Site testing is now up for discussion. Where are we with WinHundred, Brightfire, and LeaderDirect? Well, I went on a site search for these companies and one caught my eye. It was a 6 offer, no ref/$1,000.00 Wal-Mart gift card site by WinHundred. Who could beat that? Take a look...
gift page:
url: http://www.giftcarddealsonline.com/aseg-829?trkSessID=197463797&dLID=3340&pRdrTrkID=682077106&skipExit=[skipExit]&pLeadEmailAddress=[pLeadEmailAddress]
6 offers, no refs for a $1,000.00 is pretty good! WinHundred has a cancellation limitation but that wasn't a problem considering how great the payout was. So I then registered...
Registration page:
Survey pages:
Offer pages:
Great offer selection: Santuko Knife, Ahh Bra, No! No! Hair, HCG Ultra Diet Drops, FreeScore 360, 100 Day Loans, Shoe Dazzle, Sytropin HGH Spray, Keranique. Six offers was a cinch since I hadn't done any I listed. Before I began, I gave attention to other areas of my blog, so I put the site off. Less than a week later, an account suspension error replaced the front page; the gift site was gone!
Site error:
While investigating numerous companies in the past, I've gotten the account suspension error. If a company terminated their web host service, wouldn't their gift site link to a domain provider like godaddy? Because an account suspension error is present for these main reasons: violating the Terms of Service/Terms of Use and e-mail abuse (SPAM) policy, server resource overusage, expired web host account, billing issues. Terminating one's own hosting service to abolish his/her gift site(s) would be tiresome with the amount of links they would have. The company would need another web host for their sites, and I can't see that becoming routine. With giftcarddealsonline.com now gone, the WinHundred site I registered for, I advise against doing them. Customer support still unresponsive. We wouldn't know if our documentation was received, assuming proof is required with there being a cancellation limitation. My point of view won't change until their gift program shows signs of improvement.
Progress was made with LeaderDirect. I inquired about turning in documentation, and where to send it since they, too, have a cancellation limitation. Below is what I asked followed by their response.
My e-mail:
"From: wozniack [mailto: xxxx@xx.com]
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2012 3:59 PM
To: info@thefreelaptop.com; jim@pingserve.net
Subject: LeaderDirect/TheFreeLaptop.com offer...
Hello,
Once I complete my offers, must I turn in my billing statement, invoices and/or my e-mail confirmations from the sponsors? I assume this is a requirement with there being a cancellation limitation, correct? And do I send all my documentation to info@thefreelaptop.com? Just making sure I know what to do before I begin...
Thanks,
me"
LeaderDirect's reply:
"From:
Date: Tue, Mar 20, 2012 at 9:44 AM
Subject: RE: LeaderDirect/TheFreeLaptop.com offer...
To: xxxx@xx.com
Thanks for your email.
We’re sorry, but at this time our website is experiencing technical difficulties. Our technical staff is looking into this matter. We will contact you back when the site is functioning properly again.
Best regards,
LeaderDirect"
Hopefully they tell us where to send our documentation, as I am sure that is a requirement with there being a cancellation limitation. Someone is willing to test LeaderDirect, but may not until the company gets back to me. If this person does and is successful with the site, that gives us a payment report. As for BrightFire, their gift site, mygiftcardspot.com, is the only promotion I've seen by them. I will contact them again, though they never responded to my previous e-mail. So far there are no payment reports for WinHundred, Brightfire, or LeaderDirect. LeaderDirect are responsive, but let's wait until they resolve their site issues and answer my questions before we proceed.
New WinHundred address:
P.O. Box 1883
New City, NY 10956
Next is an update from our Nuitech member. For those who haven't been keeping up, please read these entries, starting with "DIY rose bouquet delivery, Part 2": "DIY rose bouquet delivery, Part 2", "Lucky shamrocks..."
