Back in March, I told you about how to get a free USB flash drive from Microsoft. (Make sure to look at my disclaimer while you're there.)
Early today, about four million of us received the Microsoft "Dear John" message. Yep, they ran out of flash drives -- and pretty quickly, I might add. The only mystery solved is why I even bothered filling out the form for a 16MB flash drive.
My buddy Gabe said, "MS lives up to their rep and it's typical of them ... promises, promises." He went on to say, "Don't you think it only fair that you send a 1GB USB drive to everyone on your who read the blog? Surely, you have hundreds laying around in a drawer someplace."
Right, Gabe, I'll do that for you -- and everyone else. Just send your snail mail details to me at my new e-mail address: Microsoft Contact Us at msconus@microsoft.com
Thank you for your interest in the Mystery Solved Windows? licensing promotion. We've received your request for more information to help clarify Microsoft? Windows Desktop Licensing pre-loaded on the USB drive. Unfortunately, this Mystery Solved promotion was available in the U.S. only and while supplies last. Supply is depleted at this time, so we encourage you to please utilize the online alternative today.
What about you -- did you get a flash drive?
Of course not. Since I live in Canada I wasn't expecting much and didn't think too much of the e-mail when I received it, but to know that everyone got that, that's impressive.
And was this done on a first come first serve basis? If so I would imagine that anyone who got the information from this blog was equally denied.
To show how much faith I had in this in the first place, I bought a 1 GB flash drive two weeks ago.
The surprising thing is that we all fell for the bait and switch once again...will we never learn!
I also did not get the drive since I am in Canada. I did not see any mention of it being a US only offer and it still accepted my application. Thanks Microsoft .
I knew I'd never get one. I live in Canada also.
Do only Canadians read this?
I'm in the US, and I didn't get one. Lesson learned.
- A
I am also in the U.S. and I didn't get one. I got the same exact letter. I was wondering what was taking so long for me to get one.
No, Alaskans do too. I got the kiss off, then followed their link to the licensing information, just to see what information they had put on the flash drives. Just more of the same. Why oh why do I keep falling for the ploys?
Ive heard MicroSoft likened to the abusive partner in a bad marriage. The victims have no realistic way of escaping or fighting back, so they just cringe, waiting for the next blow. But they remember; they always remember. And when Linux drivers come bundled with every new piece of hardware, the marriage will end.
US also and didnt get one. I guess everything takes forever with MS!
No, but I got the email.
I just found out about this offer, after no one received it, but I have gotten a 128MB and 256MB memory stick; a minature corder optical mouse; and a set of retractable earphones from Microsoft on two separate offers, before now.
US here - no USB drive... I did get the letter.
Lots of threads about this on mailing lists!
Back in the day when Lotus 1,2,3 and Word Perfect owned the software world; and IBM clones like Leading Edge were indeed...there was this little arse who could not afford the cost of Mac World (that was true corporate gold). So the little arse, who yearned for; and, extoled the "almost-like-ness" of the Kingdom of Mac his Yugo-ish pretender was. He believed. He believed. Even as his hair grew white, his paunch expanded, and his bones grew brittle he waited faithfully. Yet, now his hoped champion had again, & right after the wonderful "Microsoft Genuwinee Advantage" we got another customer-centric Genuwinee MS warm and fuzzy. Their supply of 50 flash drives ran out soo fast. And another howdy, doody. Y' ll been bitten in the Arse Again. Hope yer starting to like it. Will not be the last time.
I didn't get mine, and I didn't get the email saying they ran out. As of today, I will quit checking my mail.
I didn't even understand what they were refering to it had been long enough since that day. I have since then bought a 1 GiG. and a 512. I'm still trying to figure them out. I'm kind of slow with this type of thing.
I filled out the survey with 2 other people at the same time. One of the other people got a shipping e-mail immediately after filling out the form, while the rest of us got nothing at all. Sounds like they didn't run out per se...they were rationing them out all along. Maybe every 5th form, etc....
We posted this offer on AntiRebate.com several months ago and many visitors reported that no one received the USB drive. Yesterday, many visitors reported receiving the same "Dear John" letters as well. However, we did not receive the email from Microsoft ourselves. Does that mean a USB drive is on the way to us? Since we were the first to present the offer to our visitors, we signed up to the offer before anyone else. Perhaps we will get a USB drive. Lucky us.
Ah my beautiful fellow Canadians don,t you know that anything north of the 48th parallel does,nt exist as far as free offer,s are concerned.Hell the Americans still think we eat snow,speak French,and live in teepees.
In the US. Got the dear john letter too. Kind of reminded of police offering free tvs to bailjumpers. When they show up to pick up the prize, they are arrested. FYI, if you are running bootleg microsoft product, don't answer if Bill Gates offers yu a tv.
I got one from M$ about a year ago, but didn't get one this time around. The old one is very attractive silver with red trim, and is 128 mb in size.
US here - I got hosed, too.
As I said before(after the original post), nothing is free. The whole thing was probably some kind of researching ploy by Microsoft.
No USB drive, but I did get the e-mail. $#$%*&!
A reader from India here... Well, I didn't apply, cause the chances of them delivering it here were really next to nothing.
The best thing about it was that Hotmail identified my email from Microsoft as "junk mail!"
The Mystery Solved page reads -and read at that time:
*This offer is available in the U.S. only while supplies last. USB drive is 16MB in size. Limit one per customer. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.
I'm from the US - did not get the drive and, as of this morning, I haven't even received the e-mail
What you Canadians don't "eat snow,speak French,and live in teepees"? I'll be darned. Next you'll tell me that you have TVs.
Micro$uck cares about one thing and that's not you freeloaders. Pony up if you want Micro$uck products.
I got the Kissoff letter. I'm a Canadian and when I enter anything like this I look at the small print to make sure I'm not wasting my breath (Key strokes). I didn't see any mention of the only available to US Residents.
Microsoft Ripped me off once again!
Just like Microsoft to reneg on an offer. I didn't get the USB drive either, just their lousy email.
I am in US and I got the "Sorry we ran out letter". When I wrote a complaint that had within it copied the kiss off letter, MS cust sent me back a letter saying "we are so sorry you experienced a problem with a MS product, but your letter did not contain enough information". I sent them ANOTHER letter of complaint, pointing out what bad pr it was, with the original letter contained within yet again. No empathtic automated reply this time.
Glad to know it was such a crap drive.