Free!!!

by Nyllone

 

“What can I get for free here?”  I remember myself asking someone when I first started.  Back then, I only got the green shirt, the khaki shorts, the sandals, and my newbie hair.  And of course, my Old School Hoverboard.  When IG Phonk showed me the try its, it became my first stop every time I log in until I turned Silver and couldn’t get a trial anymore.   

Now as a Guide, I get to hear the same question I once asked.  Although new members get at least three free tops and two bottoms upon registering and spawning in Walkway, it never fails to elicit some excitement whenever they hear they can get more.  Whenever I show them where to get their free welcome jacket and pants at the Walkway, and tell them that “You can also get hairstyles and clothes free for four hours.”  I can see how grateful most of them are once they hear that.  When they find out that they can have the free membership for life as well, you can actually sense their gratefulness.  Who doesn’t like freebies?  Be they newbies or oldbies, I think we all love to get freebies.  

Although try-it machines, Shop Central, the auctions, and the loaners (for all kinds of vehicles) are some of the sources where one can try or borrow stuff, it’s not considered free for newbies to keep.  Then again, when one is just testing the waters and wouldn’t want to spend right away or not at all, it’s such a good news to hear that one can have free stuffs (for a certain period of time, at least) while enjoying their time in world.  Who knows, like me who was after the freebies back then, they would also contribute to There economy one of these days. 

 

 

One of my freebie generators is the Skill Up rewards.  Actually, of all the messages that flash on my screen, aside from “Phonk is IMing you” message, the Congratulations message is my favorite.  Because it meant I got a reward for doing something I really love!  How cool is that?  The first few gifts I got were the hot pants for skilling in fashion, the bunny slippers for skilling in Socializing, the board shorts for skilling in a hoverboard, and the blue sneakers for skilling in a trial buggy.  I wore them with newbie pride for quite a while. 

 

Before I became a Guide, I joined clubs that give out freebies.  One of them is the CC Metro Event Invites List.  They give out free Coke in cans, in exchange for nothing.  ‘Hm, maybe in exchange for the lag.  Joke.  But it’s worth it, really!  You get to party and meet new people, you get your Coke and you get your smile!  There was a time when I was so excited because I got a Coke in a bottle.  Coke tank tops, Coke balloons, Coke in a cup also thrilled me. And of course, the biggest surprise was the 4-seater Coke buggy that I received as member of CC Metro Events Invite List when CC Metro celebrated one year in There.  Does this sound like a feature about Coke?  Can’t blame me though, it’s one of the first few clubs I loved when I was new, and even up to now.

 

 

Big and special events are also one of my freebies generator.  When Sarah Mlynowski visited There, I got a “I Am Rachel” shirt and a Parties and Potions drink in one of the pre-events.  When Jan Zimmerman visited There, I got a yellow “Marketing for Dummies” shirt and a Flaming Banana.  When There welcomed the VMTV members, I also got a drink and a handheld cellphone.  When VIZ launched their product, I got a free shirt.  During Makena’s 4^th year anniversary, I got a kite with fish design.  And just recently, in a pre-event for Libba Bray’s visit to There, I got a little teacup.

 

 

Of course, the swags are just the icing on the cake in events.  Being in the events, especially during special events is a treat in itself.  Just like in skilling, doing what you love the most is the main treat.  Getting freebies and gifts are just bonuses.

 

But this spring, I learned I can get a freebie even without skilling up or attending an event!  There is giving away freebies for both oldbies and newbies alike.  I got hold of the first Springtime Perk, which was a kite prop with flower design, some weeks ago. And it was so cool I was holding it for days even when driving around in my Bacio.  The second item given out was a Spring Drink, with a little umbrella on it.  I was so excited, I tried biking with it only to find out that I can’t go on action mode with a prop.  ‘doh!  The third item was the butterflies prop, that I walked around with.  It made me look like I smell so good, I was irresistible to the butterflies.  The fourth prop was the pinwheel, that I held while checking my schedule and email.  And this week, it is the bubble wand prop that I am enjoying. 

 

The next surprise is, yes, a surprise!  All you have to do is log in every week, if not every day, go to the places specified on ThereFunTimes, and click the blue circle on the Item Dispenser to get one for yourself.  You can’t trick the dispenser though.  You only get to have one.  Trust me!  I tried it.

 

 What are you waiting for?  Free yourself from real life stress, log on to There and get some good things for free. Did they say the best things in life are free?  I guess they’re right.  Does a hug cost anything?  :)