Do people really think this way? re: 'free' samples

[disneysteve]

A patient showed me a bottle of pills today and asked if it was okay for him to take them. It was some OTC supplement nonsense but was basically some vitamins and minerals, nothing too wacky. I told him it was fine for him to take them but then asked what they were supposed to be for. He told me and I explained that the pills wouldn't do him any good. All it would do is cost him money. I asked how much that bottle was and he said, "It was free." Really? They didn't charge you anything to mail you a whole bottle of pills? "No. It was a free sample." Really? Did you pay postage? "Oh yes, it was $6.00." When I pointed out that the bottle wasn't free - it was actually $6.00 - he said, "Yeh, I guess you're right."

It is sad how easily people are duped by crap like this. Sorry folks, but it you need to pay money for something, it isn't free.

[ua_guy]

I think the sad part is people looking to unknown bottles of pills in hopes they will somehow make life or health better, money issues aside.

There was a great Simpsons re-run on the other day. Homer was being sold some piece of workout equipment via a typical health/exercise gimmick sales pitch of how it will make you smarter/richer on top of better looking.

Homer: "But I can't afford $300/month!"
Sales guy: "How about if I said we can give it to you for just $10/day? Can you afford that?"
Homer: "Of COURSE I can afford just $10/day!!"

People really are that blind.

[bjl584]

I see those commercials all the time. Free sample of this or that. You just pay a small handling fee.

[disneysteve]

I think the sad part is people looking to unknown bottles of pills in hopes they will somehow make life or health better, money issues aside.

Absolutely. It is amazing how many people spend literally billions every year on "natural" supplements so that they don't have to take "drugs" for their health conditions. I don't know about anybody else but I put a whole lot more faith and trust in highly regulated pharmaceuticals that have been extensively studied and work with strict quality control than I do in "natural" supplements sold on late night TV or in "health" magazines or catalogs.

Slap the word "natural" on something and people immediately assume that means "safe and effective." I'm fond of pointing out to patients who say this that it would be "natural" for me to walk outside and start eating the bark off the tree in front of my office but that doesn't mean it's a good idea. I also mention that tobacco and marijuana are both natural products too.

[Bob B.]

The American economy has depended on people thinking that way since probably at least the 1880s.

[disneysteve]

The American economy has depended on people thinking that way since probably at least the 1880s.

It's just sad that people are so blind to something so simple. "Pay us $6 and we'll give you a free bottle of pills" just shouldn't work, but it does day after day after day. And the customers walk away saying, "I just got a free bottle of pills."

[ktmarvels]

Slap the word "natural" on something and people immediately assume that means "safe and effective." I'm fond of pointing out to patients who say this that it would be "natural" for me to walk outside and start eating the bark off the tree in front of my office but that doesn't mean it's a good idea. I also mention that tobacco and marijuana are both natural products too.

Personally, arsenic is my favorite example to use in this situation.

[disneysteve]

Personally, arsenic is my favorite example to use in this situation.

I don't think most of my patients would know what arsenic is.

[Singuy]

Well I'm pretty sure your pt has plenty of money awaiting for him to collect since he's a relative of a Nigerian Prince.

[Eagle]

It is sad how easily people are duped by crap like this. Sorry folks, but it you need to pay money for something, it isn't free.

The topic of cable & satellite came up at work again today. My co-workers (all who have 10's of thousands in debt) were saying how they had different service providers and why I should get it... Everyone has it these days... And one said that they only paid $100 a month for HDTV service. But they got all kinds of channels free...

This was right after I talked to them about the cost of cable or satellite.

They think I'm really weird. My co-worker actually said that I don't view money the same way as most people. I just smiled.

[marvholly]

Personally I DO send for a lot of free samples. I save them all year as stocking stuffers for my adult kids & grands. However, I do mean FREE. If there is a s/h cost I do NOT send for it. If there is a monthly subscription following the ‘free’ offer I do NOT participate.

I am currently recieving 5 magazines. ALL were free. There are a couple more I like, have had & are on my look for this one list. They will eventually be offered. I can & will wait.

[creditcardfree]

I think the sad part is people looking to unknown bottles of pills in hopes they will somehow make life or health better, money issues aside.

There was a great Simpsons re-run on the other day. Homer was being sold some piece of workout equipment via a typical health/exercise gimmick sales pitch of how it will make you smarter/richer on top of better looking.

Homer: "But I can't afford $300/month!"
Sales guy: "How about if I said we can give it to you for just $10/day? Can you afford that?"
Homer: "Of COURSE I can afford just $10/day!!"

People really are that blind.

Just shared this on my facebook page...because some people I know are that blind! We will see if I get a response.

[iliketosavemoney]

I'm fond of pointing out to patients who say this that it would be "natural" for me to walk outside and start eating the bark off the tree in front of my office but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

This made me lol!