# What's the gimmick in this free laptop offer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584 "2004-08-06T07:54:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/1 "2004-08-06T07:54:52Z")
Here’s the header: Originating-IP:[69.42.123.223] Return-Path: \ Received: from 69.42.123.223 (HELO [lozasogalidos.host-123-223.guper.com](http://lozasogalidos.host-123-223.guper.com)) (69.42.123.223) by [mta146.mail.sc5.yahoo.com](http://mta146.mail.sc5.yahoo.com) with SMTP; Thu, 05 Aug 2004 06:57:11 -0700 Message-Id: \<[1710969381659.1493595802281.47125.msgid4@reducedpromotion.com](mailto:1710969381659.1493595802281.47125.msgid4@reducedpromotion.com)\> Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2004 06:59:45 -0700 From: “Incentive Program” \<[norrisnetolicky@sibaxunetethawiworu.reducedpromotion.com](mailto:norrisnetolicky@sibaxunetethawiworu.reducedpromotion.com)\> Add to Address Book Subject: -Need a Laptop? Get a Dell Notebook Free! ---
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/2 "2004-08-06T08:00:57Z")
Ooops! I hit some key that loaded it. :smack: There is no non-html text in the body of the message, and I quite deliberately keep my email set so that it doesn’t display it (for what I take to be obvious reasons). 🙂 I suppose I _could_ turn the html on temporarily, but I’d rather not. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2004, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/3 "2004-08-06T08:04:18Z")
You haven’t given us a lot to work on here, but it looks like plain ol’ spam - there may not actually BE any laptops, free or otherwise; it could just be a ploy to get you to click on some entirely unrelated link or even just to confirm that your mailbox is active (so they can send you more yummy spam). ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/4 "2004-08-06T08:06:02Z")
looks like you should try re\*[ucedpromotion.com](http://ucedpromotion.com) to see what you find. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2004, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/5 "2004-08-06T08:11:35Z")
I tried that; there’s no home page for that URL, but a google search on the domain name brings up a long list of spam-related results; emails from (or purporting to be from) [reducedpromotion.com](http://reducedpromotion.com) would seem highly likely to be spam. ---
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/6 "2004-08-06T10:06:21Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I tried that; there’s no home page for that URL, but a google search on the domain name brings up a long list of spam-related results; emails from (or purporting to be from) [reducedpromotion.com](http://reducedpromotion.com) would seem highly likely to be spam. I kinda thought so, but it’s a rather different “offer” from the cheap mortgages and cheap alleged pharmaceuticals that most current spam (or at least what I get) shows as a subject. I mean, I didn’t really think it was an offer of a free laptop. Just because they say that in the subject doesn’t mean it’s true, after all. :rolleyes: I guess what I was hoping was that someone else would have received this email, and would know more about it. Like maybe what kind of scam this spam is. 🙂 Oh, well … thanks, guys tyger the :wally ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/7 "2004-08-06T14:57:37Z")
I received this spam and curious I entered the application process looked at the hard to read “user agreement” which is several full pages of legal text sandwiched into a little bitty scroll window about 1 inch high and 3 inches wide at the bottom of the agreement. The upshot is that they’re not promising you a Dell or anything else to review. You’re agreeing to let them spam you and sell your address to other advertisers. The user agreement is fairly blatant about this. Here’s essentially what you are agreeing to. > [@](#): > > CONSUMER RESEARCH CORPORATION FREE GIFT INCENTIVE PARTICIPATION TERMS AND RESTRICTIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY. > > These terms and membership policy describe the participation requirements for the [ProductTestPanel.com](http://ProductTestPanel.com) membership incentive program and its general membership policies, including the Consumer Research Corporation’s privacy policy. Consumer Research Corporation (CRC) is solely responsible for the administration of this membership incentive offer and product testing program. The owners of trademarked names and merchandise used in our promotions do not sponsor and have not endorsed this promotion or product testing program, nor are they affiliated with the Consumer Research Corporation in any way. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners with all rights reserved. > > To become a [ProductTestPanel.com](http://ProductTestPanel.com) member and participate in its membership incentive promotion, you must be at least 18 years old and a legal resident of the United States with a valid email and mailing address. If you do not meet these requirements, we ask that you do not complete the registration process. > > CRC guarantees that all approved members of [ProductTestPanel.com](http://ProductTestPanel.com) will receive at least 3 products to review during their first 90 days of membership. Panel members do not have to pay for these products. However, we do require that members return a brief written survey no earlier than 30 and no later than 90 days after the receipt of any product for review. Failure to return this survey will result in the member being removed from our product testing program. We ask that you not apply for membership unless you truly want to receive free products and return the surveys as outlined because CRC must absorb certain set costs to provide and deliver products for testing. > THE CRC PRIVACY POLICY > > What Information We Collect/How We Use It > We store and use the information you give us in accordance with the terms of this Policy. Our registration form requests that you provide certain contact and profile information (like your name, e-mail address, postal address, and phone number). Some of the requested information is required in order to receive CRC Services including products to test; other information is optional. The required information is indicated as such on the registration pages of the [ProductTestPanel.com](http://ProductTestPanel.com) Web Site. Depending on the specific CRC Services for