Comments on: Free riding for fun and profit

By: Grace

Grace — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:31:09 +0000

Your take is an interesting one. But not one that the advertising industry nor research shares. The truth is, folks sign up for free trials because they have some sort of interest in the product. [Which is why I sign up for free trial subscriptions to “Oprah” and “Women’s Day” but NOT for “Popular Mechanics.” If the advertiser has not oversold the value of the product, and if the advertiser has reached their target audience, some small fraction of those freeriders will stay on board even when there’s a charge. That fraction doesn’t have to be large for the advertising campaign to be a success. Ask anyone in Direct Advertising.

Personally, I wait to be “sold” on the product which is the product’s job, after all. Sometimes it works, which is why I’m still subscribed to “Oprah.” Sometimes it doesn’t.

By: Amber

Amber — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:27:55 +0000

But using a rewards credit card is *not* freeriding. It may seem that way to the consumer, but you are actually making the credit issuer a tidy profit every time you charge something to the card – it’s just the store that pays, not you. I demand brilliant customer service from my credit card companies, even though I pay in full every month and love getting my rebate checks in the mail.

At CVS however, where I routinely scoop up freebies with coupons and their store money ECBs, I take what comes. They’re not making any money off of me.

Unfortunately, I have experienced far better customer service at the CVS than I have with the credit cards, though everyone eventually pays what they owe me.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:30:51 +0000

2000? I vaguely remember it, so it must have been around 1995.

At CVS they constantly have deals where you can buy something for $4 and get ExtraCare bucks that can be used on anything. Most people see that and think ok, but what if I lose it, forget about it, etc.

Smart people look at it and say, I’m in CVS because I need milk, shampoo, etc., why don’t I just split this up into 2 transaction? Buy the “free” item, get the receipt, and then buy the milk with that money. Sound like free toothpaste to me.

Hilarious that he got mad at you. Was there a time when customer service representatives cared about the company?? Sounds strange.