what is up with EARhost screwing their client and then launching a new business (rackraffle??) :rolleyes:

I saw that too and asked James about it...

Nothing wrong with starting a new business. James didn't screw anyone he helped everyone out and did the best. :).

I think James is being humerous with the "rackraffle.com" sig. It's meant as a joke, or at least that's the way I read it. :)

Why can't I start a new business. This is a very unique idea and it doesn't envolve me having to do customer support.

Originally posted by howain
what is up with EARhost screwing their client and then launching a new business (rackraffle??) :rolleyes:

...and you could post this in another one of our threads rather than start a new one?

I am sorry sir/madam I am not screwing anyone. I am doing my best to handle every client one by one.

Whats RackRaffle going to be? :eek:

Well, I suppose i will let everyone in on the idea. RackRaffle will be what the name basically says. Every week I will sell tickets on 1 free month for a quality dedicated server. For every 25 tickets sold their will be a new dedicated server up for grabs. This leaves a great chance of winning. 1/25 is pretty good if you ask me :)

I am afraid i can not release the pricing of the tickets untill another time.

Well, I suppose i will let everyone in on the idea. RackRaffle will be what the name basically says. Every week I will sell tickets on 1 free month for a quality dedicated server. For every 25 tickets sold their will be a new dedicated server up for grabs. This leaves a great chance of winning. 1/25 is pretty good if you ask me

And after winning 1 month free the client has to pay how much for the box each month ? Or do they continue to buy tickets for the following months hoping to win ?

1/25 is pretty good if you ask me
It is a good chance, but now you have given a little bit of information it would be nice to let people have a bit more about how this will work :D

They can choose to take over the lease or try their luck again for another free month. I hate to leave you hanging but that is all the info I can give right now. Anymore would be considered advertising ;)

I don't mean to dig, but... Isn't a raffle == gambling == illegal in most states? Or does the money go to a charity of some sort? Or is it "No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law?"

huh? A raffle is where you buy tickets on a prize.


Quote from dictionary.com
raf·fle1 Pronunciation Key (rfl)
n.
A lottery in which a number of persons buy chances to win a prize.

No i don't think a raffle can be called gambling, its a bit different..

Yes gambling is prohibited in most states, but you can get a license from honduras, belize etc.. than you will be allowed to run it from that state, but your servers must be hosted in belize or honduras etc.. (servers meaning your site, not the servers you can win).

I keep getting Earhost and Cyberwings mixed up. Too much crash-and-burn going on around here lately. Someone ought to start up a new web site that features a weekly digest of this stuff, like those little soap opera magazines you buy in the supermarket. Call the site DaysOfOurHosts.com or GeneralHostpital.com, something like that.

Good luck with the raffle thingy. Maybe you should get some pointers from the guy who was here the other day giving away cars.


Raffles are perfectly legal in the US. It's lotteries that are illegal. There's a difference.

Originally posted by alchiba
Maybe you should get some pointers from the guy who was here the other day giving away cars.

I'll be sure to do that :eek: :confused: :D

I'd check into this...

A quick google comes up with:

- General: http://www.chron.com/cgi-bin/auth/story.mpl/content/chronicle/business/lipman/lipman980706.html
- Texas: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/brochure/raffle.html
- Connecticut: http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2002/ba/2002SB-00502-R000126-BA.htm

Clearly there is more to it than just selling the tickets and granting the prize. Hate to rain on your parade here, but, research is a good idea. I'd seriously hate to hear of anyone getting in trouble over something so obvious.

Originally posted by fractiousws
I'll be sure to do that :eek: :confused: :D

I was referring to this thread: http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61241

I also suggest you get two separate (paid) legal opinions before you proceed.

:eek2: :eek:*faints*

Originally posted by DizixCom
I'd check into this...

A quick google comes up with:

- General: http://www.chron.com/cgi-bin/auth/story.mpl/content/chronicle/business/lipman/lipman980706.html
- Texas: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/brochure/raffle.html
- Connecticut: http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2002/ba/2002SB-00502-R000126-BA.htm

Clearly there is more to it than just selling the tickets and granting the prize. Hate to rain on your parade here, but, research is a good idea. I'd seriously hate to hear of anyone getting in trouble over something so obvious.

I know for sure that it is legal in my "province". People are holding raffles all the time. At carnivals, hockey games, baseball games.

