my observation: gmcole & shamadam are correct in their thinking:
gmcole said:
Here's the potential problem. Let's say someone is raffling a case that was in the for sale section for $200 OBO ,however, 42 spots at $10 each= $420!! As soon as 15 spots sell ,the seller could have phantom buyers for the other spots. In the event one of the 15 real spots win= seller got market value. In the event one of the sellers phantom spots win=seller screwed AZers. I think
#1. the combined price of the tckets needs to be close to the real value of the cue or case, otherwise, it seems like the seller is taking advantage of AZers.-At minimum!
#2 Only Azers can buy tickets. Otherwise do a raffle at your pool hall. I just won a cue in a raffle. What I mean is, the ticket I bought won. A freind of mine saw it on Az and asked me to buy a couple tickets for him.
#3 An unedited post by the seller confirming the exact raffle date being used must be posted(prior to the raffle date) as well as PMs to the participants.
Just my 2 cents-jeff
shamadam said:
I believe that the most important rule to follow is Jeff's #1. If the total combinded value of the tickets is equal to the value of the cue, then I dont see a problem. If a cue is worth 500 bucks and 50 tickets are sold at 10 bucks then there cannot be any scam. 10 bucks gets you a shot. Buyer/seller/whoever gets the same 1 in 50 chance for 10 bucks. The seller can buy 49 of those tickets. If the one he didnt buy hits then he sold a 500 dollar cue for 10 bucks. Doubtful, but possible. Again, its all a gamble. The more tickets you buy, the more 1 in 50 chances you get. The problem lies in where someone sells 50 tickets for 15 bucks. Now, after he sells 33 tickets, he got his 500 bucks (495 to be exact) He then buys the last 17 and hopes that one of those hits. Worst case scenario, he got fair value for the cue. Best case, he got a free 495 bucks less whatever the partner in crime wants to sell him his cue back. When the lottery numbers are used, no one can manipulate who wins. One can only manipulate how many 1 in 50 chances one owns. Keep it at fair market value, and a raffle cannot be manipulated. JMO.
P.S. Sorry if I didnt make too much sense. It made sense to me as I was typing it. I done crappy in english class:wink:
let me express what i believe gmcole & shamadam said and i believe to be true:
for example:
1.) a sw @ real value at $2400 (30 x $80).
2.) the same sw @ raffle value for $3200 40 x $80).
and please note: that #1 above reflecting 30 x $80 = $2400 is the 'real sale value',
(and this is just for explanation purposes and example only).
here goes:
A.) Raffle Originator "states" 40 chances at $80 each (raffle value = $3200).
B.) Raffle Originator can sell only 30 chances to Az'ers for the 'real' sw value (as stated in #1 above) and knows he/she is good (At Worst) for the 'real value' @ $2400; while keeping 10 chances for him/her-self.
therefore; the Raffle Originator can get his/her full "real value" for the cue, while at the same time maintaining a 25% chance of:
getting the full "real value of the cue ($2400)" PLUS a 25% chance of also getting to keep the cue as well!!
that segues an Unbelievably Great Advantage to the Raffle Originator; i.e. he/she has a 25% chance (at NO DOLLAR LOSS) to not only get full value ($2400) for their sw, but additionally a 25% chance to Keep The Cue at an additional value of $2400.
i feel gmcole and shamadam are completely correct. and i also think that to date nobody was dishonest here and intended to do anything wrong, such as RackRunner.
further, i think the consensus here is correct:
i) all sales should be to Az'ers only, without any outside participation or Original Raffle person participation; and;
ii) and it would be prudent for all of us to accept raffles where only 'Real Values' are asked for.
if those precepts are not followed, the expression caveat emptor is a proper admonition; so be it, please suit yourself.
if my reasoning is in some error, I am sure I will be dutifully flamed!!!!
waiting for the flaming? (nonetheless, still luv ya'll)
smokey