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MacRumors Giveaways... Why are they only open to U.S. residents?
- Thread starter Fabian90
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And the site complies with all regulations, or just does it and doesn't really care?
Blu-ray.com seem to be OK with giveaways for all members, e.g.:
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=17767
I think it's a shame if the obstacles are too great for MR to ever offer their giveaways more widely, but I can understand the caution.
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=17767
I think it's a shame if the obstacles are too great for MR to ever offer their giveaways more widely, but I can understand the caution.
Photography site Fstoppers.com just did international giveaway.
https://fstoppers.com/2015contest
Seems pretty easy, just void text end of the contest
https://fstoppers.com/2015contest
Seems pretty easy, just void text end of the contest
Would be nice if you could include the UK in these giveaways. I'm not aware of any legislation that prevents it? The main criteria in the UK is to state that no purchase is necessary.
Would it make sense to spend a few bucks on a professional service that does giveaways? I'd at least explore that option, if they handle the legalities it'd be worth it just to avoid the hassle. Example from a quick Google search: https://www.rafflecopter.com
MR is already using Rafflecopter. You can see the link if you hover over the entry widget.
Please start allowing international readers to enter your giveaways.
I would like to see this as well, but, they can't, what about shipping costs for instance, it's also not free (In many countries) to receive it for free.
For instance, if I would win this, it would cost me still about 70 Euro Vat, 21 % of 300+ dollars.
Petapixel, which is one of the largest photography sites out there runs international competitions. Here's a link:
http://petapixel.com/2015/11/06/giveaway-win-a-sony-a7r-ii-worth-3200/
http://petapixel.com/2015/11/06/giveaway-win-a-sony-a7r-ii-worth-3200/
Then we will see robo entries from "all those places" that keep sending us notifications that we have a traffic ticket from NYC or have won a $1,000 gift card.
I'm guessing complaining about the problem won't fix it. So what's the solution?
Macrumors are saying they can only do the US because they don't have the resources to check legislation in other countries. Makes sense. The solution.
1/ Ask Macrumors if you get an opinion for your country can they live with that and open it up for your country as well.
2/ If yes to 1/ then go and get what Macrumors want for your country.
3/ Heck even ask MR to post up the info they need and in what form so everyone can read it and make their own call about getting the info MR need.
Simple really. Whose keen?
Macrumors are saying they can only do the US because they don't have the resources to check legislation in other countries. Makes sense. The solution.
1/ Ask Macrumors if you get an opinion for your country can they live with that and open it up for your country as well.
2/ If yes to 1/ then go and get what Macrumors want for your country.
3/ Heck even ask MR to post up the info they need and in what form so everyone can read it and make their own call about getting the info MR need.
Simple really. Whose keen?
That still kinda' seems like a monumental undertaking. There are 196 countries, so even trying to figure out what the law/rules are for a small portion of them would be quite the task.
Reasons we shouldn't try and get change;
1/ It's how we've always done it.
2/ It'll be too hard.
3/ It's easier just to complain.
4/ ....
On a side note I am working to get the law/system changed around the family court to ensure less children lives are destroyed. I am not interested in fighting the Family Court. I am interested in changing the system. This is a monumental undertaking that will likely take decades. I've set up a charitable trust for it. One primary concern is widespread perjury by parents. Perjury is illegal. The Family Court has no jurisdiction to deal with perjury associated with a Family Court case. The Judge has to accept that people are telling the truth and that their lawyers are not supporting perjury. Perjury is a criminal matter that requires a Police investigation and then further the Police then have to decide to charge the person and the court process be run for that. What this means is children lives get destroyed and some years later if the system deems it appropriate perjury charges will be laid. In New Zealand the Police to my knowledge have not charged on Perjury in this environment and therefore it means you can tell massive lies and get away with harming children.
I've had person after person from the Ministry of Justice, The Courts, The Human Rights Body, The Childrens Commissioner tell me it an't be changed. That the processes go back to the British Westminster system. I tell them I know that but the reality is children lives are being destroyed and we have two choices. Do nothing. Do something. The courts are by and large operating correctly. The problem is the systems and processes need changing.
I hope to see that change in my lifetime. It's unconscionable to me that we allow this to exist. I am aware that resources and work needed to make this change though. It is big.
Yeah... I hear you and I agree it is worth the effort to help better someone's life. But for the most part here we are talking about giving away a $100 backpack or something. I'm just not sure it is worth all the effort.
*Gets all excited and eager to enter...*
*Reads small print and weaps inwardly at the unfairness in the world*
"only U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter"
*Reads small print and weaps inwardly at the unfairness in the world*
"only U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter"
Why only us residents? You might not know but the Internet has gone global :O
Is it really so hard to put "US-giveaway" to the title?
Or, maybe, you and your sponsors want to non-U.S. residents to check the fine products they are missing...?
Or, maybe, you and your sponsors want to non-U.S. residents to check the fine products they are missing...?
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So Hexus (UK based) and others (the list is long) can do international competitions while you can't but it's Europe that is over regulated?
Correct. Europe is over regulated. Look, doing competitions globally can be done in one of two ways: Either say a big "**** you" to laws and regulations globally, and deal with problems as they arise, or hire a bunch of lawyers and hash out what needs to be done to offer a global competition. Either one is expensive, and you could easily get yourself into trouble with the first option. For a relatively small website such as MacRumors, it's far simpler to just stay local. They don't do competitions, they're a tech blog. It's not their job to offer sweepstakes around the world, and they don't have to. We should be thankful that they do at least offer them, because it delivers increased value for us, their customers. Nothing in your life changes by them offering global competitions (unless you somehow planned your life around winning something from a MacRumors sweepstakes?...), and nothing will change if they don't. I don't get why this is even an issue.