The landscape of free offers available to consumers in August 2017 included a variety of magazine subscriptions and product samples. These offers spanned several categories, including lifestyle, media, pet food, and beauty products. Information regarding these freebies was disseminated through deal aggregator websites and promotional platforms. The availability of these offers often relied on specific sign-up processes, promotional codes, or trial periods, with some requiring the payment of shipping fees or the acceptance of future subscription terms.
Magazine Subscription Freebies
A significant portion of the free offers documented for this period involved magazine subscriptions. These ranged from general interest publications to niche lifestyle titles. The sources indicate that consumers could access these subscriptions through various third-party deal sites or directly through publisher promotions.
General Interest and Lifestyle Titles
Several mainstream magazines were promoted as free subscriptions during this timeframe. The offers varied in terms of duration and the method of acquisition.
- Marie Claire: A free one-year subscription to Marie Claire was available. This offer was described as having a retail value of over $47. The process to claim this subscription reportedly required following "quick instructions," though the specific steps were not detailed in the source material. The source noted that users could enter "other" for the industry field during sign-up.
- ESPN Magazine: A free subscription to ESPN Magazine was listed among the freebies. No specific terms or duration were mentioned in the source text.
- Taste of Home Magazine: A free subscription to Taste of Home Magazine was offered. Details regarding the subscription length or renewal policies were not provided.
- Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine: This title was also listed as a free subscription offer.
- Us Magazine: A free subscription to Us Magazine was available.
- Teen Vogue Magazine: A free subscription to Teen Vogue Magazine was promoted.
Specialized and Niche Publications
In addition to general interest titles, specialized magazines were also available for free.
- VegNews Magazine: The July/August 2017 issue of VegNews Magazine was highlighted. VegNews is described as a plant-based magazine featuring vegan recipes, wellness tips, travel, and beauty content. While the source text focuses on the content of the July/August issue (the magazine's 108th issue) and encourages readers to subscribe, it does not explicitly state that a free subscription was available. The text includes a call to "Subscribe today!" and details regarding user engagement on Instagram. The source lists recent issues up to November/December 2018, indicating the magazine was actively publishing during this period.
- REDBOOK Magazine: A free trial offer for REDBOOK Magazine was available via the Magzter platform. The offer was specifically for the July/August 2017 issue. The promotion allowed users to "Try GOLD - Free," which provided access to REDBOOK along with over 10,000 other magazines and newspapers through a single subscription. The terms specified that users could cancel anytime with no commitments. Additionally, if a user was not satisfied, they could email for a full refund within 7 days of the subscription start date. The description of REDBOOK indicates it covers beauty, fashion, entertaining, and home ideas.
Product Samples and Freebies
Beyond magazines, the source data listed several product samples available for free. These included items for pets and personal care.
Pet Food Samples
- Meow Mix Simple Servings Cat Food Sample: A free sample of Meow Mix Simple Servings cat food was available. No details regarding the size of the sample or shipping costs were provided.
- Hills Science Diet Cat or Dog Food: Consumers could get a free bag of Hills Science Diet cat or dog food at PetSmart. This offer appears to be an in-store promotion rather than a mail-in sample.
Beauty and Personal Care Samples
- L’Oreal Revitalift Moisturizer Sample: A free 14-day sample of L’Oreal Revitalift Moisturizer was offered. The duration suggests this was a trial-size portion intended to provide a short-term supply for consumers to test the product.
- Greek Soap Sample: A free sample of Greek soap was listed. No further details about the brand or specific product were included.
Other Free Offers and Promotions
The sources also referenced other types of freebies, including digital content and in-store promotions.
- Digital Content: Free eBook downloads were available for titles such as Instant Pot Desserts Recipes, Instant Pot Cookbook – 101 Quick & Easy Recipes, and Dump Cake Recipes.
- In-Store and Restaurant Freebies: The data mentions various in-store and restaurant promotions, such as free batteries at Office Depot & Office Max, free Chipotle, free Cinnabon Minibon, and free Redbox rental codes. Specific details, dates, and conditions for these offers were not fully elaborated in the provided text.
- Squix Box: A free Squix box was available, which included three full-size kitchen items. The offer required the payment of shipping costs.
- Honest Co Trial: A free trial of Honest Co was mentioned. No details regarding the terms of the trial were provided.
Eligibility and Redemption Processes
The methods for redeeming these offers varied. For magazine subscriptions, consumers typically needed to visit a specific landing page or sign-up form. The Marie Claire offer required following "quick instructions," which likely involved filling out a form with personal details such as name and mailing address. For the REDBOOK offer via Magzter, users needed to sign up for the Magzter GOLD trial service.
For product samples, the process often involved visiting a specific retailer, such as PetSmart for the Hills Science Diet offer, or completing an online form to receive a mail-in sample. The availability of physical samples like the Meow Mix and L’Oreal products likely depended on supply, with many sample campaigns having limited quantities.
Geographic restrictions were not explicitly mentioned for the majority of these offers, though the availability of in-store promotions at chains like PetSmart, Office Depot, and Kroger implies they were valid at participating U.S. locations. The magazine subscriptions appear to be available to U.S. residents, given the context of the sources.
Conclusion
The free offers available in August 2017 provided consumers with opportunities to access a range of products and media without cost. The selection included magazine subscriptions covering lifestyle, sports, food, and vegan interests, as well as product samples for pet care and beauty. While some offers were straightforward freebies, others, such as the Magzter GOLD trial, involved a sign-up process that included the option to cancel to avoid future charges. Consumers seeking these offers were advised to follow specific instructions provided by the promoting websites to successfully redeem the freebies.
