Free Magellan GPS

[+GrateBear]

So, has anyone followed this link for their free GPS? It's right on the Geocaching.com home page. Everything I read says these are usually not legit, but if it's on this site, have to wonder if it's real or just too good to be true.

[+stepshep]

I bet what you're seeing is a google ad. I wouldn't trust it.

[+ScarabDrowner]

I just checked out their site... seems like it's the same kind of deal as those "free iphone" banners you see on some sites. You have to sign up for some service and complete other "requirements" before you get your "free" gift.

[+Team Cotati]

I bet what you're seeing is a google ad. I wouldn't trust it.

 

If I might ask, what online ads do you trust?

[+Miragee]

I just checked out their site... seems like it's the same kind of deal as those "free iphone" banners you see on some sites. You have to sign up for some service and complete other "requirements" before you get your "free" gift.

Yup . . . and if you ever do participate in one of these "offers," make sure you use a throw-away email address because your InBox will be filled with SPAM after you enter it into the form . . .

[+TrailGators]

I just checked out their site... seems like it's the same kind of deal as those "free iphone" banners you see on some sites. You have to sign up for some service and complete other "requirements" before you get your "free" gift.

Yup . . . and if you ever do participate in one of these "offers," make sure you use a throw-away email address because your InBox will be filled with SPAM after you enter it into the form . . .

I have a hotmail account that I use for junk like that.

[+stepshep]

I bet what you're seeing is a google ad. I wouldn't trust it.

 

If I might ask, what online ads do you trust?

 

The original geocaching ads located on the left hand side of the page.

[+GrateBear]

Ok, decided to give it a try myself. First couple of screens aren't too bad, just checking off "no" to all the offers. Then came the page where you had to "pick one of the following". So, I went for the Discover Card, gave them my last salary but no employer as I am currently semi-retired. Got approved for that one! Next screen was 'pick two of the following". A couple were for credit cards, and the rest would cost a few bucks, up to around $10. As I don't need more credit cards, and felt like the few bucks on this page would lead to a few more on following pages, I bailed. I have the feeling in the long run, one would pay for the GPSr!

And I did use a throw-away e-mail name.

[+gelfling6]

Most of the time, I think you hit it right on the head. These type of ads are nothing more than Spam-Bait.. It might've only popped up on here, because it held the word "GPS".

 

What irks me most, about these spam-mills, it they are mostly out of country, (read outside the USA), thus are allowed to ignore guidelines of the "Responsible (??) Bulk Emailing Act of 2003", (and outside Australia as well, who also adopted the same "Can-Spam" Act.) And, the same who started the bulk blasting of the internet, are still alive, well, well paid, and still spamming without regard. Anyone else ever hear of "Cyber Promotions"? A company founded by Sanford Wallace (nick names, Spamford, Father Spam, etc.) scoured the usenet for email addresses, and began offering, for $200,000 his company would bulk email your ad to millions of email addresses. (which, in reality, even for the time, only cost him mere 24.95/month,) clogging mailboxes (mine was 0ne), and dragging free email down to a dead crawl. (bounced legitimate messages, etc. because of his ads.) and he also developed adware to infiltrate other computers, which would also flood more email accounts. (read: without the user's knowledge, his software piggybacked their web access, sending ads to countless addresses.)

 

Since these spammers are outside the jurisdiction of the countries who prohibit spam, they are still allowed to run amuck. If they're told to leave, they leave, join another provider, and run roughshod again.

 

A general rule of thumb.. IF something looks too good to be true, it usually is. There is no such thing as totally free.. the fine print is tiny for reasons. and usually is there as a warning, but not for you to see..

 

Free GPSr's? free IPhones? Free Xbox's? Free Playstations? SURE! And the Oscar Meyer Company is building an airport. (read: Pigs WILL Fly!)

 

Stephen (gelfling6)

[+imajeep]

Ok, decided to give it a try myself. First couple of screens aren't too bad, just checking off "no" to all the offers. Then came the page where you had to "pick one of the following". So, I went for the Discover Card, gave them my last salary but no employer as I am currently semi-retired. Got approved for that one! Next screen was 'pick two of the following". A couple were for credit cards, and the rest would cost a few bucks, up to around $10. As I don't need more credit cards, and felt like the few bucks on this page would lead to a few more on following pages, I bailed. I have the feeling in the long run, one would pay for the GPSr!

And I did use a throw-away e-mail name.

 

Well, you'd have to, wouldn't you. Otherwise they'd be out of business pretty quickly. Why would anyone give away free GPSr's? figure that in any 'free' deal, you are going to pay (one way or another) at least the wholesale cost of the 'free' item, plus the cost of advertising, plus overhead, plus about 20% on top of that, because the person running the promotion wants to make money. And that ends up being pretty much the retail cost of the 'free' item. TANSTAAFL