Good deal?

[lululugnut]

I am writing in regards to all the tension in the forums lately. I love this site, and I TRULY appreciate all of the members who take the time ( AND stick thier neck out) to share with the rest of us. What worries me is this;
We ALL like free stuff and a good deal - heck, who DOESNT?! But when someone makes a post for a freebie or a REALLY great deal ( steal), its should be concidered a BLESSING and not something OWED to us. UNLESS the site sent it DIRECTLY to you/me or publicly announced it, its found treasure and not EARNED. So when a deal is OBIVOUSLY being abused, it hurts the forum in two ways: first, it makes us all look like greedy schmucks and vendors are less likely to continue making these great offers. Secondly, the vendors are more likely to pull or cancel the deals and then we all lose out INCLUDING the person who took the time to find the deal and share it, because they will probably get cancelled or the old run-around too AND then they are less likely to SHARE anything else they might run across in the future.
I'm not scolding anyone or getting on my "high-horse", just giving another point of view. A little less greed and anger and a little more patience and gratitude makes this site fun for everyone. We share the deals to HELP each other - thats supposed to be the point, isnt it? This is a forum, and we have freedom to say or do whatever we choose ( within the confines of the site rules ). I appreciate and respect the honest feedback - keeps us all aware, its kept ME from trying something that really was "too good to be true". But if you post something KNOWING its gonna bring the wrath down on you - best get your hard hat. Sometimes, its better to say nothing at all.
You dont have to agree with me, or with anyone for that matter, but take a moment and THINK before you react. Is it really worth it? WHO will it benefit? Follow your own concscience. Its just SO much better when we are all at our best.
Love & Peace to all in "Our Family"! :) :)

[Johnslambchop]

I understand where you are coming from - my rule of thumb is "if I don't need or really want the product, then don't order it". I only find it abusing when people just order for the sake of ordering a freebie. Then you are right, the vendor pulls the deal and we all 'suffer the consequences'.

A good example of that are the printable coupons we used to be able to find for free items such as Dove Soap and I think I remember one for Sierra Mist. Now supermarkets around here wont' even take a coupon if printed from the net.

[bribella]

Well said. I agree 100% and really dislike reading about how some people will order several of the same freebie using more than one email address. I just think it is so greedy and not fair to everyone else who may want to get that great freebie also. JMO not speaking about anyone directly.

[lululugnut]

Yep, thats my point. The posts are here for the others who can benefit from it or need it ( or just want to try it!). But when someone tries to wrangle the offer to get more than they should ( or need) it hurts us all. I just dont want to see the forums fall apart because a few get greedy or behave IMO ( for what its worth....) without conscience. Noone should be afraid to share something OR that if they goof up ( we have ALL done that, havent we?) and the deal doesnt work or is posted wrong, etc and then they get jumped on like a duck on a junebug. Who knows how many great deals/ freebies we never saw because of that fear. We all learn as we go. We cant regulate the morals of others - its impossible and who of us really has the right? But cheating companies and the rest of us by abusing deals is nothing to be proud of. LETS KEEP IT FREE AND FUN FOR EVERYONE!
;) :) :D

[FreBQueen]

I'm on a very limited income, and I can tell you, a lot of these freebies are so very welcome at my home! Sometimes it can make the difference between having enough shampoo to wash my hair! Seriously here. So for those that post, I do thank you very much. I order things that I can use, or if I know someone that can. I will order some things that help me to make up little gift baskets for my nieces birthdays etc. and tuck the sample in with it. Saves me money there too. When you're on disability, you try to make ends meet where ever you can :). I agree very much that we shouldn't order something just for the sake of getting something free, when it's not anything we would ever use, and it's just going to lay around and be wasted especially. For those smaller companies that ask us to only order if we intend to buy something, that is where I try to be careful in ordering in that way. If it's a product I already use, I will order it, too. The little samples do come in handy if we have to travel, say like I go to a hospital 4 hours away from me and have to stay in their hotel there overnight for either tests or research, so the samples of shampoo (yeah, they provide too, but it's not that great of stuff lol), or mouthwash, etc. come in very handy for me.
I know what you mean about the printable coupons. The only store here in my small town that will accept them, is our WalMart. And if I find a link that isn't working that someone has posted, I usually just do a search for the company or product. It isn't that hard to do. I don't mind if people let others know in a gentle and friendly way that the link isn't working though, we all make mistakes from time to time.
Anyway, I'm rambling on, but I am glad for these freebie forums too. I have gotten some nice things, and it really does help me out. And sometimes I find I really like a new product, and I've gone out and bought it afterwards, as well.