which a user registers, certain category specific information will be requested. We use this additional data to personalize the delivery of CRC services to you. By obtaining and using this information, we can provide you with the most timely, relevant and individualized service according to your preferences and interests. > > Other than the information we require in order to provide one or more CRC Services to you, you do not have to provide any further information. But your election to withhold certain information may limit our ability to deliver a full array of services to you. > > Additionally, we may receive information about you from outside sources and add it to your CRC membership information. We do this to improve personalization of our services (for example, providing better newsletter content, advertising or special offers that we think will interest you). > > We also collect information such as the identification of the server your computer is logged onto and whether you responded to e-mail messages delivered to you on our behalf. We also may compare our member list to lists received from other companies, in an effort to avoid sending identical messages to our members. You can add and modify any of the information you have provided by following the instructions set forth below. > > We use all of this information in the following ways: > > 1. to provide you with personalized marketing information via electronic delivery and/or direct mail; > 2. to send you targeted advertising via electronic delivery and/or direct mail; > 3. to contact you for feedback and surveys via electronic delivery and/or direct mail; > 4. to send you general and administrative information about your CRC membership via electronic delivery and/or direct mail; and > 5. to provide your contact information to CRC marketing partners to allow them to send you special offers via electronic delivery and direct mail. This most often occurs when you request that we do so such as when completing an online survey; > 6. to deliver products to you for the purpose of review and testing. > > Agents: We employ other companies and individuals to perform certain functions on our behalf. Examples include sending direct and electronic mail, removing duplicate information from customer lists, analyzing data, and providing marketing analysis. These agents have access to member personal information as needed to perform their functions for CRC but we do not permit them to use it for other purposes. > > Right to Sell/License Data: CRC may sell and/or license the personal information that you provide to us to third party businesses. These businesses may include providers of direct marketing services and applications, including lookup and reference, data enhancement, suppression and validation, email marketing, and telemarketing. > > Cookies. We may use cookies to, among other things, save your password so you don’t have to re-enter it each time you visit any CRC Web Site. Many Web browsers are automatically set to accept cookies. You may change your browser settings to either reject cookies or notify you when a cookie is about to be placed on your computer. Please note, however, that rejecting cookies while visiting any CRC Web Site may result in certain parts of the Web Site not operating correctly or as efficiently as if they were allowed. For example, if you are a CRC member, you may need to enter your username and password each time you visit member’s only areas of any CRC Web Site. > > E-mail Links. In some instances we may include certain links in our e-mails that will allow us to monitor whether you access specific content or advertisements contained in that e-mail. When you click on one of these links, we will record that click and certain activities on the Web page associated with that link. We may use this information for various purposes, such as to conduct internal research on our users’ demographics, interests, and behavior in and to our e-mail advertisements and content, and to better understand and serve you. > > Disclosures. CRC may disclose information about you and your use of any CRC Web Site and the CRC Services if CRC believes such disclosure is reasonably necessary: (i) to comply with the law or legal process; (ii) to protect or defend the rights or property of CRC or others; (iii) to enforce the CRC Terms and Conditions or this Privacy Policy; and (iv) to respond to claims that the content(s) of a communication violates the rights of another. In addition CRC may share or transfer information about you and that you provide to CRC, to one or more third party entities pursuant to a sale, merger, assignment, joint venture or other transfer or disposition of a portion, or all of, the assets or stock of CRC or its affiliated entities, or as otherwise provided herein. CRC may also disclose information to allow third party business partners and affiliates deliver marketing offers to you. > > Specific Terms and Conditions for the [ProductTestPanel.com](http://ProductTestPanel.com) (PTP) Membership Incentive Promotions: This offer is available to US residents only. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. To receive the free membership incentive gift you must complete all of the steps outlined herein. Prospective members must: (a) submit their zip code to determine geographic eligibility; (b)register with a valid and deliverable email address; © submit accurate contact and demographic information including a mailing address; (d) acquire two advertiser action points from each of PTP’s three Offer Groups for a total of six advertiser action points. Action points are earned when a PTP user fully completes an advertiser offer after accessing the offer by clicking on a link provided on the PTP website or from the PTP member area. Attempting to gain action points in any way other than clicking on the advertiser links provided by PTP will result in the cancellation of your PTP membership. > > In cases of a financial offer such as a credit card, the card must be activated by making a purchase, balance transfer or cash advance in order for the offer to be considered “completed”, and the user must remain a card holder for at least 60 days. For Discover® Card, a completed offer means being Approved for the Discover® Card. For paid retail offers you must accept the item/service and pay in full. Additional terms and conditions may apply to participation