I will preface this by saying that I thought this was a scam… Apparently it is not.
Basically, this is a really odd “points” promotion where you sign up for a free trial of something (like AOL — eek), then get five of your friends to sign up for trials (of any number of offers, not necessarily the same as you), then (one five people sign up) you get:
a free iPod.
really.
Unsurprisingly, the process can take a while, but it is legit (several URLs below discussing validity). There’ve been allegations that it’s a pyramid scheme, but it’s not (at least according to the legal stuff I’ve seen).
Needless to say, I’ve signed up (with a Rhapsody account that I’ll cancel in a month and that I created using a one-time only virtual credit card number).
I don’t genuinely expect five other folks to sign up using my referral link, but what the heck… it could happen, right?
My referral link, should anyone care to use it: http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=8170787
I’m calling this one nothing to lose…
Validity:
http://substitute.sphosting.com/freeipod.htm
http://www.gearlive.com/archives/2004/07/freeipodscom_of.html
http://finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?symbols=WIRED:100&story=200408172241_WRD_64614_200408171841
6 comments
clubjuggler
August 20, 2004 at 11:15 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
iPod
You mean Free ipod, I assume. I’ve been debating doing this myself. Have you looked into any of the “Conga Lines” people have setup to get referrals?
clubjuggler
August 20, 2004 at 11:17 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Credited with offer?
Oh, have you actually been credited with completing your offer yet? And how did you use a “one-time only virtual credit card number”? Where can you get that?
gina
August 20, 2004 at 11:38 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Re: Credited with offer?
Well, I have been correctly credited with one referral, but apparently the credit on completing the offer may take a week or two because the offer site (Rhapsody or whatever) needs to send the info back to the free iPod ppl.
I did look at the Conga line, but I’d already given someone who posted on one of the craft journals I read a referral. Also, I don’t actually think this is going to happen, but if it does, I think I’d rather see it happen with real humans I already know, if that makes sense?
Finally — Citibank has one-time virtual cards. You go to their website and, assuming you already have a real Citibank card, you use their “virtual card number” generator thingy and write down the number it gives you and the three-digit “code” and the exp. date. Then you enter it online like it was a real card and only Citibank and you know your real cc # behind it.
:)
gina
August 20, 2004 at 11:45 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Re: Credited with offer?
Acutally, as of now, I have been credited with completing my offer! (Just checked!)
And one referral!
clubjuggler
August 20, 2004 at 11:58 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Re: Credited with offer?
Nice. Did you yourself go in as a referral for someone else?
gina
August 20, 2004 at 12:08 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Re: Credited with offer?
If the link I clicked from the crafting journal worked, I think so, yes!
(And my friend Bryan has apprently joined, but the referral isn’t fully credited, as he has not done his offer yet… oh well, fingers crossed!)