PandP

This one has been discussed recently - you can read from Tom that they intend to make changes but worth a read to get other peoples' opinions.

https://www.latestdeals.co.uk/chat/freebies-extortionate-pp-charges

Do you think that free should be completely free?

In general, NO.

Many consumer product companies make the fundamental mistake of spending too much on recruiting new customers and not nearly enough on keeping their loyal long term-customers happy.

It is roughly five times more expensive to get a customer than to keep a customer.

Giving freebies away is OK in moderation, provided the company is genuinely getting something in return for its generosity – either because the free sample allows consumers to try the product and hopefully become regular users if they like it, or because the company is able to gather data for its mailing lists of potentially interested customers.

For a company to both provide a free sample and pay for delivery rarely makes good business sense, because when something is totally free, it attracts the wrong type of consumer – i.e. freebie hunters who are never going to convert into loyal customers, they just want a freebie. When there’s no actual benefit to the company, it’s simply money down the drain. That money could be better spent on keeping existing loyal customers happy, increasing the shareholders' dividend, or on giving the staff a pay rise!

Depends how much you're saving really. There are certain "freebies" which have over-inflated postage costs to cover the costs of the cheap items being marketed as free.

I am going with a "freebie" should cost nothing. Something free with postage should be called a "sample".

I personally always look at the cost of the P&P and think whether that cost is worth the item... like if it is £3 postage for a free bathroom cleaner (random example), I can buy bathroom cleaner in Asda for 59p so I’m not going to be getting a good deal...

I agree it’s not a freebie if you pay p&p.

Freebies are just that. If you pay P&P it isn't free..