EEVblog Giveaway Contests

[FreeThinker]

How about the most interesting new topic of the month? You could set up a poll and every one voted.It would encourage good content posting and allow everyone of any level of expertize to have a chance (some of the best questions come from the less knowledgeable). Or how about posing a question that you would NEED to research to answer? Even if you don't win you might learn something, like what was the resolution of Babagges Analytical Engine (Look it up  )

[FreeThinker]

I'm thinking about having a kinda-regular giveaway contest thing on the blog.
Ex-review multimeters, kits, or whatever I have at the time.

Any ideas on how best to run this? I want to give everyone a fair go, but only those who bother to enter.
i.e. I don't want to randomly pick a forum user and find they haven't logged on for 6 months or something.

And BTW, it looks like there will be a Rigol DS1052E up for grabs shortly as well!

Dave.

Is it prehacked?? 

[.o:0|O|0:o.]

Another idea, this might be a bit far out, would be for Dave to occasionally leave clues in some of his posts and video blogs, which might be in the form of something not too obvious; something said between the lines or something in the background of a video, and over the period you would have to piece the clues together and figure out what Dave is conveying (has in mind, is referring to, etc., depending on how the game is set up). At the end, the most accurate solution (failing that, the most interesting one) would be selected and the prize and winner announced.

.o:0|O|0:o.
P.s. Is it "smiley face day" today or something?

[JohnS_AZ]

Personal opinion ... If you're giving away DMMs, I probably wouldn't enter. I already have three, and I would much rather see them go to some broke struggling student who can only afford a $10 crap meter.

Now in the case of the scope, I think you should sell raffle tickets for, say, $25 a pop. When the pot get's up to a few grand, choose a winner at random and DELIVER IT IN PERSON!     Could get you and your wife another vacation. 

[FreeThinker]

Personal opinion ... If you're giving away DMMs, I probably wouldn't enter. I already have three, and I would much rather see them go to some broke struggling student who can only afford a $10 crap meter.

Now in the case of the scope, I think you should sell raffle tickets for, say, $25 a pop. When the pot get's up to a few grand, choose a winner at random and DELIVER IT IN PERSON!     Could get you and your wife another vacation. 

Would run up against so many gambling act laws that it would make your head spin I think! Nice idea though.
o:0|O|0:o. Just for you LOl

[Mechatrommer]

Another idea, this might be a bit far out, would be for Dave to occasionally leave clues in some of his posts and video blogs, which might be in the form of something not too obvious;

Indiana Jones game huh? now i can see the relevancy of it... Dave Jones? interesting!

[orbiter]

When the pot get's up to a few grand, choose a winner at random and DELIVER IT IN PERSON! 

I don't think there are that many members, with that much money

[Bored@Work]

Make it a geocache :-)

[FreeThinker]

Make it a geocache :-)

How would that work? Would have to be some hole I dug from here in the UK.....Unless Dave sent it to me to bury in my back garden!Might have a bit of an advantage then Lol.

[.o:0|O|0:o.]

When the pot get's up to a few grand, choose a winner at random and DELIVER IT IN PERSON!  

I don't think there are that many members, with that much money

You could determine the right ticket price based on the average user count per day, the increment in people from when the competition/raffle is announced, and based on these kinds of stats, the number of days or weeks it would probably take to reach the target amount -- bearing in mind that the lower the ticket price, the more likely people are to buy one. The draw date could coincide with the date that the amount is reached, though no later than a date to be decided. The proceedings could go towards Dave doing some sort of review on other equipment and that equipment could be the prize in another raffle. It could go on forever, with prizes becoming grander and grander!  

However, I don't know how legal it would be (as has already been suggested). You would probably need a licence to do it, which may or may not be easy to obtain. Usually these things are easier to achieve if the proceeds go towards some sort of charitable cause, but that might be more trouble than it is worth...

Personally, I think a game (not necessarily hard, but ongoing and which gets harder as it goes along) or an ideas contest with (or) some sort of free raffle would be more fun. Some people don't like the idea of gambling and the odds might not be high enough for them.


.o:0|O|0:o.

[MrPlacid]

Don't make the give away hard since most of us new to electronics, which is most people and that is why they are watching Dave's blog.

Dave, I suggest you make one thread for each giveaway. For example.

'Christmas Giveaway 2010.'

And put a little message in it that if you want to participate, reply to this thread with your name after the preceding person's name. Disclaimer: Winner must have X number of post + have posted in the forum for x number of time. And most importantly must be a member before a certain date.

Post 1:
Name 1

Post 2:
Name 1
Name 2

Post 3:
Name 1
Name 2
Name 3

Post 4:
Name 1
Name 2
Name 3
Name 4

Doing this dave just need to read the last post to collect all the names then pick one. And these are participants who 'really' wants something. Also, dave only need to check of the winner posting stats to determine if they are eligible.

edit: It's all legal. You're not a company and you are giving stuffs away for free. No one can stop you from giving stuff away for free as long as the prize isn't something illegal or dangerous. Heck, you can always said you sold the unit for 1 penny.

edit2: When the contest is over. Dave just post a message saying contest is closed, and disable any further posting. Then do a video blog on the contest; and advertise the product you're giving away. I betcha manufacturers will love that and might be sending Dave free unit for give away knowing that dave will advertise the unit before announcing the winner. From the video, the winner get to see the item working before getting it. And as a freebie, the winner gets to see Dave's quality control so the winner can't complain that the item he received didn't work.

