Free Abuse!

Actually more like abuse of the word free. I see the word “free” being used flippantly everyday. Several times a day.

I work at a job where I view retail ads from around the world. Often I see the word free in the ads. Then reading the ad, I see it costs X amount of $$$. How exactly is it “free” if it cost you money?

Driving home from work, I pass a pawn shop that recently put up a large sign saying “Free Customer Pick-up”. Does that mean that prior to this promotion, I would have had to pay them to let me pick up something I just bought? Free delivery makes perfect sense. But free customer pick-up? What the hell?

Sitting in front of the TV I see ads for High-Speed Internet. In the ad the openly promote the “Free Self Installation”. Again, does that mean that prior to this promotion, I would have had to pay them to let me install the high speed myself?

These companies are abusing the word “free” because it sounds good in the ads. They are so nice, they are willing to let you pay for something to get it “free”, and let you pick it up yourself “free” and install it yourself “free”.

Everything is free! Too bad it costs so much.

Don’t worry, I am not offering anything for “free”.