@Suresh -Hi Suresh, is this topic specific to IndiBlogger and its contests? As far as the samples are concerned, I can assure you that the dispatch of hampers is never done on a pick and choose basis! :-) We give out 500 - 2000 samples, and the process it goes through from the warehouse to reaching you is quite complex. Even the wording that goes in to the attached letter has to go through various approvals, and the packaging of so many hampers is never easy. At times, delays are inevitable. However, we ensure that hampers are sent to every single blogger who applies for it. All our partners have either already sent out the merchandise, or they are in the process of fulfilling them. Once the hampers are sent however, that's where things tend to go wrong. We have had issues where boxes have been opened and the contents replaced, or hampers being returned because there's nobody at home, or hampers with opened and empty bottles! (Somewhere out there, is a courier chap with really straight hair) I mentioned this on an another thread - we''re building a system wherein everything that our partners send can be tracked. In other words, we're building in dispatch numbers into our system, so that there is no ambiguity and every order can be tracked & followed up on. This system should be ready in a week's time, post which, we intend to do a test run.
As far as prizes are concerned, IndiBlogger has never asked for taxes to claim a prize. As far as cash prizes go, we were told by our auditors that we need to deduct tax, and IndiBlogger bore the brunt of the same - ensuring that the winners got the exact amount which was promised.
Though I did't want to compare the various platforms, since this has come up from what I saw the T&C , when the winners will be announced ans the date when prize will be dispatched is clearly mentioned on the indiblogger's contest page.
About the samples I have lost so many of them (not from indiblogger though) and there also have been instances when parcel was opened things taken out and packed well again that I realised it only later when I opened the package. Tracking system would help eliminate this problem (y)
Hi Renie! Let me assure you that I have had no complaints with Indi. Yes, I have not received those two hampers and I had no reason to know who was responsible for sending them. If Indiblogger was responsible, rest assured that my automatic assumption is that it would be some glitch and not a deliberate act. My experience thus far has been that you have been scrupulously honest in your dealings.
This thread is here because bloggers here are also contestants elsewhere and it is because I was sure about your openness that I used this forum to inform fellow-bloggers of these issues and discuss possible remedies. Had I had any doubts on this count I would not have trusted this thread to exist for any length of time :)
I opened out the topic with issues I had merely because I did not want reluctance to name problem contests from others - and not because I had serious issues. If, perchance, I gave you the impression that I had any doubts about the integrity of the Indiblogger team I assure you that such a thought never crossed my mind. Accept my apology I have hurt your team inadvertently.
No hard feelings Suresh, it's all good! 
And, I suppose, that Bloggers are free to discuss problems they may have on contests held elsewhere? There is a concerned person here who seems to think that it is prohibited :)
Uncle, first do let me know where I have used the word prohibited. Respectfully, understand what I have said. If you have decided to not to understand, that is my problem. If you've read the part before this comment by Renie, I have said what others do is uncontrollable. What Indiblogger does can be discussed. Renie has pointed out that the cash amount that Indiblogger assures to give is after tax deduction, not before. In a way, there's nothing wrong with after deduction as pretty much everyone does it. This is an effort that Indiblogger has made because they believe it is right. Now if others don't do it, it doesn't mean it is wrong. It simply means that they prefer doing this. Ask your chartered accountant. He would say that it won't make a good impression on many, but deducting the tax amount and then giving the remainder amount to the winner. And Sureshjee, on another note, I would appreciate if you have the decency to name the person rather than saying "the concerned person". I have respects for you, therefore I mention your name. Hopefully, judging by your profile picture I can only but hope you reflect the same wisdom and honour as I did!! Stop lashing people just because they're saying the opposite of what you've said. Same applies for that "10 shades..../50 shades..." discussion on facebook.
