A Contest I wish I hadn’t won!

Mar 13
NabanitaDhar

We all like winning contests and prizes, don’t we? I am sure everyone does; we are human after all. But what I learnt after allegedly winning a certain supposed contest in the past month makes me wish that I don’t ever win any in the imminent future. For the sake of clarity at the onset I would like to mention that writing is a passion for me. I write for it helps me make sense of life and it also in a sense completes me. It would truly be an understatement if I were to simply say that I love to write. Therefore winning a contest or a phone or an iPad isn’t really the driving force behind my posts or my blog. My prerogative is to write and the rest is insignificant.
What comes to your mind when you read about a contest in any blogging website? Of the top of my head would be that it is genuine and that those sponsoring the competition are authentic too. Of-course, another added point would be that the prizes for the same are actually prizes and not something that a winner would have to pay for. So that out of the way, we would expect that the site hosting the contest would also be equally responsible up to the point that the prizes reach the winners and participants. But it seems that it is not always that simple and the waters are murkier than we’d ever be able to guess!
I am sure I speak for the entire fraternity of serious bloggers when I say that we do not like to be taken for a ride. And we certainly don’t like to be cheated and misused whatever the format! So my sole aim to write this post is to put across that very fact that we are not people who would take nonsense lying down. We have a voice and that like it or not, help certain websites earn their living! And if they thrive out of us bloggers writing and actively taking part in events, contests and reviews organised by them, then we deserve to be respected!
What would you think of the authenticity of a website that holds a contest and later shirks off all responsibility when the sponsor comes up with new and ludicrous rules while supposedly dispatching prizes to participants? Not too highly I am sure!
So this is what happened, I unfortunately won an iPad in a contest which was sponsored by a brand for men’s safety razors and hosted by a website for bloggers. After a couple of days from the announcement of results, I received an email from a company which was looking after the dispatch of prizes from the sponsor’s end stating that I had to pay up 7.5k as tax for the prize that I had won. When I enquired as to what the taxes were about I was always given different replies. First I was told that it was gift tax which was applicable as per GOI rules. After that I was told that since it was a promotional campaign the rule is applicable for any product with an MRP of Rs 20,000 & above. Further down the line I was told that I had to pay 30% tax for anything above Rs 10000 worth including iPad. Ofcourse at times I was told it was gift tax and at times I was asked not to confuse it with gift tax! If such a tax exists then there has to be a link in the public domain. When I asked for a link to the tax rule based on which they were levying the amount, they couldn’t provide me one. I know what the Gift Tax says but it certainly doesn’t conform to what the sponsors claimed. So that was the first time I felt something was wrong as they kept wavering on figures and facts.

Ofcourse as the next logical step, I approached the host website and on the first two occasions they promised to find out what it was all about and they even assured me that they wouldn’t let anybody dupe bloggers. It seemed like the terms and conditions weren’t decided prior to the contest and the sponsor was taking decisions without informing the site that hosted their contest in the first place. I thought here is a website which is still taking the onus to find out about the contest that they so proudly hosted. But that was also proved a fallacy when they came back saying that I could go ahead and do an independent inquiry. So that was not a matter that they would further look into?
First of all it was a contest and not a promotion and it wasn’t mentioned even in fine print (atleast at that time) that prizes would be subject to taxes. Second there is something fishy when the percentage and the amount taxable keep changing with every passing day. Thirdly when a website hosts such contests, they need to be accountable throughout and not put the onus on the third party. Also, this wasn’t the first time that I had won something along the lines of an iPad in a blogging contest. Infact, around the same time I had won a tab of approximately the same amount in a contest hosted by another reputed website and money was not extorted in the name of tax from me by them. So if there was any such tax on contests then shouldn’t the same amount have been asked from me by them too?
I don’t know what to make of it except feel that I have been part of a big con! I would have even accepted that happily if it was by someone like Neal Caffery but when from websites and companies such as these it is certainly repulsive! It’s about principle. The one hosting and the one sponsoring should not behave in a manner that they are doing some sort of service to the bloggers out there. They need to be honest. Why hold contests and make claims about giving away things which you have no intention of giving? Bloggers would write and take part in contests even if there are no prizes, atleast the serious ones would, and you would still be able to make your living! So why stoop to such lows?
So I really wish I was spared from this whole sham! But since I wasn’t, here I am writing a post just to let everyone out there know that such things do happen! As I write this with an iPad and a Samsung Tab next to me, I wish that I hadn’t ever won this ludicrous imaginary prize!