Member:
"from: member xxxx@xx.com
to: diyfreebies@gmail.com
date: Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 7:28 PM
subject: Fw: Redeem Voucher
mailed-by: xxxx.com
signed-by: xxxx.com
Finally got this message and sent in the voucher right away. So, I should be getting it anytime.
member
xxx-xxx-xxxx
--- On Mon, 2/27/12, Consumerincentiverewards Support
> From: Consumerincentiverewards Support
> Subject: Redeem Voucher
> To: xxxx@xx.com
> Date: Monday, February 27, 2012, 12:56 PM
> Dear member,
>
> Thank you for sending us your billing statement. Your
> information has
> been approved by our Confirmation Review Department, and you
> are now
> qualified for a Apple Macbook Pro. Please click on the
> following link
> to redeem your voucher.
>
> http://consumerincentiverewards.com/redeem.htm
>
> You can mail the voucher to the address provided on the link
> or you may
> fax it to our Verification Department at 954-364-7011.
>
> Please allow 4-5 weeks for the fulfillment center to
> assemble, package,
> and ship a gift after the Shipping Request has been sent.
>
> Please do not reply to this email as the account this is
> sent from is
> not monitored for incoming mail and you will not receive a
> reply.
> Please use the contact form provided at our website.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Support"
This member said they'd let me know when their laptop arrived. It has been over 3 weeks since they sent their voucher in, so it shouldn't be too much longer. I'm happy they were approved! As for the letter I'd written to Nuitech in February, they never replied. Didn't expect them to either, I just wanted to give everyone the status of my letter.
Remember our discussion on company complaints in Part 1. of February's blog? If not, read this first: http://www.diyfreebies.com/diy-rose-bouquet-is-delivered-part-1-new-information-and-crs-person-exposed-discourse-on-diy-complaints-shane-crawford-of-zooz-solutions-valentines-link-list/ - In that entry, I shared the e-mails between myself and Shane Crawford of ZOOZ Solutions, Ltd. with my readers. Our correspondence was to exemplify a company's distress brought on by false claims, and explain how it could affect the company and person responsible for the complaint. The reason I brought this up is because of a post I read on I-Deal. The I-Deal site I did, brandgiveawaycenter.com, was labeled a scam on this web site: http://trueler.com/2011/10/22/free-1000-walmart-best-buy-gift-card-scam/#comment-27176 - I will only post the top of the page, and the part about brandgiveawaycenter.com to avoid getting in trouble.
Trueler.com post:
This complaint concerns this link: http://ca.bestbuy.mygiftcarddeal.com/ I stumbled upon this site during the Nick Brown investigation, and I'm 99.9% certain it was CRS. Can't confirm that though, because the site is now gone and I would have to look at it again. But I think the answer was found on the gift site's status page.
Okay, brandgiveawaycenter.com IS an I-Deal site. The gift site is under their new DBA, True Power Media. The promotion is still around: brandgiveawaycenter.com - That's the site I did to receive my $1,000.00 Visa and $250.00 bonus check! Proof of payment can be found in these entries: "New Years ball drops...", "DIY rose bouquet delivery, Part 2." - Somebody named Joe commented on the Trueler post. He said he received a $1,000.00 Wal-Mart gift card "in less than 6 weeks." Trueler put this warning on Joe's post: "seems like this comment came from person associated with brandgiveawaycenter.com – another site offering “Free $1000 Gift Cards.” See below.
I believe Joe, and here's why. While doing my offers, many had finished theirs and reported their progress to me. Several people said they received their gift card in under six weeks. I remember telling these individuals, "That was fast! I didn't expect you to get it for two more weeks." And most of them said, "Me either!", and they received Wal-Mart or Target gift cards. My reason for receiving a Visa instead of a Wal-Mart or Target gift card was because I was late getting the site done. I-Deal's offer system was messed up back then, so I burned through a lot of offers. In total, I did 15 offers instead of 8! When they paid me 3 months later, I guess there was a shortage of Target cards? Because I got a Visa instead of a Target gift card, and they wouldn't substitute a Wal-Mart card for a Target card. You get what you sign up for with I-Deal. But I'm glad it took me longer because I got a Visa!
