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It's Free! Except For All Of These Other Costs...

by kemdev
4 replies
Hey Warriors,

I've recently noticed an ever-growing trend in the Internet marketing
realm that has left me scratching my head.

We all know the power of the notorious free + shipping positioning. By
simply offering a free product and tacking on a reasonable shipping
charge, you can watch your conversions skyrocket - and position
yourself to make HUGE gains on the backend.

Recently, however, I've stumbled upon a number of sites that use this
same technique, yet offer a DIGITAL product. And what's more, some
of these product owners bump their 'shipping charges' up anywhere
from $47-$97!

What do you guys think about this?
#costs #free
  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by Jesse Kemmerer View Post

    What do you guys think about this?
    Caveat emptor.

    Look, I've known since the 1970s - when I was still in the single-digit age bracket - that you always check the shipping and handling (or packing and post) charge. So I'm very much of the opinion that if you are old enough to have a payment method that can be used to purchase crap on the internet, you are old enough to check the full cost of whatever you buy.

    The people doing this are not really fooling many people, but the people they ARE fooling are going to bitch. And because the people they're fooling are retarded, it's going to make them look like con men, and their reputations will be destroyed.

    I mean, look at Don Lapre. Don never ripped anyone off. The worst he ever did was sell a crappy product. But he's still got this reputation for being a scammer and a con artist, and a lot of people think he's in jail. Meanwhile, Don Lapre was the closest thing I ever had to a mentor in this business (along with Matthew Lesko, who's got his own public image problems)... but because all the people complaining were stupid, it looks like he just took advantage of stupid people.
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  • Profile picture of the author kemdev
    Of course it's the buyer's responsibility to realize shipping charges and
    all that other jazz.

    But come on. There's a shipping charge for a digital product? That's
    what seems a little ridiculous to me.

    People will still buy the products and people will still complain about
    their own ignorance. But how far can we stretch the word "free"
    until it becomes completely meaningless?
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Jesse Kemmerer View Post

      But come on. There's a shipping charge for a digital product? That's what seems a little ridiculous to me.
      Like I said, "...it's going to make them look like con men, and their reputations will be destroyed."
      Signature
      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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    • Profile picture of the author rapidscc
      Originally Posted by Jesse Kemmerer View Post

      Of course it's the buyer's responsibility to realize shipping charges and
      all that other jazz.

      But come on. There's a shipping charge for a digital product? That's
      what seems a little ridiculous to me.

      People will still buy the products and people will still complain about
      their own ignorance. But how far can we stretch the word "free"
      until it becomes completely meaningless?
      It sounds stupid, especially if the product can
      be immediately downloaded after purchase, but
      hey if somebody is bitting the bullet..then maybe
      its good for the bottom line of those who are
      offering it.

      We can all say that it is stupid. But I'm more interested
      in knowing if it's making them better conversions.

      And one more thing, do they still send DVD's or CD's of
      the package even after the immediate download?

      All the best,

      Omar
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