I have, but that is one of the reasons I use multible e-mail addy's...

Wow, thanks for all the support here, all 65 viewers and 1 post, gotta love it, lol.

Thank you Wayne!

Received this reply from the people from Jolly Time Popcorn today on their view of the question I sent to them;

mrbucket,
Thanks for taking the time to email us regarding our most recent
Facebook promotion. We don't consider it a bribe to enter the Contest
as it's just as easy to "Unlike" someone or something on Facebook as it
is to "Like."

If you do not have a Facebook account, that is your choice. However,
this particular promotion is for our Facebook fans.

Please visit our official rules for additional information:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150569991046764

Thanks!
Tracy B
Director, PR & Marketing Communications
P: 712-239-1232
F: 712-239-1268
E: tracyb@jollytime.com

So this company does not think it is a bribe.
Names have been changed to protect the innocent, lol.

OH MY Gorsch...

I agree with you about this Liking on Facebook issue. I don't enter any of these contests because I feel like I'm not being honest by entering them. It's giving the company free advertisement and I don't feel that it's right. I'm glad that someone posted something about this.

liking on facebook
means your page is loaded with post from that company. i find that worrisome. i have liked but usually dislike after awhile...strange, but i feel a little guilty when i do. so i usually avoid those sweeps. not a bribe but rather more
like advertisement for that company on a mega large social media web site.

Just got off the phone with our friends at Dunkin Donuts about their facebook promotion.
Also have sent shearers snacks an email about liking them on facebook.
Going to fight this continuously.
Have had some legal advice from my attorney and he believes this is bribery.
Still waiting for response from Attorney General.
Again, thanks for your support.

OK, I'm going to have to stick with SWEET!!!

I refuse to enter sweeps or any promos using Facebook....too much potential for abuse.

Don't enter Face Book contests if you think its a bribe. Stick to Online and get spammed to death. Nobody puts a gun to our heads to enter any contest. And we are all smart enough to know what Face Book is about.

I have won quite a few things from facebook contests. I won a 100.00 Fatz gift card, a t-shirt from Nyquil and a free night from Laquinta. And probably a few more I can't recall. I get alot of emails, but they are easy to delete.

A reply from Shearers Foods Company

Good Afternoon mrbucket,
I'm sorry to hear of your disappointment in the way we are conducting our current Promotion/Sweepstakes. We do appreciate your opinion in the matter and will make sure that it is passed along to the correct Team. Having consumers like us on Facebook is a way for us to continue to Market to them for future events, promotions, and product announcements which is why we feel it is the right choice. By all means this is an optional Promotion/Sweepstakes and you are in no way obligated to participate.

Thanks
Ashleigh H
Shearer's Foods Inc.
Consumer Affairs Specialist
330-767-7126

As always, the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

I replied to their comment in asking then why do they advertise the promotion if it is only for facebook.
On facebook, they have a fan base that most surely they have their email addresses to send these promotions.
When advertising it, that is where the bribe issue comes in.
Giving something in return, no matter the value, for their benefit.

you got to be kidding me? dont enter them then

Their reply is bogus. If they gave you money to enter a contest you could easily give that back as well. I don't enjoy having to "like" all of their pages but I do it anyway because it's easier to just accept it and I'm sure that's what they think about it as well.

1088108 you won a $100 Fatz Cafe gift card damn!!! I'd kill for there Potato Soup & of corse there Calabash Chicken, you lucky damnit!!!

Great posts, I love it.
But anyway, here is the reply to my reply from Shearers Snacks;

Good Morning mrbucket,

The goal is to not only sustain the current fan/consumer base but to also gain new fans/consumers. We would like to attract those on Facebook who have never heard of Shearer's in hopes they try and like the products and those who are already a fan of our snacks we are trying to introduce to the world of Social Media through the Shearer's Fan Page. We are growing as a company and trying new ideas is part of that process. With Facebook in the world today it is an opportunity to reach out to a rather large group of people all at once.

Thanks
Ashleigh H
Shearer's Foods Inc.
Consumer Affairs Specialist
330-767-7126

Did not answer my question as to why the advertisement out side the social site.

And I'm speaking out of anonymity, cause I'm not authorized to speak to the media. (don't you hate when the media inserts that in all the stories, take that out and the stories would be a lot shorter. lol)

I do find it slightly annoying to have to "like" a company before I can enter their contest. It doesn't stop me from entering. If it's a one time only entry I simply "unlike" them after I've entered. If it's daily contest I "unlike" them after the contest has ended.

