The Gadget Show Competition

Lil306

Leopard wrote: »

I disagree. The whole point of it is to earn money from optimistic mugs making expensive 'phone calls. If they offer £30,000 worth of items (that they only have to deliver to one place, in a truck) and half a million people ring in to try to win it, they make a huge profit. They can then boost their advertising rates as well, by being able to say, "Look, half a million people watch our show." (To which a wised-up advertiser would retort, "Well, you got half a million 'phone calls but how many of them were from people ringing several times?")

Leopard has this spot on

They can afford to give away huge bundles of items, because of the fact they make the money back in phone calls.

A lot of those "bidtv" type shows tend to hang up automatically on you aswell, so you have to call back

I wouldn't complain at Winning 30k of stuff however, I'd risk calling up once for a chance (although I'd prefer a web entry if possible) and then keeping what I want and ebay the rest lol. I'd have no need for 4 laptops (other than spares) or being a flash git, but I'd rather sell them on and profit then use the money to buy more stuff I'd want

Diesel44

MX5huggy wrote: »

This is a money making exercise for FIVE, that is all. I think you can enter by post now.

They have once or twice given away 25 (or so) LCD TV's to 25 different winners. I expect they got less entries so made less money with this offer so gone back to the single huge prize pool.

People like the big prize look at how many extra people enter the Lottery when there is a rollover.

I only enter the competions when they do have a number of winners as opposed to just one winner, more chance of winning I think.

cuppajoe

Quite a nice revenue stream for the show really which is why most programs have some variant of it.

Manufacturers provide the prizes for free plus a fee for being included in the show. I'd guess around half a million entries paying £1. Small admin paid for phone logistics.

I don't really have a problem with it as it's a clever business model. My gripe is with the actual show. Why does everything have to be a challenge? Is it me, or are all the presenters turning into cartoon characters? It's a shame as I am into gadgets but feel that just like Top Gear is no longer about cars, the Gadget Show is no longer about tech, but more entertainment.

After the launch of the magazine, expect a Gadget Show branded video game, toy, lunch box and toothbrush.

Stompa

cuppajoe wrote: »

My gripe is with the actual show. Why does everything have to be a challenge? Is it me, or are all the presenters turning into cartoon characters?

No, it's not just you. Only a small fraction of the show is generally worth watching these days. I really have no interest in seeing endless products tested to destruction!

OK_Sauce

Stompa wrote: »

Only a small fraction of the show is generally worth watching these days.

Suzi Perry?:cool:

Leopard

The thing that really irritates me is when sometimes they just rip through, in ten seconds and with no detailed information, a comparative review of five examples of a gadget that I'm actually interested in.

When they then use the time thus saved to show ten minutes of them looning around pointlessly in a field, it shows where their priorities lie.

Personally, I resent them treating me as the type of moron who enjoys that type of rubbish.

We used to watch it live, but now we record it so we can just fast-forward through the dross.

Is jason Bradbury, incidentally, someone you would ever let into your home unless he was bearing £30,000 of gadgets for you?

[Deleted User]

If I were to see him ambling down my driveway, he’d be more likely to be greeted by a shotgun than a warm welcome regardless of what he had with him.

gaming_guy

Stompa wrote: »

Only a small fraction of the show is generally worth watching these days.

isn't that correct for 99% of the rubbish that is shown on tv these days?

Stompa

gaming_guy wrote: »

isn't that correct for 99% of the rubbish that is shown on tv these days?

Not quite, most programmes are simply not worth watching at all. With the Gadget Show there are odd bits that are of interest, but it's generally not worth sitting (or fast forwarding) through the dross just to see those good bits.

Leopard

anewhope wrote: »

If I were to see him ambling down my driveway, he’d be more likely to be greeted by a shotgun than a warm welcome regardless of what he had with him.

Hi, Microsoft-Man! :wave:

One can never fail to be impressed by the endless font of charity and love for humankind that flows from you.

I have to say, scanning through the last few month's postings, here, and trying to catch up, that I'm most impressed by your decision finally to take a pride in yourself and start posting literately while I was abroad.

Did you undergo some form of Pauline (Stevine?) revelation at Cupertino on the road to Redmond and buy a Mac as well? All that subliminal indoctrination by the illuminated Apple logos on The Gadget Show's laptops can gradually work its way into the most resolute of Microsoft stalwarts, eventually.

Whatever the reason, it's good to see and I applaud you (sincerely) for upgrading yourself personally so impressively and rewardingly. :T