The Way Not To Get A Camera - an experience about freebies -
Posted: Thursday, October 25, 2007
by Jessie Eldora
gotmydigital.com
The summer has passed and autumn has settled-in. I am searching my receipts. I thought I was fairly organized. I usually hold receipts in my file for two years. I cannot find the one cancelled check from a package of books I bought at a low price online. This was the summer before, I think. I have gotten a bill in the mail saying I owe $24.00, and must pay right now to avoid collections! I know the few books I bought, I did not pay that price for! I cannot find the receipt, but it was not for that amount! So what this means I paid for my introduction package and got left on a list. I had to toss away one of the three books, as it was not one I ordered and it was on witchcraft. I did not receive any other correspondence from this book company.
What does this book company think? Are they hoping that some people will pay it, it being a low amount? Is it a fear tactic, a letter from a collection place? Is it yet another scam? Would the book company not be doing well enough, to have to do this? The young woman said they get lots of this. Glad I had it billed and paid by check, I would not like them to have my credit card number.
Well, I didn't get my camera, in a package in the mail. In that same time period I did some things online that I regret. I had this idea that I would try to win some products for Christmas gift giving. I especially wanted a camera for myself. I got the idea from all this junk mail coming into my email. I thought what the heck, I'll give it a go.
The first computer page of the company that said I could receive a free camera, they wanted me to purchase some amount of cds or books, or some other product. So because it was a small amount of money, I went ahead. But, on the second page of information they wanted many names of friends or associates who might buy product. One cannot get to the second page without
filling-in the first. I had to stop.
I'm not going to bother my friends; I want them to stay my friends! Also they wanted those friends to buy, I would not get any credit if they did not. My order did go through for the cds, but now I realize I would not get any credits. It leaves me nowhere.
I received the mail of four cd's all right. I paid the small amount by check. I did not read the small print! I kept receiving month after month, a disc package. I did not want any more discs for $38.00 each. Our player machine was not working properly and I know if I wanted cd discs I could purchase them for lower prices in town. After months of receiving these packages that I sent back return to sender, I read the small print. I had agreed (online) to buy four (think it was). I wrote the company a letter stating I would only pay for one (one, apart from the first offer). This would be a purchase of a total of five altogether. I kept the last one that came in the mail. I opened it and I actually liked the choice. It was a sincere letter saying I did not have any of the other discs and could not pay for what I did not have. I see by cancelled check that they did receive it. I had no answer to my letter. I have not been re-billed for discs I did not have.
This month I get another disc package. No bill. I decided to open it, and there inside is a new bill for it. I carefully placed all back inside, and neatly re-pasted the seal. I handed it into the post office, which marked it return to sender. They say they have lots of that.
I do remember a sister once saying don't ever get caught-up with a record company, they will never let you cancel membership, and you will never stop getting mail. Now I know it first-hand. This was years ago and I had forgotten the warning.
All this because I wanted a camera, free. I see lots of advertisement for different free product. I click the ad to see where it will go. It goes right to this company. Will I hear from the collection agency again? Will the discs ever stop coming?
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Hi. This is Etienne from Shoeboxed. I am sorry to hear about this unfortunate experience. It truly is a shame that you had to go through all of that. I just want to let you and everyone know about a new and free online service that will organize all your online and offline receipts. Check our site out and sign up for an innovative service that will change your personal finance life. Never lose a receipt again, and hopefully never go through ordeals like the one you describe in this entry ever again. Check out Shoeboxed!
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