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Apple to Give Away $10,000 for 50 Billionth Download

Brett Widmer — Sat, 04 May 2013 01:11:18 +0000

Have an iPhone or iPad? Thinking about buying a new app? Today’s the day to do it. Apple is currently running the 50 billion apps competition. One lucky winner will snag a $10,000 Apple Store Gift Card if they happen to be the 50 billionth app purchaser.

You can finally get that Macbook you’ve been wanting and a lot of swag to go along with it. The 50 billionth download will get the grand prize, but fear not if you are not the lucky type, the next 50 downloads will each win a $500 gift card. The promotion began on April 29, and will run until the last card has been given away. They are already up over 49 billion, so you better get on it!

No entry required, just download and you’re in the running. You are limited to 25 entries and must be 13 years or older. There is also a no purchase necessary option, just go to http://www.apple.com/itunes/50-billion-app-countdown/entry-form/ and complete the entry form. It’s nice to see companies giving back to their customers, so hop on the Apple Store and get downloading!

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Steve Jobs Never Got To Be Willy Wonka

Michael Kwan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:07:24 +0000

You know the story of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and how there was that Golden Ticket that would let the lucky kids tour the factory? Apparently, Steve Jobs was hoping to do the same thing, except he wanted a golden ticket in the millionth iMac sold for the opportunity for the winner to visit him in Cupertino.

But that’s not where Steve Jobs was going to end his Willy Wonka inspiration. When the lucky winner (and his or her family) came to see him at the Cupertino office, Steve Jobs would greet them in a full Wonka-fied outfit. This was all part of a bigger promotional scheme, as it would be used to celebrate the one millionth iMac sold. Apple gets more press, the contest gets them more exposure, and everyone’s happy.

So, what stopped Jobs from cosplaying as Wonka? California state law requires that all sweepstakes not require contestants to purchase a product. That’s why you get those contests where they say “no purchase necessary” and you can write in for a “free” entry. With the giving out of free entries, the Cupertino sweepstakes lost its luster and thus, never came to be.

[Source]

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Wind Mobile “phone booth” gives 5 min of free long distance

Michael Kwan — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:49:37 +0000

When it comes to marketing, one of the first challenges is simply convincing potential customers to come through the door. Wind already tried that with its 50% discounts, but the Canadian carrier is about to unleash another tactic: free long distance… but it’s not exactly what you think it is.

The first time I heard about this story, my assumption was that you would get some long distance minutes tacked onto your monthly plan for free when you sign up for service with Wind Mobile. That’s not the case. Instead, customers can waltz into Wind “mobile phone booths” and make a long distance call in the store.

You don’t sign a contract. You don’t agree to sign up for service. You just ask to use the phone the same way you would when your regular cell phone runs out of juice and you ask the local diner if you can borrow the phone to call a cab. The kicker is that Wind is a-okay with you doing long distance on that free call… for up to five minutes.

This free service is being offered in Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver, which presumably also includes the Wind kiosks inside of Blockbuster locations. These same stores are also offering a gift wrapping service too. I wonder how they’d feel about wrapping up a shiny new Telus phone for your cousin?

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Buy a Hyundai, Get Cheap Gas ($1.49/Gallon)

Michael Kwan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:13:25 +0000

In today’s economy, you want to try and save money whenever you have a chance. You may find yourself clipping more grocery coupons than before, but it might be even more fruitful to save your cash at the pump too. Hyundai is cashing in on this by offering cheap gas to anyone who buys a new car in the month of July and August.

In an effort to push some inventory during these summer months, Hyundai will be providing customers with gas at a fixed price of $1.49 a gallon, regardless of what the price on the street sign may read at the time.

If this kind of scheme sounds familiar, that’s because Chrysler had a similar promotion last year “guaranteeing” gas prices at $2.99 a gallon. With the Chrysler program, customers were given a prepaid gas card. With Hyundai, customers will instead be given a separate Hyundai-branded card that will bill them at $1.49 a gallon for 12,000 miles worth of gas.

I don’t see any mention of being restricted to one gas company over another, so it seems that customers have free reign over whether they want Shell, Chevron, or whoever else. Hyundai calculates the gallons used based on the EPA ratings. For all gas that is over $1.49 a gallon at the pump, Hyundai will pick up the difference.

The promotion is being offered to most vehicles in Hyundai’s lineup with the exception of the base model Accent.

Source: LLN

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