It's apparently a new trend: websites advertise that you can get free watches or even free jewelry!

This is probably a business model that has led to several inquiries from us in the last few days: Websites advertise that you don't have to pay any money for products. These are often websites that offer watches or jewelry.

It is emphasized that the only costs incurred are shipping and a logistics fee. This logistics fee is usually around €10, and shipping is also often quoted at €10. For example, you read:

We only ask that you cover a small portion of our shipping and handling costs.

Delivery times are often 4 or 6 weeks. This is now not entirely unimportant to know.

Owner details where valid

These websites have a valid company imprint and real people may also act as operators of these websites. You can also assume that you will actually receive the product under the conditions mentioned .

There is also no reason to have any doubts about the owner information of the websites. However, what you can easily do at this point is a product check!

Product comparison

What are these free products that are advertised on the relevant pages? Search engines help enormously when comparing products! For example, let's first take the watch entitled "YAZOLE ANALOG WATCH" from the Dutch-operated website Gaudin.site ( see here ).

The key data about the watch:

  • Alleged new price €72.95.
  • Here for €0.00.
  • Delivery time 2-4 weeks
  • Total shipping and handling costs incurred 14.90 €

If you throw the product name into a search engine, you will get a result that leads to the sales platform AliExpress and offers the same product. Here you can order the same watch directly from China ( see here ).

Key information about this product:

  • New price $5.52
  • Corresponds to €4.83 (as of November 8, 2018)
  • Delivery time 23-36 days
  • The total costs incurred vary depending on the shipping method, but in the end they are effectively €6 – €8. Even free shipping is offered.

Can be continued as desired!

This product comparison can now be reproduced as desired with different products from different free sites. High-priced watches can be found on sales portals at bargain prices and have a very similar delivery time. Just like another product that can be found on various websites.

Key information about this product:

  • Alleged new price €59.95.
  • Here for €0.00.
  • Delivery time 3-6 weeks
  • Total costs incurred: shipping and logistics costs (it is not entirely clear on the website whether it is €9.95, €9.99 or both together, i.e. €19.94 )

You also get a search result for this product for the same product on AliExpress. The Migeer designer watch costs between $ 0.98 and $2.16 ( compare here )

Key information about this product:

  • New price  $0.98 – $2.16
  • Corresponds to €0.86 – €1.89 (as of November 8, 2018)
  • Delivery time 25-46 days
  • The total costs incurred vary depending on the shipping method, but in the end they are effectively €4 – €6. Even free shipping is offered.

In conclusion

Of course, we don't know the distribution channels of the free providers. In this respect, of course, we cannot say how they act.

A possible business model would, at least in general, be to purchase these cheap watches from China, offer them as a free product and, at the end, charge the logistics flat rate, which exceeds the value and costs. In the end, the shipping times between the free providers and the Chinese goods show certain similarities; the products compared are at least probably the same products.

By the way: the free providers state that you will get the purchase price back if the product does not arrive within 60 days. The much cheaper offers on AliExpress promise the same thing.

Screenshot Mimikama.at
Screenshot Mimikama.at / AliExpress


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )