This is true! And still going on…
I all started was back in winter 2009; I was offered and accepted a free huh… « noise canceling headphone set» by Dell!
Why me? How come? What is the deal? What is hidden?…Since I work in CRM, promotions and direct marketing now, pompously renamed; relationships marketing, my professional curiosity added to my personal one and pushed me to respond.
Who would say «no» to a free electronic gadget, especially if I do not quite know what the thing is all about?
So, I reply on the web as indicated (it was not easy) and I receive by land mail a …«plug»! No kidding, a « ¤¢¦²¬¤¢&?%! loose plug!!! At least that is what I would call it, and later (at the next mailing.)
I realised it was purposely meant to be «useless unless…» in order for me to call a sales rep for the missing part (along with a twist arm job to sell me...

