Thread: Ideas for my giveaway

I need some ideas guys. I got all this great stuff for my giveaway, but I have yet to figure out how I am going to determine how to pick a winner once I allow people to put their names in. I want to make sure its someone who is a proactive SRP user and also who cannot afford to by any of these items on their own. I wanted to at least start the giveaway before I go in for shoulder surgery (9 days from today).


Anyone have any ideas other than playing "who is the poorest" SRP user? I dont think that is a very nice way to hold a contest, not to mention many people are not to keen on discussing their financial issues, and its really none of my busienss... It would just really upset me to see this stuff go to someone who could otherwise afford it, but just wants a "free lunch".


Thanks!

This sure is tough.
I was thinking you could look at number of posts vs. join date, but that doesn't really have anything to do with money or lack thereof.

What happened to your idea about them writing something about their situation/need for the razor and then judging on that?
That seems like the best bet to at least narrow it down, and maybe you could look at their post number and join date as well, get a group of them and then draw outta a hat?

Hopefully that will get the best peoeple in the drawing. From what I have seen, people are honest here, but it is the net and that is to be taken with a grain of salt.
Good luck with the surgery!

What about having all of the entries chime in with a little paragraph and then having a secret vote on the winner?

I am removing all material that Lerch may find offensive or construe as a personal attack... bye bye, now...

Originally Posted by urleebird

The one who would probably get the most use out of it, probably wouldn't say anything. They are the ones who are polite and dignified. References to their plight are often subtle, so it could be hard to locate them.

Maybe the anchors of the site could nominate someone they feel may qualify??????????

I really like the nomination idea. It saves the people from explaining their financial situations, and the sob stories. Perhaps anyone could nominate another member (not themselves) and I could select a few people who are fimiliar with most board members to help make a decision? I think it also would be a good idea if someone could opt out it they got nominated but for some reason didnt want to be included in the drawing. I am thinking if I open up nominations next week and let it run for 6 - 8 weeks while my shoulder recovers from surgery, then I can participate in choosing a winner once I can type again .

Would anyone mind if I make the giveaway a sticky for abount 8 weeks in one of the forums? Maybe announcement discussions or general??

Or, if people don't want to be embarassed, we could get a small "committee" together to look at applications and make the awards in private.

I agree with Bill for the most part, but if this is going to be a "need based" thing, then we really have no other choice.

Originally Posted by urleebird

The one who would probably get the most use out of it, probably wouldn't say anything. They are the ones who are polite and dignified. References to their plight are often subtle, so it could be hard to locate them.

Maybe the anchors of the site could nominate someone they feel may qualify??????????

I don't know why, but it grates against me when people ask for things with a "woe" story attached. Genuine stories are fine, but the abusers are very good at making them sound genuine. I have a parasitic daughter who manipulates anyone and everyone around her. She'd be your best friend for $20.

Maybe someone who has actively been posting for the past (however many) months would be a qualifier. Bringing attention to the fact that they are poor may not be such a great idea. It could be embarassing for them. Heck, I'd hate to forever be dubbed "Poor Bill" instead of "smartass" for the time I was on the forums.

Amen. And how many of the weenies who got something in the last big giveaway have we heard anything out of? How many even bothered to say "thank you"? (If we have, and you did, that last statement doesn't apply to you). I'd much rather someone take the time, and make the effort, to either contribute (or ask questions) or get to know me (or you, or whoever), then I can decide whether this person is a)serious and b)deserving of a freebie. The fact is, very few people can't afford a razor to try if they want one. I mean, they have computers and internet service, so they probably ain't broke...

[QUOTE=Joe Chandler]Amen. And how many of the weenies who got something in the last big giveaway have we heard anything out of? How many even bothered to say "thank you"?
QUOTE]

I like the nomination idea. I gave away nearly a dozen strops of various kinds in that giveaway and only 2/3 of the people actually even claimed their prizes! I just followed the posts for the next few weeks and gave awa the unclaimed prizes to those who looked like they could use something.

It's Joshs' call on this as it was his idea but I like Bill's thoughts on this.

Tony

Having the awards in private kind of defeats the purpose. We want to celebrate and promote our hobby.

Nominations are a great idea and nominees can opt out of the selection process if they would rather see others get the booty. Asking senior members to stay clear of the n00b giveaway a few months back worked just fine. Simply explain that the awards are to honour recent and active participation and if you don't want or need the stuff to respectfully decline.

As for awarding ... You could have a test of some kind. Maybe announce to the acceptant nominees that it'll be mailed out on a specific date and that it needs to come back by a certain time. Rather than right or wrong answers you could have personal impression or opinion based questions and come up with a small committee to judge the answers by various criteria, eg. creativity, style etc.

Or you could keep it simple and have a draw.

That's my 2¢. Anybody got change for a nickel?

X

[QUOTE=Tony Miller]

Originally Posted by Joe Chandler

Amen. And how many of the weenies who got something in the last big giveaway have we heard anything out of? How many even bothered to say "thank you"?
QUOTE]

I like the nomination idea. I gave away nearly a dozen strops of various kinds in that giveaway and only 2/3 of the people actually even claimed their prizes! I just followed the posts for the next few weeks and gave awa the unclaimed prizes to those who looked like they could use something.

It's Joshs' call on this as it was his idea but I like Bill's thoughts on this.

Tony

Is it too late to put in for one of your strops?