Webupon

The other day I was perusing my email and I came across one that offered free mailings of a particular comic strip that I enjoy. I thought how nice it would be to have that comic strip sent right to my mail box weekly or daily. So, I clicked the button to say that I wanted it and went about my business. That afternoon I got back on line and found a confirmation email stating that I had to go to their site to confirm my subscription. I did this and the horror began…

First I get the customary thank you letter thanking me for showing interest in this mailing group and would I please peruse a few of these great offers while they process my request. So, like the naive dummy that I can often be, I shrugged and began perusing said offers. Twenty minutes later, and one hundred offers later, I thought, surely the end will come soon.

I continued to click no on the offers for online degrees, free – with an asterisk next to it of course denoting the free because you have to purchase this or that to get the free item – game systems, online coupons, free – again with the asterisk – stuff for a baby, music clubs, free – again with the asterisk – music downloads, a $50 gift certificate to my favorite fast food restaurant if only I fill out this short survey – I must have missed the asterisk on this one – I’d hit pay dirt. Free fast food! Who could refuse this offer?

So, I began with the survey and lo and behold, yet more sponsors and free – again that freaking asterisk – offers galore. About halfway through I figured out that I was being duped and that I would rather pay for my fast food than get that dratted $50 gift card. Dispirited, I clicked the X and cleared out of that to get back to the original survey.

And so it began again. This time I clicked no on each offer and when I clicked submit was informed that I had to select yes on a few offers before I could continue. So much for that free (is there a pattern here with the asterisk?) comic strip eh?