76 ConocoPhilips Route 66 "sweepstakes" are crap (buy, gas, prices)

[TechmanOR]

Sweep stakes means participation is open to anyone and the typical "no purchase necessary, purchase does not increase your chance of winning"

The heck it isn't. 76 is currently running this free gas for life game of chance, uhhh "sweepstake" as they call it. You can enter once a day...

Oh yeah, you have to buy 10 gallons before you can get a game ticket from the station.

Just to stay legal, you can ask them for a ticket but you have to do so by mail, and they will send it back to you by mail. You have to send them a stamped self addressed envelope, and one entry per one outer envelope.

All their sweepstakes are like that and with gas prices today, basically they're saying you have to buy $30 to play.

I just don't really like the way they do business.

[jtur88]

That's the way all sweepstakes are done. At Burger King, I can get a game piece which is likely to give me a free beverage upgrade or something, but they're right. I can order a game piece by US Mail, without making a purchase. Ive gone through the trash bins, but everyone has already removed their gamepieces from the (large size only) beverage cups.

[TechmanOR]

Originally Posted by jtur88

That's the way all sweepstakes are done. At Burger King, I can get a game piece which is likely to give me a free beverage upgrade or something, but they're right. I can order a game piece by US Mail, without making a purchase. Ive gone through the trash bins, but everyone has already removed their gamepieces from the (large size only) beverage cups.

It wouldn't be so bad if it was "when you patronize 76, you have a chance".

It gets sketchy when they impose more or less $30+ minimum purchase and the way they make you request the piece.

Some places let you enter from the web, or ask to have it mailed.

Having to request by mail, then having to pay the return postage as well is clearly an attempt to expense you out.