What is the name of your state? PA
Recently started noticing a new style of auction. Called Mystery bid on ebay.
The gist of this is to list *the opportunity* to possibly win an item ( usually a hot item such as a Wii or a PLasma TV), The seller specifically details how its not a raffle,chance drawing or anything that goes against ebay guidelines for selling rules. (which may or maynot be true). The seller sights that 50 envelopes will be mailed separetely to the 50 winning bidders . Only one envelope contains the word of the item that is the Opportunity Item ( such as Wii or PLasma). This person is to then send back the envelope and the winning paper to receive the prize. Here is where the sellers antic stays in motion. Everyone bids anywhere from 20$ on up for the chance to maybe receive the winning opportunity prize. Yet NO One will ever know if the seller really did have the intention to hand over the prize or ever tell anyone who might have won it. THey continue to collect bid money yet never really have to disclose a final winner or ship out the prize since its just an opportunity 1-50 chance in being the winning envelope.
In the legal realm of "chance drawing and raffles," does this fall under that category or is this just a brilliant way to legally make money without ever having to hand over a product?
Here is sample link to give a person an idea of how a seller works the listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=250204920497
Recently started noticing a new style of auction. Called Mystery bid on ebay.
The gist of this is to list *the opportunity* to possibly win an item ( usually a hot item such as a Wii or a PLasma TV), The seller specifically details how its not a raffle,chance drawing or anything that goes against ebay guidelines for selling rules. (which may or maynot be true). The seller sights that 50 envelopes will be mailed separetely to the 50 winning bidders . Only one envelope contains the word of the item that is the Opportunity Item ( such as Wii or PLasma). This person is to then send back the envelope and the winning paper to receive the prize. Here is where the sellers antic stays in motion. Everyone bids anywhere from 20$ on up for the chance to maybe receive the winning opportunity prize. Yet NO One will ever know if the seller really did have the intention to hand over the prize or ever tell anyone who might have won it. THey continue to collect bid money yet never really have to disclose a final winner or ship out the prize since its just an opportunity 1-50 chance in being the winning envelope.
In the legal realm of "chance drawing and raffles," does this fall under that category or is this just a brilliant way to legally make money without ever having to hand over a product?
Here is sample link to give a person an idea of how a seller works the listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=250204920497