On Why I Don’t Post All Freebies

Recently I've gotten an increase in the number of emails that more or less say “Hey, why didn't you post X?” and thus I thought I'd take a moment to address this.

The freebie isn't free. There's shipping. Or a minimum purchase. Or an “identification check” via your credit card. Or any number of other strings that are attached to freebies which make them not worth our while. This doesn't mean I won't post something that isn't 100% free, but it is the first bar that an offer generally has to cross in order for me to even consider it on the site.

The freebie stinks. Seriously, who wants a DVD for vacationing in Montana just because it's free? Anybody even remotely interested in that would have already Googled for it instead of waiting for a freebie site to post it.

I can't confirm the freebie isn't spam. This tends to be the case when a bunch of other freebie sites post a freebie while I hold off on it. Sometimes the freebie ends up being legit and people send in “see, I told you so!” messages. But these situations are the exception to the norm and I'm willing to sacrifice posting them in order to make sure the spam is kept out too.

The freebie is only available locally. It's great that your locally owned and operated batting cages or auditorium is giving away free tickets, but I can't post the offers if it'll only benefit 0.001% of Hiffers out there. If I posted each local offer I discovered, I'd never sleep. These are better suited for the forums, not the main page of the site. The added benefit of posting them there is that anybody can add a freebie, meaning far more local offers are bound to show up.

There are only a few samples available. I won't even consider posting any freebie with a supply that's under 1,000. Anything under 10,000 depends on outside factors, like when it first became available and how many other freebie sites I've seen it on. Companies are notorious for leaving up their submission forms well after they've run out of supplies. It's not uncommon for me to find an offer that has, say, 25,000 samples, only for me to later dig up a press release that shows the offer was released in 2007. There's no way that freebie is showing up and so why waste our collective time in posting it?

There are other uncommon reasons why I won't post something, but you get the gist.

About the Author:

I'm a nationally renowned freebie finder & sample vetter, which I never imagined I'd be doing while getting my Bachelor's Degree in History almost 20 years ago. In my spare time, I enjoy launching my own space program and disproving the Coriolis effect.

57 comments on “On Why I Don’t Post All Freebies”

  1. Thanks, Goob! that’s really what separates HIF from other sites. A lot of the other sites have it where you have to jump through hoops to get them, LOOKING AT YOU FREE 24 PACK OF ENERGY DRINK, AND GUM OFFERS! All of us HIFFERS thank you for your hard work and time spent to provide us with good freebies, as evidenced by the hundreds of comments saying almost the exact same thing. Also, I put up some of the HIF bumper stickers around to advertise.

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  2. Thank-you for doing all the hard work! It has already been said many times over, but your higher standards are the very reason why this is the only freebie website I visit. I know I can trust what’s on HIF, and that’s a great feeling. Plus, you make it fun at the same time!

    Hooray for HeyItFree!!!

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  3. And I thank you for that! Love your site! Thanks for all the hard work, and then sprinkling your posts wih humor! LOVE IT!!

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  4. Thank you for doing what you do the way you do it. Other freebie sites post those offers that require you to fulfill their requirements and junk and that is SOOOO annoying. It sounds all cool, then you click on it and read the fine print and it’s totally lame. So THANK YOU, THANK YOU for being awesome! Keep it up!

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  5. I love getting the mail now! i get at least one free sample each week! i have to admit i dont tell anyone about this site, its my guilty pleasure. does that sound greedy? LOL i dont care!

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  6. Superb job of filtering the good from the bad. If businesses/companies want the consumer to purchase their products, there’s nothing like getting a free sample with absolutely no strings attached.

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  7. Yeah, I agree. I appreciate you filtering out the freebies that are good and no good. That’s what makes HIF different than most other freebie sites.

    I know that pretty much every one you post on the front page is gonna come and without a big hassle.

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  8. I love your site and I think it’s one of the best ones out there, you are doing a really terrific job, the complainers can either can either use another site or go find the freebies themselves.

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  9. Thank you for filtering out the freebies that really arent freebies.I have still had a few unworthy ones on this site but Im sure that was beyond anything that you could have prevented.The john deere hat I didnt recieve and the sag knife.Other than that I have been happy with this site.

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  10. I think it’s great that you filter out junk. I can’t stand it when participation is required to get something. So thank you for all your hard work.

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  11. Thank you Goob and Adam (and anybody else who helps out!) This is the ONLY site I use.; I don’t trust any others. You do a GREAT job!!

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  12. Thanks to Goob, Adam, and all others who do the work on this site. This is the ONLY freebie site that I go to and for the very reasons that Goob stated! I learned about HIF on the Today show a month or so ago and I’ve been here several times a day ever since! (I was actually in the hospital at the time and couldn’t wait to get released so I could get home and check this out!)

