I got my fill of the word FREE last year when I researched shopping on the Net.
About half a year ago, early one morning while reading the newspaper, upon turning a page, all of a sudden my hand simply jerked away from the new page.
I realized I had developed a whole NEW "reflex" in my reaction of antipathy to the word, "F-R-E-E" and the miserably DECEPTIVE nature of its use throughout ecommerce.
The Internet in some respects has come to represent the WORST possible animated version of the National Enquirer, filled with jerky low class banner ads and filled with CON after CON after CON.
This is the Internet as created by the Vulture Capitalists and their beloved marketers.
posted on January 24, 2001 05:01:39 PM
I forgot to mention that on the next page of the newspaper, there was a half-page ad by a local bank for some *free* preumium for opening up an account. The word F-R-E-E was large, and my hand automatically flinched AWAY B4 I'd even consciously read the advert.
It startled me, my reaction, for I was positive that NO advertiser in America had a *clue* that OTHERS would start reporting a similar antipathy sooooooooooN!
posted on January 24, 2001 07:19:18 PM
Considering that 6 million users signed up for Paypal because it was free, I dont know how many thousands signed up for Exchangepath, about 14,000 signed up for Paymentalt and how many folks are using free software that displays ads on their PC, spies on them and sends their email out to be spammed, it's obvious that the word FREE is still an effective advertising gimmick. When the suckers stop responding, it might go away, but I don't think it will happen in our lifetime. There's now a few born every minute.
posted on January 24, 2001 10:51:39 PM
Oh, I don't know, we're not all suckers. I got a free computer from FreePC.com (remember them?). The deal was, they send you a computer, you agree to have permanent ads running up one side of your sceen for 2 years, after which the computer was yours, free and clear. I thought that was a great deal, but just to make it perfect, 4 months after I got mine, they ended the program, took their ads off, but we kept the computers! So I got a brand new Compaq, and all I had to do was endure a few ads for 4 months. Free works for me! They even paid the shipping!