[Karnevil9]

Great post lulu, I think we all need to be reminded of this on a regular basis! I guess now it's time for me to throw in my 2 cents on the subject ... this is not meant against FreBQueen so please do not think it's a personal attack but just a fact - the point of people giving out samples is to get consumers to purchase their products. They spend thousands of dollars offering a sample with the desired result being that you go out and buy the product, they are not intended to keep us supplied with shampoo, tampons, spices, etc. for free nor to be used as gifts. They are a marketing technique with the sole purpose being to get us to put the money they spend on marketing back into their coffers by buying the full-sized products. I truly do understand that they can help in tough financial times & I have even done this myself it the past so I'm not in a glass house throwing stones, believe me! But when people complain that didn't receive a freebie because they ran out or someone didn't qualify for one, that's ridiculous! There are people who get free military services t-shirts who have no intention of joining the military, people who get freebies intended for children with cancer, then complain when a rep actually calls them on the phone! It never ceases to amaze me .... anyway, we seem to do a lot of complaining like a free offer is our due, but we should all just have fun with it and be grateful that there are still companies out there willing to let us try before we buy. Well, hopefully no one will string me up for my comments LOL! But I agree that a lot of people forget what the freebies are for and how to use their conscience when deciding how to use the forums. Thanks y'all!

(PS I was referring to samples only, not free gifts or promotions that are sometimes offered)

[whatever]

Not to step on any toes, i was one of the people(years ago mind you)
would order things i probably didn't need. That was when i was new
to the whole freebie thing. I have become way more choosey and only
order something i am really interested in. And 50% of the time after
i get a sample i start buying that product. Like the mr clean erasers(love them), the heat patches(very helpful when you have arthritus) and
many other products. I understand your feellings. I have noticed
several people complain when they get emails stating they have run out
of the freebie, or they missed out all together. I figure hey sign up, if it
comes excellent if not i'm not out anything but my time and i have gotten
many freebies so its not like it cost me anything. the comes in my motto,
IF ITS FREE, I CAN AFFORD TO BE PATIENT.
I love this site, visit is almost everyday, I would hate to see something
happen because of abuse. So lets please all respect one and play
nice. And everyone keep up the good work. I don't know how everyone
finds these great posts. I myself have only contributed a dozen or so.
So i am extremely grateful to all of you who find them.
10000 thank yous

[Guess_Who]

What upsets me is the posts that tell you how to cheat.


Ex:
The freebie is for over 30 ... "Just put in your birthday is 1973"

You have to qualify by checking the right survey questions .... on question 4 tell them you are pregnet etc.

The freebie is for a business owner ... Just make one up and make up a phone number so they can't call you


etc etc etc


PEOPLE, THIS IS WRONG!!!! .... Do you not realize this is just like stealing?

[limpstar]

While I agree wholeheartedly with what everyone is saying, I believe this is the wrong place to put this. Shouldnt this belong in the vent/whine section? Honestly, some people are going to continue abusing freebies bc they can or want to and we cant stop them. We can only be responsible for our own actions. And I have done that by not signing up for everything I find listed. I only do the ones I found worth my time or something that I might actually use.

[Karnevil9]

limpstar - well said and 100% correct!

[ntgsmommy]

I believe this is the wrong place to put this. Shouldnt this belong in the vent/whine section?

I SO totally agree with this! :)

[ang in NC]

Must be nice to have a lot of time on your hands!

