The New Free Market

The trend now is to give something away for free – then charge for the guts of your product. You’ve seen this with “free” apps, yes they’re free, but you need the pro version if you want all the features. Some businesses will not do ANYTHING for free — some give it all away. Neither is good marketing.

For example. I contacted several tree services to remove a birch from my rather small backyard. The catch was that it was next to a fence, in the corner of the yard abutting the neighbors property, and surrounded by other trees. Not an easy cut and run.

The first person I contacted was a business associate. I put up a website for him several years prior – (at a reduced rate). So my thinking was that the favor would somehow be returned and I could somehow get a deal – didn’t exactly work out that way – he turned the job down. No reciprocation. No favor. Nothing but a lesson learned. Don’t expect a favor to be returned.

The second tree man I called wanted $25 to show up and do an estimate and a “consultation”. Next.

The third person I called – could make it over in a couple of days – showed up five days later.

The fourth guy, who got the job, showed up within 24 hours for the estimate, but didn’t show up when they said they would to actually cut the tree down.

As it ended up, I bought a new chainsaw for my brother and he cut the tree. My neighbor (I did a free website for him) helped dispose of the brush.

Don’t really know what all this means, but maybe it’s just WHO, free or not.