Dear All, Recently, more & more manufacturers are requiring that you buy something in order to get something free in a "freebie" offer.  For exmaple, this AM, Starbucks is requiring that you taste-test 2 coffees in order to get a $1 coupon good on the next visit.  It used to be that I xcould find 2-3 offers to use weekly.  Now it hs reversed to one offer everhy 3-4 weeks!  It makes me mad at the retailers!  Does anybody else feel "cheated"?  Yours in Him, Deb  PS  It's the economic climate, of course, but I'd think that they would encourage our buying the products aafter trying them out ....

I've found that too, Deb, but I think it was just a matter of time. Getting freebies has become a pastime for some who never intend to buy the product, but only want to skim the freebies and go on to the next one. That costs manufacturers money with no return, so they have to do something to protect their advertising budget.

The more gimmicks they add, the less likely I am to buy a product that has too many strings attached. Even when you sign up for coupons, they want your name, address, personal history etc.

I signed up for a free thing of Kashi cereal. It came yesterday.

I ate it. I don't like it.

It came with a $2.00 off coupon. I have 2 choices. I can send it to someone or I can stick it in the Coupon Train envelope. I won't be using this coupon.

Yes even some of the coupons in the newspapers require you to buy 2 things to take advantage of the coupon.  Our Mickey D's offers free coffees on Monday's only but I usually also buy a biscuit because I feel bad just getting something for nothing I know they offer it but also don't want to take advantage of a good thing.

I hate going to Costco on Saturday. I'm appalled by the number of people who go there just to eat the food freebies from the product display people. I know of people who go there to fill up (my sister included). It's not something my conscience will let me do.

I'm also way paranoid about giving out any personal information, so I'll pass up any free offer if it involves giving personal information.

Jill

Deb, I don't like it b/c I think a lot of companies are taking advantage of a situation.  They say their profits have shrunk, but the top people still make millions in bonuses while the guys lower on the totem pole are laid off with nothing and the consumer is forced into buy less product for more money.  I understand that companies have to answer to shareholders, but at some point enough is enough.  And I understand it's a free market economy, but that doesn't mean I have to like the practices of those companies taking advantage of others.

Deborahmichelle:

Dear All, Recently, more & more manufacturers are requiring that you buy something in order to get something free in a "freebie" offer.  For exmaple, this AM, Starbucks is requiring that you taste-test 2 coffees in order to get a $1 coupon good on the next visit. 

    I'm a little confused.  Was this for the instant coffee promotion? Were they actually charging for the coffee?  If so, they really do things differently in your city.  I did it in my city, and I didn't have to pay for the coffee ... they were basically sample sized.  I also got a coupon for a free brewed beverage on my next visit.  

  Though freebies in general have fallen off ... you're right about that.

Dear LWolfT, I guess that Starbucks posted in the My Savings.com newest freebies site that I check every morning,a  misleading Starbucks offer versiiiiiiiion.  I did nOT go to Starbucks to check it out; just passed up the offer (misleading or not, I had to take what I read as true).  Yours in HIm, Deb

 I'm not too interested in"free" things where they just want your info for junk mail, either.