zaobz

Any of you guys ever bought these things on EBAY?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=3339

So how do they really work? They can't really be giving stuff for free right? What's the catch?..

far2bored

You got me, but I smell scam.

absorbentishe

I've seem them, I'm very skeptical...

The_Dude

i'm thinking scam also

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steveincolumbus

Buy it and tell us what it says.........

mtsgsd

I read a story on this a while ago. It's called a matrix buying scheme if I remember right. It is a scam in that it's impossible for everyone to get the product they are paying for, and the various people offering these schemes are being investigated supposedly. The largest one has voluntarily quit the "business".

How it works is that you pay a low price for say, a tv and get a place in a queue (line). Say you're number 10 'cause you got lucky. It will take say, 50 people to pay enough money to buy the first tv, and person number 1 gets his delivered.

Now, another 50 people have to buy in for the second person to get his and so on. Pretty soon, there will be people who's only chance of getting their product is if a large percentage of the population buys in. And what happens to THEIR chances?

I'm too lazy to look it up but I think this called a Ponzi racket? The way they are able to be quasi-legal is that you are usualy buying some product from them, and in return, you are signed up for this opportunity as a bonus. In other words, this is offered for free, so they aren't breaking any laws. Of course, people are buying the product (which is often useless) just for the chance of getting a cheap tv or whatever.

In any case, stay away.

Caphreak

yep, scam alert...

nothingx

I've seen versions of this where they tell you to email the manufacturer and tell them you are small retail outlet interested in evaluating their product for sale. Then they supposedly send you a free item. I can't imagine this actually works, but it might.

Also, I know you can get free stuff by watching betanews. Occationally there is some good stuff offered to test by big electronics manufacturers. I'd stay away from this guy though. Odds are he's gonna sell you some stupid obvious information that you could've come up with on your own.

darkure

Here is a link about these free electronics scams:
http://www.cockeyed.com/ebay/scam/scam_information.html

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clockworkgreen

Well, there can't possibly be a catch. They just hand this stuff out like bread to homeless people on Christmas, right? C'mon.

viveleroi0

there is one a lot like this to legally sell lottery tickets... sell an envelope online as the official "item" and offer a free lottery ticket with the purchase. All yu're doing is buying the the lottery ticket, but ebay doesn't allow that so you get around it...

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Stare At The Sun

yeah, most def a scam, dont waste your cash...

bermuDa

there are other such auctions where winners get a .doc file outlining a method to get free product "samples" from manufacturers. I've got the .doc file somewhere, it's actually an interesting idea. and NO i didn't pay for it

You e-mail or send a letter to a manufacturer as an online retailer who is interested in selling their products, and would like a sample product to ensure it's quality, and to stock your site with photos of the product. Most manufacturers are more worried about shipping than the cost of the product itself, and these free samples are pretty common in the reselling business.

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The.Lunatic

Yup you know how he gets those electronics.

He pays for them with the money he makes from people buying this from him.

However I was currious and it was only 5 bux so i bought it.

He actually links you to a website that he made that has lots of information on how to become an ebay wholesaler.

I won't disclose this website as this guy seems to be offering fairly legit information, however i don't believe the information he offers is worth it.

If you were wondering though this is not as much as a scam as it is a how to ebay wholesaler thing. Free electronics can come further down the road if you become a successful seller, and request sample products.

Actually a decently laid out website.

Exodus

Stuff like that makes me wearry. Aint nothing in life thats free.

Zooksport2

Whaddya mean! I don't charge nuthin for my air!

hehehe

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MSD

What you have to do is find a bunch of people pulling off htis scam, and see if anyone left the URL in someone's feedback. ebay can't delete feedback, so it stays there. It's a pyramid scheme.

http://www.firstpersonmatrix.com/

Cynthetiq

if it's too good to be true... it probably is...

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MPower

looks like a ponzi.

Randerolf

What your describing is EXACTLY a ponzi scam. Kudos on the spelling too.

Sorry amigo, you have to earn things. Not many products of quality can be obtained for free.

The.Lunatic

Did Nobody read my post!

I said that I actually bought this and that it wasn't really a sceme as much as it was information, its a how to guide to setup an ebay buisness, the free electronics can be obtained by asking for sample products to review a line to decide if you'd like to purchase from that company wholesale in the future.

Not a scam, but not really free electronics it has a lot of work on your part and you'd need to setup a business.

spillblood

so your buying a scam and a business