[lululugnut]

While I agree wholeheartedly with what everyone is saying, I believe this is the wrong place to put this. Shouldnt this belong in the vent/whine section? Honestly, some people are going to continue abusing freebies bc they can or want to and we cant stop them. We can only be responsible for our own actions. And I have done that by not signing up for everything I find listed. I only do the ones I found worth my time or something that I might actually use.


I understand your point, Limpstar, and as I said, I appreciate honest feedback. This may have been the wrong place to post this for those of us who ALREADY KNOW what can happen when posts are abused, but for those who DONT realize how is hurts us all, this is where they NEED to see it. Noone can police the concience of others, and as my original post stated, I am not judging or getting on a moral high-horse. Just stating the fact that abusing deals/freebies screws it up for everybody. Those that didnt know, know now, and THAT was my point all along. And I dont have a lot of spare time to sign up for deals that have been pulled because someone took advantage of them. This was NEVER directed at those who use the forums correctly, but those who dont. :) :)
"It wasnt a memo........it was a mission statement" - Jerry Mcguire :o

[Shivaw70]

I agree also. Glad someone took the time to say so.

[momtomany1]

I am so glad that someone finally started this. I have been fuming in silence. Especially when someone tells you how to get around the "rules" of the freebies. I agree if you need or feel you'll use this product, order it. If you don't then leave it alone. This is such a moral issue.

[grammy2_1]

I agree too and always have. And I'll often post, 'Relax, people, its just a freebie, not the end of the world.' lol!

And I have to say this...when I first started reading this post, I thought, 'Watch, some will start complaining that this is posted in the wrong place and only help to prove the point being made! lol
Relax, this post isn't taking the place of a precious freebie that could have been posted in this spot. It'll still be posted! lol
Amazing things, these forums, you post something, it moves everything else down one entire space!!!-still there, just gotta scroll now, what...maybe 1/8 of an inch further!?? Geez, oh no, not that!! lmao
PLUS, I thought, those who post in here to complain about the post are only pointing the finger towards themselves as being just the type being mentioned in the original post and in replies. Apparantly, they take offense at this. And why would that be? Because, they probably are among the 'freebie abusers'. I see no other reason for them to get anything in a bunch here, other than that reason.
Ever hear the saying...'Thou dost protest too much' ? lmao

The only reason I wind up with some junk freebies I don't want is because in order to know if a freebie is valid, form works, etc...before you post it, is by ordering it yourself to see BEFORE you post the offer at a board...because if its a page error, or no longer valid, you'll get viciously verbally attacked by the nastys! And honestly, in today's world of tragedies...think about this...'How sad is that?'

[suzski]

Must be nice to have a lot of time on your hands!

I don't think that was really necessary, was it? :(

Thanks lululugnut. Your comments are right on target.

[Willow]

In regards to the comment about it not being a big deal when something is posted in the wrong forum well that may be true for some, but the mods have asked us not to post things in the wrong forum because all it does is make their job harder. They have to continually move things when they are posted in the wrong forums.

Here is a post that Katt made........

Just a reminder and a request

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just want to remind everyone who has been a member for a while, and to inform those who are new to the site, that there are many great area's of this board to visit. There is a forum for just about any need you have.

If you have a grocery/coupon post to share, or are looking for a specific grocery or coupon need, then visit our coupon area of the board. You can find it here: Grocery deals and coupon forum

Looking for a great shopping deal, or have one you want to share? Then this area is for you: Big Deals Board!

Perhaps entering contests is your thing. Got one to share? Go here: Contest Mania!

Freebies Freebies Freebies, find them or share them here: BigBigSavings Free Stuff!

We have a great forum to post and find reward program information. This includes survey sites with great incentives for those who are interested. There is also 2 sub forums. One for six-questions, the other is for Reward TV. Feel free to browse or post your finds here: Reward Program Discussions

Got an in general gripe? Having a bad day? Visit our vent and whine forum and get it off your chest: Vent/Whine Forum!

