Freebie Requests

[cycloneuk]

Does anyone else get these? i understand that the majority of these are scams, people who target small businesses. Just got the below one from Lisa, a quick Google search and seems she is very active and often changes the message slightly.

Dear Sir/Madam,
I'm a disabled girl from Northern Ireland. I was born with a medical condition known as spina bifida and have been confined to a wheelchair since birth. As a result of my disability I have various ongoing health issues,which mean that I'm unable to work and I rarely leave the house.

My Dad left when I was just a few months old,leaving my Mum to bring me up alone.

I would like to buy a special Mother's day gift for my Mum to let him know how much I appreciate everything he has done for me.As I am unable to work,sadly I will not be able to do this,so I was wondering if you would be so kind as to please send me a Mother's day selection of free gift completely free of charge.

Can you please let me know if it will be possible for you to send the free Mother's day gift and whether I will be required to pay post and packaging costs.
Then I shall send you my name and address.
Thankyou
Lisa

 

[SillyJokes]

You know, I've this as well, only it was for her brother, but the same MO.

We get dozens of emails from people wanting freebies every week.

Many are genuine and we will help where possible but only last week I had an email from some asking for free stuff so she could decorate her wedding. She had two kids and a partner she's lived with for 12 years but they were getting married even though they clearly couldn't afford to. Why? when it was obviously just lip service to the state of matrimony and more importantly, why would I give £40 of my children's inheritance just so she could?

Edit to add that Any And Dec's Saturday Takeaway wanted £700 worth of free stuff last week. In return we would get a mention on their website. ooooooooh, tempting, I bet you all spend your time on that site, don't you? I was already annoyed with them for buying a very large quantity of flags and then returning the lot with the editor changed his mind.

I don't have a problem with returns at all but when it's very large quantities to businesses I feel they shouldn't use us as sale or return.

 

[ccjo]

Yup - get loads of these. All of a very similar nature.

Your time is precious - just hit delete!

 

[KateCB]

Odd....
"I would like to buy a special Mother's day gift for my Mum to let him know how much I appreciate everything he has done for me"

Her Mum is a he?????

 

[cycloneuk]

Odd....
"I would like to buy a special Mother's day gift for my Mum to let him know how much I appreciate everything he has done for me"

Her Mum is a he?????

That's what i thought lol and that is what made me think it was a scam.

 

[quikshop]

This is a well known scam, as is 'please send free samples so we can make a big order with you'. Never give anything away for free and you'll be fine

 

[Blush]

We have had loads of these, I tend to ignore them now.
I did have someone contact me for some freebies from Sky tv.
They also said we would receive credits on their website, what about the rolling credits on the tv show though?
She hadn't asked for a great deal so asked for some more info and said it shouldn't be a problem, until she replied with a thank you and then said she actually needed much more, I think not!
They try it on don't they

 

[deniser]

We've had this one too but varied so it wasn't mother's day.

It's school fairs that annoy me the most. I don't mind in the case of my daughter's school but hate it when all the local primary schools and nurseries come knocking - there must be at least 30 in this town - asking for a raffle or tombola prize but you never see those people shopping in the shop. If it was a customer or there was some connection I wouldn't mind but they come to collect the prizes and you never see them or anyone else from that school again - except when the next fair comes round.

 

[gibby]

We got exactly the same email & I did post it on this forum somewhere.

We have also got alot of requests from journalist claiming to be from major newspapers & magazines.
Last year we got asked for dairy free & gluten free easter eggs & chocolates to be featured in reviews and promising to mention us in the mags & papers
We did send quite a bit of stuff off and the reviews did appear but we didnt get a mention - although the products we sent did.
When I chased one of the journalists she told me another online site sent a ££££ cash sweetener & thats why they got their name in the articles

There are also lists on certain sites of firms that are willing to give free goods to good causes. Someone actually sent me a link & list as we were on it.
Now when we are asked I pass them onto our suppliers unless its one of the good causes we support

G