Free vs. Trial…which is really Free?
FREE! FREE! FREE! Every time I see that word it draws me in like a magnet. I can’t help it. I love to save! My motto is, “If it’s FREE, it’s for me!” But I have learned that free sometimes has a price, especially on the internet. I have had many hours stolen trying to get to a FREE deal, only to learn I have been duped. I now know a few warning signs. If a site starts off with a survey, and doesn’t display up front how many questions there are, rest assured it is endless. Worse, at the end of it, you will have to make a purchase or commit to a purchase in order get to the “free” item. Also, you generally have to supply your email address and personal information. And just how do you count the cost of spam? I am very protective of my personal email address since being bombarded with unsolicited spam after attempting to get to a “free” item online. I have since set up several email addresses to use specifically for online inquiries.
But it is not just on the internet. I have been bamboozled by TV and print as well. An infomercial that offered FREE computer training almost turned out to be a very expensive deal. They promised FREE training if I just paid the shipping and handling with my credit card. Luckily, when the package arrived, I read the paperwork inside before actually opening the software. It stated that if I was completely satisfied with the product, I would automatically be billed $79.99. I immediately called them and shipped it back before I was charged.
Another trap is the “Satisfaction Guaranteed” gimmick. I ordered exercise equipment, off a TV commercial, stating I had a 30 day free trial period, and my satisfaction was guaranteed. I assumed this meant the company was not going to bill my credit card for a full 30 days after I received the equipment to allow me to use it to be sure I was satisfied. The problem with this FREE TRIAL, however, was that the 30 day trial period started when I ordered the product, not when I received it. The commercial stated delivery would be 4-6 weeks. How convenient! I wouldn’t even have the equipment to test before I was billed. Luckily, I was able to call them and they advised to simply reject the item at the post office and they would not bill my credit card. Whew!
Lastly, I have found many store circulars to be confusing and borderline on misleading. Some display an item cost in the form of a mathematical equation. For example, item is regular $.99 - $.49 sale condition = $.50 total cost. The “sale condition” is that you must purchase 10 of that item in order to get the $.49 off each one, which is basically $5 off your order. I was not the only one confused by this. Several of my acquaintances were also a little unclear. You may have also seen this one - $2.99 sale price - $1 register reward = It’s like paying $1.99. The $1 is a coupon that will print on your receipt after you have made the purchase at full price. You can use this $1 off coupon the next time you visit toward any store purchase, making it “like” getting the $2.99 item for $1.99.
Don’t be taken. Read carefully and thoroughly. Ask customer service for details. But if you are at all unclear – don’t buy!
So in conclusion, neither FREE nor FREE Trial may actually be free. The old saying may be true - nothing in life is free.
This column is provided by Tara Roark. Tara conducts Coupon Boot Camps training others to save hundreds on their groceries, shopping, dining and entertainment through couponing. To contact, please visit her on the web at http://www.couponbootcamp.webs.com/.
FREE! FREE! FREE! Every time I see that word it draws me in like a magnet. I can’t help it. I love to save! My motto is, “If it’s FREE, it’s for me!” But I have learned that free sometimes has a price, especially on the internet. I have had many hours stolen trying to get to a FREE deal, only to learn I have been duped. I now know a few warning signs. If a site starts off with a survey, and doesn’t display up front how many questions there are, rest assured it is endless. Worse, at the end of it, you will have to make a purchase or commit to a purchase in order get to the “free” item. Also, you generally have to supply your email address and personal information. And just how do you count the cost of spam? I am very protective of my personal email address since being bombarded with unsolicited spam after attempting to get to a “free” item online. I have since set up several email addresses to use specifically for online inquiries.
But it is not just on the internet. I have been bamboozled by TV and print as well. An infomercial that offered FREE computer training almost turned out to be a very expensive deal. They promised FREE training if I just paid the shipping and handling with my credit card. Luckily, when the package arrived, I read the paperwork inside before actually opening the software. It stated that if I was completely satisfied with the product, I would automatically be billed $79.99. I immediately called them and shipped it back before I was charged.
Another trap is the “Satisfaction Guaranteed” gimmick. I ordered exercise equipment, off a TV commercial, stating I had a 30 day free trial period, and my satisfaction was guaranteed. I assumed this meant the company was not going to bill my credit card for a full 30 days after I received the equipment to allow me to use it to be sure I was satisfied. The problem with this FREE TRIAL, however, was that the 30 day trial period started when I ordered the product, not when I received it. The commercial stated delivery would be 4-6 weeks. How convenient! I wouldn’t even have the equipment to test before I was billed. Luckily, I was able to call them and they advised to simply reject the item at the post office and they would not bill my credit card. Whew!
Lastly, I have found many store circulars to be confusing and borderline on misleading. Some display an item cost in the form of a mathematical equation. For example, item is regular $.99 - $.49 sale condition = $.50 total cost. The “sale condition” is that you must purchase 10 of that item in order to get the $.49 off each one, which is basically $5 off your order. I was not the only one confused by this. Several of my acquaintances were also a little unclear. You may have also seen this one - $2.99 sale price - $1 register reward = It’s like paying $1.99. The $1 is a coupon that will print on your receipt after you have made the purchase at full price. You can use this $1 off coupon the next time you visit toward any store purchase, making it “like” getting the $2.99 item for $1.99.
Don’t be taken. Read carefully and thoroughly. Ask customer service for details. But if you are at all unclear – don’t buy!
So in conclusion, neither FREE nor FREE Trial may actually be free. The old saying may be true - nothing in life is free.
This column is provided by Tara Roark. Tara conducts Coupon Boot Camps training others to save hundreds on their groceries, shopping, dining and entertainment through couponing. To contact, please visit her on the web at http://www.couponbootcamp.webs.com/.
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