Free Stuff

[tyger]

Hey, the economy must really be picking up. Not here in Georgia, or North Carolina, but somewhere.

I am heartened by the fact that RedShank at DUNDAAD Trader Company is taking the lead, giving away a free bonnet, and now giving away free hose.

This could be a lot of fun. Perhaps other companies will chip in an offer free things to forum participants.

Are there any rules that apply to such a scheme, and can each participating company establish the winner selection process?

[Tobus]

Yes, I'm sure we'd all like to see more free stuff!

Some other forums I belong to have occasionally done a "pay it forward" programme, where members are encouraged to give away items on the board. It basically works like this:

If you have something to give away, you post what it is. The first person who says he wants it, gets it. But he must then give something of his away, and the thing just goes on and on. It's a great way for people to get free stuff, as well as give away old stuff they don't use any more. A lot of it relies on the honour system, of course. No giving away worthless garbage, and the donor must pay the shipping for it to be a true giveaway. There are some more rules to it, which escape me at the moment, but that's the gist of it. Would there be any interest in such a thing here?

[tyger]

Yes, I'm sure we'd all like to see more free stuff!

Some other forums I belong to have occasionally done a "pay it forward" programme, where members are encouraged to give away items on the board. It basically works like this:

If you have something to give away, you post what it is. The first person who says he wants it, gets it. But he must then give something of his away, and the thing just goes on and on. It's a great way for people to get free stuff, as well as give away old stuff they don't use any more. A lot of it relies on the honour system, of course. No giving away worthless garbage, and the donor must pay the shipping for it to be a true giveaway. There are some more rules to it, which escape me at the moment, but that's the gist of it. Would there be any interest in such a thing here?

Ha ha. Yes, that is a good way to pass things along. We did that all the time when I was a kid, in the family, out of the family, etc.

But what got me thinking was not trade, or barter, or exchange, but really FREE.

RedShanks set a new standard- absolutely FREE. I have never seen this on this forum, though I must admit it could have happened and I missed it.

And now RedShanks is offering FREE HOSE. So, who is next?

[MacMillans son]

And now RedShanks is offering FREE HOSE. So, who is next?

I holding out hope it's that guy in Georgia who makes those cool belt buckles

[ForresterModern]

Love free high quality highlandwear goods. Especially when I win them.

Great that you are considering jumping into the "free stuff" fray Tyger. Kind of reminds me of the "pay it forward" thread from a year or so ago where so many people recollected providing their own items to other forum members in need. I could get into this and offer to read somebody's xrays for free, I guess. But with the way medical reimbursements are going I am probably already doing that on a fairly regular basis, just not for forum members.

Well done Chris, and well done you Tyger for considering joining the trend. I promise I won't enter this contest.

jeff

[Ryan Ross]

I holding out hope it's that guy in Georgia who makes those cool belt buckles

I like that guy. He's crazy.

...and his buckles are some of the most unique pieces of fine metalwork that I've ever seen, too.

But back on topic- Aye, especially in these trying times, giving away products makes quite a statement.

[Redshank]

In response to Tyger's opening statement, Yes times are hard, the economy is very slow in picking up, and we as vendors have been hit by these effects, but so has the customer, we are all aware of this.

Each month I pay to the forum owners a reasonable fee to advertise on this site, and every month for the past 2 years xmarks has placed in the top 2 refering sources to my website, which means I get a high volume of sales via this forum, I just figured that I give to the owner of the forum and take from it's members each and every month, so it would be good to give something back to the forum members by way of a free prize each month, now if others want to participate perhaps we could set up a monthly competition, a different vendor each month, the prize doesn't have to be of vast value, just kilt related.

I see this as a good thing for the forum, for the forum members and it also makes the vendors presence on the forum a valuable one

Just my opinion

What do you think ?

[ForresterModern]

In response to Tyger's opening statement, Yes times are hard, the economy is very slow in picking up, and we as vendors have been hit by these effects, but so has the customer, we are all aware of this.

Each month I pay to the forum owners a reasonable fee to advertise on this site, and every month for the past 2 years xmarks has placed in the top 2 refering sources to my website, which means I get a high volume of sales via this forum, I just figured that I give to the owner of the forum and take from it's members each and every month, so it would be good to give something back to the forum members by way of a free prize each month, now if others want to participate perhaps we could set up a monthly competition, a different vendor each month, the prize doesn't have to be of vast value, just kilt related.

I see this as a good thing for the forum, for the forum members and it also makes the vendors presence on the forum a valuable one

Just my opinion

What do you think ?

***

Well thought and said, Chris. Truly a noble and generous act.

j