Canadian bank hands out free Eee PCs
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted May 1st 2008 11:49AM
posted May 1st 2008 11:49AM
[Thanks, Matt]
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That's pretty damn cool. Sure would love to have one just for the heck of it, even though I already have a 12" thinkpad.
Digg it!!
http://digg.com/gadgets/Canadian_bank_hands_out_free_Eee_PCs
No.
Buried!
Funny how Engadget didn't reference their previous article regarding the ATM EEE scam ordeal.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/22/thieves-use-eeepc-in-brazilian-atm-scam/
2GB. man, I can store like 3 movies on there.. and nothing else.
...or you can store several thousand documents on there, as it's not supposed to be your personal portable media center
or you could simply stick in a $40 8GB SD card
Or you could get 250gig external hdd and quit whining.
You can then use it with other computers to you know!
or you can just save clips from pr0n instead of the entire movie
or you could keep complaining about getting a free laptop
And it beats trying to watch a move or access a document on the aforementioned free iPod shuffle....
Get the checking account, sell the laptop, put said money into new account.
in Canada, it's a chequing account ;) our checking takes place on the ice.
Not according to RBC's website . . .
But in Soviet Russia, the bank gives YOU to the EEE PC.
Sadly, 'cheque' is just one more word that is losing its meaning here in the great white north. I already have to re-add 'neighbourhood' and 'colour' every time i install something with a spellcheck (or is that spellcheque?)
However, I'll keep using 'cheque' just as I'll continue to address the Rogers Centre as the Skydome.
At least you still have tuques.
(Or is that toque...? Or touque?)
SkyDome >>>>> Roger's Centre
It says you COULD get a laptop... then its got a * type thing that explains the stipulations else where.
Go to the website. The "* thing" just says it is a limit 1 deal and you have to keep the account open through the end of the year.
the open up a account on December 30th
So, you have to wait a year to get it? Because I don't see how they'd make a person give it back if they broke the deal and closed the account.
By the end of the year the EEE will be like $100. You'll run up WAY more in overdrafts by then...,
How about some bank+eee love for those of us not in Canada!
bank +eee for the yankees?
sry 'bout that...
Yea right, as soon as we stop getting screwed over with the ludicrous pricing of stuff up here, you may get some E's. Till then I think ill save about 20,000$ on my next car by importing it.
We have RBC here, I wonder if it would work for me, haha.
Then again, I'd rather keep ING and make good interest off my money than get a cheesy half-laptop that isn't worth a damn.
Cold, ICE COLD!
It'll cost $111.60 in total assuming you open an account now, at the lowest rate option running $13.95/ month and it states in the contract the account must be valid till Dec.31.2008. so 8 more months
Hence: 13.95 x 8 = $111.60
It's ice cold deal! Unless you can get senior discount account linked with this, and then it could be flaming deal.
Note: click more information blue link at RBC to see all account information.
To all the Canucks!
$13.95 a month? Holy shit! No wonder they need to give away stuff to get customers ...
I'll just stay with my current bank.
It says you COULD get it. Does not say you WILL get it.
Just like any promo they have one and out of all the people that qualified they will draw a name for one lucky winner.
If this were a drawing they would have to state it as such. The "could" comes in because if you don't follow all the rules (leave the acctount open through the end of the year, etc...) they will take it back or more likely charge you for it.
Another reason why we Canadians rock.
This is a sweet deal. Come on JPMorgan Chase...get with the program!
Trust me!! We get raped by our Canadian banks!! They have little to no competition and banks are a BIG business. They will NEVER give things away to us if they weren't going to make twice as much from us in return.
Trust me, Chase is the US equivalent of your description of Canadian banks. I dumped them a couple of years ago when my butt started to hurt from how often they raped me.
But the cheapest account that qualifies for it is $13.95/month. That's nearly $168/year. Compare that to my Coast Capital account which is free - no monthly fees, no cheque fees, no debit fees.
Canada has been really backward with banking for a long time. I moved here from the UK and the banking industry was one of the biggest retrograde steps (that and cellphones). No simple/free interbank transfers, no free banking... it's like living in the 70s. Finally we're starting to have some banks offering free accounts (Presidents Choice, Coast Capital Savings). But we NEED people to desert the main banks so they take notice and cut their own rates. If everybody stays with them or, heaven forbid, opens new accounts like this then they think fees aren't an issue and will continue to charge them.
So COME ON Canadians... for the good of ALL Canadians please leave these overcharging rip-off merchants and make the move to free banking.
Oh, and for the record a) I don't and never have worked in the banking industry b) I get better service with my free Coast Capital account than I ever did at HSBC.
I guess you could think of this like buying the Eee with a loan... you get the PC up front and pay $13.95/month towards the loan!!
Despite the fact that Canadian banking practices are somewhat behind the times, there are advantages to the Canuck system. Our Interac system, for instance, would not have become nearly so widespread so quickly had we had to deal with hundreds of banks in thousands of jurisdictions - five banks, all national, makes for easy implementation of interbank technology.