Looking for a specific deal or freebie? Visit our help board and see if another member can help you, or if what you are looking for, has already been posted. Go here: Deal and Freebie Help!

We also have a religious area of the board. This area is for ALL religions. It is not meant to be used to force beliefs on anyone though. It is there at members request, to post and find freebies of a religious nature, to ask for prayer requests if they are needed, and to have religious discussions...with the understanding it is to remain CIVIL lol. Visit it here: Religious Content!

Do you have something important to share with our members? Perhaps the latest recall? Is there a warning that needs to get out to the visitors of cyberspace? Have you found an interesting article you want to share? If so, visit our Warnings/FYI forum and post it there: Warnings and For Your Information!

Visit our downline builder to help build your downlines in the PTR industry. There are specific rules for this area of the board, be sure to read them thoroughly. Referral Madness!

Just want to chat with other members? Visit off topic chat! Off Topic Chat

New to the board, and want to say Hello? Visit the hello forum and let us get to know you. Hello World!

By members request, we have an arts and craft area of the board. You find and post all art/printable/crafty types of freebies and do it yourself projects here. Arts and Craft Forum

Have you found a great freebie or deal and want to brag a little? If so, then Neener Neener is for you! Neener Neener!!

We also have an online garage sale and auction forum. If you want to find something cheap, or want to sell or auction something free of charge, then visit this area of the board. There are also specific rules for this area, so be sure to read them completely. For Sale or Trade

There is an entertainment board to discuss your latest TV joys. The forum says Reality TV, but it's definitly not limited to just reality shows. Join in a discussion about your favorite shows here: Reality (what is it anyway?)

Comments or suggestions about the board? Feel free to post them here: Comments and Suggestions!

And lastly...there is a testing forum for your use. You can test pictures, avatars, signatures, or the boards features here. Hey! Will this work?

So now you know what BBS has to offer. I would like to request that everyone please post in the appropriate areas. With the slowness of the board, it is becoming increasingly difficult to move posts that are posted in the wrong areas of the board. If everyone could help us out, and put them in the right forums, that would be great. After all, it's your BBS too, and you can't find things if they aren't in the right area.

As always, affiliate links and links to other deal/freebie sites are not allowed. I don't think McDonalds would allow you to sell Burger King products in their store, so please respect Alex's rule to not use his servers to advertise other sites.

If there are any questions about the rules of the board, feel free to read over the "rules of conduct", the "faq's", you can pm a mod/admin, or feel free to contact forum support. We will be more than happy to answer your questions as we can.

Have a great day!

[LaurieUT]

Thanks, guys, for your insight. I agree we shouldn't abuse the system here. I'm so glad that there are others who are conscientious about ordering freebies. I've been visiting here for a few years, and always try to only order what I think I'll use in the future, especially if I'd like to buy the product.

What really gets me is when you have these small businesses posting samples of their products and people sign up for them just because they can. I know there are some that would actually buy them if they like the product, but since I know I'd rather buy something in person, I don't sign up for them. These companies don't make that much money and they're giving away samples to people they hope will become customers.

Early on when I started visiting this site, I signed up for a few samples of these beautiful and expensive Christmas cards. When I got them, it came with such a friendly letter from the owners saying that they hope I love the product and thanking me for requesting a sample. I felt horrible knowing I'd never buy their products, so I haven't done this since.

[ntgsmommy]

In regards to the comment about it not being a big deal when something is posted in the wrong forum well that may be true for some, but the mods have asked us not to post things in the wrong forum because all it does is make their job harder. They have to continually move things when they are posted in the wrong forums.

Here is a post that Katt made........

Just a reminder and a request

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just want to remind everyone who has been a member for a while, and to inform those who are new to the site, that there are many great area's of this board to visit. There is a forum for just about any need you have.

If you have a grocery/coupon post to share, or are looking for a specific grocery or coupon need, then visit our coupon area of the board. You can find it here: Grocery deals and coupon forum

Looking for a great shopping deal, or have one you want to share? Then this area is for you: Big Deals Board!

