A Lack of Freebies
Latest Deals
It has been very noticeable over the past few months that the FREEBIE rules have changed considerably.
Subsequently the number of valid freebies has drastically reduced and many posted are quickly removed.
Tom I think that it was a shame not to allow localised freebies – I think it is so ‘inclusive’ that it has come to the point where far more is excluded than is actually allowed.
I do understand that there are ‘x’ million ebooks which would clog up the system and that if you need to spend in order to get something then it is not a freebie but personally I think we should revert to the old system and allow more varied freebies to be posted.
What do you all think?
Would you like localised free events near you to be posted?
The platform (latestdeals.co.uk) should be more flexible, because for a user it may be worth knowing that there is a free product even if the platform feel there are no importance or interest to promote it. Even if they need to change the rules of the freebies, like they worth less points at the start and only worth more points after X number of likes.
I am saying that because for me, a free app, a free ebook is more important, and I like to see it promoted. More than see that a certain site does free delivery, like I see so many freebies around here.
I agree that there needs to be more flexibility by LD and it will be interesting to see what their comment to this thread is. As far as free delivery goes, it doesn't count as a freebie because you have to spend something in order to get it, so it would either be a deal or voucher.
The freebies removed because of "Local Event" are practically nonexistent, I do not remember having removed a single freebie for this reason in the last months.
Free apps that are free for some promotional reason are also not removed. Those removed are apps posted as free, but in fact they are apps that the developer withdrew the charge, but charges for ad-ons inside the app, meaning that almost 99% of free apps have ever done.
Free books and music are everywhere for free
Freebies with a reasonable P&P charge are also not removed, but if you post a 50p pen with a 3.99 delivery charge, it will certainly be removed for obvious reasons.
tumblespots Most likely it was not moderated by me. For me, a Local event is something like for example an event for children of certain borough, or if for example Tesco does a promotional event for residents of a certain borough, etc. If the event is national, I do not see why limiting it to Local Event, it has to happen somewhere.
Completely agree regarding the free books as they were littering the website and it seemed that some users were just posting these to get their points. They are super easy to find anway.
Now I am a bit of a 'Freebie purist'. I was against the p&p being added to the freebie listings. For me if there is p&p it's not free. But I can accept that the value of the p&p may outweigh the cost of the free item. I do agree steep p&p is daft though in some cases as you have already explained.
Local events, again not sure whether they should be posted in the freebie section.
Freebies always seem to get less and less as we approach summer.
Ceebers Thanks for your thoughts (I have wondered where you have been). I hadn't been much for the freebies before the last 6-9 months or so, I had just periodically dipped into them, so I hadn't picked up on the fact that they get sparcer this time of year.
Local events - even though I am more in favour of them, would it include those that are not usually free or those that are free all of the time?
I would like to see local events accepted on the freebie section which could be very useful to some members who live nearby that can travel to local events.
I agree because I think most people would like to know what is on near to them, they are quite able to ignore events that are not near just as they can ignore events that they don't wish to go to.
tumblespots Someone people would not mind traveling out of town for certain events that could interest them.
zerocenturyzero But this is not the reason. The reason is that often the event is aimed at residents of that area and not having the tickets sold out by people who are not the target audience.
As I've already replied in another comment, the number of posts removed for this reason is virtually nonexistent, so there are no reasons to make it look like a wave of posts being removed.
I think it would be nice to have some local freebies. However, I wouldn't like to see so much free software and ebooks as anyone could easily find those by doing a quick Google search.
My main slight problem with the Freebies section lately is the lack of good quality and worthwhile freebies. For example, I have been seeing absolutely loads of freebies such as grass samples, carpet samples, tablecloth samples and so on. Stuff which you aren't actually going to use and will end up straight in the bin.
You do get the odd worthwhile freebie such as cashback freebies and perfume samples, sanitary pads and so on, but I have been noticing an increase in freebies with p&p costs some of which are quite extortionate for what you are getting.
I completely agree, I have been seeing loads of fabric samples, paper samples etc which I for one would definitely be struggling to find a use for :\
I have wondered whether the take up of these carpet & fabric samples is by people who do craft projects? I can't think of any other reason anyone would send for them because I assume that the samples are too small for any other use.
I stopped posting freebies because I figured they would all just be rejected as it happened before.
LD have gotten too strict with posts of freebies and deals. :-/
I dont post freebies or competitions because any ones that i have posted get removed and its not worth the hassle for 10 points.
I agree that freebies seem be removed at the drop of a hat these days and there could be a software glitch with the 'bots' not picking up the duplicates before they get posted? Again there do seem to be a lot of duplicate comps around lately.
KirsteyJames 99% of the competitions posts removed are due to Duplicate reason, the other 1% are divided between Referral links or Not Available in the UK.
kikogpe Thanks for that. That would indicate to me that there is a 'bot' problem?
tumblespots I'm not sure about that, but the system probably can not detect duplicity when people post the same competition via a different link. Some people receive via email, some others find on a secondary website, some post from the computer and others from the phone.
