frag swap problem.

[iamvictor2k]

I would have loved to drop lots of money on the raffle but there was a problem. you basically had to stay the hole time to get any thing. I got there when the doors opened and no offense but i could only walk around so many times till i was ready to go home plus i have a daughter to take care of also. I think when you sell the raffle tickets you should take phone numbers so people dont have to stay all day and i bet you would get a lot more money for the raffle also. Im not the only one that had a problem with the raffle. I had 2 friends that were slightly upset that they couldn't participate. one of my friends did buy tickets only to realize that there was no sign that stated you had to stay to get the prize. It took him a lot of arguing and complaining to get his money back.

short summary. there should be a clearly posted singe stating when the raffles will be done if you are going to continue doing it the way you did this year. You should take names phone numbers and addresses when the tickets are purchased. (this will also make you money because you can sell the names and addresses to reefing company's) You should call people to get them there prizes so they dont have to stay the whole time as some of us have kids.

 

[mixer911]

While you are correct tha we should have had a sign posted that you have to be present to win, at any of these types of events that is usually the case. We have people that come in from all around the US and if they win we cannot ship it to them. We also have to be out of the event location after the event is over and we then would have to move the prizes to another location and wait for the winner to claim it. Unfortunately that was not an option. I am sure the winner of the Grand Prize was very happy to stay and cart off the item they won.

I am sorry you were unable to be there to participate and I know we did refund his money. It was not arguing and complaining, it was a misunderstanding.

 

[andywe]

We had hand stamps so folks could leave and come back too....many people walked around, entered the raffles, bought stuff, went home, acclimated, and then returned for the raffles. Others left for lunch, and I talked to one guy who went to see a movie and came back. You shouldn't feel trapped...just come back later. Rick is right..it is customary, and I am fully behind being present to win. Remember these prizes are more than just items, they are donations to support the club and the charity we were donating a portion of proceeds to.

 

[Zef004]

I agree also Ive been to many swap in the past few year. Some would spread th raffle out but they have more then 100s of items to raffle.

Are you for real you would want someone to sell your info (adress/phone #) to a company. Lol

Anyways sorry you didn't get a chance to stay for the raffle. Do what I do give your ticket to a friend that's staying. If you win and he is a good friend you will get your prize.

 

[dzones]

I do recall seeing a sign right on the raffle table where all the ticket boxes were that stated you must be present to win.
Perhaps it was put up after the swap started but I do know I saw the sign.

 

[iamvictor2k]

We had hand stamps so folks could leave and come back too....many people walked around, entered the raffles, bought stuff, went home, acclimated, and then returned for the raffles. Others left for lunch, and I talked to one guy who went to see a movie and came back. You shouldn't feel trapped...just come back later. Rick is right..it is customary, and I am fully behind being present to win. Remember these prizes are more than just items, they are donations to support the club and the charity we were donating a portion of proceeds to.

I am just saying if there were a way to meet back up at a later date to clame your prize, or some rules established and posted on the mtrc page and at the booth that made it apparent how the raffle works you would have allot more participation in the raffle and a lot more money towards mtrc. I was prepared to drop $50-100 in the raffle but was not able to stay the whole time. maybe if you posted that you have to be there for the large items and the small items could be picked up at the next meeting???? I just could be done differently and better according to my .02 cents

 

[iamvictor2k]

I agree also Ive been to many swap in the past few year. Some would spread th raffle out but they have more then 100s of items to raffle.

Are you for real you would want someone to sell your info (adress/phone #) to a company. Lol

Anyways sorry you didn't get a chance to stay for the raffle. Do what I do give your ticket to a friend that's staying. If you win and he is a good friend you will get your prize.

selling raffelers information is common at any events and if the info isnt sold it is used to make call backs to provide more info about the company that was raffling. take colleges that raffle off bikes and things to that nature at park events. they use your info to send you flyers about there college and also call you to give you information. use your raffle as a marketing opportunity.

 

[ebushrow]

I will say right now that if at any frag swap/ meeting, they were going to take my info and sell it to solicitors albeit reef related vendors I would not buy a single ticket. I have never been to a swap you did not have to be present to win in a raffle as well as many other venues with raffles. I have a child also but I wouldnt be whinning about the rules. You can enter some and not others. I would have hired a sitter for my son if I planned on entering any raffle as it almost all cases you have to be present to win. Think of a big trade show/swap like MACNA....how could they store all the raffle items and who should pay for shipping....wouldn't be very lucrative.

 

[pensfan]

I too would not participate if my information was being sold.

 

[Devonjevon]

I do recall seeing a sign right on the raffle table where all the ticket boxes were that stated you must be present to win.
Perhaps it was put up after the swap started but I do know I saw the sign.

+1


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[k2parkstar]

I too would not participate if my information was being sold.

I second that. I definitely would not want my information sold. I think the raffle was well done, and I enjoyed it. I wish I would have won the big tank but I did win a food pack from reef nutrition and it's a nice pack.

 

[coraljunkie1]

i would be pretty upset if someone sold my info to anyone. and about the raffle, i heard them announce that the raffle would be taking place at 3:30 like 20 times that day. also if you put your money into a bunch of buckets, wouldnt you atleast ask the person selling tickets, what time it was gonna happen?

 

[iamvictor2k]

im not trying to be rude or mean at all. im sorry if i come off that way.
also to let you know that if you play any games on line or regester any of you products like computers refridgerators of any electronics or if you have signed up for a kroger or food lion card your information is being sold to 3rd party affiliates. like i said before this is a common practice to target marketing to specific groups of people. how many of you have signed up for the new red card from target to get 5%off your total purcace you have given your information willing to be sold to 3rd parties. why do you think they offer these steep discounts. im not saying that you should or shouldn't do this im just saying it is a way to make additional money for mtrc.
This was me and im sure many many others first time to go to any frag swap and just going off of past experiences with raffles you dont have to be there to get your prizes. I understand that this might not be feasible in this type of situation.
Also about the signage if it was posted it wasnt posted well. me my wife my friend and his wife and another one of my friends who are all new to mtrc and have never been to a swap were under the same impression with the raffle and didnt see the sign.
Im just trying to give you information about what i saw and experienced so next years swap might be better.

 

[SmyrnaReefer]

Just closing thread to make sure it doesnt get to out of hand. all valid points and we will try to make it a little more obvious next year of the clubs intentions...