Instant Winner
The internet has improved a lot of things and created wonderful new experiences. Due to this success, it seems that everything now must have a web component. This doesn’t always result in an improved experience.
I don’t care all that much about sweepstakes, but it struck me over the weekend that there is no longer such a thing as an “instant winner”. It used to be that you would scratch off a card, peel a label off of your giant-size soda, or twist off a bottle cap to reveal the phrase “You win!”. That object was then a coupon that could be exchanged for the prize. These days, all that is revealed is a string of letters and numbers. You must then remember to visit a website, register for an account, and enter the code the next time you are online. Only then do you know if and what you have won.
To me, it’s too much hassle. I’m not willing to make the effort, given the odds of winning something I care about. I certainly won’t be more inclined to make a purchase for a chance to win, and isn’t that the ultimate purpose of such sweepstakes?