What if there was a website...

**Austinhomebrew** · 09-09-2009, 05:00 AM

What if there was a website where people could buy something small they need at a retail price (plus shipping) and have a chance to buy something bigger they want for a dollar (plus shipping).

For example Buy a cool Homebrew t-shirt for $15.99 plus shipping. Once 100 shirts are sold, one of the 100 people would get to buy a Kegerator for $1 plus shipping.

Or buy a 8gb SD memory card for $24.99 plus shipping and once 30 cards are sold 1 of the 30 people would be eligible to buy a Western Digital 1 Terabyte hard drive for $1 plus shipping.

Or buy some TV headphones for $29.99 and once 60 headphones are sold 1 of the 60 people would be eligible to buy a 32" Flat Panel TV for $1 plus shipping.

The odds of winning would be very good. There would be a random drawing to determine the winner.

What do you think?

Forrest

Scut_Monkey · 09-09-2009, 05:21 AM

Basically buying the product enters you into a drawing for a nearly free but expensive item. I think it's a cool idea but not something that would really attract me to purchase. It simply would seem too gimmicky and like an internet scam to attract me. If it were for brewing stuff from a name I trusted like AHBS it would be different but still not something I would be particularly interested in. I'm not very much into gambling so take my opinion for what it's worth. Plus you would have difficulty with price competition because you are giving away all this free stuff.

I do have a question though. For drawings like this isn't it illegal to make it mandatory to purchase a product? They always give away a free entrance if you write to them for one. Maybe this scenario is different because you get the option of buying the item that you "win" for a dollar. Maybe that's your whole plan anyways.

Just my opinion on it. I'm sure you'll get a million different answers though.

**Austinhomebrew** · 09-09-2009, 05:38 AM

Its not really gambling if you need a sd card you would buy it, and you might win. You are not losing your money, you are just buying something. I tried this before and gave a way a $1300 conical fermenter. I sold 130 $10 homebrew cleaning kits in 6 hours and then gave away the conical. People were happy and told me I should do this often.

It would be brewing stuff from a name you trust and other name brand electronic goods you trust.

I thought it would be an added bonus to buying something you were going to buy anyway. Obviously don't buy anything you don't want or need.

Forrest

sethful · 09-09-2009, 05:47 AM

I certainly wouldn't be opposed to the additional $1 opportunity, but I don't think it would attract me any more/less than I already am to buy the initial item I am looking for.

that's just me though.

**arturo7** · 09-09-2009, 06:37 AM

Uh, maybe I'm stupid but, if it requires a purchase to win it is considered gambling in most states.

falmike · 09-09-2009, 10:32 AM

If buying something at normal price gets my name on a list to "buy" something expensive for $1, from Y'all, I'm all in. You guys have treated me right from day one.

Mike

SavageSteve · 09-09-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arturo7

Uh, maybe I'm stupid but, if it requires a purchase to win it is considered gambling in most states.

I know the terms "winner" and "drawing" were used, but maybe that's why you need to purchase the item for $1. You haven't really won anything, the vendor is just giving you a good deal on another purchase. Or not.

Anyway, I could see getting into this, but only if the $1 item was something I needed-- I'd like to know that it is before I make the first purchase. Would the first purchase have to be a specific item, or just any item for a minimum price? If it were a specific item, that would probably limit participation if I didn't need it.

-Steve

**Homercidal** · 09-09-2009, 12:19 PM

Sounds pretty good to me. I could see paying a few dollars more for an SD card, let's say, for the chance to win a conical...

kanielb1 · 09-09-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homercidal

Sounds pretty good to me. I could see paying a few dollars more for an SD card, let's say, for the chance to win a conical...

I would not want to pay a few dollars more for something that I was already going to buy for a CHANCE to buy something else at a lower price. Basic economics...I am not going to pay more for something if I can get it lower somewhere else. I do, however, like the OP's idea. I don't think that raising the prices of everything else to pay for the gimmick is a good idea. I believe AHS's prices are already to high...but that is just me.

**Austinhomebrew** · 09-09-2009, 02:12 PM

I just want to give people a deal is all.

Click here:
Wait Now What

Forrest