US Residents Only: Yeah, Not Fair At All
We are so sorry that we can not do a world-encompassing contest. I've read your comments and I agree that it chafes. Our percentage of non-US users is way higher than our percentage of US users and in a perfect world, all of you international users *deserve* a shot at this. However, we are not yet technically 'internationalized' and for now promotions of this sort, where there is any monetary value, really have to be US only.
Don't lose hope though. If you are not a US citizen, and you qualify otherwise as the winner, we will still make sure you are promoted adequately. Heck yeah, you deserve it!
What , You dare to sit and write a post why international bloggers are not included.
Hey just give equivalent cash for other than US category , we will have no complains ;)
-----Robyn's Response--------
I dare ;)
It's the fact that there is a cash value that's the problem. Making sure that we comply with the laws of each country involved is a huge undertaking, and not something we can do until we are officially internationalized. Yes, it's a headache. I agree that it stinks for non-US residents, but I'd be a toad if I weren't willing to tell you why we couldn't do it. I think you deserve to know the reason.
Posted by: Link And Earn | November 11, 2007 at 08:28 AM
Can't you just post as they do so often, that the contest is played under 'USA rules/legislation/whatever'.
Not that I would stand a chance, but I would love to see a ranking by country afterwards. So we can say - for instance - French people are the best bloggers. Or smth.
Nah.. well.. no chauvinism allowed, obviously. =)
Still, good luck to all! (But the first one that spams my profile will be ham.)
Posted by: Vint Falken | November 12, 2007 at 12:35 PM
Well, you can still enter, you just can't win. You'll still be listed in the leaderboard :)
Posted by: Robyn Tippins | November 12, 2007 at 02:42 PM
Why choose to offer a contest that restricts you to a minority of your community's population?
That is what I find distasteful and exclusionary.
I've blogged about this here:
http://leadingfromtheheart.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/mybloglog-disapoints/
Posted by: Tracy Rosen | November 14, 2007 at 03:30 AM
Could someone point out where US law has been changed ? I have over the last 10 years won prizes in various US contests and got awards from Amazon gift vouchers to cash (via American Express cheques, PayPal and Bank Drafts etc).
Posted by: Jackie | November 18, 2007 at 09:43 PM
Hi Jackie,
It's not US law, it's a limitation on our end trying to coordinate a review of the contest rules across all of Yahoo's international offices.
Ian
Product Manager, MyBlogLog
Posted by: Ian Kennedy | November 21, 2007 at 11:40 AM
Don't worry, I'll sponsor up the next contest with freebies for INTERNATIONAL (ahems, European and Rest of the World) English speaking bloggers too.. BECAUSE.... I'm NOT in the US right now, but Yahoo! still send stuff to people OUTSIDE THE US.
http://www.azrin.net/dear-azrinyou-have-won-from-yahoo.finance.html
So what do you mean it's YAHOO's Policy?! And the gift was a cheaply made product from China..which is kinda cool anyway.
Best Regards
Azrin @ http://www.azrin.net
PS: Definition of US Resident: A Person or Organisation which has contact details in the United States, example: a mail forwarding service.
Posted by: azrin | November 22, 2007 at 08:04 PM
OK, now I'm confused. In one place the restrictions are US 'citizens' and in another they are US 'residents'.
Even though my chances of winning are minuscule after the recent RSS fiasco - this is a somewhat important distinction because although I am no longer a US 'resident', I am still a 'citizen'.
Posted by: Mike Macgirvin | November 23, 2007 at 12:32 PM