Comments on: Do You Fall for Free Trial Offers – Sales Tactics #7 http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/ Money Tips for a Better Life Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:43:20 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bruce Judson http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/comment-page-1/#comment-20653 Bruce Judson Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:04:06 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/#comment-20653 There are really two kinds of free trial offers: The first kind is the type you discuss. Here, the user provides a credit card and is billed unless he or she cancels. As you note, this type of trial creates assorted risks related, to your time and money, by requiring you to cancel if you don't want to continue the service. The second type of free trial creates no risk for the consumer. In many cases, providers offer free trials where the user does not need to provide his or her credit card. AT the end of the free trial, the user's account is disabled unless he or she makes a positive action to continue the service. If the user does nothing, there's no billing risk and the trial simply ends. We recently launched Search Free Apps (www.SearchFreeApps.com) which allows users to search over 600 hand-picked, valuable applications that are available free on the Internet. We decided to include the second type of free offer (where no credit card is required) n our database of free applications--because we believe this type of free trial is really positive for the consumer. The consumer does get to try something new, that is valuable, and may enhance his or her life or business, without the risk of spending anything. Bruce Judson www.SearchFreeApps.com There are really two kinds of free trial offers: The first kind is the type you discuss. Here, the user provides a credit card and is billed unless he or she cancels. As you note, this type of trial creates assorted risks related, to your time and money, by requiring you to cancel if you don’t want to continue the service.

The second type of free trial creates no risk for the consumer. In many cases, providers offer free trials where the user does not need to provide his or her credit card. AT the end of the free trial, the user’s account is disabled unless he or she makes a positive action to continue the service. If the user does nothing, there’s no billing risk and the trial simply ends.

We recently launched Search Free Apps (www.SearchFreeApps.com) which allows users to search over 600 hand-picked, valuable applications that are available free on the Internet. We decided to include the second type of free offer (where no credit card is required) n our database of free applications–because we believe this type of free trial is really positive for the consumer. The consumer does get to try something new, that is valuable, and may enhance his or her life or business, without the risk of spending anything.

Bruce Judson
http://www.SearchFreeApps.com

]]> By: Ben http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/comment-page-1/#comment-20651 Ben Thu, 11 Oct 2007 02:57:49 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/#comment-20651 I think you're right Jeremy, companies would rather you became a devoted customer after the free trial. That's what I was trying to say when I wrote: "Their ideal scenario is that you will fall in love with their product or service and decide you must have it." I'm not trying to say that the sellers are devious, just attempting to shine some light on the tactics they use to get you to spend your money. I think you’re right Jeremy, companies would rather you became a devoted customer after the free trial. That’s what I was trying to say when I wrote:

“Their ideal scenario is that you will fall in love with their product or service and decide you must have it.”

I’m not trying to say that the sellers are devious, just attempting to shine some light on the tactics they use to get you to spend your money.

]]> By: Jeremy Stein http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/comment-page-1/#comment-20621 Jeremy Stein Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:41:14 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/#comment-20621 Sellers aren't hoping you'll accidentally pay for a month of service. It's just not worth their time. They think you'll see how great their service is once you try it. I don't think sellers are being as devious as you portray them. The half hour you spent on the phone arguing over your bill cost the company too. I'm sure they'd prefer you never tried their service if you weren't going to keep it. Sellers aren’t hoping you’ll accidentally pay for a month of service. It’s just not worth their time.
They think you’ll see how great their service is once you try it. I don’t think sellers are being as devious as you portray them. The half hour you spent on the phone arguing over your bill cost the company too. I’m sure they’d prefer you never tried their service if you weren’t going to keep it.

]]> By: ThirtyAndBroke http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/comment-page-1/#comment-20617 ThirtyAndBroke Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:12:32 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/#comment-20617 Here is another tactic that is becoming a little more common online. When signing up for a free trial online, you may also be enrolling in membership for another service which isn't made obvious to you. This has happened to me recently and was traced back to a free online trial I had signed up for. Granted it was only $1 per month, but I now read all terms thoroughly before signing up. Here is another tactic that is becoming a little more common online. When signing up for a free trial online, you may also be enrolling in membership for another service which isn’t made obvious to you. This has happened to me recently and was traced back to a free online trial I had signed up for. Granted it was only $1 per month, but I now read all terms thoroughly before signing up.

]]> By: FinanceAndFat http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/comment-page-1/#comment-20597 FinanceAndFat Wed, 10 Oct 2007 03:05:55 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/#comment-20597 I couldn't agree more. This is something I've become very aware of lately. Just today I was really tempted to sign up for the free trial at Audible.com, but the more I thought about it, I just knew I wouldn't cancel and I would have another drain on my budget and less money to pay off debts. Better to never open the door! I couldn’t agree more. This is something I’ve become very aware of lately. Just today I was really tempted to sign up for the free trial at Audible.com, but the more I thought about it, I just knew I wouldn’t cancel and I would have another drain on my budget and less money to pay off debts. Better to never open the door!

]]> By: Raymond http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/comment-page-1/#comment-20586 Raymond Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:54:22 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/#comment-20586 I don't fall for trial offers. Sometimes I purposefully seek them out. -- Particularly when it comes to getting credit reports after tapping out my free annual report. Usually you can subscribe for a free trial offer, get a free credit report and score, then later cancel the trial. I don’t fall for trial offers. Sometimes I purposefully seek them out.

– Particularly when it comes to getting credit reports after tapping out my free annual report.

Usually you can subscribe for a free trial offer, get a free credit report and score, then later cancel the trial.

]]> By: Mark from Smart Investing & Money Management http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/comment-page-1/#comment-20585 Mark from Smart Investing & Money Management Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:50:36 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/#comment-20585 It's the same when I go shopping at the mall. I know what I need and I know when it is on sale. When I deviate from that objective is usually when I get pulled into the "free" or "trail offer" or "80% off" sales tactic. Generally I end up buying something I don't need and the effort to return or cancel is more painful than what was the free offer. -Mark It’s the same when I go shopping at the mall. I know what I need and I know when it is on sale.

When I deviate from that objective is usually when I get pulled into the “free” or “trail offer” or “80% off” sales tactic. Generally I end up buying something I don’t need and the effort to return or cancel is more painful than what was the free offer.

-Mark

]]> By: Patrick http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/comment-page-1/#comment-20577 Patrick Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:56:25 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/do-you-fall-for-free-trial-offers-sales-tactics-7/#comment-20577 Some free services may come with additional charges as well - even if you cancel. For example, say you get a free 30 day trial offer for a cable TV or satellite service. Often, if you keep the service you will never be charged for installation. Sometimes you may be, and then you have to go through the telephone calls. The problem is when you cancel your "free trial." Sometimes the fine print states the installation is free, as long as you keep the service x-amount of time. Always read the fine print and ask questions. If you get a verbal answer, consider asking for it in writing. Great post. Some free services may come with additional charges as well – even if you cancel.

For example, say you get a free 30 day trial offer for a cable TV or satellite service. Often, if you keep the service you will never be charged for installation. Sometimes you may be, and then you have to go through the telephone calls.

The problem is when you cancel your “free trial.” Sometimes the fine print states the installation is free, as long as you keep the service x-amount of time.

Always read the fine print and ask questions. If you get a verbal answer, consider asking for it in writing. Great post.

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