Freebies on Tech4Free: Scam or Not
11.30.2004
I've got so many emails about freebie techs via tech4free that I just have to check it out. I figure it's going to be a good thing for a little 5 minute investigation. See, there's just too many spammers out there; I can't trust nobody quite easily these days.
My Manila network of friends have been sending this same email and so have some people from the US. Friendster Bulletin boards are filled with the same detail. So let's start ---
First thing to check out is the Privacy Policy of any website - and check their Terms and Conditions - if it doesn't have it then it meens it doesn't even have money to pay for man hours to even cut and paste a usual terms and conditions text. If its more site specifc you can bet its their definite legalway out if they screw up. That's read as Disclaimer baby...
Ok so I checked and this is what I found:
First of all you have to be in USA:
I. ACCOUNTS
1. Information
(a). All users shall provide accurate information. At any time during the signup process or after the user must give correct information involving their identity.
(b). A user must use their own information for this site.
(c). A user must reside in the United States. <<<<<<<<<<
If this was no scam consider that you have to reside in US and provide your mailing address Not PO BOXES --- that means your info can be 'sold' for marketing purposes Re: JC Penny Catalogues among others ... The word "Sold" in business can mean any exchange including non-monetary or what you call x-deals. In other words information exchange or any exchange in kind ala barter trade wherein both companies help each other.
For one I thnk not all couriers can ship through PO boxes - besides if its not a PO box then its possibly a consumers address, right? They don't need PO boxes too - perhaps since home mailing addresses are better for consumer goods that they can mail you .... Ok further:
re: Offers, Privacy Policy:As you can see it's a little gray area out there on promotions and marketing - so if you are American and you sign up I guess you can expect alot of mails from their sponsors - that's the price of freebies!!! If you get the freebie and you don't mind the mails that may come - or anything else that drops in your address for instance, then I guess this site is for you. If you'll give up that privacy for a freebie then we don't have issues anymore.
Tech4free.com is a site offering free products. Each offer is sponsored by one of our advertisers. Information is collected from the consumer through an online form. Applicants submit their name, address, title, e-mail address, and age along with other demographic information and optional questions chosen by the advertiser.
However, under Opt-in/out federal rule they are not spamming you or sending you unsolicited mails or that their methodology cant be called spamming if an option for a opt-out is available. What more if you agree that their affiliates send you info?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>So there you go... If its not a scam then its all good and you can try it but I guess but there's a price to pay for that freebie. Don't waste ur time unless they start a worldwide campaign which i doubt - or you live the the US and can see if it works. See, if you get an iPod that's cool - means you were that lucky - you became one of a few who made it to their list.
AND THEIR legal loophole: READ this PEOPLE!!!!
c). THIS SITE IS CURRENTLY IN A BETA TEST STAGE AND WE DO NOT GAURANTEE THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE A PRODUCT FROM TECH4FREE.COM, EVEN IF ALL OF THE REQUIRED STEPS ARE COMPLETED IN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ABOVE. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO GET YOU YOUR PRODUCT, BUT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS UNTESTED, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DENY ANYONE THEIR FREE PRODUCT, NO MATTER WHAT THE REASON.
Oh and in case you are wondering: This website is new and so the beta is justifiable they do need hits and quite possibly if its legit marketing is just recent:
Via Big Daddy whois:
Domain Name: TECH4FREE.COM
Created on: 04-Nov-04
Expires on: 04-Nov-05
Last Updated on: 04-Nov-04
Administrative Contact:
Cooper, Justin info@tech4free.com
7800 113 1/2 Ave. N.
Champlin, Minnesota 55316
United States 2183103825
If you need to verify anything you can check on your end.
The Verdict: maybe legit but not without strings attached,
ask yourself if its worth your time and your privacy.
It's legally posible for them to give gifts to 1 in 10,000 people only or all of them or a select statistic or none at all and still promote their site right? Scam or Not if you want to try it it's Your choice.
Labels: Business
posted by Jdavies @ 11/30/2004,
1 Comments:
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At 11/06/2005 11:57:00 AM,
said...
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nice blog. perhaps you could add some more info on free tracfone ringtone for future. will come back again. thanks.
The Author
J.Davies
Jdavies lives in Quezon City, Philippines and has been blogging since 2002. A brand manager in a leading technology company and a freelance new media/web strategy consultant, he has refocused his blogging from personal, political & sociological observations, to marketing-related efforts and Internet trends that are relevant to his career and branding advocacies.
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