Your huddled masses yearning to GET FREE STUFF
May 27, 2007 9:43 AM Subscribe
From the "free" link:
Free Bible and CD
Free Lubricant Sample
Free Bible Video CD - For This Cause
Free Stuff For Kids
Yeah, something for everyone.
posted by danb at 9:50 AM on May 27, 2007
Free Bible and CD
Free Lubricant Sample
Free Bible Video CD - For This Cause
Free Stuff For Kids
Yeah, something for everyone.
posted by danb at 9:50 AM on May 27, 2007
A lot of these, particularly in the second link, are of the "free if you buy lots of stuff and get someone else to also buy lots of stuff" variety.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:04 AM on May 27, 2007
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:04 AM on May 27, 2007
Recently I've been refusing to take-on any more crap. We live in a world full of junk, and passing this junk from one person to another is how we communicate.
"Here, have this useless item. I love you so much that I got it for you while I was out shopping."
Follow my example, kids. Just say no. Say no to the junk. Thanks, but no thanks. Stop the flow. That way the earth will be a better place. No more huge ships coming from China packed with junk that we neither want or need. No more ships going back to China packed with all our used-up junk that we neither wanted or needed. No more ships going anywhere, unless they really have to.
I'm serious. We have to make a change.
posted by humblepigeon at 10:04 AM on May 27, 2007 [9 favorites]
"Here, have this useless item. I love you so much that I got it for you while I was out shopping."
Follow my example, kids. Just say no. Say no to the junk. Thanks, but no thanks. Stop the flow. That way the earth will be a better place. No more huge ships coming from China packed with junk that we neither want or need. No more ships going back to China packed with all our used-up junk that we neither wanted or needed. No more ships going anywhere, unless they really have to.
I'm serious. We have to make a change.
posted by humblepigeon at 10:04 AM on May 27, 2007 [9 favorites]
I agree with EMRJKC'94. This free stuff is too much of a hassle to bother getting.
However, I do like the coupon site acro linked to. Getting things that I actually want for a reduced price? That I can dig.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:12 AM on May 27, 2007
However, I do like the coupon site acro linked to. Getting things that I actually want for a reduced price? That I can dig.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:12 AM on May 27, 2007
reklaw is right: lots of "free" crap: sprays, plastic junk, clutter...but not a single lunch. No thanks.
posted by kozad at 10:19 AM on May 27, 2007
posted by kozad at 10:19 AM on May 27, 2007
freecycle is the only way to go. I got a beautiful old piano this way.
and what humblepigeon said.
posted by ashbury at 10:19 AM on May 27, 2007
and what humblepigeon said.
posted by ashbury at 10:19 AM on May 27, 2007
Jungle Crazy -- "All the best deals of Amazon.com in one place"
posted by acro at 10:20 AM on May 27, 2007
posted by acro at 10:20 AM on May 27, 2007
Stop the flow.
Good slogan. I'm in agreement with you and really am trying to stop buying new stuff as much as practicable.
Being cheap and poor, for a while I was kind of into these sites. Then I gradually realized that with the same amount of time it takes to go through dozens of registration/verification process, take dozens of product surveys, and manage the insane amount of resulting email, I could actually do some part-time work that would bring in a lot more money than I could save by putting in bids for free stuff I didn't really need in the first place.
Fun post anyway, though.
posted by Miko at 10:23 AM on May 27, 2007
Good slogan. I'm in agreement with you and really am trying to stop buying new stuff as much as practicable.
Being cheap and poor, for a while I was kind of into these sites. Then I gradually realized that with the same amount of time it takes to go through dozens of registration/verification process, take dozens of product surveys, and manage the insane amount of resulting email, I could actually do some part-time work that would bring in a lot more money than I could save by putting in bids for free stuff I didn't really need in the first place.
Fun post anyway, though.
posted by Miko at 10:23 AM on May 27, 2007
Who cares if it's free? It's STUFF, who doesn't love STUFF? Maybe I'll take a little of that stuff you've got there. You know what? Can you hang on to some of that stuff for me and I'll come back later and get some. Will it still be free if I come back later? You know, actually I don't know if I'll be able to come by later, can you drop off some of that free stuff for me? Awesome. Thanks.
Okay, I'll contact you when I'm ready for that stuff. I'm off to peruse craigslist now.
posted by lazymonster at 10:29 AM on May 27, 2007
Okay, I'll contact you when I'm ready for that stuff. I'm off to peruse craigslist now.
posted by lazymonster at 10:29 AM on May 27, 2007
fandango_matt reminds me of the Diggers' Free Store. Apparently there is one operating in Baltimore and a few other places.
My personal source of free (secondhand) stuff is, in time-honored New England fashion, the 'freebie exchange barn' at my loca dump.
posted by Miko at 10:45 AM on May 27, 2007
My personal source of free (secondhand) stuff is, in time-honored New England fashion, the 'freebie exchange barn' at my loca dump.
posted by Miko at 10:45 AM on May 27, 2007
Pepsi Free!
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:27 AM on May 27, 2007
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:27 AM on May 27, 2007
Free spam!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:04 PM on May 27, 2007
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:04 PM on May 27, 2007
OK, which 100 of you wants to join my free iPod downline? Email in profile kthnxbye
posted by The Deej at 12:13 PM on May 27, 2007
posted by The Deej at 12:13 PM on May 27, 2007
One of my life goals is to reduce the amount of useless stuff I have.