    I LOVE this site and appreciate all of the work that goes into it!

    Thank you so much and Happy Father’s Day to all of the Daddy’s out there!!!

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  13. Love HIF. Thanks Goob! You give me a reason to get excited about the mail delivery. Even my neighbor has started asking what I got in the mail. Thanks for all the work and giving us a trusted freebie sight. Didn’t know it existed until I was off on surgery leave and heard it mentioned on the Today Show. I’ve become a faithful HIFFER!

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  14. I discovered this website about a year ago and it’s at the top of my ‘check daily’ favorites list. I get excited going to get my mail and it’s filled with free samples and magazines. Thanks a bunch for all you do for us. Keep up the good work.

    Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!!

    Peace, Miracles & Blessings to all!

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  15. THANKS!!! I didn’t even know there was such a thing as freebie sites until I saw yours in a magazine. It is so much fun! Even my husband looks in the mail to see if any samples have come.

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  16. I have been talking your site up with everyone and anyone that I meet – I love the fact that I can trust the freebies on this site. I, too, have tried many other “free” sites and been burned as well. Hey It’s Free is absolutely the best site on the web – no holds barred! Keep up the great work – don’t change a thing! Thank you for all that you do.

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  17. I agree. Other freebie sites, you usually have to complete an offer in order to possibly even receive a sample or a freebie! Similar to those “you’ve won a $500 Walmart gift card…complete an offer first!” B.S. if you happen to ask me. That’s why I only use heyitsfree, because it is totally free, no gimmicks, no offers to complete, just plain free anything! Thanks HIF!

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  18. You rock, but for the record, Montana rocks too! I’m going there for vacation! Don’t knock it till you try it. But you still rock and I do appreciate your policy. 🙂

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  19. I for one really enjoy and think this website rocks. I have also told several of my co-workers and friends about it and they also love it . So keep up the awesome job!!!!!

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  20. All of Goob’s reasons are exactly the reason why I’m glad I’m also a writer on this site. Those are the same things I look for whenever I post to the front page here too, and I’m glad that I’ve got a “boss” who has such great standards, and I’m glad to uphold those standards too. 🙂

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  21. I just recently discovered your site and I love it. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. I can’t imagine the hours you must spend doing all of this. YOU ROCK. Keep up the good work.

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  22. i whole heartedly agree. i love this site. i think my friends are starting to believe me about the freebies. they now see the free samples i get in the mail! thanks for doing all the hard work for us.

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  23. This is my favorite freebie site for all the reasons you give for “Why I Don’t Post All Freebies”. Someone suggested we tell Oprah; please don’t. Our freebies are “hiffed” fast enough as it is. But, I do tell all my friends!

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  24. Thanks Goob and everyone that helps you. i love your site and it is the only one I use. Again thanks for all you do, your the best!!

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  25. This is the only freebie site I use for the reasons you listed. However, being born and raised and still living in Montana, I don’t know why EVERYONE wouldn’t want a free travel Montana DVD :))

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  26. I have used other freebie sites, & have noticed that some of the freebie sites wants you to confirm your email address before they send the sample, but they never send a email confirmation. All they want is your information; I’m glad that HIF has a filter for the freebies.

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  27. I concur to all of the above…Thank you Goob and Adam and the rest of your diligent team for bringing us filtered, truly FREE freebies..I can’t tell you the last time I bought shampoo!! 🙂

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  28. goob i hate freebies when they ask you to pay shipping, your site is the best dont worry about those emails your doing a fine job keep up the good work,

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  29. I love this site, it’s awesome! I get the majority of my samples from HIF and I think you do a great job Goob. Thanks!!

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  30. All my friends think I am crazy but I will tell anyone who will listen about this site and your reasoning behind not posting certain freebies is exactly why. Someone should tell Oprah about this site, or have they already? Keep up the good work. You’ve made going to get the mail a fun experience!

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  31. AMEN!! i agree with you and i thank you for what you do. so whoever is complaining they can either get over it or go somewhere else if they arent happy. plus if they ask why didnt you post, that just means that they already found the freebie and signed up for it anyway most likely and reaped the benefit so if they are ahead, they should just shut thier mouth.. i think ive had too many beers today..well, do you atleast feel better that you vented and peeps are on your side?

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  32. Your site is the best freebie site out there! Thanks to your site, the mail is now fun- not just bills and credit card offers 😉 Thanks for all you do!

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  33. All of the reasons you posted are the reasons that this is my freebie site. I recommend you to everyone that will listen. Thanks for doing all of the grunt work!

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  34. I appreciate that you filter the freebies for us. I have wandered over and looked at a few other “freebie” sites and have had horrible experiences. I hate when you start to sign up for some freebies and then you are told you have to select some of their advertisers’ offers and will receive the freebie, only if accepted.

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