What's wrong with free iPod, Mac Mini, <insert product here> deals?

[iamtrout]

^ Topic ^

Just curious. Is it because the referral system annoys people? Is it a scam? Huh?

 

[HaxorNubcake]

people just spam all over the place for referrals.
"Is it a scam"?...nope.

 

[yukichigai]

It's a scam. I posted earlier about what an MLM was, and why they suck. Things like "free" iPod are MLMs, pure and simple, and should be shunned and destroyed.

EDIT: It's a scam in that someone on the lower level of the MLM pyramid gets nothing and still winds up paying some cash.

 

[iamtrout]

I see. So basically the premise is that I sign up, subscribe to a free offer which I can cancel painlessly, and I have to refer 5 or something friends, but the problem is that while I get my 5 referrals, my friends would be SOL unless they find five other friends, so on and so forth.

Is this about right? What about these conga lines that I here about? Seems like this could be a good deal if operated correctly.

It is not allowed here for the "annoyance" level alone. In the larger society, begging on the street is also legal, yet we do not allow that here either. This is a private forum, a "club" if you will. We're considering a dress code as well: Boxer shorts and a tie. And for men . . . thongs, gloves, and a beanie.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: iamtrout
I see. So basically the premise is that I sign up, subscribe to a free offer which I can cancel painlessly, and I have to refer 5 or something friends, but the problem is that while I get my 5 referrals, my friends would be SOL unless they find five other friends, so on and so forth.

Is this about right? What about these conga lines that I here about? Seems like this could be a good deal if operated correctly.

It's not really a scam since people have received their products.

However it is an MLM pyramdi scheme, AGAINST FORUM RULES and just plain annoying.

I'm thinking of starting my own "conga line" elsewhere, so everyone can benefit and we can all get free[insert] stuff

 

[TLfromAI]

Is it pyramid scheme or pyramid scam?'

Either way these are annoying.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

It's extremely annoying how people keep flooding the forums with these "offers" daily.

 

[AntaresVI]

Originally posted by: yukichigai
It's a scam. I posted earlier about what an MLM was, and why they suck. Things like "free" iPod are MLMs, pure and simple, and should be shunned and destroyed.

EDIT: It's a scam in that someone on the lower level of the MLM pyramid gets nothing and still winds up paying some cash.

Incorrect again. I showed you in the last thread on this that it is not necessary to pay anything. Again, this is not a MLM scam because the incentive here is not to gain from the people below you. Instead, one gains from the advertisers who make the "offers." I got three free things from these guys, and in the process I did not scam anyone, nor did I give anyone false hopes of getting a prize.

As long as advertisers are willing to use this as a means of gaining more customers, why should smart consumers not take advantage of it? Sure, people towards the bottom of the chain won;t have any chance of getting a prize - however most people have no desire to participate in that way. If I said to you, however, that I would throw you $10 if you sign up for an ebay account using a throwaway email address, would you not do that for me? If not, you would be in the minority - I've already had over 15 people do just that. I just go out of my way to make sure that I never encourage them to try to recruit their own referrals. In short, I am paying only for the service of signing up for the account, not recruiting them into the "scam."

 

[Wallydraigle]

Originally posted by: TLfromAI
Is it pyramid scheme or pyramid scam?'

Either way these are annoying.

Depends on how low on the pyramid you are.