136 thoughts on “A Contest I wish I hadn’t won!”

  1. I am proud of you Naba!
    These contest hosts think we're a bunch of losers and don't get a thing. But it isn't so and it is high time. The next post shall have names and they better learn their lessons pretty fast, for their own good!

    How unfair! Makes my blood boil!

  2. Damn Naba! What a shabby experience to go through. Good that you put up this post. I suppose this is one close shave that you wish you had never had.

  3. The right action is in two steps:
    Step 1… Confirm from the T&C; of the contest if such a fact is mentioned there. If yes, there is documentation and stick to the documentation mentioned.
    Step 2… In case there is no mention of an amount to be paid, just go ahead and say NO to the agency. Then write to the contest sponsors as well as contest promoters.

    This happened to me once and I put my foot down telling them that I would not tolerate such nonsense without creating a big hullabaloo… they decided to forgo their rule for me.

    Act fearlessly. A tab or an iPad are insignificant as technology changes faster than they reach you.

    Arvind Passey
    http://www.passey.info

  4. Sad! You're right about it, we write because we are passionate about it. More than anything else I am driven by a mere mention of my name in the winner's list. It's very courageous of you to write about it.

  5. Good going Naba…the website will lose some precious bloggers if they do not look into the matter seriously. They are our link to the sponsors…it is in their interest that they owe up.

  6. seriously if it wasnt for neal cafferey the whole article made me cringe a no of times,i havent had much experience in the name of contests,but ill keep my eyes open next time i beam on the mention of ipad or tab as a prize..

  8. What cheapskates! But I haven't understood why you held back from naming and shaming them.

  9. The digital branding and social media marketing market in India is (perhaps) perfectly poised for such scams. On one hand you have clients who do not entirely understand the nuances or ROI on digital, and on the other you have a host of business models built around user-generated content such as blogging contests. For some strange reason, bloggers and content writers are perceived as people who will do "anything" for "a price," with that price/prize often being peanuts. I have seen that in contests, I have seen it in paid blogging, and your post is another example of how shabbily they are treated. I respect your restraint and your kindness to the brand and the platform involved. This too shall pass, but hopefully not before you have made a few people aware of what their responsibilities are.

  11. That's very sad indeed! Some people do take gift taxes from contest winners but they inform about the tax before announcing the winners…u were not informed about it that is cheating…but such a gift tax does exist_the websites who do not ask for tax from the winners,pay them by themselves and some websites prefer emptying the winners pockets!_blame it o the Govt for such a ridiculous thing as 'gift tax'!

  12. This is really an eye opener Nabanita. Thank you for sharing it with all the bloggers. I feel very sad how bloggers who are the driving force behind blogger websites and marketing campaigns are taken for a ride. Any tax must have been mentioned in the contest guidelines and not introduced at their whims and fancies.

  13. Nabanita, it is rather unfortunate that this has happened. What is worse is that it has come to this where you need to blog about it to get justice. Thank you for bringing this to our notice. Yes, we shall do what we do best. Raise a voice and raise awareness.

  14. Nabanita – I'm sorry you were treated so shabbily by all the agencies involved. I'm sure the whole experience has been most disheartening for you.
    We bloggers must not be taken for granted. If people are using our space and time, it's only fair we get our dues.

  15. What a shame and a sham!! Thanks for writing about it Naba! This is pathetic! I read so many entries on this contest–that the organizers should have taken all of us for a ride!!! Shame!

  16. This is an eye opener for all of us. The company is getting negative publicity for 7.5k which is peanuts for them. This is cheap cost cutting.

  17. I think we bloggers should stand together when such things happen to one of us. I remember when this contest was announced, the site put up the promotional ads on all their social networking sites. And I was actually disappointed when I didn't win the contest 🙂

  18. A similar thing happened in the recent past when 2 indian bloggers were taken to Germany by Samsung to a mobile phones exhibition on a promotion. It is this case: http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/z8ugd/samsung_flew_2_bloggers_from_india_to_ifa_then/
    These bloggers blogged about Samsung with copies of emails they received from Samsung officials. And such is the force of the viral social-media these days that they were rescued in a matter of a day by Nokia 🙂
    So, I feel that you shouldn't pull any punches when you are dealing with such unscrupulous people. Name and shame them. The guilty corporates can't afford more bad publicity by doing anything wrong, now.