[EEVblog]

You should think about the handling of shipping costs. Many of us live overseas.
I suggest that the receiver pays the shipping costs. The question is how. Paypal? Unfree postal service? (Does something like that even exist for international shipping?)

Yeah, overseas shipping costs money (and time), but I want to give something back. I'm doing pretty well out of this blogging gig now, thanks to all you guys (and girls) who come back and visit every day and support my sponsors, thanks.

Dave.

[EEVblog]

A pure draw would mean that those who don't really need it may get it, while with challenges if the bar is set too high the "young players" who can really use them might lose out.

I tend to agree, people should be able to easily opt-in to each draw, and challenges will always inconvenience someone.
Likewise with "first to reply or do something" contests can favor those in certain time zones.

Dave.

[kaptain_zero]

I am a member of quite a few boards and most use a New Topic post to announce the giveaway, with a limited time to enter and requesting those interested to post a reply to the thread such as "I'm in" or another specific "phrase" to weed out the skimmers who are looking for the free loot but can't be bothered to actually *read* the posted instructions carefully. The post # becomes the individuals lottery number for the random draw.

I do have a problem with more than a basic minimum post count as many of us who are newer members do follow the proper etiquette of forums and thus do far more searching and reading instead of posting for however long it takes to feel that one has something to share... well, at least that is what I do.

As for shipping costs.... yes, this IS an issue..... While it may seem unfair to some, the prize will most likely be at your location and shipping the prize across town is going to cost significantly less than shipping to North America, the Far East, EU etc.  Perhaps a base shipping cost could be set with the winner to pay whatever additional costs above and beyond that base rate, should it be required, would be the fairest way?!?!? Frankly, the other boards I've been on have always had rather small items as giveaway prizes and shipping wasn't an issue. On the 3 boards where the prizes are rather large and heavy, it seemed to always be a company offering the prize and they were will to ship it anywhere required....  Your situation is different as the manufacturer has already shipped it to YOU.

Dave, the good news is that YOU are the boss, it's your show (pun intended) and if someone doesn't like what you do, they can go get their own show. 

In the end, I'm fine with whatever you do.....

Regards

Christian

[EEVblog]

Another idea, this might be a bit far out, would be for Dave to occasionally leave clues in some of his posts and video blogs, which might be in the form of something not too obvious; something said between the lines or something in the background of a video, and over the period you would have to piece the clues together and figure out what Dave is conveying (has in mind, is referring to, etc., depending on how the game is set up). At the end, the most accurate solution (failing that, the most interesting one) would be selected and the prize and winner announced.

Neat idea, but I'd have to think about and keep track of it, I'm too lazy for that!
I'm erring toward the idea of:
1) You have to be an active forum member (1 useful post is fine), and use your forum name to enter.
2) You have to opt-in to each contest
3) The drawing would be random so everyone of different skill level, attention span, and time zone gets a fair go. (is there an online program/plugin that does this?). Minimum effort required on my part and the participants.
4) The prize is free, postage paid anywhere in the world.

Dave.

 

[kaptain_zero]

Dave, three thumbs up here!

Christian

[EEVblog]

Now in the case of the scope, I think you should sell raffle tickets for, say, $25 a pop. When the pot get's up to a few grand, choose a winner at random and DELIVER IT IN PERSON!     Could get you and your wife another vacation. 

The wife might like that!...

Dave.

[FreeThinker]

Now in the case of the scope, I think you should sell raffle tickets for, say, $25 a pop. When the pot get's up to a few grand, choose a winner at random and DELIVER IT IN PERSON!     Could get you and your wife another vacation. 

The wife might like that!...

Dave.

Depends were you end up .there are certain places in the uk I wouldn't like to go with a police escort... sad but true!

[.o:0|O|0:o.]

3) The drawing would be random so everyone of different skill level, attention span, and time zone gets a fair go. (is there an online program/plugin that does this?). Minimum effort required on my part and the participants.

http://www.random.org/
http://www.random.org/widgets/integers/
http://www.random.org/clients/http/
http://www.random.org/clients/http/archive/

.o:0|O|0:o.

[quantumfall]

I think it should be simple and random as well, to give all levels of player a chance.  Hopefully if you do not need the bit of gear you will not enter.

open only to forum members who have been here a few weeks at least or a few real posts etc, if possible to be done easily for Dave.

Great Dave you are a top man for wanting to give us stuff.

Small items test lead sets, books etc would be nice for everyone not just expensive scopes and Flukes if thats not to much trouble.

[DavidDLC]

1) Have a program that will select randomly one member

2) The member will spin an electronic spinning wheel and get the prize.

The persons who make the apps on steps 1 & 2 win a prize as well

 

[Feanor]

Wonder if there will be prizes form the "Blowin' shit up!" blogs.

[mikeselectricstuff]

..of course it doesn't need to be the same method for each giveaway - variety makes things interesting, and 'top' prizes should involve people putting at least a little effort in...
Qualifying by more than 1 post count will just encourage useless posts to increase count. 

[tyblu]

I like the idea of a challenge, which would normally mean a bias towards those who already have their own gear. To get around this you could define a 'kit': e.g. a half-dozen LEDs, caps and FETs, as many resistors as you want, and any DC power source to design something creative. Could have folks coming up with IrPHY hardware sending modulated signals, capacitive control, voltmeters (LED output), etc.

[logictom]

Which ever way I'll be entering
If you mix it up perhaps a t-shirt design competition or a poster competition?
None of the students at uni have heard of the eevblog, if there was a A4 poster or something it could go up on the notice board, perhaps bring in a few more viewers