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Does it mean we have to sign up for Netflix in order to sign up for this contest?
I DON'T wanna join netflix as I already have an account with Blockbuster???
I realize that this is not perfect for everyone. There is really no perfect solution to please everyone - except maybe giving away money to everyone! :)
I realize that this round requires more than the other rounds - which is why we can have a larger prize and giveaway something to everyone who participates.
We think Netflix and Redbox go well together, as they offer different things. We certainly are not trying to drive people away from Redbox! We use both.
In any case, you are not required to stick with Netflix - just give them a try. If you are already a member, I am sorry... There will be more opportunities in the future for you, as well...
Happy New Year!
As far as I am concerned, this was a sham
and I do not appreciate it.
I too was a member of Netflix before so
after spending almost thirty minutes of my
time today trying to get signed in and yes
I fell for the resigning up, I now realize
that I too am not eligible for Redbox
Christmas Countdown Giveaway 2007. No wonder you can guarantee
all who enter a prize, there will be few
who can!!!!!!
You should be ashamed of yourself on this one.
I will not be participating in Redbox anymore.
I bet you lose a lot of folks on this one.
Here's to doing better by your members in the future!
If what Luke wrote (above) is true, then you are getting affiliate credit in your pocket for all of these things? Again, if you, as the "sponsor," are benefitting monetarily (or otherwise), don't you think that should be disclosed in the contest? Otherwise, I would agree that balletdancer (above) may have a point about possible violation of the law.
Just be up front about stuff. It's much better when people know what they're going into with their eyes open.
This "bonus" is definitely a sham, since a good number of us could probably be counted on to already be netflix members, which means it was either poorly thought out from this site's standpoint (to get sign-up revenue) or well thought out from netflix's side.
A bunch of emails to the Attorney General might get things back on track ...
Now the entire contest process is somewhat suspect.
I think we need to be thankful for what we have - not yell at him for what more you want.
In this case, it's just a money grab. And an illegal "contest" at that, since contests are required to be no purchase necessary.
The codeword will get posted somewhere, anyway, so that'll cut your revenue stream short.
And another thing, people... please don't think that Michael here is Redbox. He is Insideredbox, a hanger-on site, and somewhere in little teensy type, it says so.
Joan
The teensy type at the bottom of the home page banner on insiderebox.com says:
"InsideRedbox.com is an independent website and not affiliated with Redbox, Inc., McDonald's or Coinstar."
I think this so-called "giveaway" is a steaming pile, but don't blame Redbox.
I really don't have any desire to give McDonalds or any other burger joint any more personal information. It is bad enough that they have to use a clown to push their cardboard hamburgers.
I contacted my State Attorney office and was informed this is not a legal sweepstakes according to state laws since I have to "purchase" a netflix membership - even if I cancel in the first 2 weeks with out obligation.
No one is required to purchase anything to enter this giveaway.
Also, as it always seems to get missed no matter how much I say it - this site IS NOT owned by Redbox.
The "personal information" that you are giving is going only to Netflix - not Redbox, not InsideRedbox, nor anyone else.
I do understand the concern of sharing personal information on the internet. I can assure you that Netflix can be trusted with your info - they are a reputable company.
I can also assure you that we here at InsideRedbox can be trusted. If you don't trust us, why even bother coming to the site at all?
Lastly, I want to say that I personally appreciate everyone who comes to this site and contributes to the community. You have made this site what it is today. If, however, all you want to do is complain and ruin a good thing for everyone else, feel free to leave the site and not return.
Have a great weekend and a Happy New Year! Hopefully we here at InsideRedbox can make your lives just a little bit better - this year, next year, and beyond.
This site offers FREE RENTAL CODES at Redbox locations and that's freakin' awesome! I have a friend who told me about this site who has never paid a cent for renting new movies because of the free codes listed here! What "paqman" wrote earlier (listed below as well) says pretty much what I'm additionally thinking about you unappreciative ingrates who get a whole lot for free and then cry when something is actually required of your lazy butt.
Go cry to your momma, rest your head on her shoulder and everything, tell her how life is SOOO hard, that mean men are forcing you to do things you don't want to because you have no control over your life.
"paqman December 28th, 2007 3:08 pm
Holy crap people! What are you complaining about?? If you don’t want to sign up for the FREE trial, then don’t! He’s not making you do it! Yes, he’s making money from it, but that’s why he does it! He’s not stupid! And you get something out of it as well. And a chance at a bigger prize. How hard is it to fill out a form, get the code word, then cancel your subscription? And all you folks complaining because you’re already members of NETFLICKS, boo hoo. Go to your boss, and start complaining to him about how you have to actually GO to work to make any money, see how far you get there. Every comment in here is a complaint about how hard it is to get free money! Man, I’m surrounded by babies."
If I wasn't already a Netflix member, I would've had to enter a lot of personal information, including a credit card number, in order to get a chance to "win". As far as I'm concerned, you might as well be making a purchase.