I don't think Joe is associated with I-Deal, who maintains brandgiveawaycenter.com. Joe is just like many of us in freebieland who know the ropes, and who've learnt the art of patience while waiting for their reward. In mine and Joe's case, it isn't a scam. For nearly everyone else on that page, however, it is due to their own negative experience or doubting self. I see why people think this is a scam. They don't understand why "free gifts (trial offers)" come in the mail, then they are charged for them. To them the advertised gift isn't exactly free, and they are right because it isn't. You pay money to try the offers on a gift site. To be a "scam", it depends on one's own experience, and what their definition of a scam is. Though you must spend money to earn a free gift card, it's not a scam to me because you DO get a free gift card. My experience with I-Deal has been nothing short of stellar. But its the fact that these companies promote a "free gift card" that makes it so misleading to the general public. Only a small percentage of us know these aren't all scams. Let's change that by posting on complaint sites and blogs when our DIY companies are attacked. Anyone who has done brandgiveawaycenter.com, or any I-Deal site for that matter, can defend them here: http://trueler.com/2011/10/22/free-1000-walmart-best-buy-gift-card-scam/#comment-27176
While on the subject of I-Deal, I would like to discuss a rule in their T&C. But first read my exchange with a member as it concerns this matter.
Member:
"from: member xxxx@xx.com
to: diyfreebies@gmail.com
date: Wed, Mar 21, 2012 at 4:09 PM
subject: Re: 10 offers, no refs/$1,000.00I-Deal site...
mailed-by: xxxx.com
signed-by: xxxx.com
Wozniack,
As always thank you. Just one question. I did the last $1000 ideal site you sent me and it went through flawlessly. Then i tried for the iPad but my account was put on hold for apparently signing up for offers sponsored by the same sponsor. So how do i make sure this doesn't happen again. Basically how do you make sure you don't sign up for an offer which they consider to be the same as another?
Thanks
member"
My reply:
"from: diyfreebies@gmail.com diyfreebies@gmail.com
to: "member"
date: Wed, Mar 21, 2012 at 4:54 PM
subject: Re: 10 offers, no refs/$1,000.00I-Deal site...
mailed-by: gmail.com
member,
That is usually what gets you disqualified, because it is so hard to tell which offers belong to the same sponsor. How I do it is by finding similarities between the offers on each page. I look at the red wording under the offer image. For example. Shopping Club Trial's offer description reads,"Join the shopping club today for 14 days for only $2.98. Get a Wal-Mart gift voucher with your trial membership." And the offer description for Profinity Save is, "Try Profinity today for 14 days for only $2.98 and receive a free $25 shopping voucher." That alone tells us these offers are probably from the same sponsor. But you can also examine the offer pages. Look for similar wording, and check to see if the policies and terms on the offer pages are alike. Google is also helpful as you can research these offers to see what's been said about them. If both trial offers are the same, then perhaps is proven somewhere online. The name of the sponsor may be found on a forum, or on the sponsor's main web site. If you can find out the exact company name for these sponsors, you might be able to find out which ones are connected.
I apologize that that you were DQ'd for doing an offer by the same sponsor. You can try disputing the hold by contacting their Legal Department, though it is difficult to get the hold lifted once it's done. Was one of the same sponsor offer Online Savings Club? I ask because two others I know of where put on hold recently for doing that one after they did other offer(s) by the same sponsor. I may contact I-Deal about this matter. They should put the name of the company sponsoring these offers in small black print below each offer on the offer pages so everyone knows which is which. There are too many disqualifications because of this.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Thanks,
wozniack"
Member:
"from: member xxxx@xx.com
to: diyfreebies@gmail.com
date: Wed, Mar 21, 2012 at 6:52 PM
subject: Re: 10 offers, no refs/$1,000.00I-Deal site...
mailed-by: xxxx.com
signed-by: xxxx.com
I am pretty certain that online savings club was one of them. Do you know if once a person is DQ'd for this reason if they are able to start over again and try to sign up for new offers to get the same gift?
