This how-to-do-it book does not contain a list of companies or organizations to request free stuff. The main audience is a blogger that want to develop a methodic way to barter a review for company products. It is also provides helpful steps for any person trying to sell a product. An inherent problem not discussed by author Mike Essex is how to find a balance between what is offered and what is gained by both parties. ( )

I received this book through librarything.com.

In this book, Mr. Essex outlines an ambitious program for asking companies to send you samples of their goods in return for your work reviewing and, if the item is of good quality, advertising and promoting it. Not exactly free stuff. I think Mr. Essex's techniques would require far more effort than I am likely to put in to getting stuff. I am not acquisitive enough and, as other reviewers mention, Mr. Essex's program makes me feel a bit uneasy. ( )

I received Free Stuff Everyday from Library Thing Member's giveaway. I expected it to cover how to get freebies, where the best places to find freebie giveaways, etc. What I didn't not expect was a tutorial on soliciting. It's obvious the author has knowledge and experience on requesting freebies. Personally, I don't like soliciting and have a nice little sign on my house indicating 'No Soliciting.' So this book is not for me.

This does not mean the book is poorly written or useless. It has lots of information and ideas how to get freebies. Might be of interest for someone looking to start a blog with the intent on getting freebies. Maybe someone retired or someone that has extra times on their hands. However, expect lots of rejections from initial cold calling to request freebies, even though the author downplays the disappointments he must have experienced, while highlighting his successes. The key is perseverance and understanding that while you can get a freebie there is no such thing as free lunch (meaning the business giving away products expect something back, like reviews). ( )

I received an ebook on LibraryThing for an honest review.
The book has done a good job of explaining the what and the how pertaining to the author's success at obtaining "free" things. Thorough and good explanations. Great title and cover design!
While there are some good ideas in this book about how to obtain "free" stuff, I ended the book with the same philosophical bias that I began the book with, and that is that there is no such thing as free, per se; I contend that usually free just means pay a different way, pay later, or pay it forward. Most transactions between any two parties involves an exchange of some sort: time, money, ideas, emotions, work, etc.

Getting something free does involve the same skills as those used in any kind of work. Planning, connecting, marketing, record-keeping, tracking, perseverance, collecting, maintaining, following-up, etc. If the things you are collecting are sustaining a chosen lifestyle, then you have just created your own job, because in the end, all work takes one precious, precious thing: time. Time is our greatest resource. I will now step off my soapbox. Thank you. ( )

Stuff, As in Stuff meaning things for "free", yes and no.
Mike Essex state's that there is such a thing as a free lunch - but that you are implicitly entering into an unwritten contract by accepting, well our mother's taught us this long ago.
Once you understand that you are as Mike puts it entering a world of bartering then things are made clearer, well up to a point.
The book mentions spreadsheets but why not show what is meant by having more detailed case studies. There was only one diagram in the book showing the cyclic nature of the process While the book covers most of the bases it does need to take the reader by the hand.
It is clear that the author has been there and done it and this knowledge could have been put to much better use.
There is scope for widening this book for the different target audiences, the individual, the small business owner, the entrepreneurial small company CEO, the charity, community group ,youth groups, clubs etc
Also including greater emphasis on applying the process not only to "stuff" in the Physical sense but also goods, services, just about anything you can think of really.

. ( )