@Sorc: I will assume that that 'Uncle' is meant in respect. There is an ad that has made 'Uncle' and 'Aunty' terms of contempt - so those are actually risky terms to use with people unknown to you these days :) Given that you acknowledge having respect for me allow me to give the following as avuncular advice. If you choose to see it as furthering the argument, I shall not indulge any further.
As far as the tax laws and adminstration thereof go, please do understand that I am a Finance MBA from IIM and I have dealt with these matters. In this very thread, you can see 2-3 messages by me stating that tax law implementation cannot be blamed on the sponsors PROVIDED it is mentioned upfront. That is one of the problems that I faced here with you. You assume that the other person is ignorant about what you are talking about - you may be well-meaning but it gives an impression of arrogance. In this case, a mere reading of all my messages in this thread would have told you that I knew about the tax laws and did not need to ask my 'Chartered Accountant' about it.
I would not have mentioned that FB incident here but for your mentioning it. And, believe it or not, I did not even know it was you there till the argument was all done and I checked up on who it was. As far as that incident is concerned, a person effectively says, "I am so happy that I am going to get published in this book" and you reply, "What a stupid title for the book". She was so happy and your comment pricked her balloon.
As far as the validity of your criticism goes, I have no arguments having discussed the same matter with TF in the HP meet. My point was very simple. THAT was not the place to give the criticism. And that was all I said initially. When I have been given to know that my action may have given unjustified hurt to someone, I apologise even when I intended no hurt. If you doubt that you only need to read my reply to Renie above.
Now, you did not do that and you poked fun at me and when I reacted you said that I was reacting badly because I could not take a difference of opinion. Were it a difference of opinion about whether the title was good or not, I can take all the criticism you can dish out. But there was no difference of opinion on that issue at all, the problem was only your manners and the hurt it caused the person concerned. If you think that your reaction to her message would cause no hurt to the majority you are welcome to check on that. And, all my objections were exclusively focussed on where you were voicing your criticism and not on what you were criticising and you persisted in coloring it as an objection to your criticism. What you said may be right but where you said it was wrong. What is right to do in the toilet is not fit to do in the kitchen.
I sincerely advise you to kindly consider the impact of your messages on the recipient in future before voicing them. We have common friends and they assure me that you are a good person at heart. I would hate to have a good person ruin relationships because he is too hasty in voicing his opinions.
Ofcourse its out of respect. What's wrong with you? I say something honestly and directly, you take it personally and when I give you respect you seem to be interested in misquoting it.
Really now??????I am not talking about what IT book says. I am saying based on observation what happens. Even for PC/Console gaming tournaments they do the same. They mention an amount such as 1 lakh, but they do a tax deduction and then give the amount. Its also one of the reason why many frown at contests/tournaments that give money, but they all do this. But there are those who give the full amount, but they give as cash in hand. Funny part is that some of them flashed their qualifications as well, saying that they know about the law and income tax. FYI, some of them are from IIM, whereas couple of them are from MET, ICFAI. The ones who promise the full amount and/or don't ask for a tax amount when giving an prize which comes with high value are the ones who don't talk about their degrees. Whom to believe and whom not to believe? Ultimately the contest participants and winners would cheated, yes????Seriously, you seem in the mood to troll me. Whatever rocks your boat.P.S.: No, I didn't make an indirect joke about you or make a pun or insulted your or disrespected you.
I didn't say anything wrong. Since when using the words "Stupid title" is bad and offensive? The choice of words in that FB words are so colourful as if I was commenting about the content of the book, which I already cleared it. But if people find it convenient to troll on someone like this, I bet they're famous at parties *sarcasm*. Have a cake, dude! (Dude is not a profanity word atleast in english or used out of disrespect. No, I am not saying this to troll you nor its a pun, I am just saying).
Renie thanks to your platform I have won quite some prizes on Indiblogger and some on other platforms without paying taxes but I did shell out Rs.15,000 as tax for the Tata Docomo 3G life contest without knowing you would have done it for me. Will keep that in mind next time. ;)