  19. Hugs girl, you are worth a lot more than someone taking your efforts for granted. You have little to lose here and they a lot. So ya, their loss completely

  21. Thanks for the heads-up, Naba. This is outrageous. Really sorry you have to go through this. I hope this sends a message to all concerned.

    Hugs!

  23. I am happy you wrote about it. My observation is that brands pay the agencies, but agencies do not want to pay bloggers and do all these gimmicks.

    I personally refuse to take part in any contests, but that's a personal decision. Let us learn to value or own work and our own branding.

  24. Kudos to you Naba for daring to write this post for fellow bloggers, it's really an eye-opener and something to care about. The company has got so many negative feed-backs and lost the trust of bloggers. What an utter shame…I guess they are unaware of power of bloggers and their write-ups…hah… pity on them…

  26. truly agree with you Naba. They should be responsible for the contests being held up. Although it provides a theme for us to write, but that doesn't mean that we would write for promoting them only. It should be known to each and every blogger. Thanks for sharing the experience.

  27. Sorry to know about this, Nabanita. It's sad, when these sites turn into crazy money making agencies.An eye-opener for me!!!

  30. I wasn't aware of such things happening in blogger word. Kudos to you for having dared to come up with this post. Yes, We write because we love to write, They just cannot take us for granted.
    Naba, You must "Name-and-Shame" them!! They deserve it!!

  34. Totally unfair and unacceptable!!! Have written about this on my blog also!!! Good u wrote this out!!! Hope we get a closure on this!

  36. So very despicable! At the very least the host website needs to take up responsibility and stand up for the bloggers, after all they are a blogging website. All the wavering,and changing stance just indicates that they just wanted free publicity and are hoping that the winners don't take the prize…

    It's good that you are standing up to it, we can't let them get away with stuff like this!

  37. Nabanita I too am one of the winner of the same contest and this is exactly what I feel. These people even disconnected my call and are not replying to any of my mail as well. I was too about to write a post on same. The only thing they told me was you will have to pay because other winners are paying

  38. Yes. These blog manipulators (this is what I call them) cons. Cheating creative minds who write just for the love of it. Though they get some who write for freebies too but these cons have better plans for them as well.

  39. Sad to know you had to go through all this, Naba. I would have loved if you have named the brand and shamed them here, but you gained even more respect in my eyes for your dignified response in spite of everything you went through. Kudos to you. I hope the concerned people, especially our blogging community takes note.

  40. That's an eye-opener.. Din't know this was happening.
    Glad you brought it to everyone's notice and chose to deal with it rightly, with the power of writing.

  41. That ought to be one terrible experience!
    Nothing less than a firm action against the concerned authorities should do!

  42. "Bloggers would write and take part in contests even if there are no prizes"

    that is actually so true…
    kudos for publishing this post..
    Glad to meet you 🙂

    Will see you around

    Snuffles Jay
    Connect with Meow

  45. Thanks Arvind Sir… I am not sure though if I can go back and again go through the whole ordeal of talking to those people after the experience I had…

  49. I wanted to but I wasn't really sure if I should, just didn't want to get into something uglier…

    Thanks for your support Santosh!

  50. Rickie, I wanted to but I wasn't really sure if I should, just didn't want to get into something uglier…

    Thanks!

  51. it happened with me too when i had won a htc wildfire S in the dove contest by indiblogger. I refused to pay up and had decided to return the prize back.
    The company then paid the tax which dey termed as "octroi tax" and i got my prize…

    what is the point of winning if we have to cough up such huge amount…? ridiculous!!

  52. Thanks for your support Subhorup…! And I feel more aware now and would be careful in future..And I hope other bloggers would be too!

  54. Yes Bushra.. In this case what was suspicious was that they were not even sure of the tax slab or percentage… !

  56. Thanks so much for your support Blogwati Gee!

    I don't really hope for any justice from them but all this support surely makes me feel glad that I am part of this amazing Blogging community! 🙂

  57. Thanks so much for your support Corinne!

    You are right we bloggers should not be taken for a ride.

