Not all people realize when they start applying for freebies that you don′t always get what you want. There is a chance you might not get the freebies you seek and there are no guarantees from companies when they offer free stuff. Sometimes a company budget runs short – or the supply of freebies and products does. It doesn′t happen the majority of the time, and it shouldn't deter you from applying for freebies, but as all good things must come to an end, it does happen.

Sometimes, too, freebies aren’t received because of an action taken by the consumer – a sort of freebie abuse that gets you on the 'do not provide to' list. But it doesn′t have to be this way. There are steps you can take to put the freebie odds in your favor and while taking these steps can′t guarantee you′ll get every freebie you apply for, it certainly will put those odds in your favor.

To make the most of your freebies bargain shopping, follow this advice:

• don′t cheat the system – that means don′t try to apply for multiple offers to the same address when the limit is one per household or otherwise try to cheat the company with bogus information, etc. Companies are smart to this and will blackball your name and address for it; they may also share their ″cheaters″ list with other freebies providers and so you may not receive free products even from companies you′ve never applied to before.
• don′t waste your own time – apply for freebies with realistic offers that don′t sound ″too good to be true″ (the golden rule…), additional information, and those backed by reasonable Privacy Statements/Terms of Use (which means they're probably legit)
• Provide accurate information – if you give a bogus name, address, email, etc. in hopes of protecting your privacy, you can bet you'll never receive your freebies, even if the company does ship it
• Shop early – you know the old adage about the bird and the worm; it applies here; keep regular tabs on new freebies offers and be among the first to apply. Often when freebies don′t arrive it's only because the company has run short and ended the promotion
• Shop big names – big, recognizable companies are the most likely to offer freebies that are for real and have the financial backing behind them to supply their demand
• Use your resources – find a good freebie directory to keep you updated with new freebies and free offers so that staying up on the latest is not a chore; subscribe to two or three good freebies newsletters so you get the latest info right to your inbox

Of course, nothing is foolproof and as mentioned, there are no guarantees offered with freebies and free giveaway promotions. But if you take these steps, stay up on the offers, and play fair, your mailbox is sure to be continually bursting with great free stuff.