One thing I've never been quite sure of ... does Redbox approve of this site? I mean, giving out codes for free movies has got to be impacting their bottom line and you'd think that they would want to have control of it. Reel.com used to do the same thing, codes for free dvds, and they went out of business (in the retailing sense) pretty dang quick.
I'd still like to see proof that anyone has actually won anything from this site. It's so easy to post a list of nicknames and nom-de-plumes on a website and say that they're "winners".
This is why I'm reluctant to enter this round since I still have not been contacted regarding my prize. The site states "You will be contacted shortly via email.". Not sure of the definition "shortly" but you would think I would be contacted by now.
aroundtree, prestonbarrett, prezcat, ryanharris and potbelly, can you chime in here and tell me if you have been contacted yet?
Also, I'd like to point out that requiring people to sign up to win, is a violation of a Federal Trade Commission law relating to games of chance; contest rules must include "No Purchase Necessary" otherwise the contest becomes a lottery and thus illegal.
Just how serious is this? New York's attorney general Eliot Spitzer managed to hit CVS for a $152,000 settlement on a sweepstakes violation. Here is the press release: http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2006/oct/oct16...
I definitely do read every comment here - in fact I have read them over 2-3 times. I do care what members of the community think, and I have always tried to give you all what you want.
It was certainly never my intent for anyone to be misled. There was certainly no dishonesty involved.
The other rounds of the contest did not use pay-per-click advertising, and no one was cheated out of anything. This site was paid to expose you to the offers presented, and then those earnings were used to provide the items being given away.
Once again, there is "no purchase necessary" to enter this round or any of the other rounds. While I do not claim to be up on all of the laws regarding giveaways, I do not believe I did anything wrong. I only wanted to give the members of this community a chance to get something extra for the holidays, above and beyond the free DVD rentals.
The bottom line is this: if you want to try Netflix for free, then feel free to participate in this bonus round. If you do not, then don't. If you are already a member of Netflix (or have been in the past), I am sorry, but this round is not for you.
In the end, nobody who decides to try Neflix (for FREE) will lose anything. Even if we didn't give out any gifts at all, you still do not lose. Of course, everyone who participates will receive what is promised.
Once again, I read and consider every comment. I may give less weight to blatant attacks and name-calling, and do not like to see my integrity questioned, but you also don't see me deleting any of the comments here, either (unless they use profanity).
Remember, this is a HAPPY time of year. Lets all do our best to not ruin that for each other.
PS: It is true that the winners of the last round have not been contacted yet. The holidays have been very busy for me, too. Rest assured everyone will be contacted as soon as possible.
Thanks Michael for all you do. It has been fun doing the contests that took less than 10 seconds to enter, even though I haven't won.
All secret bonus prizes for Rounds 2 and 3 have been sent. If you were one of the winners, check your email for details.
Grand Prize winners - you are not forgotten! Your prizes take a bit longer to process.
My question is this: WAS OUR GUARANTEED WIN THE FREE TRIAL FROM NETFLIX?? if that is the case, then :( bum deal.
I guess Redbox doesn't deserve to get paid for some reason. I suppose because it's just "hundreds of dollars".
Your credit card is required for the trial for the same reason your credit card is required when you use a Promo Code at the Redbox... Without it, unscrupulous customers could steal their movies and the company would have no way of tracking them.
@vigilante407,
Your logic is absolutely right. We all should support Redbox by paying for movies there. I certainly think Redbox deserves to get paid - and I personally rarely use promo codes.
We should also support them by telling others about them. A great way to get a first-time Redbox user to rent from them is by giving them a promo code. Promo codes are good business for Redbox, which is why they put them out.
There are many sites on the internet that aggregate coupon codes and discounts - InsideRedbox is a lot like them.
@electroglyph,
I have no clue what you are talking about. How putting together a giveaway where you - the visitor - can get something for a few moments of your time (if you choose to do so) doesn't seem to create a credibility problem to me... But, you are entitled to your opinion.
PS: Oh, and no, the Netflix trial is NOT the "guaranteed win" you get for participating in this bonus round. Enjoy it, though!
I have appreciated your follow-through responses on this site. I think a lot of people make valid points and I'm glad you are noting them.
As I posted earlier, I think your only mistake came in "guaranteeing" that everyone who "took part" (not "completed the offer") in round three would be a winner, rather than stating that "those who sign up for a Netflix free trial" will be eligible to enter round three (and also win an additional prize).
I like Netflix; they serve a different purpose than Redbox (such as offering TV series, anime, and older releases). However, I have already done a free trial so was disqualified from participating. That in itself wouldn't be a big deal. I don't get huffy if I can't participate in a Canadian sweepstakes because I am not a Canadian resident. That said, if I received a lettter (here at my US address) from said Canadian sweepstakes, inviting me to enter (and guaranteeing me I would be rewarded for doing so!) then it WOULD feel like a slap in the face if I tried to enter their contest (as invited) only to be told I couldn't participate since I was a US citizen...
