Promotional Offers

Most people are familiar with the various types of promotional offer that companies make in order to boost sales - for example, "buy one - get one free" or "buy two and get a third at half-price".

Nowadays, many business models involve giving something away 'for free' in
order to promote the sale of some other commodity. One example of this is reflected in the following slogan: "Free laptop when you take out mobile Internet on an 18-month contract".

I recently saw the following entry in my local newspaper:


My immediate reaction was: are they giving away free phones?

My dilemma was partly resolved when I saw the '0800' number underneath the 'Free Phone ' offer. I guess what the advertiser really means is: you can make a free phone-call in order to find out more. Maybe I should ring the number and check this out - my opening line being "Are you really giving away free phones?".

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