Comments for Deposit $75,000 With TD Ameritrade And Get A Free iPod! OMG!

Deposit $75,000 With TD Ameritrade And Get A Free iPod! OMG!

2008-09-22T22:05:07Z

We guess there's really no point at which you're "comfortable" enough to not be tempted by a FREE iPOD! OMG! Reader Jonathan forwarded this email from TD Ameritrade in which they tried to entice him to deposit either $75,000 or $50,000 in order to get himself a free iPod Touch.

Jonathan says:

I think if I had this much to deposit, I could just buy my own Touch. Possible signs of trouble ahead?

Oh maybe. Nothing a few iPods can't fix, apparently.

TD Ameritrade Website Crash, Servers Down [Stocks to Go]
Money fund cut may cost TD Ameritrade clients $100 million [MarketWatch]

Comment from sam-i-am on 2008-09-25

2008-09-25T15:29:33Z

They ran this same deal a few years ago - $50,000 got you a palm pilot. I had a friend who actually did it, taking all of his stock out of Apple in the process - right before it's biggest surge. He lost about $10,000 to get that Palm.

Comment from Bargaineering.com on 2008-09-24

2008-09-24T16:28:41Z

A <$200 device for $50,000 deposit... that's less than half a percent if you were to convert it to interest. What a joke. :)

Comment from coold8 on 2008-09-23

2008-09-24T02:43:56Z

Cool, hey, it's better than nothing.

Comment from BWoodle on 2008-09-23

2008-09-23T18:07:29Z

I worked for Ameritrade's IT Operations prior to the TD merger as an intern. After a good quarter with an amazing technology delivery everyone in IT (ThinkTech is what they called it) was given a 2gb iPod Nano. To give an idea of the time frame, this was within a month of the first Nanos hitting stores - retailing at $200 for the 2gb model.

I can't hop on the bandwagon against them because I think they're a great company that treats their employees well. As a bonus their call center is in the same city as a lot of their IT/Operations (Omaha), not outsourced!

Comment from jdotto02 on 2008-09-23

2008-09-23T12:27:42Z

@Antediluvian: @mejimmy: I signed up for the Canadian TD bank account and had to pay $3.95 for 3 months (before switching to a no-fee account) and I got a 2GB 2nd Gen iPod Nano.

Comment from chutch on 2008-09-23

2008-09-23T11:51:09Z

I don't know... an iPod Touch with Bose earbuds? I already have the Touch.

Maybe if they offer a 2 liter of Coke. :)

Comment from GoVegan on 2008-09-23

2008-09-23T08:36:23Z

Think we could get something for making a deposit in say the $50.00 to $100.00 range? If I had 75 grand to play with an ipod would be the least of my wants.

Comment from KSPRAYDAD on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T04:20:01Z

@Eilonwynn: Up to each branch manager actually...came out of branch budget instead of corporate.

Comment from Antediluvian on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T03:57:47Z

The TD Banknorth get a free iPod offer was enough to entice me and the hubby to sign up. I got mine this summer, 3G nano; I'm hoping he'll get the 4G nano.

Craigslist FTW!

Comment from schwnj on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T03:40:49Z

Some commenters seem to think this is some savings account thing. Ameritrade has brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, and several other types of accounts that are quite likely to hold lots of money. Even if I only put in the minimum, my 401k will have over 75K in it after working only 6 years at my job. If you all want any hope of retiring in your 60s, you better have at least 75K saved by the time you're 35-40. (at a very bare minimum)

Comment from Aisley on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T03:38:22Z

@jimmydeweasel:

Come on Jimmy, that's not enough. $75,000 for an ipod? I'll take it only if that ipod comes with a laptop, a Prius, 3 month vacations in the Bahamas every year, my own airplane with its pilot, a diner with Tony Blair (so I can smack him over the head), three body guards (that look like Denzel Washington, Sean Connery and Michael Chicklis) and the lap dance from Daniel Craig (the new Bond).

Comment from Gorphlog on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T03:36:45Z

Why is it that its always the rich people who can afford to buy stuff that get it free. Like when an actor or football player go to eat and they are "cmped" just for benig who they are when there are 50 hungry families that cant afford it right around the corner

Comment from RandomHookup on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T03:25:19Z

@rawsteak: Hookers and blow, baby.

Comment from ironchef on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T01:46:33Z

@khiltd: Well the trick is to leave a buck inside that account and hold it indefinitely. They have no account maintenance fees. LOL.

Comment from Marshfield on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T01:26:46Z

Remember, it also comes with the Bose earbuds too....

