd party may send about special offers on our website, as well as third party advertisements or offers.
--
Gratis Internet does not guarantee that a user will receive credit for an offer.
--
Products listed on our websites may be new or refurbished, but will not be used.
--
We are not responsible for the repair or replacement of defective products.
--
Due to the volume of customer service requests, we do not offer a telephone support."

[leftyandproud]

11. always good to read the fine print..

you will find that with any type of promotion though. A lot of people have received their Ipods by signing up there. It is a legit promotion, but it takes a little effort on your part. For a $400 piece of hardware, I think it is certainly worth the trouble.

[ebayfool]

21. "a little effort on your part" isn't the concern I have w/this -

it's the fine print. You do have fine print on any promotion, but their fine print is neither typical or conducive to making me feel that they operate a legit operation. They basically state they will not be held to terms but I will, they have no responsibility to follow up on anything, expect lots of spam (ie advertising), & no telephone support (& no guarantee of email response) if there is a problem. Not typical fine print, IMHO. Worth it to some, maybe - but judging from web complaints (see post #19 link for example), risky.

again, IMHO

edited to add: Good luck w/yours though, hope it works out for you.

[Bunny]

12. This may interest you:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=120x26215

[DoNotRefill]

13. Pyramid scheme....

eom

[leftyandproud]

15. one that WORKS!

Complete an offer, refer five others to do the same, and get your Ipod.
Simple as that.

Here is a collection of articles and news headlines about the promotion.

http://homepage.mac.com/davidemm/freeipod.html#proof

[DoNotRefill]

22. It may work...

but it's still a pyramid scheme.

Frankly, I value my friends more than to use them for profit...

[lateo]

14. I'm "still" waiting for mine.

It has been at least 6 months.

[leftyandproud]

16. yep..unfortunately

Apple is backed up with orders...Ipods are the hottest items this year. Anyone applying now can expect a delayed shipment.

here is what you will get...eventually

http://www.randomdrivel.com/displayarticle4323.html

[Eurobabe]

17. this is a friggin marketing scam, I signed up in October

and got taken by Blockbuster Online, they said I received 2 movies which I did not, I cancelled right after sign up because there was a wait on everything. These bastards actually charged me $41 for two past due movies I never received! Then I signed up for BocaJava, 10 oz coffee for 16 oz prices. Ditched them.

Keep your iPods Gratis. Someone is making out on this deal, but it's not the consumers. There's an old adage: if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is...

[RebelOne]

18. Please let us know if and when you receive it.n/t

[charlie]

19. Follow-up story from Wired

http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,65042,00.html

[trumad]

20. Thanks Charlie for the link

after reading the Wired piece, me thinks that this whole thread should be deleted. Nothings free in this world....nothing!