in select marketing offers. You should read the terms of each offer as provided by the advertiser for an explanation of these terms where they exist. > > Please Understand: two offers must be completed from Offer Group Page One; two offers must be completed from Offer Group Page Two; and two offers must be completed from Offer Group Page Three respectively in order to meet the action point requirement for redemption of the membership incentive program gift. > After accumulating the necessary action points, an Incentive Redemption Request Form will be accessible in the PTP member login area. The member may then download the form, fill in the requested information, and return it to PTP via mail. Full instructions will be included on the Incentive Redemption Request Form. > > PTP reserves the right to require individuals to provide documentation demonstrating they have completed the advertiser requirements prior to incentive gift redemption in cases where that information is unavailable from the advertiser. > > Referral Program: As part of our refer-a-friend program, members can earn an referral bonus gift card by referring friends to our program. Simply provide the email addresses of at least three of your friends who we may contact about the PTP membership program and other special offers. (Understand that this will result in them receiving commercial email which indicates that you provided us with their email address). These email addresses must belong to people whom you personally know and must be valid in order to earn the referral bonus. You will receive your referral bonus gift when you redeem your PTP membership incentive program gift. Please note that you are only eligible for the referral bonus gift after you qualify for the PTP membership incentive program gift. You may not redeem the referral gift without redeeming the PTP membership incentive program gift under any circumstances. > > Participation in the Referral program is entirely optional and does not effect your eligibility to participate in the membership incentive gift program or to receive products for testing purposes. > > You have up to sixty days from the original date of your membership registration to complete the membership incentive program and redeem your incentive gift. Your gift eligibility is secured as soon as you complete two offers from each of the three offer groups and submit your Redemption Request Form. Once you meet the offer completion requirements, we will send you an email requesting that you verify your shipping address. Once we have received your verification, your gift will be sent within thirty days. Gift redemptions are limited to one gift per household. If you have registered for multiple membership incentive gift promotions, you will be given your choice of gift items upon the submission of your Redemption Request Form. > > Please note that it may take up to eight weeks for our marketing partners to report to us that you have completed their offer. Please be patient while our marketing partners report back to us. You may check your redemption status at anytime by through our member interface area at [http://www.producttestpanel.com/status.php](http://www.producttestpanel.com/status.php) Simply log in using the same email address with which you registered. > > Security. The PTP Web Site has security measures in place intended to protect the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control. Our hardware infrastructure is housed in a controlled access facility that restricts access to authorized individuals with positive identification. Our network access to the infrastructure is protected by a firewall protection system. Member information is backed up on a periodic basis to protect against accidental loss. However, we can not guarantee that communications between you and CRC/PTP will not be intercepted by others and that information stored on our servers will be free from unauthorized access. While we have taken reasonable precautions to protect this information, you should always use discretion in what information you send to us and not expect that such information will be absolutely free from intrusion. > > Links. CRC Web Sites, as well as the electronic messages sent as part of CRC service, may contain links to other sites or services. CRC is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such third party sites. If you have a question about the privacy policy of those other sites, please contact them directly. > > Changing Your Status To have all of your personally identifiable information removed from our database, please go to [http://producttestpanel.com/unsub.php](http://producttestpanel.com/unsub.php) and enter your email address. At the current time, we are not able to offer users the direct ability to delete their information from our database, but we will be happy to delete such information after we receive a request to that effect. Please be advised that by requesting that your data be removed from our database, you will be unsubscribed from CRC services and you forfeit your eligibility to participate in the PTP membership incentive program and to receive products for testing. > > Updates. CRC may revise this Policy at any time in the future to (i) improve or modify the CRC Service, (ii) reflect future developments in CRC data information gathering, storing and release practices, (iii) comply with applicable laws, and (iv) reflect changes in CRC business structure. Accordingly, you should review these terms and policy from time to time to check for updates. Your continued use of the CRC website shall evidence your acceptance of any changes. > > If you do not accept any of the terms of this Policy, we ask that you not complete our registration process Your registration with CRC constitutes your acceptance of these terms and privacy policy. > > You may unsubscribe/opt-out of your membership at anytime by visiting [http://producttestpanel.com/unsub.php](http://producttestpanel.com/unsub.php) and entering your email address. ---
