Official I want the gold eagle from MCM thread

HATTRICK · July 18, 2013 3:45AM

This is a cheesey way to get cheap ( 1OZ AGE) publicity so if you feel you must use this forum to enter, please post on this thread.

That way everyone will know to skip reading it.

19Lyds · July 18, 2013 6:57AM

Huh?

derryb · July 18, 2013 7:14AM

<< Huh? >>

Win a free gold eagle

TomB · July 18, 2013 8:13AM

Doesn't seem to follow the spirit of my interpretation of what these boards are for, but others may disagree.

LindeDad · July 18, 2013 8:43AM

Thanks for entering me in your very generous giveaway.

Nickcap · July 18, 2013 8:45AM

Free gold is always good.

PTVETTER · July 18, 2013 10:06AM

I like the idea of free gold myself

SmEagle1795 · July 18, 2013 10:56AM

Merely posting here is insufficient to entering - you'll need to follow these rules.

derryb · July 18, 2013 1:12PM

<< Merely posting here is insufficient to entering - you'll need to follow these rules. >>

Nice marketying by MCM. Option 2 of the rules requires an entrant to spam a "coin or precious metal" forum with a post of at least 150 words praising their experience with MCM. Hopefully the forum gods will limit these minimum 150 word advertisements to a single designated thread.

Disclaimer: I have enjoyed nothing but pleasurable dealings with MCM and recommend them often (not 150 words, but it is a fact).

LochNESS · July 18, 2013 1:40PM

<< I have enjoyed nothing but pleasurable dealings with MCM and recommend them often (not 150 words, but it is a fact). >>

+1

Hate to admit it, because I like to hate on the big boys every now and then, but MCM does an exceptional job. You pay for it most of the time, but you get your money's worth.

HATTRICK · July 18, 2013 10:34PM

<< 

<< Merely posting here is insufficient to entering - you'll need to follow these rules. >>

Nice marketying by MCM. Option 2 of the rules requires an entrant to spam a "coin or precious metal" forum with a post of at least 150 words praising their experience with MCM. Hopefully the forum gods will limit these minimum 150 word advertisements to a single designated thread.

Disclaimer: I have enjoyed nothing but pleasurable dealings with MCM and recommend them often (not 150 words, but it is a fact). >>

derryb,

That is why I started this thread. I too have had many good dealings with MCM. Enough said.

ricko · July 19, 2013 12:36AM

Great giveaway contest.. an AGE is an attractive prize. However, option two would be considered spam. Cheers, RickO

JohnMaben · July 19, 2013 2:25AM

There seems to be some confusion over the requirements of the drawing. Allow me to clarify:

What we are looking for is for our good customers to spread the word about their satisfaction of our business, talk about past experience, or what they feel distinguishes us. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising. While this may be advertising, it is not forced – we are merely asking those who have had a positive experience with our company to let others know about it. It’s really that simple.

The other option, which does not involve posting anything in a message board, is to videotape the ‘unboxing’ (removal of contents) from an order received by ModernCoinMart and post the video on YouTube with commentary about the packaging and items received. Anyone with a smart-phone can do this in a few minutes.

We aren’t trying to force anyone to do anything, we are giving those a chance who want to spread the word anyway a chance to win a Gold Eagle in the process, but we have specific requirements to help the satisfied customers who wish to enter in helping us spread the word about their dealings with us.

Unfortunately none of this thread qualifies as entry in the drawing. However, we do agree that 150 words is too much and are modifying the rules right now from 150 to 50.

Rules for the drawing can be found HERE. Anyone who wishes to enter may, but must follow the established guidelines.

Thank you!
John Maben
CEO, ModernCoinMart

derryb · July 19, 2013 3:08AM

John, with all due respect, while MCM is not forcing anyone to do anything, is not MCM encouraging forum members to "spam" the forum on behalf of MCM? This is not the same as just posting good reviews because a customer is very satisfied with MCM, there is potential payment involved for what MCM deems the best post. Now in order to make the best post on behalf of MCM would not a contestant try to be as colorful, creative and positive with his contest entry? This only opens the door to a whole lot more contests by other coin related businesses and will only result in more posted "entries" on an otherwise tightly monitored forum. I have never seen a bad comment voluntarily made on the forum about MCM and have myself, as have many others, lauded MCM for their business model and customer service and recommended them to others. However, these past posted kudos have always come from the heart and not from the wallet. I also find it troubling that MCM seeks to hammer a forum by requiring each posted entry to be done so as a "new thread."

I do not think businesses, other than the forum owner, should promote contests on the forum that concern praising said business. This is not the same thing as the many giveaways that forum members share with their fellow membership. It is my personal opinion that MCM would be better served by accepting entries in the form of an email to MCM in lieu of a forum post and then using the emailed winning entry for advertising purposes. MCM I'm sure is grateful for all the unsolicited praise it receives on the forum (well deserved praise) and should not solicit praise on the forum - it dilutes the value of that praise. It is generous of MCM to reward a forum member for a post, just don't make it about MCM.

I accept having spam in my email box or in adds on the web pages I visit. I personally have a problem seeing it allowed as content on any forum. The real question is "is it considered spam?" I see it as spam. Just my two cents worth and if I am off base I would hope my fellow forum members will let me know.