I think it's a nice gesture for you to offer "contests" on your site, in addition to Redbox codes. I also personally don't mind if you make click-thru (or other) money on these "contests" (though that should also be disclosed to the participants). If you disclose everything up front, then people know what they're getting into and don't have a valid reason for complaining afterward.
Perhaps we can all count this as a "learning experience" on the value of full disclosure :-)
Best wishes to you and your family in the new year...
I consider it a purchase when my credit card was charged immediately and since I was a previous member of Netflix
I still didn't get to enter this contest and get my guaranteed prize after playing along and entering the other rounds.
I have not gotten any free movies, codes or not yet so
I haven't reaped any benefit to date for participation in
this site.
I decided to give you the benefit of the doubt and came back to
see what has been said and done in regard to the last round.
I was hoping you had come up with a way to include all previous Netflix users.
I don't really feel any better about the whole situation.
I can say that I can see both pro and con points from both sides.
I agree with the kind folks that suggested that the whole thing could have been avoided if you had simply worded the contest rules and requirements in a different way.
Here's to lessons learned all the way around.
Hope those that got in enjoy their prize!
Have a prosperous 2008 all!
Michael, keep up the good work, this is a great site.
Happy New Year everybody, be safe!
There's no difference between here and any other "social networking" website like MySpace, YouTube, et al; first form a "community" (and make sure you use that term a lot), second get them to supply the content for the site, and third monetize the community for profit.
You as "community members" have a few choices:
1) Leave never to return,
2) Continue to use and contribute to it, or
3) Build your own website/"community" and compete.
Note none of those options include whining because the guy is smart enough to put together a commercial website that makes a profit. That's the whole point. Me, I wish him a lot of success.
Anyone with a modicum of common sense might assume that most of the folks using Redbox might've already tried the other online DVD rental services, particular the biggest one out there. If most of the people have already done the one thing that allows you to participate in a contest, then it's not much of a contest, is it?
But then, I suppose that's one way of making sure not all too many prizes are awarded.
I still wonder if Redbox actually approves of what's going on here ... again, visions of the reel.com debacle come to mind. But, I suppose that's a question that will be answered either in another thread or when the company shuts down.
I love InsideRedBox.com however, this one seems like it was reaching a bit..... Sorry Mike!
I found the 11-letter codeword. It is 5:13am my time right now here in Nevada, and I found the code word around 5:00pm and submitted it. The contest supposedly ended when 2007 did, but the webpage said that I still won the guaranteed prize!
So my question is: Will you still give me the prize since your program said that I do, and because I found the codeword?
Thanks!
All will be notified and prizes delivered in the next 2-3 weeks.
Have a Happy New Year!
Where is this 11 digit code and how do I get it to you since I already entered with the 7 digit. I have the confirmation email from Netflix?
Would just appreciate an answer and be given what is due to me for following your directions.
Thanks,
Of course you get credit for entering the correct codeword. The codewords did change during the rounds to help prevent cheating, but as long as you entered the correct codeword when it was asked for, you are fine.
Yeah, we wouldn't want anyone to share any secret codes on this website, now would we?
But thanks much for defining "irony" for me...
But still nothing to worry about. If Michael had a dollar for each time one of us missed a deadline, that prize would be huge.
But there was really no deadline, and he's still within his timeframe. If there's not even so much as an update by mid-February, then you can put on your witch-hunting gear. :)
I was the winner in the first round and I have a confirmation email from a site (not inside redbox) that my prize was shipped. So be patient and I'll let you know when I recieve the prize in hand. So far Michael has been honest with this. Give him some time, he's probably one person trying to run this site along with a real job. He's been pretty cool so far and I have confidence in him.
Just wondering if you have an update for everyone? :)
Thanks
Thanks Michael!
Congratulations to the other winners!
This is going to be a great new year!
Your a LIAR! Nice name by the way. AND What ever about reporting to the FBI! What a joker!
This guy may be slow or rather busy... and quit already with the quick to "commit fraud" comments!
This was your choice to join, your choice to WANT free stuff!
Grrrr! heh! :)
Especially with everyone being so upset.
------------------------------------
Also... a quick update on the December Christmas Countdown.
All prizes for Rounds 1-3 have been sent. I am still working on theBonus Round, though... I had planned to send out a cash rebate to all who participated, but I came up with another idea that I like better, but it is still in the works...
If I can't get this handled in the next week or so, I will just go with the cash rebate. Sorry for the delay - I do appreciate your patience!
If for some reason you think you are missing a prize from rounds 1,2 or 3, please let me know.
Thanks, and stay tuned for new releases tomorrow (Tuesday).
Michael
Founder, InsideRedbox.com "
------------------------------------
So give the guy a break, folks.
Please let us know Michael.
Thanks!