I Found the Strangest Things on My Way Here

Tom Locke decided to gamble with $39.00 in postage stamps. He took 100 $.39 stamps and wrote 100 snail mail letters to 100 assorted companies and asked them to send him something for free. He usually asked for free product. Sometimes he received free samples, while other times discount coupons, and yet other times promotional items like hats, cups, or t-shirts. Some sent him nothing. At this time the total value of goods received is $272.93. That's not bad for a $39.00 investment. His site, The $39 Experiment, lists all the companies he wrote to, the text of each letter, and the results and estimated value of the freebie.