But what I meant is that most of the competition removed, are for Duplicated reason, is not any kind of pursuit or rigidity of LD rules.
Today I removed 2 posts from another mentor for this reason. Even mentors have their posts removed, it's not a personal matter.
kikogpe Thanks for that, you made me smile! When it happens often you sometimes wonder whether it is personal?! It's good to hear it isn't and that it is all about the post.
Morning all 
Thanks as ever for all the feedback so far and please keep it coming!
If it's any comfort, the number of posts (deals, freebies, vouchers and competitions) that end up being removed (because they're duplicates or don't fit within our current guidelines) is a tiny percentage of the total posts shared on LD.
Us disallowing local freebies and ebooks was a result of feedback from the community but we're always open to revert changes and/or tweak things so the more people that chip in with opinions (and please, if you have them, suggestions as to how things could work alternatively) the better idea we'll have about what the majority of people want.
Unfortunately with a community like LD people will sometimes want different things but we'll generally, if possible, try and do what most people want! 
Thanks Kelsey it is comforting to hear that perhaps if enough positive views are received on a subject then policy could be changed. To me I think with the local items should be allowed because as I think I have said above, you don't have to go (to a festival for example), but if it's local you might not have known about it and be really pleased to find it. Also, even if you are further away, some people would still consider a good freebie find worthwhile making a trip to - if the subject matter interests them enough, so there is still local and not quite to local. We all enter competitions knowing that many of those are area specific and make our choices whether or not to enter them based on the information given, so why restrict freebies?
In my opinion, one of the types of freebie that should have another space are those of Product Tester. I believe no one, or almost anyone here, has ever received any of these products.
Also, often the freebie posted is from the same website, that is, it is the same register in the same program where most are already registered, but they are announcing a new product. Today I saw a freebie from Infantino Product Testers, but this website has been posted other 3x or 4x showing a different product, then you are not applying for a new product, they already have your data and you are not going to be more or less lucky this time.
Yes, I never even go for those. I would also mention freebies that are aimed at 'trade' or 'businesses'. Is LD the place for these?
I have always believed that we should have a separate section for product tests. I have never considered them as being freebies as you are just as guaranteed at receiving them as you are at winning a competition.
RegularComper90 Yes, I dont go in for these product tester 'freebies' as I don't ever think they are genuine. Perhaps you are right LD could create different sections for freebies that actually incur a charge, products tester section, download section, local event section etc.
RegularComper90 I still have a problem with items shared as a freebie when they are clearly comps. If there is an end date and a draw to distribute 'X' amount of samples it's a competition. A freebie is usually a first come, first served basis, runs out and ends. There is another one today - I shared as a comp, together with someone else (a coupe of minutes apart but it's cool) and yet the freebie is still there.
angemski I reported one earlier this morning as it was duplicated on the comp side and was also on the freebie side. The original is still there https://www.latestdeals.co.uk/competitions/350-diprobase-itch-relief-cream-samples-grabs--getthegloss but the duplicate comp has disappeared but the freebie is still there. https://www.latestdeals.co.uk/freebies/free-cream-getthegloss Clearly nobody is taking any notice! Tom Kelsey
I agree with you on this. I've not been approached on any product test in the year I've applied. It is not a freebie...
tumblespots That's funny as I was the other comp and reported myself. lol. We were two minutes apart so couldn't possibly know that it was a duplicate until it was up and running. (my post was an 'extra' and not for points but it was odd that the one posted as a freebie wasn't taken down as well}
angemski I have looked again this morning and I am pretty sure that it has now been removed as I have clicked on the link that I put in in the earlier post and it is not available.
RegularComper90 I had been trying for years to direct peeps to a page I set up but to no avail. They want their points!
I'm glad I'm not the only one that's noticed something's changed with the freebies. I've noticed that the variety of freebies has become more limited lately. I've noticed there's been far more fabric samples, cashback offers and ones that require you to pay for postage. Couldn't quite put my finger on what was up with the freebies before now.
I'm glad it's not just me that noticed. Ceebers did mention above that freebies seem to tail of this time of year, which I hadn't noticed as I hadn't used the freebie section very much in the past, so perhaps it will improve soon. However, I also think that there are a lot of new rules regarding freebies which means that more of the posted freebies are being removed for various reasons when they would have been allowed in the recent past.
RegularComper90 Apart from get enough of them and make something, absolutely idea.
RegularComper90 God only knows, the people taking them up must be 'crafty' people?
RegularComper90 Peeps use these for crafts and making stuff. I guess it's a great thing to do, especially if you have kids.
I'd like to see more localised freebies. If the city/region is included in the freebie title then it's clear if you can take advantage of the offer or not.
I agree because we each have an individual choice whether to take advantage of it or not, just as we have the choice whether to enter comps too. I think it would be a positive change by LD to allow these.
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