Edited to add: Further clarification from the contest sponsor indicates that a random qualifying post will win the contest. While this reduces the need for creativity on the part of the poster it does not remove the fact that the post is being made, in its own required forum thread, on behalf of the contest sponsor to enter the contest. How the winning spammer is chosen is irrelevent. Fifty entries choosing contest option #2 will result in 50 separate threads about the contest sponsor. That's a lot of spam and honestly, a great marketing technique. I just hate to see it applied here. I believe the sponsor would be better served if its forum member staff viewed this matter as forum members and not as the contest's sponsor.

HATTRICK · July 19, 2013 3:24AM

derryb,

John,

I did not start this thread to enter the contest. Thoes who replied did not intend to enter on this forum either.

However you should be thankful that some of us were kind enough to mention your firm and say that we have had good experiences

in dealing with you. I would not expect to see many if any full entries on this forum. I think most of us would see it as spam.

Patches · July 19, 2013 3:40AM

TomB · July 19, 2013 7:29AM

Beautiful post by derryb. MCM would do well to modify the contest to specifically prohibit awarding a coin to those who spam boards as this can serve to harm MCM's reputation mightily. I know it has harmed their reputation with me already.

JohnMaben · July 19, 2013 8:21AM

We are very grateful for the nice comments, I'm sorry I did not add that in my post. The drawing is completely random and is not based on which unboxing or post is deemed best by us. We wanted to offer two options to win and we did. I can see the points made, and will take it under advisement for next time around. I'd like to think that anyone that chooses the post option would be sincere and base it on past transactions. In that context, I don't see it as spam but respect others opinions that may be different than mine.

John

derryb · August 5, 2013 3:54AM

A horse by any other name is still spam, even when you motivate others with a giveaway to do it for you. Reducing the size of the spam from 150 words to 50 words still leaves us with the foul taste of spam.

OldEastside · August 5, 2013 4:07AM

OK I officialy want a free gold eagle

Steve

commoncents05 · August 5, 2013 4:08AM

<< Beautiful post by derryb. MCM would do well to modify the contest to specifically prohibit awarding a coin to those who spam boards as this can serve to harm MCM's reputation mightily. I know it has harmed their reputation with me already. >>

I wholeheartedly agree with derryb and TomB. The first few won't be a big deal, but a few dozen posts will tick off a lot of people. Not to mention the moderators will likely start nuking the threads, then people will get mad because their entries might not count, etc etc. I think the whole plan will backfire and do more bad than good for MCM. It's already done so in my view.

-Paul

Raufus · August 5, 2013 4:21AM

Free Gold

libertydude · August 7, 2013 1:03AM

FYI, posting in this thread to satisfy option #2 is invalid. To be valid, the entrant needs to start a new thread:

<< "Start a new thread and ensure the subject includes the text......" >>

Regardless, this thread and 'valid' contest threads seem to violate Rule 6 of these forums:

<< Rule 6) This forum is about US Coins. If your post is not directly related to US Coins then this is the wrong forum. Do not post it or your posting privileges may be removed. >>

Banish this thread and any current/future threads related to the contest! (I despise spam in all forms)

HATTRICK · August 7, 2013 1:15AM

If you took the time to read you would see this was never intended to be a entry. It was started and most of the posts were to send the message

we believe the contest to be spam. Your wish to ban discussion about spam is out of line and definately not what the forum is all about. It is not up

to you to decide what we discuss.

libertydude · August 8, 2013 2:16AM

<< If you took the time to read you would see this was never intended to be a entry. It was started and most of the posts were to send the message

we believe the contest to be spam. Your wish to ban discussion about spam is out of line and definately not what the forum is all about. It is not up

to you to decide what we discuss. >>

Actually, if you re-read your first post, your intention was to have people post their 'entries' in this thread. I was merely pointing out that it would be an invalid entry according to MCM's contest rules.

I didn't make up the forum rules. They're stickied at the top of the forum. Explain how this thread is DIRECTLY about U.S. coins and I'll recant.

HATTRICK · August 8, 2013 3:10AM

Libertydude,

It was meant to be a facetious statement. Not for anyone to actually post but to say it was not wanted here in a light hearted manor

before anyone started posting. Later postings showed many agreed with me. It seemed to do the trick except for one person who

later posted an actual entry. OPA posted a link back to his thread and there were no more replies to it.

As to being about coins, many of us Buy Sell and Collect modern coins which are bought from the Dealer in question. Talking about

where we buy and our experiences as well as Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Baked Beans and Spam are an integral part of the hobby.

A 25 word endorsement is not talk. It is spam.

JJM · August 8, 2013 9:26PM

free gold?.....it just so happens that im collecting that!

jessewvu · August 8, 2013 11:52PM

Sounds like a great way to have people post rave reviews (potentially without merit). To each his own, but now I will have a very hard time believing any review of MCM.

HATTRICK · August 9, 2013 12:09AM

As with any worded endorsement it is regarded as an advertisement, paid or otherwise.

However a trusted associate or fellow collector just saying that someone is reliable, good, ect.

PRICELESS

Official I want the gold eagle from MCM thread

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