Free Alienware Computers (scam)

Rex_Mundi

There have been postings for free Alienware computers on these boards a couple of times. These have allways been removed from the boards because they are pyramid schemes.

The last time I saw this posted on these boards. I emailed Alienware. They replied to me today.

They told me that they are aware of this scam and are investigating further. They also told me that the only way to legitimately purchase an Alienware computer is through there website or their freephone number.

If you see these free Alienware deals advertised on the net. Ignore them. They are nothing to do with the company.

Browntoa

this has been my pet project on ebay.....got them down to 1 page at one point reporting every one I found

Rex_Mundi

It may be worth dropping Alienware a line yourself. I wasn't aware that these schemes were advertised on Ebay. Maybe a notice from Alienware to Ebay will have more effect.

The email address is Marketing@alienware.co.uk

kingmob_2

Do you mean ***links removed***
Want me to send you a pic of my free ipod?

What makes you so sure these are scams?

CIS

is anyone really going to give a £1000 pc away just for taking part in an offer and referring a few friends ??

I registered using a spare yahoo address and looked at the offers, you have to sign up for the likes of a £10 poker site membership or NTL broadband, hardly things which are going to justify a £1000 payout, and you need to register yourself plus 30 friends.

cougar_3

The ipods one seems to be genuine. There is a BBC article describing it and I believe it.

Rex_Mundi

To Kingmob

The reason I'm sure that the free Alienware site is a scam is because this was the answer that I got from the company that makes these computers. They know about these scams and are investigating further.

Your post is not only against the rules of this site, it looks af if you've joined specifically to promote them. Abuse has been emailed.

cougar_3

I agree that Alienware will be a con. There is no way that they could generate £1000 odd from referrals. That's how the ipods sites work

Rex_Mundi

Whether the free ipods are genuine or not. They are STRICTLY against the rules of this site because most (if not all) of them are scams.

kingmob_2

Okay - I'll ignore the threat as to quote the warning message at the top "Remember there's no such thing as a stupid question" and I asked a question. I asked you to show that it was a scam and you report me for abuse. Nice attitude buddy

Lets take this from the top an alienware laptop retails for about £2000 depending on the options you order. the giveaway requires that you register and get a further 25 people to follow you. Now the company running this is going to be buying the laptops wholesale so they won't cost £2000 at all they will be more like £1000. All you need to be able to do it to generate £1000/26 profit out of everyone who signs up to be able to 'giveaway' a laptop. Now while I admit that its not free thats only £39 per person which isnt all that unreasonable. The trick is that while many of the people will only sign up and complete the offer, claim their freebie and never use the service again some won't. And then they have gained a new customer who in the course of months (even years) will generate more than enough revenue to cover a special offer to hook them in. Are Britannia a scam company because they can't possibly sell three chart dvds for 99p?

The truly clever bit (or scam if you like) is that until you have managed to get 25 people to sign up and complete an offer they don't ship anything but they still have say 20 new customers who will spend some money and thats not to be sneezed at.

Why should Alienware or apple or any of the company's who produce the products that they are giving away have any knowledge of the offer? Its like saying "Do you know how much PC World are selling your laptops for?" they don't know or care because they know the only thing that matters to them - how much PC World PAID for them. And I'm assuming that they wouldn't be able to shut down the offers through the court using the trademark loophole Levis sued Tesco with (and Sony used against people selling PSP before 1st Sept) because (say it with me) THEY AREN'T SELLING ANYTHING! Frankly I'm surprised that more retailers aren't using this method of getting customers.

Now you can report me, and the website and whoever is trying to promote this on ebay to whoever you like, but at the end of the day I signed up to one of these offers and I now own an Ipod which didn't cost me £200 so frankly know a lot more about this whole deal than you do. And by the way you can only apply for one ipod so why would I need to promote the site now I have one?

Rex_Mundi

What you are describing is a pyramid scheme. These are also banned on this website. If this scheme is OK. How come Alienware themselves warned me that this is a scam?

I reported you for breaking the site rules. Not for anything else. These type of posts are banned from this site and links to these sites are not allowed.