08-07-2002, 03:00 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Nixing the raffle concept
Due to the incredibly complex legal hoops I would have to jump through, the raffle idea I had simply won't work. The risk of going ahead with it and having a disgruntled raffle loser or a competitive webmaster report me is too great - I have no desire to spend two years in jail (the penalty in Canada). It's pretty upsetting to me, because as a concept it seemed great - everyone was so excited! Not having any knowledge about raffles, I wasn't aware that they were made illegal in the US and Canada quite a few years ago.
I find it so disheartening that we can have a great idea, a lot of enthusiasm, the desire to make it fair for everyone, yet have the concept killed due to fear of legal reprisal. Lawyers have ruined the world. Except for Marlof and any lawyers reading this site of course. It's all those OTHER lawyers that did it! 
The idea of buying the device then putting it up on ebay has quite a bit of merit - I'd likely only lose 5-10% of the value of the item, and if someone from this site were to buy it, perhaps even less. I'll consider it for next time. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and support, but it doesn't appear like this is realistic.
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08-07-2002, 03:13 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 289
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Believe me, Dont get caught up in the legal system. I agree it wasnt worth it.
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08-07-2002, 03:17 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,350
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Don't think too high of me. I've been known to ruin quite some worlds myself. And I agree with Andrew: it was not worth it. I fear that you'd spend more time and money in getting this done within the borders of the law, than you'd like for something that should *help* you run this site.
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08-07-2002, 03:37 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 17
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or you could make it a private transaction.
Ask 50 users to donate $10 for an item.
Buy the item after you receive the donation.
You can list the names of all the doners on a page for a particular item
Once you are done reviewing the item, randomly select which of your 50 "friends" you will donate the item to.
Dont call it a contest, raffle or charity. Just make it a "private" donation request between friends.
It works for me.
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08-07-2002, 03:50 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,350
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by don996cab
Dont call it a contest, raffle or charity. Just make it a "private" donation request between friends.
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The law is lest interested in how you call it, then in what it is. What you're describing is a raffle.  I'm sorry, but no matter how much we'd like to set up something like this, it is just not something that looks doable.
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08-07-2002, 04:15 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 41
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Re: Nixing the raffle concept
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
... Lawyers have ruined the world ...
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While I partially agree, Jason, it's not truly the lawyers' fault. We should really focus on the greedy, slimy people who look for other greedy, slimy people who choose to help them. Remember, lawyers have also been responsible for some of the most wonderful progress we have today and for protecting some of our basic and unique rights here in the US.
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater... :wink:
Hans.
PS: too bad about the raffle, though, it seemed like a winner. 
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08-07-2002, 04:16 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,768
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bother...
phooey. I guess this site can't be an online gambling site where the entrance is a small fee and the prize a nice PDA.
__________________
Jonathan (JonnoB)
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke
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08-07-2002, 05:08 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 139
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So you're telling me I *don't* have to buy magazines to win the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes. DOH!
I guess we can blame Ed McMahon for all these crazy laws. 
__________________
Wes SalmonSoftware Test EngineerMicrosoft Mobile and Embedded Devices
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08-07-2002, 05:19 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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SPONSOR
Perhaps you could make a deal with someone like Handheld Canada who would buy the hardware from you and sell it as an open box?
Dave
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08-07-2002, 05:27 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 355
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simple...
churches can do raffles internally or anything they want (church and state)...just declare www.pocketpcthoughts.com as a house of worship, and these are religious activities. if we all agree to that, we're fine.
:lol:
cheers,
pt
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