Read the links. It's certainly possible that it is perfectly legal wherever you are, but as alchiba said you really should get legal advice on something like this. Just because others can do it, doesn't necessarily mean we normal folk can. Carnivals, baseball games, etc, are probably licensed and jumping through hoops of various shapes and sizes in order to do it legally.

Or, don't get caught.

Ok, I will take a look into this. But while we are on the subject...would anybody be interested in this idea?

I think it's a fun idea. If you can make it work, it would be cool to see it in action, and, well, it might be cool to have another server to beat on for a month. Maybe try a few things out.

You might also look into sponsored activities of some sort. Get a dedicated server provided to give you a server for a month, run some sort of contest involving a game, writing, coding, smelling a certain way, or ironing your socks, whatever. If the dedicated server provider is getting enough visibility from this then it could work out for them pretty well. If the winner decides to keep the server, the winner becomes their customer.

Who knows? Contests are almost always fun. Picking a winner without upsetting people is tough though.

I dunno. I think I'd like to see all the dust from the EarHost issue settle first.

You know, completely clean up the first issue before proceeding with the second.

Originally posted by fractiousws
Well, I suppose i will let everyone in on the idea. RackRaffle will be what the name basically says. Every week I will sell tickets on 1 free month for a quality dedicated server. For every 25 tickets sold their will be a new dedicated server up for grabs. This leaves a great chance of winning. 1/25 is pretty good if you ask me :)

I am afraid i can not release the pricing of the tickets untill another time.
James,

I hope you're kidding here. May I kindly and humbly suggest that before any new venture that you start, email me at rob@HTTPme.com and I'll shoot holes in it for you and if it still floats when I'm done with it, then it's a goer. :) I'm serious.

How about you email me at james@earhost.com and take your best shot ;)

If you start anything along these lines, please keep it out of WHT hey?? This forum is not here so you can launch a new business when you feel like it. I would expect the mods to ban any promotion of that kind of "venture" here in this forum.

I sincerely hope that you're just joking with your new venture. I'll treat this like you are.

Sounds like a good idea.. but one of those that will never make reality...

Even if it is "legal" you can NOT conduct a rafle of any kind that is multiple state participation and or possibly overseas. (I.E - Just being able to view it outside on internet AUTOMATICALLY makes it ILLEGAL...

The raffle would work if "legal" (again catch phrase) only to local residents... it could be allowed state wide per special lic fees...

Yes I just called my uncle who is my lawyer!!!!

Sorry to burst ya bubble james....
Good idea but would never work :eek:

PS- how in the world would you expect to sell any raffle ticket at $720 each... thats minimum at 18,000 car w 1/25 chance???

If you start anything along these lines, please keep it out of WHT hey?? This forum is not here so you can launch a new business when you feel like it. I would expect the mods to ban any promotion of that kind of "venture" here in this forum.

I sincerely hope that you're just joking with your new venture. I'll treat this like you are.

Last time I checked your name is Bob, not robert.

PS- how in the world would you expect to sell any raffle ticket at $720 each... thats minimum at 18,000 car w 1/25 chance???

I don't know, I guess you will have to ask a guy that is planning holding a raffle for a car. :eek: :D

The last I heard, raffles on the internet are not legal in certain states...

Line up for some more punishment former earhost pawns and future rackraffle targets...

tsk tsk... when will they ever learn?

Originally posted by the-muse
The last I heard, raffles on the internet are not legal in certain states...

Line up for some more punishment former earhost pawns and future rackraffle targets...

tsk tsk... when will they ever learn?

I am just going to ignore this. Sick of repeating myself.

Originally posted by fractiousws


I am just going to ignore this. Sick of repeating myself.
Good and please keep "RackRaffle.com" out of WHT. Build your business, fine, but promote it elsewhere please. You've embarrassed yourself enough as it is. The dust is still settling from the earhost train wreck and now you want to inflict more pain and suffering on folks from around here?? :eek:

James...

I think the idea is neat...but will NEVER work. Short explanation of why:

So people buy tickets and someone wins the raffle...he paid let's say $10-$30 for the ticket and now he has a server for ONE MONTH. After that he has to keep the lease and pay monthly as usual or just let it go. Both those options make no sense. One...if he is serious enough about leasing a server and running a business, he'll just go and lease it and get started instead of pissing around with a raffle until he wins. And the scond option..what good is a server if you only have it for one month? There's no time to actually do anything with it...and even if you do something with it...it's not gonna last long enough for your troubles.

