"You can't get something for nothing," the adage tells us. Nonetheless, people keep expecting that companies are going to serve up free lunches via the Internet. If they didn't give away free merchandise, cash, and stocks in the real world, they're not about to start doing it in a virtual one.
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Bill Gates Hoax: Bill Gates is offering a $1,000 reward to everyone who forwards his e-mail message.
What started out as a hoax aimed at Bill Gates has morphed into an ongoing Internet joke involving one company after another. Other 'giveaways' include:
Abercrombie and Fitch ($25 gift certificates)
AOL/Intel (cash)
AOL/Netscape (cash)
AOL/Time-Warner and EMI (cash)
Applebees ($50 gift certificates)
Bath and Body Works ($50 gift certificates)
Coca-Cola (Coke)
Columbia House (music CDs)
Cracker Barrel ($50 gift certificates)
Delta (air travel)
Disney (cash or WDW vacations)
Ericsson (wireless phones)
The Gap (clothes or $35 gift certificates)
Honda (cars)
IBM (computers)
J. Crew ($50 gift certificates)
Mars (M&Ms)
Nike (shoes or cash)
Old Navy ($25 gift certificates)
Outback Steakhouse ($25 gift certificates)
Newell Company (cash)
Nokia (wireless phones)
RD Power Inc. (cash)
Sony (PlayStation consoles)
Veuve-Clicquot (case of champagne)
Victoria's Secret ($50 gift certificates)
ALDI: ALDI is giving away free gift vouchers to those who complete a survey.
AOL:
Avoid AOL price increase by asking to be locked into old rate for a year.
Apple:
In memory of Steve Jobs: free iPads, iPhones or MacBooks.
Promotional event partnering Apple with Gmail, Craigslist or Facebook awards free iPhones and iPads to those who fill out a survey.
Applebee's: Applebee's restaurants are giving away $50 gift certificates to customers who forward an e-mail message.
Baskin-Robbins: Baskin-Robbins outlets will be offering free ice cream to pregnant women on 21 May 2008.
Ben & Jerry's:
Ben & Jerry's outlets will be offering free ice cream on 25 April 2006.
Bertolli Olive Oil:
Internet-circulated coupon for free bottle of Bertolli Olive Oil.
Blockbuster:
On-line coupon can be redeemed for free movie rental, popcorn, and sodas at Blockbuster outlets.
Boston Market: Boston Market is offering coupons good for a $1 chicken meal.
British Airways: British Airways is offering free round-trip travel to London to those who forward an e-mail message to 10 other people.
Burger King: Burger King vouchers for inviting friends on Facebook.
CD Refund:
CD purchasers can apply on a web site to claim their share of the settlement of a price-fixing lawsuit.
Cell Phone Credit for Text Message Forward:
Forwarding a text message to ten other people will get you a $60.00 or $160.00 credit on your cell phone bill.
Cheesecake Factory:
Free $100 Cheesecake Factory gift cards for all Facebook users.
On 30 July 2008, The Cheesecake Factory restaurants will be selling cheesecake for $1.50 per slice.
Chick-Fil-A:
Consumers can receive a coupon for a free chicken sandwich and Coke at Chick-fil-A by registering at freechickenandcoke.com.
conEdison:
Con Edison is reimbursing its customers up to $350 in compensation for food spoiled during the August 2003 blackout.
Cosmetics: Cosmetics manufacturers will be giving away free product in settlement of a class-action lawsuit.
Costco:
Free $500 or $1,000 Costco gift cards for all Facebook users.
Daniels, Nolan:
Nolan Daniels is giving away $1 million to the millionth person to post a particular photo to Facebook of him holding up his winning Powerball ticket?
Delta Air Lines:
Get free air travel on Delta Air Lines for forwarding an e-mail message.
Disneyland:
Free tickets to Disneyland for inviting friends on Facebook.
Doritos:
Internet-circulated coupons can be redeemed for free bags of Doritos brand tortilla chips.
Dr Pepper: Dr Pepper is giving away coupons for free soda in conjunction with the release of Guns N' Roses'Chinese Democracy album.
Dunkin' Donuts:
Dunkin' Donuts outlets are giving away free iced coffees on 21 March 2007.
e.l.f. Cosmetics:
The e.l.f. brand of cosmetics has been bought up by a major department store chain and is offering its remaining inventory at $1 per item in anticipation of rebranding.
