I was going to include a picture of myself, but instead, here's a picture of someone far better looking than me:
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A Quick Warning About So-Called Free Laptopsor How Can a Free Laptop Actually Cost You $300 by Gretta Wallace
Our attitudes about the Information Superhighway are a lot like the actual highway: everyone on the Internet is an idiot - except you, of course.This kind of thinking is often what gets us into trouble. Now, don't get me wrong - I'm sure you deserve a free laptop. I'm sorry that you spilled a cup of coffee on your computer the day after you bought it. I'm sorry that your cousin borrowed it and downloaded a porn virus onto it. I'm sorry that a big ol' dog came and grab your laptop out of your arms and ran off. But none of that matters. I'm sure you've seen those free laptop ads or those "GET A FREE MACBOOK AIR" offers or any other flashing, animated banners promising you FREE, FREE, FREE stuff. I'm sure you've even heard stories about people signing up and getting mountains of spam or their identity stolen or a subscription to Horse and Hound they just can get rid of. But I'm also sure at on point, even after seeing those ads and hearing those stories, you've thought to yourself: Those people are stupid. I bet I could beat the system and get a free laptop without getting tricked. Let me tell you this: you are wrong. Say it with me: There is no such thing as a free laptop.What we're talking about when we say free* laptop is actually what should be called a promotional laptop. That is, a laptop you get in exchange for signing up for a service or becoming a member. That free laptop isn't any more free than the free gym bag that LA Fitness is going to give you after you plunk down $500 for a year's worth of membership. "But that's absurd!" You say. "Who the heck would sign up for a gym membership just to get the duffel bag?"And to that, I say: the exact same person who would sign up for three "premium" offers for a "free" laptop. Do you get what I'm driving at? Let's Look at the Costs of a Free LaptopOkay, so yes, you really, really can get a laptop mailed to you if you sign up for those offers. If you couldn't then it'd be false advertising and the FTC would take them down. But don't mistake this for charity. That guy sending you a "free laptop" is making a killing off of all the ads you click and the sponsors you sign up for. Meanwhile, here's what you pay for in a typical "free laptop" deal: Your Privacy First of all, and most importantly, you are selling your personal information. That's right, when click that box and give away your valid e-mail address, you are giving hundreds of spammers license to send you crap. And because some of them don't know how to take a hint and you did technically opt-in, there is virtually no way to get rid of them. So in reality, you'll be spending much of your time on your new free laptop sifting through junk e-mail. Lame. Shipping and Handling Say you are required to sign up for six offers each with $8 S&H - you're in at $48 and you haven't received anything yet. Plus the S&H may be up to $25. "Free" Trials are Hard to Cancel The phrase "cancel anytime" is really more of a challenge than an offer. It can be tough to successfully cancel a free trial. They are hoping that you'll just forget to do it - but if you don't, good luck trying to get ahold of someone. You'll have to followup multiple times, send back unused products, fill out forms and jump through a myriad of hoops just to get out of the free trial. It's a little bit like finding yourself in debt: it's a lot easier to get into a free trial than out. And if you don't get out, you just end up paying what everyone else pays: way too much. Canceling free trials is tough - believe me. Look at this painstaking step-by-step guide to cancel after getting your free credit report from GoFreeCredit.com. As you can see, there are many areas where you can slip up and accidentally not cancel. Pay Now, Refund Later - Maybe Another way they get you - you pay up front with your credit card for all these "free" offers. It only becomes free once you get your moneyback - and good luck with that. Meanwhile, those jerks have your credit card number. They'll charge you the $15.95 a millisecond after you click "Confirm free trial" but they'll take their sweet time to cancel your membership. It may take months to get a refund, which means you'll probably be charged again or sent more junk which you have to then send back and seek a refund for. So, let's say each "free" trial costs $15 to sign up for.Let's say you successfully cancel half of them (that's being optimistic) and end up paying $45 plus your S&H. We're now at $113. And don't forget taxes. When you get something for free - a prize, or anything of cash value - YOU have to pay taxes on it by declaring it as "other income." How much tax you pay will vary, but for reference, the 7% Pennsylvania sales tax on a $2,000 laptop is $140. Your free laptop now costs: $253.
Let's say you make $7.50 at your regular job, meaning your time is worth $7.50 an hour. Times 6 is $45. That "free" laptop has cost you $298 in time and effort.And then here's another kicker:They can send you a different laptop than you expected. So, even though you clicked on a picture of a Macbook Air, they may actually send you a sorry refurbished laptop from 2000. The clause in the fine print will likely say "we reserve the right to send you a comparable item" but who's to say what's comparable (CNet and PCWorld have made an entire industry out of trying to figure out how computers stack up). CHEAPER THAN FREE LAPTOPSSo, now, we have determined that a "free laptop" can cost you nearly $300 (conservative guess) in time and effort. Let's see what that $300 can buy you:
So, really, here's my advice Instead of wasting your time, effort and MONEY getting a free laptop, just freaking save up and buy one.Work some overtime. Skip a couple nights out at the bar. Just save up $5 a day for 2 months straight and you'll have enough to buy a laptop yourself - no spam attached. Can you do that? Can you save $5 a day for 60 days? Can you say "no" to a beer or a soda at lunch? Can you hold off on that CD purchase for a little bit? Can you drive less to save on gas? Can you eat out one less time a week? YES! There's no such thing as a free laptop. It's much easier to forgo a latte once in awhile than to argue with dodgy customer service reps who keep odd hours and get a new e-mail address because your inbox is infested with junk. Trust me. Image Credit: Pink Sherbet Photography | |
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less than $200 at Amazon!
- $350 at Amazon, last time I checked.(This is actually the computer I own)
- $378 at Amazon
- $341 at Amazon