•• Click on 'Giveaways' at the bottom of the home page . . . on the page that opens - under 'FILTER' - click on the menu and select 'Closed Giveaways'.
It's an amazing fact that, even since the StampWants days (isn't this now almost 20 years?), the total number of those with little to no feedback who win the monthly drawings is staggering.
I have not won a monthly giveaway (that I can remember). I did win a prize for selling the 1 millionth item on StampWants, and I won a prize on a different contest on the Gibbons version of BidStart. I also have sponsored several monthly giveaways on all three site iterations.
Rod, that is definitely true. However, one would think that since it is a "random" selection that there would be more people winning who have some sort of feedback count , right? Looking at the winners' list, one could be led to wrongly (or rightly?) think that most people on HipStamp have little to no feedback, meaning that they are only hanging around for the prizes.
Look at the winner of the inverted Jenny. Took the prize and ran off never to be heard from again. I guess he was trying to hide from the IRS?
As for new collectors Rod...I don't believe they even know this website exists, so your theory about bringing new collectors seems weak. A qualifier to prevent giving something to those who are not Registered users with a history of some feedback is contrary to popular belief by the majority of us who consistently buy and enter hoping to add a "prize" to our collection.
The giveaways are a wonderful attraction to the site and draw many new users. It's a nice feature by Mark and he has a reputation of being very generous regarding these raffles i.e. Inverted Jenny. You must have a little luck to win, I haven't made it to that circle yet. I have given away several attractive stamps and the winners have always been very excited and appreciative. The more people spend time enjoying stamps and Hipstamp the better. You probably don't need to worry about the users trying to game the system perhaps there are several hundred who max their 30 entries a month. Even so you have good chances to win and the more sellers that participate increase that along with your purchases.
Mark does a fair amount of advertising so I suspect plenty of collectors are aware this site exists. Word of mouth plays into this as well: for example, when I sell something on that 'other site,' my invoice always includes links to my stores in the Hip community. Further, on FaceBook, I mention this site whenever an opportunity presents itself. The word is definitely out there.
I agree that the constant stream of GiveAway winners is a tad frustrating. I would suggest that Mark make a minimum feedback number requirement before anyone can enter the contest(s). It doesn't (and shouldn't) have to be a high number (perhaps a feedback of 5 positives)....this would help to mitigate any frustration while at the same time, perhaps acting as an incentive for collectors new to this site to purchase some stamps here as a means of being able to enter the GiveAways.
It's the federal and state laws that govern how and what sweepstakes (giveaways) ,raffles (non-profits only) and lotteries (government run) can and can not do.
Comments
•• Click on 'Giveaways' at the bottom of the home page . . . on the page that opens - under 'FILTER' - click on the menu and select 'Closed Giveaways'.
•• Congratulate Kevin R. from Washington!
. . . and today's reenforcement of that lament . . .
0 feedback - and even worse - just 1 entry!!
Look at the winner of the inverted Jenny. Took the prize and ran off never to be heard from again. I guess he was trying to hide from the IRS?
I agree that the constant stream of GiveAway winners is a tad frustrating. I would suggest that Mark make a minimum feedback number requirement before anyone can enter the contest(s). It doesn't (and shouldn't) have to be a high number (perhaps a feedback of 5 positives)....this would help to mitigate any frustration while at the same time, perhaps acting as an incentive for collectors new to this site to purchase some stamps here as a means of being able to enter the GiveAways.