Accepting or not accepting them is usually not an option. You get sent promo items in the mail. I would certainly never request an item such as this. (I'm starting to regret that I didn't request the Hagar chip, but that's a longstanding rule of mine.) THe only exception is that I will reuqest an item that isn't of significant value of it is purely for my own enjoyment.

The tricky part comes when these promo items, free CDs, and even concert tickets start piling up and I never wanted them to begin with. My first step is usualy to distribute them to friends. If not, I distribute them to strangers who may want them (you should see the look at a sold-out concert where scalpers are getting $300/ticket, and I give my extra away to a fan.) After that it gets tricky. DO you put that autographed Backstreet Boys photo that they insisted on giving you during an interview up for auction on eBay, or throw it away because it's cluttering up your office and you hate the band (name of artists have been changed to protect my reputation)? What about 500 CDs I accumulate in a few months that none of my friends want, but I'd feel bad throwing away? Salvation Army helps at times, and I can take the tax write-off, but they're not going to take collectible promo items that no one knows the value of but me.

I can usually unload things without feeling that I'm doing anything unethical, but a load of good stuff often ends up in the garbage -- which is my original point regarding the Hagar chip.