I know I’m not the only one who has been curious about those ubiquitous online Ads that offer a free MacBook Air via a website called chooseyourcolor.com. It used to be that for a free iPod, you’d get roped into a pyramid-like marketing scheme that would result in a membership for a book club. In recent years they’ve upped the ante. And now these ads are teasing a free custom-colored MacBook Air. That’s right. Apple’s $1,800 baby. I was curious to see what sort of offer would I get roped into in order to get myself a free MacBook Air. The results are shocking and surprised me more than I had expected.
I knew there would be book and DVD clubs to join, but as I progressed, it felt like I was traveling through the Heart of Darkness. To begin with, the small print states that you must sign up for a total of six offers. Two from each tier of offers (Top, Prime, and Premium). Initially, it seemed legitimate enough because some of the offers are from Netflix and Columbia House DVDs. Both are typical of this type of marketing, but what I found was downright disturbing. Let me take you through the process, step-by-step. Read the full article after the Jump.
Introductions
First, you have to give all of your contact information. Then begins the painfully long procession of surveys that attempt to sign you up for more mailing lists. That was expected and easy enough.
Step 1: Top Offers
You have to sign onto two offers from a section called “Top Offers.” The fine print states that if you sign up and end up canceling your order, you are not eligible for the free laptop. So, you have to commit to at least two of these offers. This is the section where I found the gateway to Netflix and Columbia House DVDs. This section wasn’t too painful, since Netflix and Columbia House DVDs offer a product and service that I’ve used before. But, if you look closely at the other offers, it begins to show some of the schemes that you would sign up for, unknowingly, if you are not the type to read the fine print.
For instance, the most offensive offer is for a service called “Google Pro,” where they teach you how to make money by being a pro at searching Google. Really? The sickening part is that once you read the Terms of Service, you’ll realize that if you don’t cancel the service within 14-days, they’ll start to charge you $72.21 per month. WTF? Yes, you read right. Keep reading for the full list of “Top Offers.” The strange part about this offer, is that if you go directly to the website, you’ll see the monthly fees, but when you’re linked through chooseyourcolor.com, there is no sign of a monthly fee.
deliciousdownloads.com “Google Pro”
Offer: $3.88 in shipping
Actual: $72.21/month
encryptedprocessing.com “Grants Every Day”
Offer: $2.95 in shipping
Actual: $58.61/month
Columbia House DVDs
Offer: 5 DVDs for 49 cents plus 5 more DVDs at club price ($19.99)
Actual: 5 DVDs for 49 cents plus 5 more DVDs at club price ($19.99)
Netflix
Offer: $8.99/month
Actual: $8.99/month
mineralscience.com
Offer: $1 plus shipping
Actual: $35.99 every 60 days
ivorywhite.com
Offer: $2.87 in shipping
Actual: Not clear from Terms and Conditions.
Step 2: Prime Offers
Here’s where they kick it up a notch, but they can’t go too far yet and scare away potential customers. You need to sign up for two more offers on this page. The offers are similar to the “Top Offers”, but there is no longer a legitimate service or product, like Netflix or Columbia House. This section offers items like teeth whitening, beauty products, coffee, and Internet related products. The highest monthly payment that I saw was for $69.95. Again, these numbers are nowhere on the sign-up page. You need to click on Terms of Service to see what you’re signing up for. The inexperienced will find themselves in a pickle, without knowing what hit them. Here is the list of “Prime Offers.”
napabeauty.com
Offer: Pay only shipping
Actual: Not clear. Terms and Conditions not listed.
bellaclear.com
Offer: $2.87 in shipping
Actual: Not clear from Terms and Conditions.
internetcareerkit.com
Offer: Pay only shipping
Actual: $69.95/month
seattlecoffeedirect.com
Offer: $25 for coffee, mugs, and tumblers
Actual: $12.50/month plus $6.98 shipping
extremebritewhite.com
Offer: $1 plus shipping
Actual: $79.99 every 60 days
Offer: Pay only $1.87 in shipping
Actual: $49.99/ month
Step 3: Premium Offers
This is the section that just pissed me off. After jumping through the hoops of your contact information, and at this point, four other offers, they lay this on you. The Premium Offers are simply unreasonable. They list only three offers and the minimum purchase price is for $1,800 (which, if you’ll remember, is the original purchase price of the MacBook Air). You have to purchase either two EuroRail passes, two $1,000 trips, or a wedding dress for at least $2,000.
raileurope.com
Purchase two rail passes for $899/person
vayama.com
Purchase a trip for two at $1000/trip.
houseofbrides.com
Purchase a wedding dress for a minimum of $2000
In the end, I wonder how many people have fallen for this and actually signed up for a few offers before they realized that they’d never see their MacBook Air. I hope this will deter anyone from selling their souls for a free MacBook.
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Tags: chooseyourcolor.com, Columbia House DVDs, Internet Marketing, ipod, MacBook Air, Netflix, Scams
Thanks so much! I was about to sign up for the “free macbook” when I decided I should check and see if this was a scam. Sure enough I found this site. Thanks a bunch, it saved me a ton of time, effort and hassle!
so, I agree that this site seems bogus. I however would suggest to not cast them all away. Some of them aren’t so bad. I have, through sites similar to this one but through different companies. received a macbook pro, xbox 360, ipod touch, 900 dollar check that was initially supposed to be a tv, and I have a 50″ samsung plasma tv and a 1000 visa gift card on the way. All of these together MAY have cost me at most around 300 dollars. You just have to be careful and keep track of EVERYTHING, because no matter how you spin it, they are trying to screw you.
Yes that is true…. nothing is for free….. I had been a lotery winner to many times and in to many contries… have inherite from unknow people in Afrika, Usa, Australia.. ha ha… I just believed in my clock every morning to go to work…. the sound of my computer at the office when I switch it off… the rest is all fantacy…
i gave them my contact information but i didnt do any offers will anything happen if they have my contact information can i cancel it? someone please help
for those extra trials you just scroll down without clicking anything and click next page
i just wanted to know if id get it
Thanks for the info.. i got it when I logged in in the face book.. thanks again I let my friends know about this..
OMG this really helped me rite now….i was gonna give my info and stuff. but then decided if it was a scam. im very thankful for this article!!!