Is this a scam?

paupratt

Just got this in email, I enter alot of competitions and do vaguely remember entering but I find it very strange that they would ask for a £20 reservation/deposit.

Also in the sender and details it says it is sent from:
mailer@infusionmail.com on behalf of the actual place which is quite near to us.


Congratulations

Dear Paul,

You have been selected to receive one of our limited number of family portrait experience vouchers through the Pulse website competition, worth £165.00 and consisting of a one hour studio family portrait session worth £50.00, a viewing presentation once your images have been retouched and enhanced and a complimentary 10” x 8” framed portrait worth £115.00.

Please take some time over the next few days to discuss with your family when would be best to arrange the session for. We do weekend and weekday appointments and can accommodate up to 20 people!

As I’m sure you are aware you will be given the opportunity to purchase additional photographs, and can even put the value of your complimentary photograph (£115.00) towards one of our handcrafted wall art pieces. However, you will be under absolutely no obligation to purchase, the choice is yours.

This is a limited offer, so please click on the button below and we will contact you to arrange your session. We will require a £20.00 refundable reservation fee at the time of booking, which is fully refunded at your viewing presentation unless you have cancelled with short notice or missed your appointment.

We look forward to meeting you very soon.

Kind regards

mjm3346

Don't know that one but here are a few others

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5170066

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5175872

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5038265

sleepyjones

If the studio is quite close to you I would probably pop in and have a chat and check with them it's legit.

It makes sense for them to ask for a deposit because obviously if you're booked in and you don't turn up then they're losing the money that could have been generated from a "real" booking.

paupratt

OK abit more info then, the website I entered was this I think:

http://www.pulse1.co.uk/spi/mark-swinford/win-a-family-portrait-15/mark-swinford-win-a-family-portrait/

And the Photo studio is Mark Swinford in Leeds:
http://www.markswinford.co.uk/


You think this will turn into a pressure sell where they wont let us leave with the kids for 3 hours of sales pitching?

really don't want to put the kids through something like that...

paupratt

There facebook page, I don't know, looks legit actually:

https://www.facebook.com/markswinfordphoto

mjm3346

The deposit is refundable and in the comp T&Cs

Winner to supply a £20 studio reservation fee to book their session if they win, which will be fully refundable at the viewing unless either appointments are cancelled with less than 3 days notice or failed to attend at the allocated date & times

sleepyjones

Yeah, I think the OP's initial concern is "Do I pay this other company the deposit, then turn up at the studio only to find they have no idea who I am, what I'm talking about or have any knowledge of the competition".

But yeah, Pulse is a legit site so it all looks good.
I've no doubt there will be a bit of sales patter going on though.

cootuk

We won one of those at the exact same place, it's all genuine.
Our daughter had a good photoshoot and the pictures came out really well.

However, they retain copyright of the pictures and a cd of them costs £££.
Additional photos cost ££.
Naturally you want to buy more for family or just different poses - there's no pressure to buy more, but they do cost ££.

It was worth it just for the experience, and you can just get the one picture without a hard sell.

winteremma

I'm guessing it will be really hard sell and if it was me I'd ask them to pick another "winner".

I've had people phone me with these "prizes" but as far as I'm concerned if you have to part with money, then it's not a proper prize.

cootuk

When we went it wasn't a hard sell at all - they do present the pictures in a good portfolio, and you put the pressure on yourself to buy them for the grandparents etc.

I'm sure some people must get the free one, then take a picture of that, despite copyright :shocked:

cootuk

As an extra bit of info, we just received a letter from them saying they are clearing out that year's photoshoots, and will supply the unretouched photoshoot for £99. Not sure how many there are, but could be a good deal.
I believe they also pass copyright on to you too.