How well can you turn down a free item?
By bounce58
@bounce58 (17387)
Canada
July 19, 2010 2:41pm CST
Have you ever seen those people at the airports offering you free stuff if you just sign up for one of their credit cards? Some of the items they offer are really irresistible. How about some big companies giving you stuff, which you don’t need in the first place, but you end up getting because they are free? When you see something with a sign that says free, do you take it? Even if it just become clutter when you get home.
I don’t have any problems saying no to those free items at the airport, because I know that I don’t need another credit card. But we went to county fair with the kids last weekend, and when we got home, we had Frisbees, pins, stickers, buckets, plastic shovels, gloves, playing cards etc. Things that we lined up for, but would most likely end up in the garbage or the recycling bin at the end of the week.
How about you? Can you resist anything that is free?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@brandypelland (586)
• United States
29 Nov 10
i do not have one credit card , so it is easy for me i do not fill out the offers, i dont belive in credit cards
@brandypelland (586)
• United States
11 Dec 10
i have actully moved to a bigger city, so thats diffrent but i still dont nderstand why my city would have anything to do with it
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
19 Jul 10
Yep, I can resist. If it's something that I don't need in exchange for signing up for something that I don't need, you bet I can resist.
@aidenofthetower (1814)
• United States
20 Jul 10
I can resist most free things. While we don't live a minimalist type of lifestyle, I refuse to keep things that I don't need, don't use, or don't think I will use in the very near future. So, for the most part...I have no problem saying no to free items.
The exception is when someone I know is trying to give me something. I have a hard time saying no because I don't want them to feel like I don't like their stuff or something weird. I know it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I usually end up taking their stuff home, having it sit around and in the way for some time, and then giving it away or throwing it away depending on how good of stuff it is. It's sad, but I am not real good at saying no to people I know!
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
21 Jul 10
Just be careful that if you let these things sit in your home for a while, that you don't end up giving it back to them.
I'm not saying it happened to me.... about a certain as-seen-on-TV abs exerciser.... that would get me red-faced..., but it didn't happen to me. Honest!? 
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
19 Jul 10
Hi, bounce58. One time if anything was offered to me for free, I would be so greedy to take it. After having so much of clutter in my home, I only get what I need and can use. I don't submit to all kinds of junk. I only get what I know that I am going to use. I have never been offered anything free from the airport before.
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Jul 10
I used to be a big time freebie hoarder - ha ha. But after years or accumulating free "crap" that was never used, I got pickier about what I'd take home with me (or get sent) that was free. I am DONE with credit cards - so they aren't going to get me to sign up for any plastic. You might think you get free items with credit cards, but if you end up spending oodles of credit and get into a big doo-doo debt, is it really worth getting the free item? My daughter LOVES getting free stuff - so she manages to bring home loads of goodies whenever we go out . . . and if they are pretty useless, I try to get rid of them asap - she can't possibly miss them. I do like "free" . . . but these days I like "practical and usable free" - not "crappy useless free".
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
19 Jul 10
You're right that there two kinds of free items out there. And the one that is the most abundant is the 'crappy useless free'. But you'd be surprise that a lot of people still take these things. Even though for sure that they'll just end up in a landfill somewhere not even a year after they get it.
@erwinadrian (109)
• Canada
20 Jul 10
Free items are good, only if it's really really free. In your case, credit card companies give out free items hoping that you would sign up for a credit card with their companies. If I have no intention of making a credit card with them, I wouldn't bother walking near their counter or talking to the person. That way, they can give the free items to someone else that's more suitable to their objective.
However, if you had no idea what's the free items for, and just out of curiosity, coming near the counter to check it out, that's a different story. When you look interested, the representative will definitely come talk to you and offer you to fill out some information. In this case, I wouldn't wanna walk away because I feel like I would make the person feel bad if I do that. That's just me though. So, I ended up getting free items. I've had 2 free items, one is a water container, one is headset.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
21 Jul 10
Funny you should say about a water container, because the last time I got duped into signing up on a credit card, I got a free red space-age looking water container.
You're right though, I also avoid making them bad. So, nowadays I just say no when they approach.
Thanks!
@anitramarie (17)
• United States
19 Jul 10
It depends. If it's something really expensive that would take me a million years to buy on my own I'd definitely be tempted. Then I'd think about all the strings that would no doubt be attached and that would hopefully sober me up. But I do give in sometimes. I wish those people wouldn't try so hard to bribe us with glitzy free gifts. It's annoying.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
19 Jul 10
You're absolutely right!
Some of them are really annoying. Specially the ones in the airport. They stand in the middle of the corridor so just you wouldn't avoid them. Then they strike up a conversation as if they were your long lost buddy.
Thanks but no thanks.
Thanks but no thanks.