"Account and card must be open & active until Dec. 31, 2008."
So you close the account on January 1/09 and get the PC for $120.
If I didn't have a no-fee bank account already, I'd be on this like fanboys on a Stevenote.
I'm on President's Choice and it's not worth it for me to switch, there's a ton of requirements to get the computer, it's a lot of work. My dad is still confounded by my PC account, because he's always counting how many debit transactions and such he gets a month. He can't really fathom having a whole bank online.
I don't want all of Canada to switch to PC, because then they would have the ability to lessen the great services I recieve right now
Actually RedFlagDeals.com got it first:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=583610
This isn't anything new, my parents opened a savings account for me almost 20 years ago so they could get a free Apple IIc+. Too bad it was one of the lamest computers ever made.
great comment history there
I Think this is a *****FAKE*****
I use RBC all the time and if you try to search for Eee PC or
the 1-866-756-1110 phone# given to call. it cannot be found?
if you go to www.rbc.com and try to access the same page you
cannot find it??
***Just a heads up for all us in Canada***
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/products/deposits/nolimit/index.html
The URL ends with ?ProspectID=B6776..............
which probably means this was received via email and a lot of email/web specials are not accessable on the home page as quantities are limited. (which it does state.) They probably have 100 or 500 or 1000 to give out and once those are gone that's it.
See for yourself, call em' up, it is not phishing
http://www.rbc.com/greatoffer
Well it works. I got it. They're sending it to me. And you only have to pay 9.95/month if you use the MultiProduct deal.
Dam, my bank didn't give me scrap. WAMU sucks.
their billboards suck too. i mean seriously.... "Whooooo hoo!" what the fuck does that mean?
Uhhh...to all those people saying you COULD get one, the stipulations are quite easy actually, you just have to sign up, have an autodeposit, and pay 2 bills, which most people will do and then some anyway...
Also, it's $11/month for the account, yes, but if you have another RBC product, like a VISA, or PLC, or investments, then it's free! I already have two of those things, so all I have to do is switch to that account and get a free EEE :-D
It's funny that you say "times, they are a'changing". RBC used the Bob Dylan song in an ad campaign a few years ago. Horrible irony that a song with such a message would be appropriated by a monolithic bank.
that;s ok, Dylan wears Vic's Secret anyway
I'm happy with PCF and not paying monthly fees. Combine that with the hassle of switching and the Eee only being about half price, and I'd rather just skip the whole thing.
If I'm with RBC already, think they'll give me a free one just for being loyal? I gotta hack me an ATM! :P
you can still get one if you're an existing client, just ask your banker about it. you have to follow most of the steps though too.
It sounds like not a bad deal for me. Sure the account is $14, which is more than the account I have now, but I've already got all the steps covered in my other account.
Here's the lowdown.
STEP 1 Use CustomSwitch® to transfer your account balance from another Canadian financial institution. (or upgrade to the new account if you are already with RBC)
STEP 2 Transfer or set-up at least 2 (two) pre-authorized payments from your new account.
STEP 3 Transfer your automated payroll direct deposit or monthly pension direct deposit to your new account.**
STEP 4 Select paperless statement option on your new account.
STEP 5 Pay at least 1 (one) bill through RBC® Royal Bank Online Banking from your new account.
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/RBC:SBo-wo71JsYAGhAQOJg/products/deposits/nolimit/offer-details.html
It may not be so worthwhile for non-RBC people, though.
Can I just say that these fees aren't really that bad? I don't know who you all bank with otherwise in Canada. I'm with TD Canada Trust and I pay around $12.95 for unlimited chequing, which is the same price as CIBC. Benefit to the RBC one is the 3 free transactions at non RBC ABM's which is nice. But I think most people have these unlimited accounts, so to me it's really just switching to RBC. But what I want to know is if you get it right away, or have to wait the 8 months. I highly doubt you have to wait, it's more like if you cancel before the 8 months you'll get a bill in the mail or your final statement will have the price on the system on it. Don't pay and go to collections basically.
you'll actually get it a month or so after you meet all the criteria.
I answered my own question and the one people were asking about waiting 8 months for it:
We will contact you via mail at the address in our files when you have met all of the required criteria. A confirmation number will be provided for you to confirm your shipping address and language choice online5.
If you change your address after you open your account, please notify us immediately. Please allow 10–12 weeks for delivery of your FREE Eee PC from the date you complete the above criteria.
So if you complete the criteria right away, you're good to go. I really love TD is my problem though, but it doesn't say close down your old account, so I may just do it and set my TD account to some basic plan, get the PC then if I'm unhappy, after the period of time, close the RBC.
I work at RBC, and the RCS/Signature no limit account includes 12 free money orders or drafts a year, unlimited transactions and 2 free email money transfers per month... which is a great bonus!
if you already have the SNL account, you can also get the Eee PC for free with upgrading to a VIP package for $30 a month, which includes a free premium visa.
I actually got mine from my bank here in Mexico. They do raffles every month and last month i won a black 2G surf!
Stop reporting on the Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee PC!