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http://space-wolves-grey.blogspot.com/2012/02/rhino-raffle.html

Yep, I'm going to click on a link, sight unseen, This isn't news, this is just you plugging your blog.

Another way to approach this is that you can stop being bitter, click on the link and see that there really is a brand new Space Marine Rhino raffle going on, that it is worldwide raffle (meaning we will ship worldwide) and that it costs only $1 to participate... but then again, you may just stay bitter and suspicious...

I would add a brief description of the event before the link to give people more incentive to check it out.

It's likely more being cautious, it's not like there hasn't be scams in this form before with more effort put into the presentation. You have some decent looking stuff in there, may as well chuck a few up to bring yourself some more views or something. Like these guys for example.



I didn't enter it, but mostly because I probably have too many Rhinos.

Not to mention it's an obvious money grab. You pay a discounted price for the Rhino (going rate being around $26 on e-bay) then get 40-50 people to pony up $1 each. One person gets a Rhino and you pocket the rest. At least say the excess'll go to charity or some other nonsense.

Hope it works out for you.

It'd be nice if people actually put effort into their original posts instead of just a link to a gakky blog just to up their views.

The blog is legit, so's the new owner as far as I know.

Sure they are hoping to make money from the raffle, but why is that a problem.. pleanty of people enjoy spending a tiny ammount of money for a chance to win somthing bigger, hence the global love of National Lotterys!

If it was a warhound titan.. I know Id buy a ticket!

AH

The blog is legit to be honest, but this certainly comes across somewhat dodgy. NOS Rhino per $1 ticket. Riiiight. How many folks you aiming at getting? Cause, say you get 80. You've made profit, but 2 Rhinos, repeat this shindig and make more profit. As some have said if bigger, more grab, but fair enough.

IIRC the original blog belonged to a chap who used to go by Lavfluris (or something) on Warseer. Got on fantastically with him, he had a Tau blog in the past and they were rather nicely painted as well.

I read the comments here and I can’t believe some of what I am reading.

So here are my two cents:

(1) If you read the blog you would see that it is probably the best source of info as it pertains to Space Wolves. The blog is as legit as can be.
(2) The sole purpose of the raffle is to make money, profit, mullah, cash... got a problem with it? Go pound sand. I don’t believe you go to work and tell your boss: "I love my job, don’t worry about paying me"
(3) The fact that you understand how something makes money doesn’t make it illegal. Get that through your thick, underage, immature skull (or brain, whatever works for you). You get the idea of buying something for $X, raffeling it for a low entry amount yet making more than $X and keeping the profit? Good, go do it, let’s see how you make out… I bet dollars to donuts you, as smart as you think you are, won’t even recoup the principle investment.
(4) So the raffle is for profit, how that makes it a scam is beyond me... Donate to Charity? Why? You care about charity? Donate yourself, how does having a raffle make it mandatory to donate the proceeds to charity is beyond me…
(5) You would like to see people invest in their posts rather than throw just a link on: (1) Message taken, next time I will put more description (2) when you press on the link all explanations are there.
(6) This type of Raffle will happen once a month. Coming next is a pro painted squad of Sky Claws. From time to time we will raffle finished units.
(7) The blog does not need more page views. The post here was to bring more people to participate for the sole reason of making more, god forbid, money.
(8) Adam, the old blog owner did not post anything in months... the blog was basically dead. Now it’s alive, posts are coming in and yes, other activities like Raffles take place.
(9) You guys are so smart, I wonder how many of you can get a blog up, publish content, get thousands of people coming to read and enjoy on a daily basis and in the process make money. If you can, do it, if you can’t, don’t but either way shut up about your shortcomings, bitter view of the world and outright envy.
(8) And final note: ALL internet business are for PROFIT unless they are a stated charity. DO you think Dakka Dakka is not making money? (1) They have a donate button, what is that for? (2) Look around the page, the ads you see, they generate cash... And I bet you they are not saving the manatees with it.

To be fair here mate, rather than go off on a rant and decide that we're all clearly jealous hypocrites who don't trust anyone....

