If this was the same as paying for a cue and you value your time as highly as you do, you need some financial advice.
As for 'fading your wives/gf's', it is nice to hear what is most important to you. You jeopardize a relationship, take time away from your spouse and kids for a CHANCE at winning a decorated piece of wood? Your priorities are severely messed up.
So, yes, I'll admit that I don't get it. If this contest was taken so seriously that people neglected paying jobs, loving spouses, and innocent children for something that would in no way make their lives better, then I truly am baffled.
This argument makes you look like a sad, sad little man.
dld
Let me word it slightly differently so someone like you might get it...
Public lottery or contests (whether free or paid) that have no winners are illegal.
If mhaimi decided to push this, he has zero chance of not winning in small claims court.
How about that argument smarty pants?
Edit:
Let me just add a "furthermore."
Furthermore, being that the cue was Bill's last and the complex nature of Mhaimi's design, it's not far-fetched to reason the cue is valued somewhere in the 5-figure range, which may not even qualify for small claims court. If there was an "inquiry" (if you would) on Mhaimi's design, Bill had an opportunity to select the second place finisher in votes (you can't nullify the contest). He didn't, so it's a moot point.
I would surmise that if Mhaimi did in fact decide to take his claim to court, the judge would value his claim based on the cash-value of the cue (as if he was winning a gift certificate to Joss West (Inc, LLC or whatever it is). That would probably be determined not by Bill, but probably by similar cues of similar design by similar makers of his stature.
Although I'm not the resident legal expert-- Dennis is -- but I know there's also something called intent and/or implied intent. Bill is on record not long before his contest saying that nearly ANY cue can be made within X weeks. Bill never said in his contest that the cue will be made within 10 years (or whatever). It's reasonable to deduce the intent of his contest was no more than 2 or 3x his quoted time frame, based on his previous quote/post.
People who say oh shucks just let it go or "you didn't pay for it" are clearly clueless. If I had won this cue, we wouldn't be discussing anything--- a court date would have already been set. That way, a judge would decide instead of an internet pool forum full of know it alls.
Finally, Bill Stroud wasn't running this contest as Bill Stroud (individual), he was running it as Bill Stroud (CEO of Joss West Cues). It was his last cue before retirement (going out of business). If your local Ford dealership was running a "Going out of business contest" and whoever drew the best picture of a concept car won a new 2012 Ford Focus (which, is about the same value of this cue, imo) and they didn't give up the car - no one here believes that dealership isn't in legal jeopardy. Therefore, there's no difference. In fact, Bill's state (do a google search and you'll see) has very clear laws on running public contests (as opposed to lotteries/sweepstakes). I believe over $2500 (which this is clearly), very specific rules have to be followed (including having a winner). None of which Bill followed.
