Is it illegal for me to give away a $10 gift certificate to Amazon on my website?

[manlymatt83]

I have a website where I want to have a contest (no purchase necessary, you just visit the site, and it will tell you if you've won or not).

Comments?

 

[Captante]

Illegal? No.

Against Amazon.com rules? Maybe. (but I've seen many websites do very similar things so I'll bet theres a way to work it out so they won't mind)

I suggest you contact Amazon for a more definitive answer to this question.

 

[purbeast0]

hrm i don't see how it could be illegal at all.

if you purchase the $10 gift certificate, can't you do whatever you want to do with it, including giving it to someone?

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
I have a website where I want to have a contest (no purchase necessary, you just visit the site, and it will tell you if you've won or not).

Comments?

link to your site please

 

[apac]

1. advertise contest for your website
2. code website such that no one will ever win
3. ...
4. profit!

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
I have a website where I want to have a contest (no purchase necessary, you just visit the site, and it will tell you if you've won or not).

Comments?

I would like to invest $10,000 in your website please

ATOTers are the best!

 

[Sheep]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
I have a website where I want to have a contest (no purchase necessary, you just visit the site, and it will tell you if you've won or not).

Comments?

Yay! I can apply something I've learned at work here!

I'm pretty sure this falls into "lottery" territory because winners are picked at random. This also means that it's governed by state-specific lottery laws assuming the visitors to your website come from all over the place.

I'm not sure about how big the payouts have to be until you start to actually violate state laws though; I can't imagine anyone would care if you were giving away a hundred bucks worth of gift cards, but you never know with the ways laws are written.

 

[dud]

This is a civil issue, not criminal. The worst case scenario is that you post it as a "prize" and Amazon "warns" you to stop or remove it. IMHO that is the worst that could happen to you ... but I am not a lawyer.

 

[jr22jess]

I'd see if there was a way to get a hold of Amazon. I'm sure they're not gonna be pissed because you're advertising a gift card to buy something from their website. I mean I don't know I'd be pissed if someone helped my website prosper.

 

[nanette1985]

First, check with your state's Attorney General office to find out what the rules are for contests. Different states have different rules. It pays to know what they are.

Second, contact Amazon's marketing division. They do sell Amazon gift certs for less than retail in bulk quantities for prizes, etc. They won't sell you one for cheap, but they'll be happy to go over the rules and regulations with you.

Good luck!

 

[seanc85]

per the Amazon.com gc terms you can give away a gc, and giving it as a prize should be no different. The only thing i would be concerned with is using the name. Amazon.com is a registered trademark.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: Sheep

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
I have a website where I want to have a contest (no purchase necessary, you just visit the site, and it will tell you if you've won or not).

Comments?

Yay! I can apply something I've learned at work here!

I'm pretty sure this falls into "lottery" territory because winners are picked at random. This also means that it's governed by state-specific lottery laws assuming the visitors to your website come from all over the place.

I'm not sure about how big the payouts have to be until you start to actually violate state laws though; I can't imagine anyone would care if you were giving away a hundred bucks worth of gift cards, but you never know with the ways laws are written.

At least in my state, the definition of "lottery" includes having to pay something or purchase something to be eligible to win. If it is open to everyone and it's free to enter, it's not a lottery. Lotteries are illegal. Contests are OK.

There's no legal issue with giving away a gift cert on the site.

 

[manlymatt83]

Awesome, thanks.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
I have a website where I want to have a contest (no purchase necessary, you just visit the site, and it will tell you if you've won or not).

Comments?

link to your site please

http://www.theipgame.com

 

[2Xtreme21]

Make sure you include a skill question for the Canadians!

 

[imported_sicko]

You can give away an amazon GC, you just can't advertise it to make it seems like amazon is sponsoring the giveaway.

 

[ultimatebob]

69 is winning so far... GO 69!