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/8 "2004-08-06T15:38:57Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I received this spam and curious I entered the application process looked at the hard to read “user agreement” which is several full pages of legal text sandwiched into a little bitty scroll window about 1 inch high and 3 inches wide at the bottom of the agreement. > The upshot is that they’re not promising you a Dell or anything else to review. You’re agreeing to let them spam you and sell your address to other advertisers. The user agreement is fairly blatant about this. > > Here’s essentially what you are agreeing to. Thanks ever so much for providing this. I read the first couple of paragraphs, then I skimmed, then I gave up. :eek: It looks to me like they’re hoping anyone who actually responds will be so snowed by the terms that they won’t know what they’re getting themselves into. Given the way I encountered it, I was sure it couldn’t possibly be anything remotely like a real chance to get a name-brand laptop. And I was so right! But I always like to **know** these things! A weakness, I know. \ ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/9 "2004-08-06T16:16:43Z")
Well, it seems to me that you’re selling all of your information in order to sample 3 products. So I guess you could go create a hotmail account and sign up with that, and hope it’s not three different brands of chewing gum 😛 ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/10 "2004-08-06T16:55:23Z")
Here’s an interesting section: > [@](#): > > Prospective members must: … (d) acquire two advertiser action points from each of PTP’s three Offer Groups for a total of six advertiser action points. Action points are earned when a PTP user fully completes an advertiser offer after accessing the offer by clicking on a link provided on the PTP website or from the PTP member area. Attempting to gain action points in any way other than clicking on the advertiser links provided by PTP will result in the cancellation of your PTP membership. > > In cases of a financial offer such as a credit card, the card must be activated by making a purchase, balance transfer or cash advance in order for the offer to be considered “completed”, and the user must remain a card holder for at least 60 days. > > Please Understand: two offers must be completed from Offer Group Page One; two offers must be completed from Offer Group Page Two; and two offers must be completed from Offer Group Page Three respectively in order to meet the action point requirement for redemption of the membership incentive program gift. It appears that you have to patronize their advertisers in order to gather these six “advertiser action points” It also appears that you must have some commitment with the advertiser for the points (as the section on credit card offers indicates). In addition, once you get all of your points, you have to download their special form, fill it out, and mail it in. No, they aren’t going to allow you to use a handy, convenient web page to do this; they want it to be as annoying as possible. It’s quite likely that you could get a laptop from them after you jump through the hoops, but you would pay dearly for it, both in spam, telemarketing, and in whatever offers you have to respond to in order to gather your points. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/11 "2004-08-06T19:30:59Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > It’s quite likely that you could get a laptop from them after you jump through the hoops, but you would pay dearly for it, both in spam, telemarketing, and in whatever offers you have to respond to in order to gather your points. No it’s not likely. They are explicitly claiming no obligation to send you a **specific** , pre-identified item for “review”, no matter how many hoops you jump through. If you do apply to be a reviewer they could send you a roll of Lifesavers if they wanted to. Amusingly, they are also claiming no affiliation whatsoever with the manufacturers of the products that so desperately need “reviewing”. > [@](#): > > The owners of trademarked names and merchandise used in our promotions do not sponsor and have not endorsed this promotion or product testing program, nor are they affiliated with the Consumer Research Corporation in any way It’s just a deceitful spam engine. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/12 "2004-08-06T19:58:45Z")
I’m inclined to believe you since it reeks so highly of slimy spammers. Nevertheless, certain parts of this make me think that they might just string along hapless victims for a long time, doling out the occasional trinket in order for the victim to continue patronizing their advertisers. Why would they even bother with the huge mess of legal prose if they were simply gathering spam data? I can’t imagine that all of the scummiest of spammers even bother with such niceties. Likewise, why make those veiled references to the fact that you won’t get your trinket unless you get into bed with their advertisers? It seems that they are going to dangle the toy in front of your eyes while you get yourself far more involved in their advertiser’s offers than you would ever imagine doing on your own. In the end, an out-of-date factory refurbished machine might be sent to you, or it might not… Anyway, I have seen free laptop offers before from more legitimate sources (e.g. from a credit card or a utility company), and I always figured that you really would get the machine, but your obligations with the company that provided it would be long lasting and tedious. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/13 "2004-08-06T20:15:06Z")
I ran across an offer for a free “X-Box” prepaid shipping an all. Followed link to second page to fill out shipping info and came to conclusion that I had not use for an X-Box. Closed window and forgot it. Isn’t X-Box an also ran product. Not too many games for or hard to get. Just a way to clear the stock room and sell out the games. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-gimmick-in-this-free-laptop-offer/258584/14 "2004-08-06T20:31:21Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > I ran across an offer for a free “X-Box” prepaid shipping an all. > > Followed link to second page to fill out shipping info and came to conclusion that I had not use for an X-Box. Closed window and forgot it. > > Isn’t X-Box an also ran product. Not too many games for or hard to get. Just a way to clear the stock room and sell out the games. As an English major by design and a writer by trade, I don’t even know where to begin here. However, no, the Xbox (no hyphen) isn’t an also-ran. It doesn’t hold as much market share as the Playstation, but it’s hardly a Dreamcast or Atari Jaguar.