The post you came and made was simply a link.

No explanation about what it was. None. So naturally people are going to be suspicious. You then proceeded to attack Brother SRM for pointing this out, calling him 'bitter' for being cautious when you could have edited the original post to include your 'additional' information.

Please note, a number of us have come forward and said the blog is legit and supported it. We even stated it's your choice to run a raffle in that way but that it wasn't our cup of tea as it were. You then proceed to rant at us for it.

Sorry mate, but I really hope that you aren't in charge of that blog. Adam was a quality bloke and I have all respect for him. He treated people fairly, he put effort in and he didn't go off on tirades. If you've taken over from him and you're doing that?

Well, that's just a bad sign now, isn't it?

Let us review the OP and the subsequent posts-

OT- a link to a blog with the only indication of what it is being the thread title and the link to the blog.

1st post- a statement that the OT and the link are simply getting publicity for the blog.

2nd post (1st response by OT's owner)- scathing rebuttal of previous post

3rd post (me)- suggestion to edit original thread with more information about the contest

4th post- support the cautious route, but defends your blog as having good material in it.

5th post- criticism of the blog making a potential profit off the contest.

6th post- criticism of the lack of content of the OT.

7th post- praise for the content of the blog

8th post- support for the blog but concern about the contest.

9th post- (OT's owners second response)- very defensive justification of the intent of the contest and dismay over the thread's responses.

10th post- a person trying to find rational middle ground.

In summation- giving more information in the original thread would of helped your cause a bit Seraf666. Being honest but respectful towards others about your intent would also go a long way.

Such as it is, your response will only engender more criticism of your motives and leave everyone with a bad taste in their mouth. I suggest dropping the issue and be thick skinned or more diplomatic to those who criticize you.

You're in the United States.

The US Government sees Raffles as a form of gambling.

The only way Raffles are permissible in the United States is if you're raising money for charities or nonprofits.

You're essentially advertising on Dakka (which is great) trying to convince people to gamble (not great).


EDIT: In the time it took me to post and look up the laws, OP went full Battlefoam-Rage-Mode. That kills legitimacy even more.

Seraf666 wrote:Go pound sand.

Seraf666 wrote:Get that through your thick, underage, immature skull (or brain, whatever works for you).

Seraf666 wrote:I bet dollars to donuts you, as smart as you think you are, won’t even recoup the principle investment.

Seraf666 wrote:You guys are so smart, I wonder how many of you can get a blog up, publish content, get thousands of people coming to read and enjoy on a daily basis and in the process make money. If you can, do it, if you can’t, don’t but either way shut up about your shortcomings, bitter view of the world and outright envy.

Thanks for 4 very solid reasons never to come to your blog and to pretty much boycott any 'raffle' you may be running. Thanks also for enough reasons for me to pass the word onto others to avoid it as well. Considering you're someone that wants to make money, you may want to work on your people skills a bit more. I'm sure I'm not the only person that you've turned off from it by that post.

what a meanie.

Seraf666 wrote:(2) The sole purpose of the raffle is to make money, profit, mullah, cash... got a problem with it? Go pound sand. I don’t believe you go to work and tell your boss: "I love my job, don’t worry about paying me"

Well, I don't have a problem with it. But your local attorney general might, as might Google Blogs and/or Dakka's moderators.

Seraf666 wrote:(3) The fact that you understand how something makes money doesn’t make it illegal.

No, but how something makes money might make it illegal.

Oh look! An donkey-cave on the internet! How novel!

Look, Seraf, this is not a community you want to get angry at. Mr. Bonder can tell you about his fun with the Dakka community. And raeging will do you no good.

Just... I don't know. Leave. For your own sake. Because someone will find your home address, and they will send the cops to it.

<thread terminated; while Dakka doesn't object to links to blogs, it is helpful and customary to provide some context in the original post. Moreover, this thread is terminally OT.>

While I am a lawyer, I don't give legal advice over the Internet. That said, I personally would have concerns about trying to run a "raffle" structured in this fashion.