RSS Feeds: Beware of Christmas Giveaways
I'm not telling you to avoid Christmas giveaways. I'm not telling you that Christmas giveaways are bad things at all. Before you participate in any contest or purchase anything as part of a Christmas giveaway, there are a few minor things I'd like to point out so you can actually enjoy what you receive.
Read the Fine Print
The fine print is the smaller print that you're supposed to ignore, if that option is left up to the people advertising the giveaway. Disclaimers and rules are required to be published with advertisements, so the marketing folks really don't have a choice in the matter as far as putting them there. They will however, put them there in such a way that they'll most likely get overlooked.
The majority of advertisers aren't trying to pull a fast one on you, but there's always that very small percentage of them who will try. How would you feel if you found out, after you won something like a Mexico vacation, that you couldn't receive it because of something in the fine print?
Responsibility for Payment of Taxes
I've seen this happen quite a bit with charity raffles, but not too much with giveaways and sweepstakes. You, as the winner, may be responsible for payment of taxes. If you are, it should be listed in the rules or the fine print.
If you win a Vintage Telecaster Bass Guitar, for example, how would you feel if you couldn't afford to pay the taxes for it?
Shipping Costs
In some giveaways, the winner is required to pay shipping costs. In some cases, the shipping costs can be higher than the value of the prize, depending on the shipping origin and destination.
Advertisers and prize sponsors sometimes use inflated shipping costs to offset the cost of the prize on their end. It's disreputable and can usually be spotted, but it happens.
Equivalent Cash Value
Many sponsors offer an equivalent cash value for prizes won. Christmas giveaways are no different. If you think you can't afford the taxes or the shipping costs for the prize you're attempting to win, check the rules and other fine print. You may be able to elect the equivalent amount in cash instead of the prize.
Another option is to sell the item you win in order to pay the taxes and put some money in your pocket. I've this happen several times at a yearly charity raffle — a car was won and then sold to pay the taxes, putting several thousand dollars into the pocket of the winner.
And the point is?
Always read the rules and the fine print. It doesn't matter if the Christmas giveaway is advertised in a newspaper, a store coupon listing, or online. The same rules apply almost everywhere.
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Some give aways have the option of cash but it never seems to be the amount the prize would cost. I read article today about 2 companies that offer free samples or give away and they had people sign up for meberships and charge credit cards with out them knowing.
Raffles and contest are fine but watch out for others.
My latest blog post: los angeles cheap dsl.
Few things in life are free…the only thing I take for free at the store are free food samples.
There actually is a lot of things in life that are free. I get free stuff from my mom all the time. :)
You just don't want to accept any gifts from people you don't know or don't trust.
but who can you trust then? If you only trust your mom you won't get anywhere in life.
I think christmas giveaways are great! Last year i actually got an iphone from one of those giveaways. No trouble, everything worked out great!
You can get some really good offers if you just do your research and make sure you read the fine print. Good article for those that arnt so savvy when it comes to so called deals. Thanks
Haha LOL.. very funny one :)