The Pitfalls of Free Stuff

Free things and services are everywhere. You can easily find them in the newspapers, TV and online. The usual practice is that they offer something free with the product that you buy. This is of course a marketing trick so that you’ll be enticed to but something from them. This is very legal and if you see this is a good deal, you are more than welcome to jump in and enjoy their offer.

However, remember that something brought at a very cheap price means they are useful. Oftentimes we go for the fact that it is very cheap so we should grab the opportunity. But we haven’t look beyond that and we end up taking something home that is not useful to us.

There are also companies that offer their products with “interest free” clause. That means you are getting something as good as cash. The only string is that you have to use your credit card to but them. That offer is pretty nice since you’re gaining something free and you’re paying them in installment.

But that term is actually a little bit misleading. The only thing free on your purchase is the interest that the company will charge you every month. You are still going to pay your credit card company the interest rates that are due to them. Usually the credit card company and the business you are working with have this agreement so that you could buy from them. It’s a win-win situation but you’re not in it.

What you should really watch out for is the totally free stuff. If you think you’re gaining something totally free without any strings attached, think again. Of course there are totally free products such as a very small shampoo, or toothpaste but these are for advertisement purposes which are very tolerable for them.

What you should look out for are offers that are outrageous. A classic example is free vacation with no strings attached. There should be no catch but when you sign up you’ll be bombarded with so many fees that you end up paying more for a measly vacation offered by the company.

Another “free” scam is done through online. Out of nowhere, someone will send you an e-mail that you have actually won something. Through the years we have already smarten up to these things but scammers have actually found another way: they pose as someone who is from a legitimate institution that we are very familiar of such as PayPal or Bank of America.

They would ask for some information from you or even boldly ask for your money so that they could “complete the transfer” to you bank account. When you give them something, they will immediately dissolve in thin air without your money.

So always think twice before you give out or commit to something especially when it comes to money. Things are not always exactly what we think. The free stuff is just too good to be true and the bigger they claim is, the more likely it’s going to end up as a scam.