Are the bad links for the downloads in Free Stuff permanently down or just temporarily down? If they are permanently down is there anyway we might see them removed so it doesn't take so long to go through the Free Stuff section? From what I've experienced at least about 20% of the download links are no good. MADKAT

Some freestuff items are hosted on sites that have bandwidth limits. when the site runs out of bandwidth then there is a period where it gets reset usually a few hours to a 24hr period. So periodiclly the tumbs hosted on that site and the item are not accesible. hence the broken link icon and no download available. check back a few hours later or the next day. then again some sites just go down and it takes a while for the items to be cleaned out and are just that dead links. least that is what I've experienced with Rend and the free stuff section.

In that case, it is probably better that they be too slow in removing them than too quick.

Actually it could be a good idea if those who has their stuff on the free sites made a not of it in their "notes and requirements" so that you were made aware of the issue and would check back later, instead of just deeming the download "dead" and never return :o) I know that back when I had my stuff on the free sites they regulary went offline due to the bandwidth limit. Usually it's "worst" when a thing is new, after a week or so (depending on type of item) the run on the thing is usually over and the file is easier to get hold of :o)

thats why i am glad i miraculously found a free host with unlimied bandwidth .. wouli hae to pay for a professionnal hosting for such bandwidth usage, i would stop freebies (and stop poser shortly, case i cannot make rmp items) first 3 months of 2004, my lame website reported 15 gb of traffic ! i was frigthened ! especially when most of my things are not very popular and are very narrowed/specialised

It would be nice to have it shown in the 'Notes and Requirements' if they would add a note stating their site has bandwith limitations. Usually though, if I see an item that's not available, I assume it's a dead link. There's gotta be a way to check for active links once every 24 hours, and for those with bandwith issues, move those links to possibly a different freebie catagory. Yes, I know, it's more work, but it sure would speed up browsing, so I can have more time to make comments in the Forum pages.. :-)