Comment from chenry on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T01:15:29Z

I think if I had $75,000, I'd have bought an iPod Touch a long time ago.

Comment from ludwigk on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T01:10:32Z

@twophrasebark: I find that totally unbelievable. The premium for first class over coach is is easily 100%+ over the coast of flying coach, and on longer flights adds up to hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

Even if I had read that article I wouldn't believe it.

Comment from Eilonwynn on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T00:46:46Z

@mejimmy:
yeah... and they wouldn't offer the same deal to people who'd been loyal for years.

Comment from jimmydeweasel on 2008-09-22

2008-09-23T00:19:40Z

Hold still...........With Goldman becoming a "BANK" and Morgan Stanly doing the same, in a couple of weeks you can get a free lap dance, a free laptop, a Prius and a pony for that kind of deposit.

Comment from twophrasebark on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T23:56:47Z

Meg, you're totally right how ludicrous it is... but it works. Rich people like free stuff just like everyone else. Ever see celebrities getting their swag at big parties? They go crazy for that stuff. And they're loaded.

There was a great article in Worth magazine once how the writer offered $20 to people on airline flights to trade their first class seat for his coach seat.

He got many takers. Now these might have been people flying on someone else's dime, but I think it proves the same point. People like free stuff.

Comment from Craig on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T23:48:45Z

Anyone willing to throw $75,000 into a trading account just to get a free iPod has probably already bought one using their high interest rate credit card.

Anyone smart enough to invest their money wisely is already earning a higher interest rate than Ameritrade offers and has bought one with the extra interest.

Comment from jamesn1 on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T23:43:23Z

Two words: Retirement Account.

Comment from mejimmy on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T23:40:39Z

In canada with TD you get a free iPod for opening a account, and or transfering your "main" bank account to them.

Comment from rawsteak on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T23:27:10Z

this begs a much more interesting question: if not ipods, what else can you use to entice the rich to move their money around?

Comment from khiltd on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:51:16Z

Transferring an account FROM TD Ameritrade once you get tired of them will cost you $75, so factor that in somewhere.

Comment from mike on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:42:51Z

@Candace Parkers Secret Lover: You could if you did the app-o-rama.

Comment from Candace Parker Secret Lover on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:35:22Z

Which generation iTouch are they giving out? I believe $299 is the old retail price of the 8GB 1st Gen...which is now discounted to $199. Makes this deal a little less appealing...not that I have enough money to actually do it...

Comment from TVarmy on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:34:24Z

Guys, it comes with nice earbuds. It's a great deal.

Comment from RandomMutterings on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:34:19Z

@mariospants:

Yes, by all means in this market one ought to keep the "bear in mind" !!

Small investment accounts growing smaller, methinks.

Comment from Git Em SteveDave loves this guy--> on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:33:58Z

@blockbustarhymes: I trust John McCoy so much. I love when he gets indignant with a judge.

Comment from Git Em SteveDave loves this guy--> on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:33:13Z

Crap. I only have 49,970.00. But I want an ipod.

Comment from TracyHamandEggs on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:33:07Z

@ciscokidinsf: I think its more then a few people. Before I started my own business I had that much in an investment account, and a lot of my friends had more then that saved before they purchased their homes.

Would I move that much money because of an ipod touch? Heck no. Would it possibly make a difference if I was deciding between 2-3 places to move my money? If all else is equal, sure.

Comment from mariospants on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:28:43Z

Funny indeed. TD has been giving away various ipods for account setup for quite a few years now. Bear in mind these are investment accounts, and figures like these are pretty typical for a small account in this industry.

Comment from ciscokidinsf on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:24:20Z

I guess it appeals to those lucky few who have accounts near $100K in WAMU, Lehman, Merrill, etc... Since you have to move your money anyway, a free Ipod ain't that bad.

Comment from blockbustarhymes on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:22:05Z

Sam Waterston endorses them. I mean, he was right about Old Glory robot insurance. Why would he lead you astray?

Comment from Zanorfes on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:13:51Z

It would have been better if they offered a free tank of gas. iPods are affordable. Gas....well that's another story.

Comment from mugsywwiii on 2008-09-22

2008-09-22T22:13:43Z

I think if I had this much to deposit, I could just buy my own Touch. Possible signs of trouble ahead?

Yeah, but then you'd be out the cost of the iPod; deposit the money and you're not. Why complain about something that's FREE?

I don't think I'd move that much money to get a free iPod, but if I were already planning to move my money (as it seems a lot of people are doing these days), I wouldn't complain about getting a free iPod out of the deal.