Discussion: How to improve contests

**AD7863** · 01-12-2009, 02:00 PM

But say if theres a new member holding a contest and no one knows them...? How can we know if he's not just stealing all the entries and then saying he doesnt like any ideas and cancelling the contest?

**serandfae** · 01-12-2009, 02:08 PM

You don't. That's why you watermark to help protect yourself. The general idea of the 20 post rule is also to root out at least a few potential scammers. Even if an escrow system were in place it wouldn't deter any and all fraud. From what I've seen we back one another here but when there's something you can do to protect yourself, such as watermarking, do it.

@Stephanie -- Thanks, not just for myself but for everyone that got burned by that fiasco.

tim

**serandfae** · 01-12-2009, 09:25 PM

OK, this seems to be the list from past and present suggestions yet to be adopted here:

1) Escrow/prepayment of contests, allowing for a CH to request a refund for good cause. A winner must be chosen, or just cause must be shown to request a refund.

2) Contests on WT either cannot be held on other forums, or if they are they must be disclosed (prepayment might alleviate this)

3) From xpressions:

Quote:

IP tracking of new contest holders and designers. Why? It's easy to close out an account and open a new one in an effort to defraud the community.

And we've already seen that happen recently.

4) Restructured forums graduated by prices more in line with the current market

5) Rate guidelines or a rate calculator accessible by both CHs and entrants

6) Strict enforcement of copyright violations, including use of clip art (no, it's not OK to modify someone else's work and call it yours)

7) Abuse of iTrader will result in infractions and/or banning

Have I left anything out? I know a watermarking system was suggested, but it's already being encouraged and that should probably be left to the participant's discretion, IMO.

Anything else?

tim

**PBScott** · 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neonimage

But were not SP and we don't get that many visitors we'd just scare them off if they had to pay to make contests i think theys should get their money back if it goes well but if it's a fake then they don't

I would gladly pay upfront 100% to an escrow service, I am running a contest right now and I would be quite happy to have the full trust of the people entering as well as everyone knowing I am 100% legitimate so they try harder and or I get more people out there trying to win the contest.

**Hylith** · 05-06-2009, 04:10 AM

I think that creating a prepaid or escrow system is great. Usually people are quite hesitant to do a ton of work due to the risk of not getting paid. Doing a piece of work is one thing but when modifications are asked designers become weary, because they are doing a lot of work based on a risk.

Watermarking does help, but it takes away from designs and I think it would be more beneficial to every person with pure intentions to place a system. It would surely weed out the non-ethical.

Works well on other sites I believe =)

**Madman340** · 05-07-2009, 09:59 PM

I usually only put my watermarks on 5% opacity. That makes it so you can see it, but only barely. It hardly takes away from the look, if at all.

**Madman340** · 05-17-2009, 12:19 PM

Alright, I know this is a double post, but we really need to get something into effect that will make it harder to scam us. Make them put a deposit for the entire amount into a safe account or something, and then when they choose the winner, it just gets transfered?

**serandfae** · 05-17-2009, 12:40 PM

I've collected all the suggestions in this thread and presented them to the staff as a whole, and made a case for prepayment/escrow, since it's been suggested by both participants and CHs alike. Stephanie's worked hard on making this a good forum, so I'll do no less. If you look at the many suggestions that have already been implemented, I think you'll see that we will do all we can, and will keep you posted.

tim

**Hylith** · 05-18-2009, 06:18 PM

I really like this forum, it seems to be a great place to get help and find up and coming designers.

I won my first contest on this forum, so I have a sort of sentimental attachment to it and would love to see it's improvement.

Hopefully the verdict supports the forum for the better, because I feel this design contest of the forum has a lot of potential and room to grow.

**elcrazyman** · 08-09-2009, 09:01 AM

As a newbie on this site and a CH I do agree escrow is probably the best way to go about it. I have set my Contest so that there is guaranteed to be a winner that meaning worst comes to worst I will pick a winner(I will pick the deisgn that I think is the best out of the lot, even if that means it's not everything I wanted).

The reason I have done this is that, I know the cost of logo's and the time and effort it takes. I as CH cannot let all the risks lie on the designers as it's just unfair.

If I went out and tried to get a customized logo theres no chance I will get one at the quality of somethese designers provide at these prices. I really do think that the CH holder should burden some sort of risk as the designers at this point take all the risk.

**Mystical Pippin** · 09-24-2009, 05:09 AM

Good Point. I only wish I was fast enough to participate in these things. But anytime I've ever come across one that I thought I could do - by the time I'm finished - there are 10-12 others on here already and a winner was picked....