Perhaps entering contests is your thing. Got one to share? Go here: Contest Mania!

Freebies Freebies Freebies, find them or share them here: BigBigSavings Free Stuff!

We have a great forum to post and find reward program information. This includes survey sites with great incentives for those who are interested. There is also 2 sub forums. One for six-questions, the other is for Reward TV. Feel free to browse or post your finds here: Reward Program Discussions

Got an in general gripe? Having a bad day? Visit our vent and whine forum and get it off your chest: Vent/Whine Forum!

Looking for a specific deal or freebie? Visit our help board and see if another member can help you, or if what you are looking for, has already been posted. Go here: Deal and Freebie Help!

We also have a religious area of the board. This area is for ALL religions. It is not meant to be used to force beliefs on anyone though. It is there at members request, to post and find freebies of a religious nature, to ask for prayer requests if they are needed, and to have religious discussions...with the understanding it is to remain CIVIL lol. Visit it here: Religious Content!

Do you have something important to share with our members? Perhaps the latest recall? Is there a warning that needs to get out to the visitors of cyberspace? Have you found an interesting article you want to share? If so, visit our Warnings/FYI forum and post it there: Warnings and For Your Information!

Visit our downline builder to help build your downlines in the PTR industry. There are specific rules for this area of the board, be sure to read them thoroughly. Referral Madness!

Just want to chat with other members? Visit off topic chat! Off Topic Chat

New to the board, and want to say Hello? Visit the hello forum and let us get to know you. Hello World!

By members request, we have an arts and craft area of the board. You find and post all art/printable/crafty types of freebies and do it yourself projects here. Arts and Craft Forum

Have you found a great freebie or deal and want to brag a little? If so, then Neener Neener is for you! Neener Neener!!

We also have an online garage sale and auction forum. If you want to find something cheap, or want to sell or auction something free of charge, then visit this area of the board. There are also specific rules for this area, so be sure to read them completely. For Sale or Trade

There is an entertainment board to discuss your latest TV joys. The forum says Reality TV, but it's definitly not limited to just reality shows. Join in a discussion about your favorite shows here: Reality (what is it anyway?)

Comments or suggestions about the board? Feel free to post them here: Comments and Suggestions!

And lastly...there is a testing forum for your use. You can test pictures, avatars, signatures, or the boards features here. Hey! Will this work?

So now you know what BBS has to offer. I would like to request that everyone please post in the appropriate areas. With the slowness of the board, it is becoming increasingly difficult to move posts that are posted in the wrong areas of the board. If everyone could help us out, and put them in the right forums, that would be great. After all, it's your BBS too, and you can't find things if they aren't in the right area.

As always, affiliate links and links to other deal/freebie sites are not allowed. I don't think McDonalds would allow you to sell Burger King products in their store, so please respect Alex's rule to not use his servers to advertise other sites.

If there are any questions about the rules of the board, feel free to read over the "rules of conduct", the "faq's", you can pm a mod/admin, or feel free to contact forum support. We will be more than happy to answer your questions as we can.

Have a great day!
Thank you, my point exactly..........

[lululugnut]

So we agree to disagree where this was posted. It was never my intention to break any rules, and I appreciate the magnitude of the responsibilities the mods have. But in all honesty, do you think that the people who the original post was aimed at - those who really dont care about keeping this site going for EVERYONE is the type of person who would read "comments and suggestions"? Highly unlikely. I was not trying to start an uproar here - I was trying to HELP, and I will take the heat for sticking my neck out. But if just ONE person who was abusing the forum sees the damage it can do and stops the behavior, it was worth putting my hard hat on for. I did what MY conscience dictated and I stand by it. I meant no disrespect to the Mods or to those who took offense at my post. Many people read it, and hopefully it got through to those to whom it was intended.
And THATS all I have to say about that. :) Better get on to other things.........after all, I have LOTS of time on my hands! :rolleyes: :D ;)

[PrincessArky]

I understand where you are coming from - my rule of thumb is "if I don't need or really want the product, then don't order it". I only find it abusing when people just order for the sake of ordering a freebie. Then you are right, the vendor pulls the deal and we all 'suffer the consequences'.

