Why is purchase not neccesary?

[AccruedExpenditure]

Is it a legal requirement?

 

[couppi]

I guess so. I still don't understand how purchase isn't necessary in things like coke bottlecaps though...

 

[mugs]

I think so.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: couppi
I guess so. I still don't understand how purchase isn't necessary in things like coke bottlecaps though...

You mail them a SASE and they mail you a 'game piece'

 

[mugs]

If it requires a purchase, it would probably be considered a form of gambling. Or rather, broadly worded laws against gambling are probably why a purchase is not required.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Mail in with a stamp and return envelope and they're required by law to send you a game piece back.

Originally posted by: mugs
If it requires a purchase, it would probably be considered a form of gambling. Or rather, broadly worded laws against gambling are probably why a purchase is not required.

:thumbsup:

 

[Baked]

Because if you have to buy the product to enter the sweepstake it'll be considered gambling, which is illegal in the US. You pay money for the product, not the sweepstake, thus you can request free sweepstake game pieces from the sponsor.

 

[Cristatus]

Originally posted by: Baked
Because if you have to buy the product to enter the sweepstake it'll be considered gambling, which is illegal in the US. You pay money for the product, not the sweepstake, thus you can request free sweepstake game pieces from the sponsor.

I doubt that any pieces ordered from the manfacturer (or sponsor, or whoever distributes this stuff) will actually ever have a winning token.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: logic1485

Originally posted by: Baked
Because if you have to buy the product to enter the sweepstake it'll be considered gambling, which is illegal in the US. You pay money for the product, not the sweepstake, thus you can request free sweepstake game pieces from the sponsor.

I doubt that any pieces ordered from the manfacturer (or sponsor, or whoever distributes this stuff) will actually ever have a winning token.

For bottle caps and what not -- probably not, but the BestBuy game pieces that McDonalds had were guaranteed to have some $$.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: logic1485

Originally posted by: Baked
Because if you have to buy the product to enter the sweepstake it'll be considered gambling, which is illegal in the US. You pay money for the product, not the sweepstake, thus you can request free sweepstake game pieces from the sponsor.

I doubt that any pieces ordered from the manfacturer (or sponsor, or whoever distributes this stuff) will actually ever have a winning token.

I've always thought that if the company wanted to be devious, they'd put the top prizes in the set of game pieces you'd receive if you send away for a free game piece. Because honestly, unless there's a guaranteed prize like the McDonalds Best Buy bucks promotion, nobody ever sends away for a free game piece.

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.the-dma.org/guidelines/sweepstakesdosdonts.shtml

"A "sweepstakes" is a game of chance one plays voluntarily and for which one is not required to pay anything to enter in order to win a prize.
Sweepstakes mailings must disclose:
That a purchase is not necessary to enter, and will not improve the chances of winning. These disclosures must appear in the mailing, in the rules and on the entry form and be very easy to find, read and understand;
A name and business address where the sponsor can be contacted;
The estimated odds of winning each prize. If the odds depend upon the number of entries, the stated odds should be based on an estimate of the number of entries;
The quantity, estimated retail value and nature of every prize;
A clear statement of the payment schedule of any prize. For example, if a $1 million prize is to be awarded in equal payments over 20 years, the disclosure should indicate that the $1 million shall be paid in equal amounts of $50,000 per year for 20 years starting in 2000. "