when words count retreat-good possibility it is a scam
- Thread starter boozoo
- Start date
boozoo - I don't see an active or expired listing for this?
goldenpaso
New member
Yea, if you go to a hotel, they do ask for a card to hold for incidentals, but they do that at the hotel, not beforehand. I would say it's a scam.
curmudgeon
New member
Entry form & a link to the rules:
Write It Now Sweepstakes | When Words Count Retreat
I don't think this was ever listed at SA
Write It Now Sweepstakes | When Words Count Retreat
I don't think this was ever listed at SA
Huh, that one says:
Winner selection shall occur between midnight EST, on Friday, February 8th, 2013 and on or about Sunday, February 10th, 2013.
http://whenwordscountretreat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/WriteItNow-Contest-Rules.pdf
Sponsor will provide all winners with a list of the available winning dates clearly indicated. Winners will be required to list their preferred dates, in the order of preference, on their claims forms.
To secure the designated room on their desired date, the Sponsor will require that the winner prepay $110 by credit card to cover the cost of their meal service while at the retreat via Pay Pal or other means.
These transactions may either be completed online or via phone. Each winner will receive a reservation confirmation notice that will consist of a Pay Pal payment receipt invoice that identifies the date and room reservation and confirmation of the amount of the charged to the winner’s credit card account.
Not *always* true lokigsd - promos with cruise prizes and some small sponsors will tell you in the rules of any fees/shipping charges the winner has to pay.
Ah, that was the old link - here's the one that just ended:
Holiday Sweepstakes | When Words Count Retreat
http://whenwordscountretreat.com/wp...L-Official-Rules-HOLIDAY-SWEEPSTAKES_2013.pdf
7. ROOM AVAILABILITY: Room reservations may be secured on a first-come, first-served basis by any verified winner who has submitted a completed, signed Declaration of Compliance (Consisting of an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Publicity Release form.)
To reserve a Grand Prize Room on the date preferred, the winner must provide the Sponsor with a valid, credit card number and authorize the Sponsor to either charge the card for an amount equal to two night's meal service for one (the winner) at $110.00 or two nights meal service for two (the winner and one guest) at a cost of $220.00.
Should the winner fail to arrive at the retreat on his or her designated arrival date, the $110 per person meal deposit shall be treated as a non-refundable deposit to partially offset the cost for the unused food and to compensate the Sponsor for the lost use of the room – as well as for preventing the Sponsor from assigning the room to an alternate winner. The winner may still arrive the following day and enjoy the remaining portion of his Grand Prize offering.
Upon arrival, winners will be charged for the third night of meal service, including VT's 9% sales tax and a 17% gratuity on meal service as well as an $85 programming and service fee to cover housekeeping services and coach staffing for two evening hash sessions. (No VT tax will be applied to the three free nights of accommodations.) Any sweepstakes winner who fails to show up for his or her reserved prize date will forfeit the prize, but When Words Count Retreat will issue the winner a credit equal to the full amount of the non-refundable deposit. The winner will have one year from the date of forfeiture to use the credit toward another visit to the retreat.)
Holiday Sweepstakes | When Words Count Retreat
http://whenwordscountretreat.com/wp...L-Official-Rules-HOLIDAY-SWEEPSTAKES_2013.pdf
7. ROOM AVAILABILITY: Room reservations may be secured on a first-come, first-served basis by any verified winner who has submitted a completed, signed Declaration of Compliance (Consisting of an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Publicity Release form.)
To reserve a Grand Prize Room on the date preferred, the winner must provide the Sponsor with a valid, credit card number and authorize the Sponsor to either charge the card for an amount equal to two night's meal service for one (the winner) at $110.00 or two nights meal service for two (the winner and one guest) at a cost of $220.00.
Should the winner fail to arrive at the retreat on his or her designated arrival date, the $110 per person meal deposit shall be treated as a non-refundable deposit to partially offset the cost for the unused food and to compensate the Sponsor for the lost use of the room – as well as for preventing the Sponsor from assigning the room to an alternate winner. The winner may still arrive the following day and enjoy the remaining portion of his Grand Prize offering.
Upon arrival, winners will be charged for the third night of meal service, including VT's 9% sales tax and a 17% gratuity on meal service as well as an $85 programming and service fee to cover housekeeping services and coach staffing for two evening hash sessions. (No VT tax will be applied to the three free nights of accommodations.) Any sweepstakes winner who fails to show up for his or her reserved prize date will forfeit the prize, but When Words Count Retreat will issue the winner a credit equal to the full amount of the non-refundable deposit. The winner will have one year from the date of forfeiture to use the credit toward another visit to the retreat.)
goldenpaso
New member
That kind of sounds like the worst prize ever.
I suppose it depends on the way you look at things. If you think like a sweeper, then the prize is not like other sweeps prizes.
But...
This does not appear to be a typical sweeps, run for typical sweepers.
It looks to me like there is a Vermont Writing Retreat, which stands apart from sweeping. Maybe the organizers are offering this prize, and people who are writers and would pay to attend the retreat anyway, would be happy to have this opportunity to have some of their expenses paid. If you think of it that way, then if a writer won, he would probably be pleased.
Hello, This is Jill Riley and I am the General Manager of WWCR. We do in fact have a sweepstakes for writers. The only cost is for your meals. If you'd like more information please see our website whenwordscountretreat.com or call me directly at 443-963-6440 Thank you, Jill