Deal abuse?

[motkrap]

Although I just started posting messages on this BB, I have been checking and using deals on GotApex for a while now...Thank you Apex. Anyway, a while back Apex introduced us to a deal on Greenpoints.com. Remember where you could get free movie tickets or $5 gift certificates just for signing up with a different email address. Anyways, today I got $25 more in Blockbuster gift cards today in the mail which makes my total to $50 from Blockbuster and $10 from Burger King. It kind of got me thinking...am I abusing the deal? Who is paying for this? Should I feel bad for using my 12 email addresses to abuse this deal? Do I deserve those meals and CDs?

I am very interested in what everyone has to say. If this has been discussed earlier I apologize but I don't know if I should stop and feel sorry, or sign up for even more free money. Thanks a lot!

[AmRivlin]

Don't feel bad at all, I hear they have a 100 point program to get rid of the addiction to free **** err stuff, Too add my 2 cents, the cards from Blockbuster are cash... Demagnatise them and the companys policy is they have to give you cash for the remaining amount if they don't swipe...So think of it as ripping off the Federal Reserve not Blockbuster, FREE CASH anyone, I wish I had heard bout this before!

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--Andrew
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by AmRivlin (edited 05-15-2000).]

[Renski]

Sounds like you are abusing it pretty good.
But hey, Everyone on the planet has probaby done the same thing. I've got three.

Renski

[This message has been edited by Renski (edited 05-15-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Renski (edited 05-15-2000).]

[trae]

i signed up my family... yet i didnt tell my family... so technically im ripping off my family members. But i do also shop through their portals... when i rip off buy.com

[Crunch It Now]

why would you care if you are ripping anyone off? i mean, unless you are affiliated with a business, why would you care if they lose money? if someone puts something out on the internet, it is free for everyone to use and abuse. and if they cant handle it, they should not put it out there in the first place.

my 2 cents.....

[MadCool]

But if you guys were in their shoe.. It would be totally different. We're probably the reason why their stock prices is all the way down.. heh

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Check out www.MadCool.com

[NiceMann]

Oh please you know they are making enough money from the click throughs and so on. I am sure they are still turning a good profit.

~NiceMann

[tupacboy]

give me your stuff if you feel guilty... i love free stuff...

[rcsnoopy]

I think this is actually pretty relevant. I find myself asking this same question: Where is the line between a good deal and just plain ripping off a company. Its hard to say where that line is. It is much easiery to do everything from the computer because you don't have to look at anyone or do anything. No one looks at you with accusing eyes. I do think we need to be careful to realize when we all overstep the bounds drastically. ie. ordering 5 20 gig hard drives for 30 dollars from staples (no I did not do this but it seems many others did try). I think it is definitly sad when people order these objects on a "hot deal" (misprice, etc.) for the sole purpose of selling them on e-bay and trying to turn a profit. Order what you will use yourself, there is no point in being that greedy. Of course this is just my opinion. And I don't think it will change the ways of some. . .

[EricEE]

Personally, I limit myself to 4 of everything. I've got credit cards and email accounts set up in my name, my fiancee's, and each of my parents. Very easy to do with the Compuserve account, since you can switch screen names quickly.

Am I taking advantage? Probably.

But as a business owner myself, I would never put together a business plan that includes giving away money or products. So I don't feel particularly bad about taking advantage of stupidity.

Eric

[msventre]

Considering all the money that BlockBuster has taken from me in "Late Fees" I am no problem getting some back.

[trae]

But because of abuse dont you think that might hurt future deals in the process? Other companies might see the staples fiasco and the like and be alot more apprehensive about putting out coupons or deals. he's hard to draw the line to when your abusing a deal to the extreme but sometimes we have to use better judgement. just my humble opinion.

[colossus]

I think as an individual you should be allowed to exploit the failures of a business. If they are careless then it it because of their nonvigilance. At the same time, I don't think people should bitch they didn't get a $300 MP3 player for free or didn't get a computer for $100. The company has right to refuse service to anyone, and internet mail order law says a deal isn't final until a charge is placed on the CC.

For those of you running around using other people's names and emails, grow up! Of course if you're buying 9 or 10 HDs for $30 you probably don't care what I say.

The deals page was for everybody. If you buy one item, and let everybody else get in on it, then everybody is more likely to get it. Even though there are 1500+ members here, I'm sure some people place 10 or 20 orders. It's both morally and legally wrong to misrepresent yourself.

Off soapbox.

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Ço£o§§ü§ - yeah you can read into it...

[sbp]

You might as well face it motkrap. Your addicted to deals like everyone else is here. I mean .

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[This message has been edited by sbp (edited 05-16-2000).]

[Grizybaer]

Hmm, since its a deal or promotion that the company posted, i dont really see abuse as a huge problem, they posted the deal, they are asking for it, usually its something like the first 100,000 or the'll just end it when they feel like it. If you make 20 orders, its the same as 20 ppl making one order, the company doesnt really care, unless they count the amount of spam mail they send out.

Just my two cents,
~William

Y two cents? y not three?