Anyways, not trying to cut down your idea...just trying to warn you that even though the idea sounds cool...it's a bust.

Just to let you know Bob I am not the least bit embarressed. Why should I be? I got screwed over majorly and did not recover from it. I gave the customers a good home, refunded those who requested so.

Good and please keep "RackRaffle.com" out of WHT. Build your business, fine, but promote it elsewhere please.

This sounds alot different from a person who was preaching about freedom of speech no more than 5 days ago.

I'm afraid I have to agree with Chaps above. The idea is interesting, but I don't think it will fly unless you target people who are ignorant or just playing around.

In which case, it wouldn't be a good investment for your sponser who will provide the servers.. expecting to retain clients.

Perhaps you could raffle off something else instead.. like hosting for a year or something. If you market yourself well, you could get an interesting following.

Also... while it may be acceptable for baseball teams, and churches to have raffles.. many of these groups are "under the law"... in other words.. it's kind of like people who smoke dope. They aren't likely to get arrested, but it is still illegal.

You need a license to hold a raffle. I highly suggest you consult a very good lawyer before embarking any further. Consider the pain you are suffering right now from Earhost.. are you willing to fall down another hole simply because you didn't do you due dillegence?

Good luck!

Originally posted by fractiousws


This sounds alot different from a person who was preaching about freedom of speech no more than 5 days ago.
Freedom of speech, yes. But WHT is not your launch pad for any idea you come up with. This is exactly why new ventures should not be allowed to use the ad forums to promote. [IMO ;)]

you should all just live in the UK we dont have any of that gambling is illegal crap, its regulated but its legal. In fact they have just taken the tax off betting

Originally posted by Aussie Bob

Freedom of speech, yes. But WHT is not your launch pad for any idea you come up with. This is exactly why new ventures should not be allowed to use the ad forums to promote. [IMO ;)]

Bob, and how would they differentiate new venture from old. So we would have to add another rule on this forum. You can post ads, but only in the ads forums, and then you must fill out an application first so we can make sure that you business is old enough. I don't quite get where you are coming from.

I saw and read some of the stuff about earhost, but as I look at the beginning of this thread, James is not the one who started it. He has a simply, line in his signature. Whether he was right or wrong in the earhost deal, and even though this idea appears highly suspect and possibly not legally viable, that doesn't mean he should have to abide by a different set of rules on this forum than anybody else.

Understand, I am not defending James, personally, or earhost, as a business. I don't know either one. It just seems that everytime something goes wrong, people want more rules on this forum.

Originally posted by Chaps
James...

I think the idea is neat...but will NEVER work. Short explanation of why:

So people buy tickets and someone wins the raffle...he paid let's say $10-$30 for the ticket and now he has a server for ONE MONTH. After that he has to keep the lease and pay monthly as usual or just let it go. Both those options make no sense. One...if he is serious enough about leasing a server and running a business, he'll just go and lease it and get started instead of pissing around with a raffle until he wins. And the scond option..what good is a server if you only have it for one month? There's no time to actually do anything with it...and even if you do something with it...it's not gonna last long enough for your troubles.

Anyways, not trying to cut down your idea...just trying to warn you that even though the idea sounds cool...it's a bust.
James - you seem like a nice guy who's maybe just a little young and wet behind the ears. [no offence] Please read what Chaps has written as there is wisdom contained within. Noone is flaming you or attacking you. But this is a community and you must be ready to stand fast against the comments, be they positive or negative, that should come your way. They can both work for you. :) They provide balance in the Universe.

Ohhhhh, wax on - wax off. ;)

And the scond option..what good is a server if you only have it for one month?

Sound like :spam: 'ers might want to buy some raffle tickets

Originally posted by Aussie Bob
James - you seem like a nice guy who's maybe just a little young and wet behind the ears. [no offence] Please read what Chaps has written as there is wisdom contained within. Noone is flaming you or attacking you. But this is a community and you must be ready to stand fast against the comments, be they positive or negative, that should come your way. They can both work for you. They provide balance in the Universe.

Ohhhhh, wax on - wax off.

Originally posted by fractiousws
Ok, I will take a look into this....

:D