>The msdn page referred to the site http://www.foxtoolbox.com where vfp9 can be pre-ordered.
>
>On that site you find advertised that vfp9 is given for free if you buy it bundled with eReports, Foxy Classes, Web Connection and VisualRep. However, according to me it is not given for free, because if you buy the mere product (not bundled) then you pay farr less.
>
>I'm not saying that the bundles are not worth it, but vfp9 for free? No.

That's the old practice... "To anyone who sends me $20, I'll send {product name here} for free!".

In American advertising you'll often find words "free gift"... which makes no sense, it's redundant to the point of imbecility, or suspicion. If you're getting something for free, it's a gift; if it's a gift, it excludes payment by definition. But, since customers like both words, the advertisers just put them together.

In the above case, maybe "we're throwing this one in for free" sounds better than "if you add this all up and compare prices, this bundle is cheaper by the price of VFP9 than if you bought them all separately"... um, too long, not a sound bite, you already lost the customer's attention. It's supposed that anyone targeted by an advertisement has attention span of about two seconds (rapidly progressing to one), so you just have to make it as short as possible. Logic be damned :).