Ericsson:
Internet users can receive a free laptop computers from Ericsson for forwarding an e-mail message to eight friends.
FreeFlixTix:
The web site FreeFlixTix distributes free movie tickets.
Free 411:
The phone number 1-800-FREE-411 offers free directory assistance service.
Free Gas Coupon:
Web site offers coupon good for free gasoline.
Guinness Book of World Records:
Get your name in the Guinness Book of World Records by forwarding an e-mail.
IHOP:
IHOP restaurants are offering free pancakes on National Pancake Day.
IN-N-OUT:
The IN-N-OUT hamburger chain will be offering price rollbacks as part of a 60th anniversary promotion.
IWon: IWon.com is giving away scads of cash to those who forward an e-mail.
Jamba Juice:
Online coupon can be redeemed for a free smoothie at Jamba Juice outlets.
JetBlue:
Two free JetBlue air tickets for Facebook users.
KFC:
KFC is giving away free Popcorn Chicken on 20 June 2002.
Krispy Kreme:
Krispy Kreme outlets will be giving away free doughnuts on 3 June 2005.
Long John Silver's:
Long John Silver's restaurants will be giving away free Giant Shrimp on 10 May 2004.
Marks & Spencer: Marks & Spencer are giving away free merchandise vouchers in partnership with Persimmon Homes.
McDonald's:
McDonald's is distributing an Internet-circulated coupon redeemable for a free Premium Salad at McDonald's restaurants.
Microsoft/AOL:
Internet users can receive a cash reward for forwarding messages to test a Microsoft/AOL e-mail tracking system.
Miller Beer:
The Miller Brewing Company is giving away 2 million cases of free beer to celebrate the year 2000.
Mr. Smiley:
Sign up with Mr. Smiley and receive a free T-shirt.
Moonlite Bunny Ranch:
Brothel in Nevada offers free sex to U.S. troops returning from Iraq.
Netflix: Netflix is notifying customers of a class action lawsuit settlement via e-mail.
Olive Garden: Olive Garden restaurants are offering free $500 gift cards for fans who sign up through their Facebook site.
Panda Express: Panda Express will be celebrating its 15th anniversary by offering discounted and free food on 19 November 2008.
PayPal: PayPal customers can claim a share of a class action lawsuit settlement.
Prize Bounty:
Prize Bounty is giving away free Xbox systems.
Red Robin:
An Internet-distributed coupon can be redeemed at Red Robin restaurants for a free hamburger and sundae.
Sony Playstation:
Internet users can receive free Sony PlayStation consoles for forwarding an e-mail message to their friends.
Southwest Airlines:
Southwest Airlines provides free air travel to those who have AIDS or herpes.
Two free tickets for travel on Southwest Airlines.
Starbucks:
An Internet-distributed coupon can be redeemed at any participating Starbucks outlet for a free Crème Frappuccino drink. Starbucks issued 'My Favorite Way to Cool Down This Summer' coupons via e-mail.
Free Starbucks $50 or $100 gift cards.
An Internet-circulated coupon is good for a free pastry at Starbucks outlets on 23 March 2010.
Subway:
The Subway chain of sandwich shops is offering free gift cards to those who participate in a market research program.
Swiffer:
Consumers can get a coupon for a free Swiffer Wet Jet mop by calling a phone number.
Target:
Target stores with optical departments are offering free eyeglasses to children 12 and under.
Target is distributing free $500 vouchers to users who click an online link.
Texas Free Tow:
Texas driver's licenses include a toll-free number stranded motorists can call to receive free towing service.
Tim Hortons:
To celebrate its birthday, Tim Hortons chain of donut shops is giving away free gift cards.
Tipsy Tow:
The AAA offers a free nationwide towing service during the holidays for motorists who have had too much to drink.
TOGO's:
The TOGO's restaurant chain is giving away free sandwiches on Wednesday, June 20, 2001.
Toms Shoes: Toms Shoes is giving away free merchandise to Facebook users.
United States Postal Service:
The USPS provides free Priority Mail shipping supplies for customers sending packages to U.S. military personnel overseas.
Velveeta and Reynolds Wrap:
Two Internet-circulated coupons for free Velveeta and Reynolds Wrap.
Veterans Day:
Restaurant chains are offering free meals to U.S. military personnel in conjunction with Veterans Day.
Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club: Credit card users are eligible $25 refunds from the settlement of a class action suit.
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