# Free Computer Or Laptop!! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176 "2003-03-18T01:39:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fauxpas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e480ec/32.png) [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/1 "2003-03-18T01:39:34Z")
THIS IS TRUE! Or so I think. I have found two sites…thanks to very severe searching for hours and hours to find this honest to god website that gives out a free computer or lapto (top of the line with all those gadgets and software!) my dad hasn’t come back yet, but he said he’d ask his computer technician friend if this is a scam. The website states that it costs money to join the club (they sell ebooks and another website offers free stuff and resources and it seems likely to work) there are many testimonials and my dad still says it’s a scam. BUT COME ON! It’s only like 30 dollars and they have their own organization! It’s also authorized by an online company that verifies companies. Please…please! Someone try to convice my father into letting me buy this computer…if you want.go check it out at [www.yourfreecomputeronline.com](http://www.yourfreecomputeronline.com) (this one has no charge on shipping and handling) the other one is [http://learn2compute.net/index.php](http://learn2compute.net/index.php) (this one charges money for shipping and handling (for me its like 35 dollars!! :() I want to hear some opinions and hopefully…i hope…this will not come out as a scam. Thank You! ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/2 "2003-03-18T01:51:22Z")
> [@](#): > > _from the website:_ > One cycle works like this. Once a member is at the top of the escalator, 75 more members must join. Once 75 new members have joined, the current member at the top of the escalator will complete their cycle. The member will then be shipped a computer based on the current computer specifications. The next member will then be moved to the top of the escalator starting their cycle for a free Dell computer. Sorry friend, this is a pyramid scheme. You’ll be out your $30 without a laptop before you know it. I would strongly advise you against partaking in this offer. Sorry, **fauxpas**.☹ ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/3 "2003-03-18T01:52:25Z")
Does the “escalator” take you to the top of the “pyramid”? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/4 "2003-03-18T01:53:41Z")
It is the computer version of “send 5 dollars to everyone on this list and then put your name at the top”. It is a pyramid scheme. I wouldn’t give them the steam off my piss as we say in Ireland 🙂 If you want to consider it a 35 dollar lottery ticket be my guest. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/5 "2003-03-18T01:53:44Z")
preposted by thaaaaaaaaat much. Damn you d\_redguy. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/6 "2003-03-18T01:56:13Z")
Me thinks [Jessie Davis](http://samspade.org/t/lookat?a=yourfreecomputeronline.com) might be hearing from the guvmint soon. ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/7 "2003-03-18T01:57:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by beagledave \* > \*\*preposted by thaaaaaaaaat much. Damn you d\_redguy. \*\* Heh. Yeah, but yours was funnier.😉 ---
**Author:** ![fauxpas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e480ec/32.png) [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/8 "2003-03-18T02:13:52Z")
The escalator takes you in the list of by when you bought membership and then 75 other people need to sign up too for you to get to the top. The other one lets you buy stuff and earn points…not sure if that one is a scam. ---
**Author:** ![fauxpas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e480ec/32.png) [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/9 "2003-03-18T02:17:01Z")
So this Jessie Davis is the leader of this scam? MAN!!! He’s doing the dang pyramid thing all over again…thanks guys…but theres still the other site…what about that one? ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/10 "2003-03-18T02:18:57Z")
Depends, do you want to buy the Brooklyn Bridge or the Golden Gate Bridge? ---
**Author:** ![fauxpas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e480ec/32.png) [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/11 "2003-03-18T02:22:19Z")
The HONEST one! lol ---
**Author:** ![Ooner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@Ooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ooner)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/12 "2003-03-18T08:03:34Z")
Think about it this way: there are 2 testimonials on the webpage, meaning the escalator has supposedly gone to the top twice. That’s 150 people at least ahead of you. Now if you sign up today, you can expect your computer after another 11,200 people sign up. That’s assuming that you’re only 150 on the list. For every other person that’s signed up, that’s another 75 that have to sign up before you get yours. This is a sweet deal for #1-5 probably, and no more. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-computer-or-laptop/162176/13 "2003-03-18T08:30:48Z")
It is a scam; a pretty obvious one too; **fauxpas** , ask yourself where the money is coming from.