Thanks
member"
My reply:
"from: diyfreebies@gmail.com diyfreebies@gmail.com
to: "member"
date: Thu, Mar 22, 2012 at 4:59 PM
subject: Re: 10 offers, no refs/$1,000.00I-Deal site...
mailed-by: gmail.com
When your account goes on hold, you really cant sign up again for that gift because that is two accounts and you are asking for trouble. Do another gift with a new DBA. Which DBA was under your iPad gift that was put on hold, by the way?
Thanks,
wozniack"
This matter concerns accounts put on hold due to this rule, "YOU MAY SIGN-UP WITH EACH OF OUR ADVERTISERS ONE TIME EVERY SIX (6) MONTHS. ONCE YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AN ADVERTISER’S OFFER, YOU ARE PROHIBITED FROM SIGNING-UP FOR THAT OFFER, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER OFFER SPONSORED BY THE ADVERTISER FOR SIX (6) MONTHS." I sent I-Deal a letter, so they knew our concerns and heard my suggestion. Below is our exchange.
My letter to I-Deal:
"From: xxxx@xx.com [mailto:xxxx@xx.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 8:47 PM
To: Customer Service
Subject: One offer per advertiser six-month rule... (Thread:308628)
To whom it may concern,
I'm writing to you about the six-month rule in your terms and conditions: "YOU MAY SIGN-UP WITH EACH OF OUR ADVERTISERS ONE TIME EVERY SIX (6) MONTHS. ONCE YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AN ADVERTISER’S OFFER, YOU ARE PROHIBITED FROM SIGNING-UP FOR THAT OFFER, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER OFFER SPONSORED BY THE ADVERTISER FOR SIX (6) MONTHS.” There is a noticeable increase in account holds due to members' being in direct violation of this rule. Based on my communication with those whose accounts are on hold, I feel that the offer pages are partly to blame. The name of the advertiser sponsoring these offers should be present on the offer pages. Perhaps the advertiser names could be shown in fine black print below each description and image of the trial offer. That is why there are so many violations; your members cannot tell the offers apart, then they do an offer(s) by the same advertiser and are put on hold, which 99.9% of the time leads to disqualification by your Legal Department.
Unless the offer pages are amended, this can't be prevented. Members will continue to be put "on hold." Your members don't want to break the rules, they want a solution so they can legitimately complete their gift sites. I am willing to provide more suggestions if this one isn't well received.
I hope this is taken into consideration.
Thanks,
me"
I-Deal's reply:
"from Customer Service contactus@expertcustomerservice.com
to xxxx@xx.com
date Fri, Mar 23, 2012 at 1:02 PM
subject RE: One offer per advertiser six-month rule... (Thread:308628)
mailed-by expertcustomerservice.com
I would go by the name of the offer. We check on that level meaning if it’s called “offer1” we only disqualify if you again apply for “offer1”."
My reply:
"from xxxx@xx.com xxxx@xx.com
to Customer Service
date Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 4:55 PM
subject Re: One offer per advertiser six-month rule... (Thread:308628)
mailed-by xxxx.com
What you are saying is that if someone completed "offer1" a second time they would be disqualified. Okay, I get that. But what if someone did a different offer from the same advertiser as "offer1"? Are you saying that people can do other offers by the same advertiser since you only disqualify for repeats? Your terms state that members are prohibited from signing up for the same offer twice, "AS WELL AS ANY OTHER OFFER SPONSORED BY THE ADVERTISER FOR SIX (6) MONTHS (from the T&C)” This is where the confusion sets in. Is it fair to say the terms and conditions should be rectified?
