Learning about Freebies

When hubby checks the mail each day, it's like Christmas for us. We find all sorts of goodies in there... coupons, samples, and even the occasional full sized product! It's our addiction getting FREE STUFF!!! My hubby doesn't care what it is, if it's free, he orders it. The key is, you have to know when some things are too good to be true.

Real companies really give away free stuff?

Big companies spend millions on TV ads and other forms of advertising,  getting YOU to buy their product. It makes sense that a few companies use some of their budget to put their product directly in your hands. They know that if you enjoy your freebie, you'll be back for more.

Why sign up for free samples?

A lot of the time, free samples include high-value coupons not found anywhere else, especially for new products. Savvy shoppers can turn that free sample with a coupon into a killer deal on a full-sized item!

 Legit Offers

Do you know how to tell legit freebies from fake ones? If not, you could lose out on some great offers or fill your email and mailbox with junk. To save you time, here are some tips for knowing when it's a good deal & when to run the other way.

1)   Make sure the web URL in the address bar includes the name of the company or the brand of product. 

2)   Never sign up for bonus offers to get a freebie. They're spam and a waste of time.

3)   Beware of trial offers. Never enter a credit card number for a freebie, even if they don't charge now, they will charge soon afterward. Passing out your Social Security number is another no-no.

4)  Look for contact info on a website, if you can't find any, it's a clue. Legit companies want customers to be able to reach them.

5)    Go to whois.com to see how long the website has been up - if only for a few days, it's probably a quick setup trick to get your info.

Tips

1)   Create an alternate email. Most offers want you to sign up for their newsletter to get in on their sample. If you register for even a few freebies a day, that adds up to tons of emails after awhile. Having a separate email for those offers prevents this. Check it occasionally to see if a deal needs email verification, some require it.

2)   Some companies won't send items to PO Boxes, make sure to check the freebie offer, if using one.

3)   Know the terms. Many freebies only allow one per household, while others allow one per person.

4)   Be thankful. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a company offer something on Facebook, only to have ungrateful people complain. Companies don't have to give anything to anyone, so when they do, we should thank them. Try a little understanding if something goes amiss with a form. You're not the only one hunting for a goodie!

*Thanks to We Use Coupons