Are Free Business Cards Really Free?

You have probably seen advertisements for "Free Business Cards" someone online. How could they possibly afford to give away free business cards without making someone, somewhere pay?

It is a good question, and one I wanted to know myself. I choose a company that offered so called "Free Business Cards" and began to browse their website.

I first noticed that they didn't just have the free business cards offer, but they also sold upgrades to the free package. Is that how they make their money? Only off of the upgrades?

This particular company also sold magnetic business cards, plastic business cards, metal business cards, and other types of business cards. In addition to the business cards, they also sold company letterhead, custom printed envelopes, and other types of office stationery.

The free business cards offer was beginning to make a little more sense.

I would guess that the percentage of people taking the free business cards are mainly business people. Those people probably also need envelopes, letterhead and other office stationery. Maybe they make their money on the upsell.

But are they really free?

I decided that I should go ahead and order some of these free business cards. This way I would know for sure whether or not the business cards are really free.

I decided which company I would order from then went to the order section

The first thing I had to do was design my business card. After my design I got to the order section, are they really free after all the work I did?

When I got to the final checkout, there were many options, more upgrades available. I chose not to get additional cards. Then I had to choose not to have my free business cards laminated.

After all of this, I found out that "Free Business Cards" are really free!

Counting Cards: How to Escape Detection

It is not a secret for anyone that casinos do not like blackjack counters and frequently ask them to leave or to play another game. Here, we will describe how casino management detects counters and how to act when caught. We also describe the countermeasures that casinos use against skilled players but most of all we show you how to count cards while not getting caught. Do Casinos Object? Most casinos have strict policies that ban any player from counting cards when playing blackjack, but some like those in New Jersey do not pay any attention to such players. How Do You Know Whether A Casino Minds? You do not. But you had better act as if they all do and thus save yourself the embarressment of being shoved out if they do mind and if they catch you red-handed. How to Count Without Getting Detected? Always keep in mind that since card counting is something that one does silently, the only method to detect it is through observing you and the manner you play. Thus, look out for the following: 1) Do not stare at the cards of other players. Glance once, count, and then move on. 2) Do not stare at the cards that have been discarded. Look quickly and then slowly move away by shifting your gaze nonchalantly from player to player. 3) Change your pattern of betting occassionaly. 4) Change the amount of betting money each round. 5) Even though you know it, loose a round or two. Do not bet big on those rounds. But likewise do not bet too small too. If the casino notices that you are always winning big and losing small, they might get suspicious. 6) Buy chips of different colours and then mix them around while playing to confuse the dealer. 7) Talk to the other players while playing, but this is especially difficult so practice this at home before trying it at a casino. 8) Pick your seat carefully: either the first chair or the third one so that you won't have to twist your head around as the cards are dealt. 9) Dress casually because smart and elegant clothes cause the dealers to think you are intelligent and they might watch you more closely. 10) Order an alcoholic drink and pretend to sip it because they are looking for those non-drinkers who are staying sober to count the cards. The common denominator of all these is that you must never forget that the casino si watching you and how you play. Act accordingly! Supposing that the Casino Catches On, What Should you Do? Stay calm if the casino catches you counting cards and abide by their wishes quietely. Do not make a fuss. If they ask you to leave, do so. The faster you leave, the easier it will be for you to return later. Remember that if you make a fuss, they will all remember you, so desist from any unfriendly behaviour. Note that after shifts change, the new personnel won't know you so all you have to do is wait for that and then you can start playing again. You could also just enter the next casino and start earning money there instead of risking casino personnel from recognizing you.