Search SweepstakesQ/A ArchivesJuly 2008
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Bruce Hollander A true expert in the area of Sweepstakes, Contests and Games,Bruce has worked with hundreds of companies on thousands of promotions during his over 25 years at DJA. His expertise lies not only in developing the right promotion, but seeing that it runs flawlessly and with the least disruption to existing client operations. This becomes invaluable particularly in the areas of in or on-pack Instant Winner Games where integration with existing production, packaging and distribution systems is critical, and for on-line games, where integration with client IT is a must. So if its a "How do you? Why do you? or "Why can't you?" question about Sweepstakes, Contests, or Games...ask Bruce...He's the Expert!
Awarding prizes a few years ago a major consumer products company ran a match the piece (provided in packaging) sweepstakes with a million dollar prize structure. Common sense told me it wouldn’t work so I wrote for the prize winner list. It had one name….the winner of a low level prize. I coldn’t even find the name in the phone book of the alleged town he lived in. Was this legal? I’m not sure what you mean by “common sense told me it wouldn’t work”. Many companies, including several of our clients, are offering million dollar and even greater prize structures and they certainly do work. Companies often use prize insurance which allows them to offer a prize greater than their budget would normally allow. The insurance premium is figured on the value of the prize and the chance it might get claimed... allowing the promotion sponsor to offer consumers a more exciting prize structure than their budgets would normally allow. The rules for such promotions must clearly spell out that in the event the Grand Prize is not claimed, it will not be awarded. Often these promotions do include lower value prizes that are given away, sometimes in a second chance sweepstakes. Without seeing the rules to the promotion that you are talking about, I can’t really say for sure if this is the case but I suspect it is, and your promotion’s Grand Prize was never claimed. Perfectly legal if conducted properly. As for not finding the address in the phone book..people move..and some keep unlisted numbers…
why would a sponsor want personal information is it normal for a sponsor giving u a monetary prize to ask for your mothers name as 1 of the question and also a drivers license and passport copy? There is no reason to my knowledge why a sweepstakes Sponsor would require a mother's maiden name. The same goes for a copy of a passport unless the prize includes a trip to a country that requires a visa and perhaps they need the passport to check the validity date. The only personal information that is typically required is a SS# for prizes valued over $600. The sponsor is obligated by IRS regulation to file a Form 1099 for prizes over $600 and needs the SS# to complete that Form. I would be suspicious of requests for other information.There is no reason to my knowledge why a sweepstakes Sponsor would require a mother's maiden name. The same goes for a copy of a passport unless the prize includes a trip to a country that requires a visa and perhaps they need the passport to check the validity date. The only personal information that is typically required is a SS# for prizes valued over $600. The sponsor is obligated by IRS regulation to file a Form 1099 for prizes over $600 and needs the SS# to complete that Form. I would be suspicious of requests for other information.
winning ticket Hello, my daughter got a sweepstakes ticket in Iowa City last Thursday and won a plane ticket, we found out the contest ended on Feb 19 th..why are they still passing out tickets if the sweepstakes is over with?? Thanks for your help..Debbie Dokter I don't have a real good answer for you on this one. Obviously if the promotion is over, the sweepatakes material should not be distributed any longer. Perhaps the sponsor just hired a street team to distribute materials and there was some confusion on the end date.
QSR What does this acronym stand for? Where’s a good place to find out about these and other Promotional Terms? QSR stands for "Quick Serve Restaraunt"... a nice way to say "Fast Food". A good starting point for looking up marketing terms is the Promo Primer found in the Resource section of Promo Magazine online.
Indie Film release We are a new Film Distribution company. Our film, “THE STREETSWEEPER” is for baby boomers. So far we have modeled our campaign after the successful “BIG FAT GREEK WEDINING” which had nearly 80% of tickets and DVDs sold to the over 50 crowd. What contests or media games might work for the 50+ babyboomers. Any other great ideas for reaching this older group, besides an AARP campaign which is in place. Is the internet a waste of time for those over 50? Sweepstakes and Instant Winner games, both online and off line, are great tactics for Boomers. Key to the success of any sweeps or game is the communication of the offer and the desireability of the prize structure. Without knowing your budget for these items,its difficult for me to make any specific recommendations. |
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