Thanks,
me"
I-Deal's reply:
"from Customer Service contactus@expertcustomerservice.com
to xxxx@xx.com
date Tue, Mar 27, 2012 at 10:42 AM
subject RE: One offer per advertiser six-month rule... (Thread:308628)
mailed-by expertcustomerservice.com
I am trying to help you out. Our terms will remain as stated. Best of luck."
My reply:
"from xxxx@xx.com xxxx@xx.com
to Customer Service
date Tue, Mar 27, 2012 at 12:44 PM
subject Re: One offer per advertiser six-month rule... (Thread:308628)
mailed-by xxxx.com
Hi,
Thank you for the help you have provided so far. Is it that we can do another offer in the same family (advertiser) as "offer1" as long as it is not "offer1"? For example, there is Green Tea Fit Plus and Green Tea Fit 2000. Most likely they belong to the same advertiser. So if I did Green Tea Fit 2000, I wouldn't be allowed to do Green Tea Fit 2000 for six months; however, I could still do Green Tea Fit Plus even though I just did Green Tea Fit 2000 in under six months? People are worried about doing an offer from the same advertiser even if the offer is completely different, like Green Tea Fit Plus and Green Tea Fit 2000. They feel taking this action may result in disqualification.
I apologize if my last e-mail came off surly; I am just making sure I understand this, so I can correctly relay these details to your members. As always, I appreciate your helpful replies.
Sincerely,
me"
I-Deal's reply:
"from Customer Service contactus@expertcustomerservice.com
to xxxx@xx.com
date Tue, Mar 27, 2012 at 2:37 PM
subject RE: One offer per advertiser six-month rule... (Thread:308628)
mailed-by expertcustomerservice.com
You should be basing it off the Red Text not the offer landing pages."
My reply:
"from xxxx@xx.com xxxx@xx.com
to Customer Service
date Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 1:23 PM
subject Re: One offer per advertiser six-month rule... (Thread:308628)
mailed-by xxxx.com
hide details 1:23 pm (2 days ago)
On the Gold page for e-consumergift, the US Financial Resources offer can be found here: http://e-consumergift.com/?session_id=eb9a126878fd11e1bd41ce3ea83e1266&map=299&stage=70 - The red text for that one is as follows: "Sign up now to start your free 10 day trial!" However, the text for the other US Financial Resources on the Platinum page (http://e-consumergift.com/?session_id=eb9a126878fd11e1bd41ce3ea83e1266) offer reads: "10 Day FREE trial!" -- Although the red text is unique, its obvious these offers shouldn't be done more than once in a six-month period since the offer name is the same, correct? The red text and images may not match for both US Financial Resource offers, but the offer name remains the same. I'm pretty sure I understand all this. I always go by the red text when comparing offers, but it's hard to determine which offers are off limits when there are doubles at play. As long as the red text and status/account page offers are dissimilar, there is no margin for error?
Thanks again,
me"
I-Deal's reply:
"from Customer Service contactus@expertcustomerservice.com
to xxxx@xx.com
date Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 1:32 PM
subject RE: One offer per advertiser six-month rule... (Thread:308628)
mailed-by expertcustomerservice.com
I am referring to the large red text such as “US Financial Resources” As long as those do not match you should be ok."
My reply:
"from xxxx@xx.com xxxx@xx.com
to Customer Service
date Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 3:56 PM
subject Re: One offer per advertiser six-month rule... (Thread:308628)
mailed-by xxxx.com
Simple enough. I really appreciate your time and effort in helping with this matter. Thank you so much.
Have a good afternoon,
me"
The "red text" I-Deal refers to are the actual offer names. No matter how varied an offer is in appearance (landing pages and image ads), if it's name matches one you have done, avoid that offer. As for my earlier argument on doing "ANY OTHER OFFER SPONSORED BY THE ADVERTISER FOR SIX (6) MONTHS (from the T&C)", ignore that. You cannot do any other offer by the same advertiser for six months as per the terms and conditions. If the account hold rate continues increasing, I will again suggest to I-Deal to include the advertiser name below each offer, as that is a surefire way for people to know what offers not to do. We all know NOT to repeat an offer. But if we're looking at a different offer and can't tell who the advertiser is, how can we avoid doing an offer by the same advertiser? That's my worry. I only see more account holds since there's no indication as to who the advertisers are.
