Freebies! Are you pro or anti?

buildersdaughter

I agree, I almost never get freebies, apart from little samples at the bakers or butchers. Even when i worked, I didn't get much in the way of freebies, and certainly nothing from my union.
I think a lot depends on where you live and what job you do.
Actually have just remembered that I got a free, and very useful mini spring rule from sponsors at he last rugby match I went to!

Brambleberry

One of the publishers we buy from sends the best freebies, they are always useful, not petrochemical tat - curly wurly anyone?:D

DigForVictory

There are two sorts of freebies I hoover up - comestibles & things the household will use. Stationery, biros, mugs yes.
Plastic whatevers I do try to avoid not least as getting enough to sate each child is trickier & anyway having eco-principled relatives does rub off over decades.

I understand combustibles may be germ ridden but raising sons, I back their blast furnace metabolisms against most bugs.

I clearly need to elbow my way into the nicer sort of conferences. My lads think a diary is something mum uses & don't realise that it advises me when to shove them back into school, when I've agreed to haul them to the dentist next (Big fan of St Valentines Day for that), and is my first weapon against incursions of relatives "little D has A level revision" etc.

Spendless

I agree that this depends on where you live, what you do (ie the 'circles' you move in) and even what time you shop.

A few years ago before I worked and my Nan still lived independently a midweek shop to a major supermarket and there'd be plenty of samples on offer. Nowadays when work makes me shop in the evening and at weekends there's nothing out.

A week or so ago, outside Starbucks in the shopping centre they were giving away 2 diff flavoured mini cups of coffee. We took them. I can't remember the last time a retailer was offering a freebie there.

Freebies come at my workplace at Xmas time and are likely to be in the form of pens, diaries, memo pads and holders and the occasional stress ball.

DH who has a more high profile job than me attends conferences abroad and is given better calibre freebies. He received 2 of the metal water bottles a few years ago, long before I'd ever seen any in this country. Other things include more high end stationery such as leather bound folders etc.

LameWolf

beenthere_donethat wrote: »

I had a freebie through the post the other day - 6 Christmas cards painted by people who can only use their hands and feet. Although free, the sender did ask if I would consider paying £9.95 for the set (attempted guilt-trip wording). The thing is, we don't send Christmas cards as they end up being thrown away afterwards.

Although the cards are pretty, this is one freebie I would have preferred not to receive.

Oh, that sort of guilt-trip stuff makes me really mad. They put it in such a way as to make you feel like a real louse if you don't stump up, don't they?

The best freebies I've had are reusable cloth bags, which are what I use for my grocery shopping, as there's always more shopping than will fit in the bag on the back of the wheelchair.

I agree though, a lot of what's on offer in the city centre mall is tat, and I don't accept it; Mr Wolf has a real talent for suddenly speeding up (he's the motive power for the wheelchair) when we approach someone handing out totally useless Things.:D
There was someone dishing out little cans of cherry Coke the other day - I can't stand Coke in any of it's incarnations, so that resulted in a sudden burst of speed from Mr Wolf; completely took me by surprise, as I hadn't actually spotted the hander outer. :rotfl:

moneyistooshorttomention

Just thinking I did get two very useful freebies (back before I moved here) - hessian type shopping bags. Now those were really useful and lasted quite some time. Also had a decent quality fold-up canvasy shopping bag (though it was for an event I went to there - and got charged entrance fee to go to:cool:).

fuddle

The only freebies I like are the ones DH brings home once a year from the hotel his AGM has been held in and he's had to stay overnight - mini soap/shampoo/shower gel.Perfect for my hospital bag and if I'm really lucky I get a plastic shower cap - great for the bowl to cover rising dough.

Mostly I just think that they're trying to bribe me with a freebie. If it' s linked to marketing I don't like it really.

tessie_bear

tbh I don't see a lot of freebies down our way....that said sometimes when we are in town there is a square where people giving away drinks such as Ribena set up in each corner...we have been known to mooch around the square and take one from each :cool:

my son recently enjoyed freshers week and came home with loads of tat....got to say if its free I take it home xx

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

When I worked in office environments, I used to love the freebie pens & stationery usually donated by our clients - so generally good quality. Also still have a plastic piggy bank from our Company - each year we would get a Chinese New Year inspired gift
Occasionally go to sm at the correct time to get freebie food or alcohol samples - no fingers involved with the food as always given a cocktail stick or sample placed in a small paper cup :T

I now do not accept anything that will lead to clutter :rotfl:

MrsSD

ivyleaf

I say no to freebies unless it's something I can use. A couple of years ago Boots were offering a free lidded cup with a picture of a character from the Cars movies. with every purchase of 2 bottles of sunscreen.. We have no grandchildren or child acquaintances the age to use one of those, yet OH insisted on taking one because it was free. I pointed out that we had no one to give it to, but he wouldn't put it back.

I ended up putting it in the bin a few months ago