Comments on: Why Is Giving Something Away For Free So Hard These Days? http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/ The thoughts and experiences of Merrill Dubrow Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:52:38 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Robert Lenhardt http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-112 Robert Lenhardt Mon, 18 Sep 2006 21:08:32 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-112 Attribute people's cynicism to the current, oxymoronical (is that a word) expression, "free gift". You know if someone is offering you a "free gift", they want something. It's like that $20 bill you see lying on the sidewalk... it may have a string attached. Attribute people’s cynicism to the current, oxymoronical (is that a word) expression, “free gift”. You know if someone is offering you a “free gift”, they want something. It’s like that $20 bill you see lying on the sidewalk… it may have a string attached.

]]> By: Naomi Walters http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-107 Naomi Walters Mon, 18 Sep 2006 15:17:24 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-107 Merrill, some time ago, I noticed that two young college women had missed getting off their stop on the train home. They were talking with one of the mother's on the phone and were trying to determine where they could get off and still get back to their car. I offered to have my husband and I drive them back to their car - the stipulation was that they had to call their parent from the station and let them know we were taking them back and then calling again when we got to their car to know they were safe. They were reluctant but took us up on the offer. Our only requirement was to "Pay it Forward" - help someone else out one day. Amazing what a little kindness can do on the smiling faces of two young women! Merrill, some time ago, I noticed that two young college women had missed getting off their stop on the train home. They were talking with one of the mother’s on the phone and were trying to determine where they could get off and still get back to their car. I offered to have my husband and I drive them back to their car – the stipulation was that they had to call their parent from the station and let them know we were taking them back and then calling again when we got to their car to know they were safe. They were reluctant but took us up on the offer. Our only requirement was to “Pay it Forward” – help someone else out one day. Amazing what a little kindness can do on the smiling faces of two young women!

]]> By: Sarah Greenberg http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-87 Sarah Greenberg Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:13:30 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-87 On labor day 2005, my family and I went to Canada's Wonderland for a day of fun and rides. While standing at the entrance in the ticket line, two different people approached us and gave us a free ticket. Each of the "donors" were so happy to find a family that would enjoy their unused tickets. My children are young so their entrance was free. We had a great day and we donated the money we would've spent on the tickets to charity. On labor day 2005, my family and I went to Canada’s Wonderland for a day of fun and rides. While standing at the entrance in the ticket line, two different people approached us and gave us a free ticket. Each of the “donors” were so happy to find a family that would enjoy their unused tickets. My children are young so their entrance was free. We had a great day and we donated the money we would’ve spent on the tickets to charity.

]]> By: Ed Sugar http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-79 Ed Sugar Wed, 06 Sep 2006 16:20:29 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-79 Likewise, I often have extra tickets for ball games at the last minute and have given them away for free at the entrance. It is amazing how tough it is to give them a way, free of charge. We live in a society full of "counterfeits" and "fine print", that the word of a total stranger is no longer accepted. This mindset of disrust must of came into vogue style a few days after person's word and the shake of a hand to seal a deal. Likewise, I often have extra tickets for ball games at the last minute and have given them away for free at the entrance. It is amazing how tough it is to give them a way, free of charge. We live in a society full of “counterfeits” and “fine print”, that the word of a total stranger is no longer accepted. This mindset of disrust must of came into vogue style a few days after person’s word and the shake of a hand to seal a deal.

]]> By: Betsy Sutherland http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-76 Betsy Sutherland Wed, 06 Sep 2006 13:09:58 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-76 Unfortunately the offer of something for "free" rarely comes without any strings. People have been conditioned to look for the catch. Is that phone really free or will I need to sign a two-year contract? Will they really test my water for free or are they trying to sell me a water purification system? Is the free weekend at a beach resort really free or are they going to submit me to a high pressure sales presentation to buy a unit? The truly free item is a thing of rarity these days. Unfortunately the offer of something for “free” rarely comes without any strings. People have been conditioned to look for the catch. Is that phone really free or will I need to sign a two-year contract? Will they really test my water for free or are they trying to sell me a water purification system? Is the free weekend at a beach resort really free or are they going to submit me to a high pressure sales presentation to buy a unit? The truly free item is a thing of rarity these days.

]]> By: Colleen Mezler http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-73 Colleen Mezler Tue, 05 Sep 2006 19:41:24 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/05/why-is-giving-something-away-for-free-so-hard-these-days/#comment-73 The same thing happened to me recently in Vegas and I was SHOCKED. I had two tickets to a Clint Homes show that I my husband and I could not attend because we had the dates mixed up and we had a flight to catch. We could not give the darn tickets away. People just looked at us like we were crazy. Finally, a reluctant older couple accepted them. My husband and I wondered if they actually attended the show or if they thought they were too good to be true. The same thing happens to us in market research. "You are going to pay me $75 IN CASH to attend a 2 hour focus group...and all you want is my opinion?" I think we are all under the impression...If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is... That is really sad!! The same thing happened to me recently in Vegas and I was SHOCKED. I had two tickets to a Clint Homes show that I my husband and I could not attend because we had the dates mixed up and we had a flight to catch.

We could not give the darn tickets away. People just looked at us like we were crazy. Finally, a reluctant older couple accepted them. My husband and I wondered if they actually attended the show or if they thought they were too good to be true.

The same thing happens to us in market research. “You are going to pay me $75 IN CASH to attend a 2 hour focus group…and all you want is my opinion?”

I think we are all under the impression…If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is…

That is really sad!!

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