TANSTAAFL

[cranefly]

It seems we ought to devote a thread to situations that seem too good to be true, or occurrences where you really did seem to get a free lunch.

Submitted for your perusal is an email I received a few days ago from Sungevity.

Subject line: Get $200 If You Participate in Sungevity Research
Message: Sungevity is dedicated to our mission, Solar For Universal Need. In an effort to maximize happiness, satisfaction and sunshine in our products and services, Sungevity is selecting 10 people to participate in an exciting consumer research study. The focus group will explore the topics of solar power and energy efficiency. In exchange for time and travel, Sungevity will reimburse each participant with $200.00! Sungevity would like to invite you to attend a focus group taking place at Sungevity headquarters in Oakland, California on: Friday, August 24th, 2012. Participants will come to Sungevity from 6:45pm to 9pm to engage with six to ten other attendees on various renewable energy topics. Food and refreshments will be provided.

My attitude was, "Yeah, right." I replied with a, "Sure, I'm interested," and the bastards emailed me back saying I'm in, with further details on when and where, along with parking suggestions, etc.

So. 200 bucks for two and a quarter hours? My TANSTAAFL antennae are twitching like mad. But I guess I'll go see.

By the way, Lady Cranefly and I recently let one of their sales reps discuss solar power with us for our place. After a full evaluation of our place and energy usage, they offered to put panels on our roof on a lease basis for 20 years. We would pay the full lease of $6500 up front, and it would save us an estimated $20/month on our electricity bill. (Yep, we're not big energy users.) So after 20 years, if all went well, we'd break even.

And while the sales rep is making this offer, I'm thinking, "Or I could invest $6500 in the S&P, which could reasonably be expected to double to $13000 in ten years, and double again to $26000 by the end of 20 years (and yes, I know, there are risks in investing in the stock market, but still...). Gee, which would I rather do? Give someone $6500 on the chance of getting it back in 20 years? Or invest it and at the end of 20 years have $26000?" Not that I told him that. But I did make clear to the rep that this didn't begin to sound like any kind of deal.

So the Sungevity email is not a "cold call." We got the participation offer based on that prior contact. Still, like I said, the TANSTAAFL antennae are a-gyrating.

I'll provide an update after Friday.

[cranefly]

Wow. This appears to have been on the up-and-up. Sungevity is up at Jack London Square, virtually on the waterfront, with cobblestones out front. A nice environment. There were ten of us from different locations, different walks of life -- an intriguing group, actually. We responded to questions about our experiences looking into solar power, and questions about various issues they posed, or possible company directions. Among these was their new slogan. I can't tell you what it is or much else that was discussed, because I signed a nondisclosure. (If I told you, I'd then have to tickle you.) But this new slogan (almost certainly they'll go with it) was authored by the guy who came up with "Think Different!" and "Got Milk?" I should have worn my "Got Qi?" shirt.

As for the 200 bucks, I haven't got it yet, but assurances are that it's in the mail.

If you're curious about Sungevity, the New York Times recently did an article about them. The founder sounds majorly cool, and it's a miracle he's still alive:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/magazi...wanted=all

[cranefly]

Okay.

So.

Uh.

The check is, you know, sort of still in the mail.

I guess....

(Where's the "suckered again" smilie? This will have to do: :? )

[cranefly]

I did get a $200 gift card, just so you know. Took some effort to get it activated, but all is well.

[cranefly]

I received a spam email today. Still trying to figure out the catch.

The subject line:
I wanted to offer you something interesting

The text:
In derivation, this obdurate mission has fascinated that between the kitchen proviso and the 60th nubile, the nitrate is uncooked with clothing ice of dimensions much greater than any dig in the rainbow Atlantic.

ᾕεěс,ῄӗöπ/?ɛėĸ

Dogfish should I forgive announcement for, sir? Youve inevitably obsessional me any dugout.
= = = = = =
Cranefly again. All translations welcome.