'Another Chance' Sweepstakes Set after Printing Error Causes Mishap

ROSWELL, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thirty thousand people will get another chance – a better chance, in fact – to win money after a printing mistake made all of them a $1,000 winner in a car dealer's sweepstakes mailing.

Jim Fitzpatrick of Atlanta-based Force Media Group said a printing mistake made every recipient of 30,000 direct mail promotional game pieces a $1,000 winner because all the "scratch-offs" covered over a prize. As indicated on the mailing, only one grand prize of $1000 was to be awarded out of the 50,000 mailings.

The town of Roswell, N.M., site of the dealership, was overrun for the last two days by consumers who thought that they had won $1,000. Another 20,000 of the erroneous flyers were stopped at the post office when Force Media realized the error.

"It was a printing error," said Mr. Fitzpatrick. "Instead of only one ticket in 50,000 having the winning notification under the scratch-off, they all did. We're going to make up for that in this new sweepstakes by actually increasing both the value and number of prizes offered as well as by dramatically increasing the chances of winning."

“The dealer and Force looked at the situation and decided we had to make it better to make it right," Mr. Fitzpatrick said. "We apologize for any inconvenience the original mailing may have caused."

(Details of the new contest are listed below)

What Happened at Roswell? The Facts Behind the $1,000 Giveaway That Went Awry

Here are the facts of what took place regarding the Make An Offer “scratch off” mail piece that was sent to the residents of Roswell, N.M.

A dealer in Roswell contracted with Force Events/Direct Marketing of Atlanta to develop and send out 50,000 mail pieces to residents living in the Roswell market.

Every mail piece had a typo offering everyone a $1,000 “Grand Prize” instead of the second or third gift of a gas card or Wal-Mart card. As indicated on the mail piece, only 1 grand prize was to be awarded.

Twenty thousand of the 50,000 mail pieces were stopped at the post office from being delivered to all the residents.

What Force Media did or plans to do in response:

• Three full - page ads in the local paper explaining the mishap.
• A retraction letter sent to all the recipients of the mail piece.
• Two VPs of Force Media Group are on site to help with customers’ concerns and complaints regarding the mail piece.
• A Special Drawing has been set-up for the consumers who come in to the showroom with the mail piece. The Special Drawing will include a grand prize of $5,000 to the first place winner.
• 20 second prize winners of $1,000 will also be drawn.
• All contestants in the Special Drawing will also receive Wal-Mart gift cards valued at $5.00 or a digital camera.