I HATE "Free Tests" that are NOT free!!

[injest]

Has anyone else run into this? Today I spent about ten minutes taking a 'rate your personality' test and then at the end before I could get my results I had to sign up for some trial period for some phone service!!

 

that is misleading and irritating!

[David In Indy]

Has anyone else run into this? Today I spent about ten minutes taking a 'rate your personality' test and then at the end before I could get my results I had to sign up for some trial period for some phone service!!

 

that is misleading and irritating!

Yes, those are most annoying aren't they Jess? Once when I was posting one of those personality quizzes, over on the right in the ad column was a link to a quiz which was titled "Which Religion Is Best For You" or something like that. So, I clicked on it. After answering probably 50 questions, it then asked me for my birthdate, full name, address, telephone number (both day and night numbers), email address and a bunch of other things. It wouldn't score the test until I provided that information. I'm not giving out that information to just any Joe Shmoe out there! I didn't know who these people were. They could have been anyone, you know?

[brokeplex]

don't try to sign up for a  "secret shopper" job either, they will ask you for a credit card number on top of everything else that they want to know about you.

the internet scams are endless, personality tests, political polls, IQ tests, etc.

[injest]

I never sign up for ANY free trial. It is too hard to remember when and how to cancel it!

[brokeplex]

A while back, my husband's company was marketing a web service (Internet backup), and there was some debate about whether to offer a free trial with it being the consumer's responsibility to cancel or he/she would be automatically charged after the trial ended (credit card info collected up front, which drives some people away immediately), or whether to offer a free trial and then collect the credit card info when the free trial ended (giving the consumer greater ability to opt out after the free trial).  Opinions??

option # 2 - you will collect few credit card numbers, but for those that you do, you will have a much more loyal customer base. and that is good all around for everyone!

[David In Indy]

option # 2 - you will collect few credit card numbers, but for those that you do, you will have a much more loyal customer base. and that is good all around for everyone!

I agree. Just like Oilfieldtrash (what happened to your old name btw?!!) said, you will probably collect less CC numbers, and I'm sure some will try to take advantage of using the service for free during the trial period, but those who decide to purchase the service will be very loyal customers, and they will appreciate you allowing them to try the service first without any commitment.

[brokeplex]

I agree. Just like Oilfieldtrash (what happened to your old name btw?!!) said, you will probably collect less CC numbers, and I'm sure some will try to take advantage of using the service for free during the trial period, but those who decide to purchase the service will be very loyal customers, and they will appreciate you allowing them to try the service first without any commitment.

good point, this is a better more customer oriented manner of doing business. cultivate your customers and keep them for a lifetime.

I tossed the old brokeplex name when several others on the site tossed their names. I was tired of it. I have since thought about combining the two names :

brokeplex + oilfieldtrash = broketrash    do you like it?  I may change again.