[Rictor]

Apparently, there is a deal whereby if you sign up for one of several offers, give your real email address and refer 5 people, you get a free iPod (20gb normal or 4gb mini).

This is the website
http://www.freeipods.com/default.aspx?referer=8605578

Now the thing that gets me is, this has been featured on Wired and CNN. And it is supported by legitimate companies like Columbia House, AOL, Blockbuster and so on.

Here is the Wired article
http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,64614,00.html

Now I personally could do with a free iPod. And since I have a Gmall address as well as my regular address with my ISP, even if they want to send me spam (which Gmail just filters out anyway) that's OK.

Everything looks to be on the level, I just wanted to hear your opinions on this. Does anyoner know someone who got the iPod? I've seen some pictures on another forum, but just to make sure

If this IS real, we could work out a refferal scheme here, so that everyone gets the sweet, delicious reward.

[phreak]

all you need to do is get a hotmail account and use that to send the emails.  once you get an ipod, just delete the hotmail acct.

[Taristin]

Yeah! Let's all con them into giving us iPods! I have 4 email accounts as it is by myself!

[karajorma]

Surely they must have thought of this? Or is this a horrible marketing error?

[Rictor]

alright, who's going to be the guniea pig? If no one else wants to, I'll do it.

[Unknown Target]

I think they make it up for the iPod in the marketing thing. Most, if not all, of that stuff costs money.

But you can get a free video proffessor thing!

We should set up a ring here on HLP so we can get these.

[Rictor]

uhhh, I just checked, US only!

damnit. Hmm, if someone who's in the US could recieve it, and then ship it over, I would pay the a shipping costs.

[Taristin]

But if I did that, I'd not get one... With them looking at my addy and seeing 2 being sent

[Rictor]

hmm, that's true.

now much does it cost to rent a post box over there?

[kasperl]

I doubt post boxes would be enterable.....

[Rictor]

alright, for those who want to do it, here is an online guide/resource
http://www.freeipodguide.com/

The same company is also doing offers for a free desktop PC and a free flatscreen monitor or TV.

here
http://www.freedesktoppc.com/default.aspx?referer=8336892

and here
http://www.freeflatscreens.com/default.aspx?referer=8421532

[Ford Prefect]

I found this extremely tempting, but I just couldn't bring myself to trust them. It just seems too good to be true, and things that are too good to be true usually are too good to be true.

[an0n]

If we really wanted to **** with them, I could open up the Penguinbomb e-mail thingy and everyone could just use that to make random addresses and sign up a coupla times.

Oh and I think there's some strange clause that means you have to wait ages. Like they only send it to the first 50 people in the queue then the next 50 have to wait till next month.

And incase anyone is wondering, they can afford to do this because it will generate a ****load of money for Apple when people go buy songs. And they're probably getting kickbacks from the RIAA for helping reduce piracy.

It's like giving away free cars then charging £300/pint for petrol.

Or better put: It's the same as all those "Printer for £20!!!!111" deals. They gouge you with expensive ink refils and cartridges only they sell.

[Rictor]

ford: dunno, seems legit to me. Granted, you will recieve spam, but I'de trust them do deliver. Hey, if you're not going to do it, does that mean I can have them ship mine to you, since I'm way up in the Frozen North?

remind me, is there a way to just use the iPod as a reguilar MP3 player without having to use their Itunes bull**** protection? Cause obviously, I'm not going to pay to download their songs.

[Rictor]

Originally posted by an0n
If we really wanted to **** with them, I could open up the Penguinbomb e-mail thingy and everyone could just use that to make random addresses and sign up a coupla times.

Oh and I think there's some strange clause that means you have to wait ages. Like they only send it to the first 50 people in the queue then the next 50 have to wait till next month.

And incase anyone is wondering, they can afford to do this because it will generate a ****load of money for Apple when people go buy songs. And they're probably getting kickbacks from the RIAA for helping reduce piracy.

It's like giving away free cars then charging £300/pint for petrol.

Or better put: It's the same as all those "Printer for £20!!!!111" deals. They gouge you with expensive ink refils and cartridges only they sell.

yeah, they also have a market survey thing while you sign up, thought I've been told you can skip it. Not to mention the money they get from your email address and those of your friends. But thats not really a problem if you have two or more, which many people do.

As for waitiing, well probably you have to wait for a few weeks (based on readin the guide website thing), but so what. Free iPod.

[Galemp]

Oh goodie, a pyramid scheme! I love these...

*sits back with popcorn and watches the decline of Western civilization*

[Ford Prefect]

Hey, if it's legit, I'm doing it. But just in case I get a new MP3 player for my birthday tomorrow, I'll wait, since I have no clue.