A good example of that are the printable coupons we used to be able to find for free items such as Dove Soap and I think I remember one for Sierra Mist. Now supermarkets around here wont' even take a coupon if printed from the net.


ITA 100%

[ntgsmommy]

I don't disagree with what you said, I just disagreed with where you posted it, after all, many other people's posts are moved to the right catergory, and so should this one.....I don't agree with the comment that you have to much time on your hands either, that was really uncalled for, the only thing I have a problem with is where you posted it.....I'm not a mod and can't move it, or I would have. Whether or not you believe that the wrong people would read comments and suggestions well, that's just can't be helped, you posted in freebies because you knew more people frequent this forum and read more posts in here and you knew (or thought) that the people you were aiming for would read this post. I personally, don't sign up for some stuff on here just because it is free....but that is me. Don't take offense at my point, I am just stating MY opinion......I hope you still have a good night! :)

[lululugnut]

ntgsmommy,
No offense taken - I know that you were only saying what you felt and kept it in the spirit in which it was intended. We should all be able to say what we want as long as it isnt a personal attack ( which I dont at all feel yours was).
I honestly didnt know when I made the original post that it was not acceptable to put it there ( my bad) and all you did was let me know. Its the folks that get carried away and are down right nasty with thier input that scares would-be posters away. I think we both want the same thing - to keep this site as it should be....fun for everyone and running smoothly!
Best wishes and happy hunting! :D :D

[ntgsmommy]

thanks...... :D

[grammy2_1]

Well then, either the MODS/ADMINS all took the day off, or apparantly they don't feel this needs moving. lol I dunno, but its still in here and that's very odd. :D

[Willow]

Well then, either the MODS/ADMINS all took the day off, or apparantly they don't feel this needs moving. lol I dunno, but its still in here and that's very odd. :D


Maybe they haven't seen it yet. They don't get paid for being a mod and they do have lives outside of BBS. They can't spend every minute of their day looking for threads that are posted in the wrong forum so that's why they have asked people to post things in the right forum. It makes their job a lot easier.

[Angelseyes28]

Maybe they haven't seen it yet. They don't get paid for being a mod and they do have lives outside of BBS. They can't spend every minute of their day looking for threads that are posted in the wrong forum so that's why they have asked people to post things in the right forum. It makes their job a lot easier.
Thank you, that was very well said.:)

[ezmoney163]

My view on freebies, if I am not really interested in the product or don't think I will even use it, I do not order it. I am just grateful people are caring enough to share rheir finds!! :)

[Kelsey1224]

My view on freebies, if I am not really interested in the product or don't think I will even use it, I do not order it. I am just grateful people are caring enough to share rheir finds!! :)

ITA!!!

[Willow]

Thank you, that was very well said.:)

You're welcome! :)

[iluvmybaby]

AMEN I hear you on that, I bought some things from someone on here that shall remain nameless, turns out they are freebies that she is reselling, charged me a considerable amount of $ too, I constantily see her posting selling more! Please dont get me wrong I have passed along freebies to ppl that need that just asking for shoppint $ ((gotta face it I am flat broke)) but could not imagine making a profit off of someone else loss, yes those companies have to pay for those things that they send you, so get ONE not twenty and only if you need it

[freebielover]

Thank you for posting this. It sounds awful but I don't post good deals anymore because you get jerks that order 100 of the item, then my order gets cancelled because they were greedy. I also hate it when people sign up for stuff meant for businesses and the like. These companies offer these freebies and deals for a REASON. And people getting mad at the company because they don't honor a mistake that would have put them out of business is ridiculous! I also hate it when you get a tiny company that offers a great promotion and people take sick advantage then get upset. Lol, sorry venting in your vent, I'm greedy too, but I just wish we could all enjoy the deals and feel grateful that someone took the time to post this.