MyPoints sent me my $75.00 in amazon codes! And I spent my $25.00 Tango Card from Toluna on a $25.00 Target gift card. The voucher didn't arrive by e-mail, I had to navigate to the rewards section in my Toluna account to get the redemption code and pin number. A Tango Card is an electronic voucher that you can redeem for cash and gift cards, or donate the amount of your gift to a charity. To learn more about the Tango Card, click here: http://www.tangocard.com/shop/tango-card
*Easter link list*
I-Deal--
http://www.publicsurveypanel.com/?session_id=b34d16ea790611e1b0cbeb38b8df804b - 10 offers, 1 refs/$500.00 Visa gc
http://www.publicsurveypanel.com/?session_id=fcf534f8790611e1a1708ce6a68cb92e - 10 offers, 1 refs/$500.00 merchant gift card of your choice, or 16gb Apple iPad or 64gb Apple iPod Touch
Nuitech--
http://www.yourrewardstoday.com/rd_p?p=320732&c=55535-yrt_hhgregg500gc_728_hibrand&a=PFTEST - 8 offers, no refs/$500.00 hhgregg gc
producttestpanel--
http://webbrandrewards.com/phutzas/index.php?lid=phutzas_14281_168&add_offerid=2565585&addomain=promolnk.com&addomain_id=89&uniclk=true – 13 offers, 3 refs/$500.00 Pizza Hut gc + misc. gifts
http://webbrandrewards.com/dicacademy/index.php?lid=dicacademy_14056_-1&add_offerid=482712&addomain=avgauge10.com&addomain_id=63&uniclk=true – 13 offers, 3 refs/$500.00 Academy or Dick's Sporting Goods gc + misc. gifts
http://webbrandrewards.com/employmentzas/index.php?lid=employmentzas_15029_{affiliate_id}&aff_sub={aff_sub}&add_offerid=211795&addomain=promolnk.com&addomain_id=89&uniclk=true – 13 offers, 3 refs/$500.00 Visa gc + misc. gifts
http://webbrandrewards.com/chkfl/index.php?lid=chkfl_15029_{affiliate_id}&aff_sub={aff_sub}&add_offerid=9713228&addomain=rsgauge10.com&addomain_id=62&uniclk=true – 13 offers, 3 refs/$500.00 Chick-fila-a gc + misc. gifts
http://www.pampermerewards.com/bathbod/flash_index.php – 6 offers, no refs/$500.00 Bath & Body Works gc + misc. gifts
http://webbrandrewards.com/occupy/index.php?lid=occupy_15029_{affiliate_id}&aff_sub={aff_sub}&add_offerid=68778339&addomain=avgauge10.com&addomain_id=63&uniclk=true – 13 offers, 3 refs/$500.00 Visa gc + misc. gifts
http://webbrandrewards.com/snc/index.php?lid=snc_14056_-1&add_offerid=2823835&addomain=sbfollow10.com&addomain_id=61&uniclk=true – 13 offers, 3 refs/$500.00 Sonic gc + misc. gifts
WinHundred and Brightfire are out, but I am excited about LeaderDirect because I think we can get somewhere with them. The sooner they reply the better. Trueler approved my blog comment. So if you have something to say, say it! I will go out of my way to protect the name of any company that is good to us. They need to know that all freebies are not scams. About our forum, if anyone's account has not been approved, please contact me at: diyfreebies@gmail.com. We've tightened our security due to the amount of spam on the board. All sign ups must be manually approved. I wish everyone a Happy Easter! Have fun.
Take care,
wozniack
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