A social experiment: What can I get for free?

[TheBigDog]

So a series of events led me to loading Open Office onto the last working home computer. Amazing what you can get for free these days. So it got me to wondering, what could I get for free? Armed with a extremely low limit credit card that expires next month I set out to discover the answer (since free never seems to include shipping and handling).

I Googled "free computer" and got a long list of sites that offer computers for taking "surveys". After vetting through them for a while I chose the least sleazy and started through the questions which began with me picking out my free computer. I chose a HP Pavillion laptop.

The beginning was nothing but some straight marketing survey. Then we got to the part where free started to cross the line. I had to select two offers from a page of about 20. If I picked one from the top I would get an iPod in addition to my computer. Cool! I picked NetFlix (which I was planning on ordering anyway) and some CD's that I can use to learn Spanish ($6.95 s&h). I will be keeping the NetFlix and canceling the Spanish within 14 days to prevent getting billed for something I won't use.

Next I was presented with a bonus! I could get a 52" flat screen HDTV in addition to the iPod and the Computer. All I had to do was pick one of the four offers shown on the screen! I ordered some pills made from some South American berry that promises to make me poop like a king. How could I go wrong? ($2.95 s&h).

That got me to the second round. This time I picked some tea that promises to make me piss like a king ($3.85 s&h). How could I go wrong? And for good measure I ordered a credit report service through Equifax to make sure that there were no shenanigans from this little escapade.

So close to getting my computer, iPod and new flat screen! Only two more things to order from only one more screen of options. I was so excited as I waited for the screen to load. I was presented with three options, I had to pick two of them. Option #1 - A bridal catalog that required me to order at least a $4,000 dress. Option #2 - a car loan company, and all I had to do was buy a new car using them as the lender. Option #3 - Train tickets; I would have to buy two tickets (to anyplace) at a minimum value of $895 each.

I faced the screen with shattered hopes. I had spent a few dollars and I need to cancel a couple of things this week to prevent being billed an extreme amount for the pleasures of royal evacuations while practicing conversational Spanish. And I had learned a lesson about exactly how some of these sites work.

So, my (first) experiment to get a free computer is a bust, and I spent about $50 for my efforts. And that brings me to the topic of the thread. What can you get (of value) for free? Software is everywhere, but what about hardware? Has anyone had an experience where you managed to get something for free?

[Buffy]

I thought about shoplifting "Steal This Book," but I just wasn't enough of an anarchist to follow through....the disappointments on this topic abound....

I believe in compulsory cannibalism. If people were forced to eat what they killed, there would be no more wars,
Buffy

[freeztar]

Salvaging!

When the normal person's computer stops "working", they chuck it. If you can become the intermediary between the chucker and the landfill, then you've potentially inherited a gold mine. Power supplies, fans, switches, drives, memory, controllers, etc.

Me? I'm waiting for my new apple computer promised by the surveyors (and consequently, new vinyl panels for my house as well).

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by freeztar

Salvaging! .

Oh actually I have had luck with going to garage sales at 4:30pm on Sunday.

Desperation to empty the place will result in many "oh go ahead and take it" responses as long as you--like your post sez--buy at least one thing....

Just another word for nothing left to lose,
Buffy

[Boerseun]

Well, trading is more likely the way to go.

Can't remember the particular site, but last year, a guy started with a single red paperclip. He traded that for a pen, and then traded the pen for something else, and so on. Eventually, after around twenty or thirty trades, he swopped something for a house. And he only started with a paperclip. And it took him less than a year.

A house for a paperclip? Count me in!

Oh yes - just found the spot: one red paperclip

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by TheBigDog

...
So, my (first) experiment to get a free computer is a bust, and I spent about $50 for my efforts. And that brings me to the topic of the thread. What can you get (of value) for free? Software is everywhere, but what about hardware? Has anyone had an experience where you managed to get something for free?

Camera sellers periodically give free accessory kits with camera purchases at certain price levels. On the lower end you might get a lens cleaning kit (plastic bulb-brush, lens paper, and a tiny bottle of cleaning fluid) and a UV filter (the lowest possible quality one could, but never would, buy). On the higher end, those things plus a camera bag and/or tripod. The cheapest bags & tripods of course, but then they're Free!

[Moontanman]

Usually something you get for free costs you quite a bit to get rid of it......

[Buffy]

Slight restatement of the original post:

"Just where is this horse whose mouth I'm not supposed to look in?"

I'm NOT short. I prefer to think there is simply more space above my head for word balloons full of devastatingly pithy witticisms,
Buffy