About the free PC giveaways...

[TH0001]

Is it against the rules for people to make multiple posts on those threads to increase thier chances? I see people on thier with 20-30 posts on the same thread, and intrestingly enough they have a total post count of 20-30.

Also, it wouldn't suprise me if those same people have have multiple screen names that each have 20-30 posts each. Is there anything that can be done for this?

I would recommend a min. post count requirement or certain length of membership required (I am fine if I wouldn't meet the requirements, as this isn't about me) to make sure there is a level and fair playing field and the "cheaters" are not getting an advantage.

[Paramedic]

That is a good idea. I only played around with vbulletin and invision power board for a bit. Never looked to see if you cal allow members to post only one time in a thread. I know you can in polls, but never looked or tried for the option in threads.

Nick

[Mike Phillips]

One of our bean counters compiles the forum names of everyone that replies to the thread and then each name is only counted once, so it doesn't matter if you reply once, or a zillion times, your forum name only has one chance to win.

If people are scummy enough to join our forum under multiple names to win a polisher then have broken our forum rules and when we catch them we ban them.

Besides that, if they can live with the guilt of cheating that's between them and their God.

How's that?

[TH0001]

Sounds good Mike. So is a list printed with everybodies screenname, then randomly selected? I guess I was under the missassumtion that a random post number was selected, and the lucky winner is the one who posted that post...

Thanks for clearing it up

[Mike Phillips]

I'll ask Brian aka "The Bean Counter" to explain, but he uses excel.

[Brian Catalano]

Hi Guys,

I understand the confusion that comes up every now and again about the contests... but I assure you, they're as fair as they come. Without getting too technical, let me explain:

Any logged-in user has the ability to see who has posted in a particular thread. See the number circled in red?



When you click on that number a list of users comes up and it also lists the number of times each user has posted in the thread (but each name is only listed once).



I copy this list into an Excel spreadsheet (of course, in the example above, I took Mike Phillips out of the running!). It adds up the total of names in the list, and uses that value in a '=Randbetween(1,XXX)' function to pick the winner. When the button is pushed, a visual basic module is run to shuffle the deck:

Sub SelectWinners()
'
' SelectWinners Macro
' Macro recorded 4/25/2006 by bcatalano
'


With Application
.Calculation = xlAutomatic
End With

Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate
Calculate ....

So as you can see it's truly random. Here is the end result that I forward to Mike:



Good Luck to everyone in the next July drawing!

Brian Catalano
Meguiar's, Inc.
Accounting Manager

[Mike Phillips]

Thanks Brian for making the complicated so simple and for process this at a moments notice when I send you an e-mail.

[TH0001]

I wasn't trying to be a PIA, but I really appericate Mike and Brian taking the time out to explain this to me. That was really cool of the both of you to do, and its impressive that you guys would take intrest in a meaningless (detailing wise) thread.

Thank you very much

[kellyinkc]

I wondered too. plus how long one has to claim the prize

[Deaner5]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
I'll ask Brian aka "The Bean Counter" to explain, but he uses excel.

I think we prefer the term "accountants" but I could be wrong since I'm graduating in December. But yes Excel does rule!!!!!

[Superior Shine]

I DON'T GET IT, I'M CONFUSED!?!? DID I WIN???? LOL!

[Brian Catalano]

I think we prefer the term "accountants" but I could be wrong since I'm graduating in December.

Hehe... I used to think that too. Nope... I'm a bean-counter... or a wax-bottle-counter... which ever you think is more glamorous.

8-)

Brian