Saturday, October 07, 2006

Merchandise almost for free?

Now this is a really interesting sector. Sites that will give away expensive gadgets in return for referrals in to completing an offer. A couple of years back I found this website that offered a PS2 and all you had to do was complete an offer (they varied from starting a free membership with an online DVD rental company to depositing £10 in to an online bingo account) Of course I was naturally skeptic and didn't pay much attention to the scheme. But I have encountered this same site again a couple of months back and still it was up and running. What surprised me even more was the fact that it had gathered quite a reputation inn that time, for maintaining their promises and delivering.

Curious, I looked more deeply in to the scheme. From the look of it you could sign up for an offer, that doesn't involve too much personal risk and you get rewarded greatly. I personally favoured the the betting exchange offers, not only because I can make money out of it in the first place, but because I could withdraw the £10 once I'd received my 'gadget'. So say I choose the '30gb Ipod Video' which required that you referred 10 people to the site. The 10 people are then referred and they all complete an offer. They have spent this £10, maybe lost it, maybe not. That's say £100 from your 10 referrals (but take in mind that there is also free offers you can complete, so the £100 is a maximum or at least an average)... But how does that compensate for receiving a £200 Ipod?


For that I had to work out where the profit was for the website. Looking at the offers individually, I concluded that they obviously pay the site for the referrals. I've looked at affiliate marketing before and am a member of many of the Network sites. And I searched through them to find the companies providing the offers to see what commissions they pay. And I found them. Take the betting exchange company. They paid a 'Commission' of £25 for each new member you refer depositing £10 pounds or above! And there it is revealed. The 'Giveaway' website makes £250 pounds for every £200 Ipod they give away. That's £50 pound profit.


In conclusion, companies nowadays are so intent on gaining new customers they are prepared to offer high commissions, gambling on the fact that they will go on to make money off these new customers. Where does that leave you? In a loophole that allows you receive these products almost free. I find it amazing that a system like this can work so solidly, for it does seem to work in everyone's advantage. Here are a few of the sites in the Giveaway Network. Have a look for yourself and please feel free to comment and leave me your opinions.
This is the one I completed. Simple and easy.

Free 60Gb Video Ipod Video
Probably the most known item of the GiveAway Network
Now this is the supreme GiveAway item. Worth well over £2000
*

No comments: