Life Prizes - are they always good?

**Rain Man** · 08-14-2013, 05:47 PM

So I was at a business event the other day, and they offered a bunch of prizes to attendees, with the top one being a $1,000 airline ticket voucher, which I would like to have. There were perhaps 500 people there, and only about 250 were eligible for the prizes, so I thought it was worth putting my name in the hat.

They also had about 20 or 30 other prizes that ranged from cool to relatively lame, but whatever.

I got an e-mail today that said that I won $100 worth of landscaping services. I wrote back and said thanks, and then got an e-mail from the landscaping company. They said, "Go look at our website and tell us what you want, and we'll credit $100 toward it."

They do lawn care and landscaping and tree trimming and stuff. From the language of the e-mail, it's pretty clear that they expect any service to exceed $100 in value, likely significantly, and I'm thinking, "This isn't a prize, this is just a coupon", and it kind of ticks me off. I figure that my "prize" is going to be a sales call with $100 off a price that is marked up by $100.

I've written to them to ask if they do lawn raking, because I got my lawn raked for $80 last year. (I have a very small lawn.) Maybe there's some kind of one-time fertilizing or something I could get. Any other services that are $100 or less that I can use?

And am I being too cynical about this? If I can get $100 of free stuff, I'm all for it. Is this a legitimate prize that I should be happy about, or am I (and this organization) being used so these people can get a sales lead? Should organizations offer prizes that are a discount off services?

On a related note, there's a company around town that goes to every charity auction and offers a free "portrait sitting" as a silent auction item. It's incredibly obvious that they're just scamming to get people in the door and then they'll try to sell them prints with no real prize, but some of the nonprofits either don't get it or they don't care. It's kind of sleazy in my opinion, but I'm just a guy in a t-shirt sipping a Dr. Pepper.

Rasputin · 08-14-2013, 05:53 PM

If you can get them to rake your yard do that but I would be clear that you don't want any service to exceed $100 bucks.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 08-14-2013, 05:58 PM

I'M OPPOSED TO SLAVERY AND I WANT IT STOPPED!

Rasputin · 08-14-2013, 06:04 PM

If you won the $1000. airline voucher would you have been able to fly anywhere first class in the states?

**hometeam** · 08-14-2013, 06:07 PM

It is a prize because you can use it as payment in lieu of dollars, under no obligation to spend any more.

A shitty prize, but a prize it remains.

lcarus · 08-14-2013, 06:07 PM

Absolutely. If it's $100 bucks towards something that costs $500, screw that. If you can find something for $100 or lower that interests you, go for it. Otherwise, it's a useless prize I guess.

BlackHelicopters · 08-14-2013, 06:07 PM

Sales markups suck

lcarus · 08-14-2013, 06:08 PM

If there's something for 100 or less, I'll vote for "It's a good prize - take it and run with it". If not, I'll vote for the other. And not Millard Fillmore.

Dayze · 08-14-2013, 06:11 PM

Free chiefs tickets. Parking is $160

Rasputin · 08-14-2013, 06:13 PM

That would be like gift wrapping batteries for your sons birthday and tell him he needs to go to the store and buy what he wants with his own money he has to work for to get.

Dayze · 08-14-2013, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

That would be like gift wrapping batteries for your sons birthday and tell him he needs to go to the store and buy what he wants with his own money he has to work for to get.

Yep.

**Rain Man** · 08-14-2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

If you won the $1000. airline voucher would you have been able to fly anywhere first class in the states?

Presumably if it costs less than $1,000. If not, they would apply it as a disco-.

Oh, man. You've now destroyed my faith in humanity.

**CrazyPhuD** · 08-14-2013, 06:24 PM

It's like getting a free hooker for the night...only to have a case of herpes thrown in too!

**Bugeater** · 08-14-2013, 06:58 PM

Did you actually pay anything to win this?

**mlyonsd** · 08-14-2013, 07:05 PM

Send it to your niece or nephew you're so nice to throughout the year.

View Poll Results: Is this a legitimate prize? State your opinion below.
Yes, it's a legit prize and you can get $100 of free services. Run with it and stop hatin'.	4	20.00%
No, it's a "prize" for people who are too naive to know that it's just a sales tactic.	15	75.00%
Millard Fillmore.	1	5.00%
Voters: 20. You may not vote on this poll

08-14-2013, 05:47 PM
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-442449 VARSITY	Prizes - are they always good? So I was at a business event the other day, and they offered a bunch of prizes to attendees, with the top one being a $1,000 airline ticket voucher, which I would like to have. There were perhaps 500 people there, and only about 250 were eligible for the prizes, so I thought it was worth putting my name in the hat. They also had about 20 or 30 other prizes that ranged from cool to relatively lame, but whatever. I got an e-mail today that said that I won $100 worth of landscaping services. I wrote back and said thanks, and then got an e-mail from the landscaping company. They said, "Go look at our website and tell us what you want, and we'll credit $100 toward it." They do lawn care and landscaping and tree trimming and stuff. From the language of the e-mail, it's pretty clear that they expect any service to exceed $100 in value, likely significantly, and I'm thinking, "This isn't a prize, this is just a coupon", and it kind of ticks me off. I figure that my "prize" is going to be a sales call with $100 off a price that is marked up by $100. I've written to them to ask if they do lawn raking, because I got my lawn raked for $80 last year. (I have a very small lawn.) Maybe there's some kind of one-time fertilizing or something I could get. Any other services that are $100 or less that I can use? And am I being too cynical about this? If I can get $100 of free stuff, I'm all for it. Is this a legitimate prize that I should be happy about, or am I (and this organization) being used so these people can get a sales lead? Should organizations offer prizes that are a discount off services? On a related note, there's a company around town that goes to every charity auction and offers a free "portrait sitting" as a silent auction item. It's incredibly obvious that they're just scamming to get people in the door and then they'll try to sell them prints with no real prize, but some of the nonprofits either don't get it or they don't care. It's kind of sleazy in my opinion, but I'm just a guy in a t-shirt sipping a Dr. Pepper.
Posts: 145,235

08-14-2013, 05:53 PM	#2
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $235421	If you can get them to rake your yard do that but I would be clear that you don't want any service to exceed $100 bucks.
Posts: 56,906

08-14-2013, 05:58 PM	#3
Mr. Flopnuts FINALLY! The wait is over. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Future Is Now!!! Casino cash: $19947565	I'M OPPOSED TO SLAVERY AND I WANT IT STOPPED!
Posts: 56,649

08-14-2013, 06:04 PM	#4
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $235421	If you won the $1000. airline voucher would you have been able to fly anywhere first class in the states?
Posts: 56,906

08-14-2013, 06:07 PM	#5
hometeam Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Casino cash: $1611956	It is a prize because you can use it as payment in lieu of dollars, under no obligation to spend any more. A shitty prize, but a prize it remains.
Posts: 10,764

08-14-2013, 06:07 PM	#6
lcarus Everybody Lies. Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: 22 Acacia Avenue Casino cash: $-1709887	Absolutely. If it's $100 bucks towards something that costs $500, screw that. If you can find something for $100 or lower that interests you, go for it. Otherwise, it's a useless prize I guess.
Posts: 17,816

08-14-2013, 06:07 PM	#7
BlackHelicopters Spiraling down the Drain Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dante's Ninth Circle Casino cash: $-669412	Sales markups suck __________________ "We're both part of the same hypocrisy, Senator, but never think it applies to my family." "Fredo. You are my brother, and I love you. But never take sides against the Family again. Ever." 2019 Adopt a Chief - Travis Kelce #87
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08-14-2013, 06:08 PM	#8
lcarus Everybody Lies. Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: 22 Acacia Avenue Casino cash: $-1709887	If there's something for 100 or less, I'll vote for "It's a good prize - take it and run with it". If not, I'll vote for the other. And not Millard Fillmore.
Posts: 17,816

08-14-2013, 06:11 PM	#9
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $1969358	Free chiefs tickets. Parking is $160 __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
Posts: 37,450

08-14-2013, 06:13 PM	#10
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $235421	That would be like gift wrapping batteries for your sons birthday and tell him he needs to go to the store and buy what he wants with his own money he has to work for to get.
Posts: 56,906

08-14-2013, 06:24 PM	#13
CrazyPhuD Meow Join Date: Jun 2005 Casino cash: $10005050	It's like getting a free hooker for the night...only to have a case of herpes thrown in too! __________________ "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t*rd by the clean end"
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08-14-2013, 06:58 PM	#14
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $3992680	Did you actually pay anything to win this?
Posts: 70,546

08-14-2013, 07:05 PM	#15
mlyonsd Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Spink, SD Casino cash: $-1986238	Send it to your niece or nephew you're so nice to throughout the year.
Posts: 39,457