1. Chat

What Really Counts as Free

Ask a Question

This is a difficult one but I find when stores give away free items but you end up having to purchase something to get that free item just doesn’t feel like I’m truly getting it for free. I understand the item itself is free but I’m having to spend out on something to get that “free” item. Do you think it’s wrong that companies advertise like this when theres always small print of “you have to buy something“.

summa68
2 weeks ago
Comments+20 points
Sherrifffroggy

Yes, I do think it's wrong and I won't buy something to get something free. Either it's 100 per cent free or I'm not playing. I have in the past paid postage, but nowadays postage has gone up too high. I often get given 'free' items from boots for christmas from an elderly relative, who has bought something and gotten it as part of the deal.

Like
Leannexxx

Buy this and get that this free is alright coz it says it my issue is free samples but you have to pay p&p if you have to pay something it's not free

Like
summa68

Leannexxx I really hate “freebies” that you need to pay postage to get, how is that free? a freebie in my book if something that doesn’t require any spend whatsoever

Like
Leannexxx

summa68 honestly I've had loads of freebies lol that's make up skin care hair care to washing pods and electric toothbrushes all free didn't have to pay a thing just give my opinion on the product

Like
summa68

Leannexxx I’m curious, what site is this that you get free products for your opinion 👀

Like
Leannexxx

summa68 super savvy me , Maria Claire beauty draw and I joined up to loads of Facebook pages that give free samples of perfumes too

Like
kitty88uk

summa68 yes I totally agree with you on this when they say free it should be but yeah there are a certain amount of spend for that item and o be given out. So be careful with these offers. And I never laid for anything even if it’s for the postage it just doesn’t seem right…

Like
kitty88uk

Leannexxx I have not been on super savvy me in years lol I used to get a lot of freebies even vouchers for sanitary towels. Same with Marie Claire beauty they just stopped sending out emails. Have you gotten anything from both sites recently?

Like
Leannexxx

kitty88uk I got a no7 set I would say 3 months ago from Maria Claire the last thing from super savvy was some washing pod that was in February

Like
kitty88uk

Leannexxx oooh 😲 that’s really good as that is a high street brand makeup 💄 that costs so much money! How many items in the set and how much would it have cost you? I’ve never had any luck being chosen to test out any products lucky you! All I got was a detergent powder scoop 🤦🏻‍♀️ apple his was a few years ago and I can’t remember what else that was a freebie lol

Like
Leannexxx

kitty88uk I got the full set of no7 forever lol I don't use it and full foundation, mascara e.l f products too oh and I've had loads of pet products too

Like
kitty88uk

Leannexxx why not use it if you applied for it? Or give it away as a gift 💝 for a birthday or family or friends. Most of the freebies I got over the years I have as gifts for birthdays 🥳 and for Christmas 🎄 too. Freebies and competition wins I won quite I lot back then not anymore. And some other items I have donated them

Like
Leannexxx

kitty88uk I did start using it but my skin was happy about it 😂 I started breaking out 😞

Like
kitty88uk

Leannexxx oh dear 😅 I really dislike when that happened!! I used to use Nivea face cream 🧴 but they must have changed the formula of ingredients as my face started to sting! The fragrance has gotten stronger and makes my skin so dry!!

That’s such a shame you cannot use it 😔 that it’s making your skin suffer break outs!

Like
Swimmer94

If you were going to buy the product anyway then it's not an issue and the freebie is always nice. So I don't see an issue with them doing that if they are rewarding those that buy the product. There aren't many freebies out there anymore where you don't have to buy first to get something or pay postage.

The best freebies are when Lidl does their spin the wheel each time you have spent 1p. I always feel like a winner with that 😂.

Like
jms19

This is a pet hate of mine as well, if the item is truly free then I should be able to obtain it without paying any money at all. If I have to buy something else, in order to get the free gift, then in my mind it is not really free.

To be fair I don’t think this kind of deal is really done to trick people, but more of a marketing gimmick. A lot of times it’s pretty clear that you have to buy stuff but I agree I have seen deals in the past where they claim to be free, only for the small print to say you must purchase something else. That kind of deal is very misleading and is wrong in my opinion.

Like
summa68

jms19 yes i agree. Sometimes they hide the small print of that you have to pay something to get the “freebie”.

Like
MelissaLee1

Its not free if you have to pay for it.Simples Image

Like
hspexy

It’s not free if a purchase is required - it’s more a promotion where you get a gift with your purchase, but without the purchase you’d be gift-less. But marketing-wise, the word ‘free’ attracts customers, duping customers to buy something just so they get something extra. Even a BOGOF is just basically getting 2 of the same items at half price, or 2 for the price of 1 (but BOGOF sounds more attractive)

Like
kitty88uk

hspexy yes I do agree with you on that! Buy one get one free is just like you said buy 2 of them same items just at half price lol 😝 it just seems like a bargain like that. It’s how marketing works! And you think you would be losing out of you don’t get that certain free gift haha 😅

Like
Jerseydrew

Nothing in life is free. The freebie is to get you into the shop to spend. I only go with the freebie if the shop has things i need or want and the freebie is something useful to me

Like
JoTarpley

It's just like Free P&P, I don't believe that brands can give free P&P to thousands of people, they couldn't afford to, free P&P just means that it's already included in the price you pay! 😉

Like
BonzoBanana

You don't really see BOGOF now I find. I can't remember the last time I saw that. It used to be common at supermarkets but don't see it now.

Like
xKJG93

There's some stuff I've bought where you get something 'free' when buying but that's normally if I want something, normally with fragrance sets where you get like Versace weekend bags etc mostly but agree I wouldn't really class it as free. Something that's strictly free is like a perfume sample when you see ads on Facebook etc and you don't have too purchase anything, pay anything to get it or have to pay any shipping costs

Like
kitty88uk

xKJG93 that’s right perfume samples are good I used to get so many over the years when I first started freebie hunting lol 😝 I have seen some posts for some samples in a box and omg 😱 the prices are ridiculously expensive!! You can get them free and put them in a nice box or a gift bag and then can be given to family and friends haha 😆 if you don’t know what perfumes they like they can pick and choose from the samples themselves

Like
xKJG93

kitty88uk I save all mine up for when I run out of my big bottles 🤣 think iv got well over 50 saved currently and the women's ones I normally get I just spray them in my home every now and then tbh

Like
kitty88uk

xKJG93 yeah lmao 🤣 I had so many too probably more maybe 🤔 I cannot remember cause this was a few years ago and I gave them away as gifts. Yeah I did that too spray a bit in rooms lol but it got too much so had to open windows to let the fresh air inside haha 😅

I haven’t been able to get any freebies on o2 priority every Monday there’s a giveaway h it since they changed it to soon the wheel it has never worked and when it firm the one time didn’t win. Used to win M&S gift cards and sweet treats from greggs now nothing 😠

Like
Lynibis

I don't mind if both items would be something I would definitely buy anyway and definitely use. However, some people will buy an item they really don't need or want just to get the freebie which seems to defeat the object to me.

Like
kitty88uk

Lynibis that’s true I only buy skincare products from Superdrug as you need a certain spend of £20 for free delivery. And I use points as part payment and it’s just a bonus if there’s a free item as well.

Maybe those who want the freebies can use it as a gift 💝 for birthdays 🥳 lol

Like
DanielleMcK1992

If I have to pay anything, for another item, postage and packaging, literally anything I don't view it as free. Maybe a bargain but not free. Free to me means pay nothing.

Like
One of the UK's largest deal hunting communities

Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community

Tom Church
Co-Founder &
Chief Bargain Hunter
Tom Church, Co-Founder