Claiming prizes

[nilesquimby]

Winning, it seems, is not so great!

Have had my name in the Independent and the Spectator, but no prizes are forthcoming!

It's been 10 weeks for a first prize in the Spectator, and the Independent Details comp prize of a print for "first" is a nonsense! You ring the number provided and they say you must hear from the paper first.............the paper does not inform you and when you contact them they say to ring the number provided!

Any sage advice out there on how to claim................the prize print seems particularly odd. The prize print gallery told me they have had many such enquiries and have no clue what we are on about!

All very odd, and make one wonder if it's worth entering these crosswords/puzzles?

[Quizmonkey]

Do you really enter to win the prize? Surely not. The dictionary you often win is not even good enough to solve the relevant puzzle; a fountain pen (who uses a fountain pen these days?); and a print (would you have ever bought that print?).

[Mamyalynne]

I think you are right to be disgruntled, it is as much as false advertising and then if you have to chase it up then you end up incurring costs.

Many moons ago my daughter won a competition on 'Blue Peter' the prize was a Penguin book a week for a year, they dried up after a month and when I contacted both the BBC an Penguin, they expressed amazement that she/I was dissatisfied as she had already received 4 books !!

I stood my ground and pointed out that adults should set an example to children and show integrity and honest, she got the remaining books for the year and a £10 book token.

A letter or email to the Editor seems on the cards in my mind. Good luck.

[nilesquimby]

You are kidding, Quizmonkey?

Whilst the prize is not my main concern when I enter, I sure as hell would hope they would keep up their side of the bargain!

Why offer a prize if it's not forthcoming? Trade's descriptions etc............

Anyway, it's bugging me now. Really bugging me.

[nilesquimby]

Thanks mamyalynne!

Glad someone sees my point!

I shall try the Editor on both publications................ Incidentally, I just tried the number for the print again and it's now constantly on answer machine!

[Euphemia]

You are quite right to expect your prize, nq. I do hope you succeed eventually.

[Quizmonkey]

No, I do see your point - and obviously I agree they should keep up their end of the bargain. But the kudos of winning outshines, imho, an object that you quite probably don't even want. The Listener used to give a book token and a Listener bookplate - the perfect combination of desired prize (you buy what YOU want), decorated with a memory of the achievement of winning.

[nilesquimby]

Thanks Euphemia!

I hope I succeed, too.

It's very annoying!

[nilesquimby]

I had the kudos, Quizmonkey! Now I want my prize!

And, anyway, in your story, The Listener winner darned well got their prize!!!

:-))

[Euphemia]

I won a silver Dupont ballpoint pen in the DT many years ago. It is beautiful, a joy to write with and I treasure it!

[nilesquimby]

Now that's what I'm talking about Euphemia!

I would treasure that also!

The prize is part of the kudos...............and I want my prize.... *stamps feet*! :-))

[Lie-in King]

You stick to your guns, nq :-))

[frogprince2]

I shall have to disagree with Quizmonkey about the calibre of Dictionaries offered as prizes. A couple of years ago I won a Bloomsbury Concise English Dictionary. It's fantastic with 1700+ pages. It was a runner-up prize from Saga magazine, and very much appreciated.

[nilesquimby]

Thanks Lie-in-king.

My guns are stuck by! :-))

[nilesquimby]

I know Frogprince...........I've won a couple of dictionaries too....bang up to date and well worth it! :-))

Can't believe Quizmonkey really means that we should not be bothered?! :-)

[turast]

I had to write to the Spectator when I was named as a winner last year and didn't hear anything for 8 weeks. You should definitely write to the editor. The independent is very prompt with dictionary prizes for the crosswords at the weekend. I don't know about the "details" competition, except that I love the one they do at Christmas. I can usually identify about 10%.

[nilesquimby]

Thank's for that turast............Shall go online and send an email to the Spectator Ed.

I've had other prizes from the Independent, one of which came before my name was mentioned! I'm awaiting another prize now, but not concerned about that yet..........It's this blasted print that bothers me...............the company sem to have no clue whatsover that they have offered a prize?! Strange, but true :-)

[Quizmonster]

Re the Spectator, on one occasion when I won a few years ago, I contacted the magazine after a lengthy period of time had elapsed to ask - since I'd never won it before - how long it was before prize-despatch usually occurred.
I don't know if it was just because I hadn't noticed earlier or because my query inspired it, but they then 'started' to print on the online crossword page that the delay would be six weeks.
Ten weeks certainly does seem excessive, so I should go on asking them about it and, yes, you DO deserve the prize!

[nilesquimby]

Yeah, I've contacted them online Quizmonster!

Hopefully I'll get some joy......saw the 6 week disclaimer, but it's gone way beyond that!

Loved the bit of banter earlier! :-))

[Quizmonster]

Niles, I wonder whether you're confusing me, QuizmonSTER, and the producer of the earlier "banter", QuizmonKEY. It's a pity that such similar user-names were ever allowed, but there you go.

[krumb]

Hi, Joining the debate late. I won The Independent crossword not so long ago. I was away at Peppa Pig World on the Saturday. I looked in the paper and saw my name. When I got home on the Sunday, the prize had arrived on the preceding Thursday, two days before the announcement. Now that is service!