The one's that really drive me batty are the one's who want to post to my wall telling all my friends that I've entered their contest. I always say no, but it's an extra step that I'd rather not bother with. Some, like Airborne, will give you an extra entry if you allow them to post to your wall. I do allow it, then just as quickly delete the post.

Found this on the web, while looking for various definitions of bribes in contests.
Very interesting.

January 7, 2011
Of Facebook Likes and Bribery

Social media sharing was simple back then. It works on a consume-first-share-later model: content providers gave out content for free, and consumers shared said content, if they deemed it worthy of sharing. These days, there seems to be another increasingly popular model, what we call the share-first-consume-later model. Facebook Likes and even tweets are now increasingly used as de facto currency on some content platforms.

In fact, this model is becoming mainstream. TechCrunch recently instituted tweets as a way for their readers to participate in a contest. Effectively, readers are offering tweets as a bribe to gain access to the contest, with TechCrunch merely giving an invitation to treat. Of course, legal technicalities aside, this is a model to which we subscribe, for we also make consumers click on Facebook Like buttons to participate in deals.
The other way of seeing it is that it is the businesses who are bribing consumers with valuable things to get them to Like something.

Very good point I would say.

Mr. Bucket - First let me say that I have been coming to this site for almost a year, but never signed up till I happened upon your post pinned up on the home page. I decided to sign up just to let you know that I totally agree with your argument & to thank you for bringing it up.

I think (I hope) that this tactic will eventually be outlawed for the same reason that it is illegal for a company to force you to purchase something to enter a contest. Social media is getting more powerful by the day and your "Like" is equivalent to money. It's free advertising and equal to saying that you have tried their product & love it. And not everyone goes back and hits "unlike" once a contest is over. To force you to lie & give a product endorsement (for the slim chance of winning a trial-size bottle) is a bribe, plain and simple and goes against what's right & wrong.

Thanks for what you've been doing and for this post. The power of the consumer is pretty awesome and this is how changes happen.

Yep pretty much says it all...Ya'll both wacked the finer points in one big old shot...

Thank you bjay and wayne.
By the way bjay welcome aboard.

My whole idea here is to get these social networks from offering bribes to people just for a like and a contest entry.
As you stated, the social networks are getting so strong, that companies are making the sites out as an advertising outlet, for free even.
I have started my push with the Ohio Attorney General Office here in Ohio.
Also having the FBI check out the status of the meaning of bribe associated with the contests.

Bribes are a crime and also for those who accept them. Both can be charged in a court of law. As many of our politicians are finding out, lol.

I also send emails to any and all companies who advertise these "like" contests to get their views on the subject. I post the replies here, when I get them. I do not get replies from all companies, as I think they may consider this correct and not reply, or they think I'm a nut causing problems, lol.
I do believe too that if companies get more emails of this type, they may consider to stop the bribe "likes. But who knows, maybe not.
I am going to fight this as long as I can.
My next step is the Supreme Court of Ohio, then the next state.
Getting in touch with a real person associated with facebook is difficult, but still trying.

Read on the web that companies such as facebook, ebay do not have contact email addresses or phone numbers listed, as they would be swamped with emails and phone calls.

Again thanks for your replies, comments.
Good luck in your contest entries.

Sorry for not updating this lately, but have been busy investigating this matter.

I recently have met (in person) with a Representative of The United States House of Representatives. Yes one from my home state of Ohio.
After presenting my case to (him/her) they saw the point I was making. A very good point they added as well.
I was assured that (he/she) would have (his/her) staff check into this and relay to me the findings.
As always, will keep you up to date.

I commented before but I have to say all the "like" on facebook entries really bother me,too. I see so many sweeps I would love to enter but cannot because I feel like I am lying about liking their product. ( which I may have not even used) I believe the government has looked into celebrities endorsing products that they have never used. So...what's the difference?

I will be meeting with the U.S. Representative tonight. 2nd meeting with her, so she may be onto something.
I will deff keep you up-to-date on what transpires at this meeting.

I had a good meeting with the Representative last night.
Was told that an investigation as to the exact meaning of a bribe in these contests will be done by the Justice Dept.
This most likely will take some time as you know our government works real slow, except for themselves.
Was asked also to contact the U.S. Senators from Ohio to get them aware of this. Have done that already this morning.
Will let you know what and when things get going.
Has a pretty good chance of getting these facebook contests outlawed. But who knows for sure.

Wow, way to go, hats off to ya

Will be interesting to see what develops from this.

I received a reply from one of Ohio's US Senators today. This is getting a little more interesting, even for me. Will keep you posted.