Which isn't to say I don't have a moderately fine collection of stuff, but it tends toward the practical and good. Cheap shit inevitably turns out to be cheap shit, more trouble than it's worth. Far better to say no until one can purchase quality product... by which time, one might also find out that it wasn't such a necessary item after all.
posted by five fresh fish at 12:16 PM on May 27, 2007
Which isn't to say I don't have a moderately fine collection of stuff, but it tends toward the practical and good. Cheap shit inevitably turns out to be cheap shit, more trouble than it's worth. Far better to say no until one can purchase quality product... by which time, one might also find out that it wasn't such a necessary item after all.
posted by five fresh fish at 12:16 PM on May 27, 2007
Yeah, that's a pretty good policy, fff. I actually tend toward tools-as-toys when it comes to discretionary spending: with the exception of video games and food, most of the non-necessity things I buy are things I can use. I've got a little bit of packrat in my blood, but I've been doing an okay job of rejecting that. Living in a small apartment helps, since crap sort of stands out more when you have to really find a place to put it.
But there's something attractive about free crap as ephemera—if you know it's just passing through, it takes on a different feeling, a sort of inconsequential weightlessness. Really, that's one of the things that I've always thought about in terms of the swapmeet: here's a steady parade of the things that people have had enough of.
posted by cortex at 12:45 PM on May 27, 2007
But there's something attractive about free crap as ephemera—if you know it's just passing through, it takes on a different feeling, a sort of inconsequential weightlessness. Really, that's one of the things that I've always thought about in terms of the swapmeet: here's a steady parade of the things that people have had enough of.
posted by cortex at 12:45 PM on May 27, 2007
Seriously, we don't accept useless junk just so we can send more ships to china and whatever else you were preaching about. We like stuff because stuff is fun. Sure, flowers are pretty useless as gifts, but that doesn't make most people less happy to get them from someone. Same goes for many, many, many 'useless' things.
posted by KingoftheWhales at 12:53 PM on May 27, 2007
posted by KingoftheWhales at 12:53 PM on May 27, 2007
The trick, cortex, is to move about three times in six years. Every move, throw out (take to Sally Ann) everything that was untouched from the last move, every tool and book and CD that left you disappointed, and reduce your memorabilia by half.
What you're left with is basically what you need.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:29 PM on May 27, 2007
What you're left with is basically what you need.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:29 PM on May 27, 2007
Also, I love the fact that I could, tomorrow, pack a single box with treasures that are important to me, move off to India, and never miss the rest of my crap.
I have no attachment to this shit. I have a few boxes of photographs and iconic treasures from my childhood. The rest is just junk, in relative terms.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:32 PM on May 27, 2007
I have no attachment to this shit. I have a few boxes of photographs and iconic treasures from my childhood. The rest is just junk, in relative terms.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:32 PM on May 27, 2007
Seriously, we don't accept useless junk just so we can send more ships to china and whatever else you were preaching about. We like stuff because stuff is fun.
Words on the tombstone of mankind.
posted by humblepigeon at 2:37 PM on May 27, 2007
Words on the tombstone of mankind.
posted by humblepigeon at 2:37 PM on May 27, 2007
Well, I for one sure enjoyed the fact i got a free packet of Instant Breakfast drink mix along with a coupon for a free box of same at the store (nostalgicfilter-I drank the stuff in high school.)
I also enjoy the free lotions, beauty products, etc I get, and as for email spam, that is what an extra gmail account is for, people.
I don't sign up for everything. I pick and choose what I would like to try or use. If I don't want it I don't send for it.
(My most intriguing item so far is a month's supply of a soybased menopause remedy. Something I was interested in investigating already. And it was free, no strings attached. Who knew?)
posted by konolia at 3:48 PM on May 27, 2007
I also enjoy the free lotions, beauty products, etc I get, and as for email spam, that is what an extra gmail account is for, people.
I don't sign up for everything. I pick and choose what I would like to try or use. If I don't want it I don't send for it.
(My most intriguing item so far is a month's supply of a soybased menopause remedy. Something I was interested in investigating already. And it was free, no strings attached. Who knew?)
posted by konolia at 3:48 PM on May 27, 2007
Pepsi Free!You want a Pepsi, pal, you're gonna pay for it!
posted by Servo5678 at 3:55 PM on May 27, 2007
I loved pointless Internet free back in college. One of my favorite received items was a package of free bullets, delivered (no lie!) with the exact name I filled out on the form:
Last name: UCKINGCOPWITHTHESEBULLETS
First name: IMGOINGTOSHOOTAF
The generous type, I also liked to sign sexually insecure male friends up for their very own free subscriptions to the International Male catalog. Great to watch them embarrassed, secretive, or agonizing as they pull it out of their mailbox: "Why do they keep sending me gay porn!"
posted by dgaicun at 2:13 AM on May 28, 2007
Last name: UCKINGCOPWITHTHESEBULLETS
First name: IMGOINGTOSHOOTAF
The generous type, I also liked to sign sexually insecure male friends up for their very own free subscriptions to the International Male catalog. Great to watch them embarrassed, secretive, or agonizing as they pull it out of their mailbox: "Why do they keep sending me gay porn!"
posted by dgaicun at 2:13 AM on May 28, 2007
Yeah, so a lot of these places offering "deals" ask for my social security number. No thanks.
posted by hifiparasol at 1:59 AM on May 29, 2007
posted by hifiparasol at 1:59 AM on May 29, 2007
During the dotcom boom, everyone was trying to buy eyeballs by giving away free crap in exchange for your email address. My friend and I ordered everything we could, by perusing sites that collected such offers. Mostly hats, t-shirts, etc. But the best one was a really nice maglite from an outdoor supply company. A message on the site's main page apologized that they were slow in mailing out some of the flashlights, but they were getting more delivered. They seemed positively giddy at how successful they were in giving away expensive free stuff.
posted by The Deej at 9:29 PM on May 29, 2007
posted by The Deej at 9:29 PM on May 29, 2007
True dat.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 2:56 PM on June 2, 2007
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 2:56 PM on June 2, 2007
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posted by imperium at 9:46 AM on May 27, 2007