  60. Thanks so much for your support Prasanna and you should be glad that you didn't win this sham of a contest! 🙂

  63. I don't feel like stooping as low as them Puru at this point…But hopefully would be able to someday!

  67. i agree with ur point snuffles… we would still be writing even if there are no contests… just coz we are der, the contests are der and not vice versa :-/

  75. Thanks so much for your support Priya! Maybe I will name them, but right now I want to leave it at this.

  80. Thanks Nabanita for bringing up this topic. Such a shame. I am appalled at the insensitive attitude shown by the host site.It is surely going to lose my trust.

  91. god, what crap people..i had same experience on gbopticals contest when the hidden clause was that I had to buy stuff worth 5000 to redeem my free voucher of 2500 and in that i could only choose two styles of sunglasses…same blog hosting site am mentioning about!!

  92. Oh yes I had completely forgotten that … And yes again the same blog hosting site was involved at that time too!

  94. One thing with these contests is those people think by giving away or promising to give away so called gifts and freebies, people would leave behind everything and go running behind them to write a post just for its prize. they don't realize that it's not all about the prize. Good to know you put up this post. Sad to think of all that you had to go through for this.

  96. I am not gonna pay to. To be true this was the first contest I entered with my blog and unfortunately won it too. I am surely gonna write about this and I seriously don't care if I have to let go the i-pad. Also after speaking to a few of my friends I was told the act according to what they are asking us to pay is not gift tax but Tax on winnings from lottery. This has upset me a lot. We put so much effort in writing and they call it lottery 🙁

  98. My sympathies with you. It is indeed very shameful on the part of the organisers to wash their hands off! It is time you name them.

  100. How very shocking! Applaud your courage in bringing this to the notice of the community, an eye opener for all I am sure. Sympathies.

  109. Hey… I tried to get in touch with you a month back on FB. Like Swati and you, I'm also a 'winner' in that contest. After discussing at length with people, the tax seemed appropriate. What didn't seem right was the fact that the bloggers were not informed about that before-hand by either the sponsor or the website. Also, the arbitrary replies by the sponsor have been irritating.
    What bothers me further is that whether even after giving the 'tax' I will receive my prize or not since they have been so weird about the whole issue. And really, why the tax? Arghhh!! After reading your post, I'm confused yet again. No idea what to do next!It's been a sad victory 🙁

  110. Hi Nisha…

    Perhaps you too should write about it…Even Swati will be writing on the issue… I have decided not to pay.. I do not want anything from them… And don't be sad girl!

  113. That was very shoddy behavior on their part.It is good that you warned us all.Naming them would have been more helpful.

  116. This was indeed shabby. I wonder how short sighted people and organizations can be. Smaller things have sunk companies. Revolting really.

    Glad you wrote this. Gives us all a chance to show you some support and send a clear message to companies and blogging sites that they need to pull up their socks if they want our respect- and traffic.

    Humse zamana khud hai… zamane se hum nahi… 🙂

    Dagny

  117. This is really sad. I think the hosting websites should take proper responsibility regarding the terms and conditions before hosting any such contests. had heard about the GKB optical prizes before but fortunately for me I was sent a pair and not coupons.
    I think you should have directly mentioned the sponsor's name here.

  120. I have never participated in any blog contest and now after reading how they duped you, I am even more certain about my reasons.

  122. I am sorry this happened to you ..
    I have won quite some goodies from blogging contests, and never have I paid any tax for them, including the iPad2. There was an issue with cash prize of 50,000 from Tata Docomo though, where I had to shell out 15,000/- as gift tax.
    I would suggest you through the T&C; and then take action.

  124. Funny even I had been a part of that contest. I feel sorry for you man! though I am interested in knowing what happened next?

    Richa

  125. Nothing happened Richa…. apart from a few uncomfortable things which I'd rather forget.. Learnt a lesson from this episode surely!

  135. This is an eye-opener. I think I know which group ur talking about, and that makes it even more shocking for me. Its such an anti-climax…the excitement = the effort – the anxiety of waiting for the results – the thrill at winning – and then the ultimate let down.

    Glad yu wrote this.

    Neverthelesss, congrats on winning the contest.

    Do visit mine

    Cheers
    CRD

  136. Thanks for sharing experience Nabanita. It is heartening to see many from blogging community stand by you and share your angst.

    I hope, such experiences have not repeated in the last 2 years of blogging.

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