Supra Gravity Games Boat

[bc37307]

Never have posted my win yet, the boat from the gravity games. It was supposed to be about $43,000 but arrived quite trashed, stripped of lights and stuff, ripped seats, cracked cover on motor, permanent stains, busted hydraulic hoses, and lots of extra hours in the water after I found out I won. Somebody from the company was using the boat for months after I found out I had won and used it for most of the boating season (over 4 months after they said I won). I had to keep calling for months because they said it was supposed to be delivered but didn't arrive. When it arrived it was obvious they had kept it uncovered all the time too. What a way to screw up a great win.

[fruity40]

Are you going to keep it because you will end up paying taxes. You should be able to do something but probably n ot.

[bc37307]

Sold it to make sure I could cover the taxes, but will contest the 1099 with plenty of ample evidence, and also will look at taking a capital gains loss.

[rojo13864]

Oh dear! Congratulations I guess? I think I would have sent them a immediate response to the condition of your prize. Or have taken pictures before you sold it..Hope it all works out.

[ttm]

I wouls definately contact the prize admin. Sorry :worry: :worry:

[bc37307]

I spent a long time trying to get things straight. The people administering the contest had initially told me the very long delay I was having was because the boat was being built for me at the factory, new. Then after repeated contacts for months, they tell me finally that I can contact the dealer where it will be delivered. It ends up the dealer had known for over 4 months before me that the boat was coming there and before me that I had won. Also the dealer was given the number of hours on the boat at the date of first contact, and it had many more hours on it when it was delivered. The people that were giving the boat away were the ones that were joyriding in the boat, and excused the condition by saying that the boat was the boat from the Gravity Games and therefore was supposed to be in whatever used condition it arrived in. The contest Admin. refused to return my phone calls once the boat was delivered to the dealer. It was take it or leave it, and I had to sell it to make sure I can pay the high taxes even though I will debate the value. If it had arrived nice I would have sold it to a family member cheap and enjoyed it sometimes, but it was too trashed to sell them.

[Krystal]

Sorry about the problems with the boat. Hope you next big win is a better experience! :worry:

[AnimalCrackers]

I haven't read the contest rules or the affidavit I assume you had to submit, but if I were in your position, I would seriously consider seeking the advice of an attorney on this.

[Kimberly]

:worry: Boy, I think I would have been having a MAJOR discussion with the sponsor via an attorney (especially if the boat was to be a new one). Glad you won just sorry the win turned out the way it did.

[ttm]

Finally, make sure you tell your tax advisor. You should be able to take a capital loss to offset at least a portion of the gain. Basically, you should only pay tax on what you sold the boat for which was your actual gain, not the declared value.

Hope this helps a little.

[cdhood68]

Sorry you had had such a crappy experience in what should have been a great win!!! That really bites! Definetly dispute the arv. Better luck to you in 2004!

[thebiggirl_1]

Man, that sucks how they treated you. They lied to you and like you said somebody was joyriding in your boat and didn't even have the curtisy to leave it in a reasonable condition.

I don't know about an attorney but you should at least complain to your states Attorney General and/or consumer affairs office. The sweep agency is obligated to answer inquiries. At least you will teach these guys not to do what they did to someone else. It will scare the hell out of them that the state would be getting involved knowing that it could make them a target of a lawsuit if they try that crap again. The sweep agency will not want to get a bad reputation like that sweep agency for McDonalds.

Give'em hell.
:mad2: :mad2: :mad2:

[SeaAngel]

:frown3: I am sorry that they ruined what should have been a wonderful win for you. Wishing you a fantastic prize very soon to make up for this terrible experience.

[tignor]

just what I was going to say--congrats I guess? I've had bad experiences with wins not being what they were supposed to be so I feel your pain, even though a guitar is NOT a boat. Here's hoping they send you a new, fancy boat or something to compensate!

[CatLover]

Enjoy what's left from your win, and try not to let those a**h**** spoil it for you!! They sure have some nerve, declaring a nice "new boat" write-off for themselves, and giving you a VERY used boat!

[sledbet]

Geez...I won't be entering any of THEIR sweeps anytime soon! Man!

[Cataroo]

I cannot believe that

a) the boat arrived in such terrible condition
b) you were treated so badly by the contest admins
and
c) the jerk who had the boat KNOWING that it was going to be given away used it for his own personal use


I am so sorry that this happened to you!! :worry:

[oldroses]

Sorry to hear what happened to you! What a bummer! Isn't this considered fraud? I think you have a very good case here, and you should try to sue them so that they will be held accountable for their actions and you can get the prize you actually won! Dateline or the local news should get a hold of this story! The company certainly wouldn't like the bad publicity! :worry:

[Jodimae]

:worry: :frown3: THAT SUCKS!!!
:worry: :frown3:

[bc37307]

The boat was a prototype used to design all the others. It also was used in the Gravity games last year. So they claim etc. happened during the use in the games, and I just got the boat as is take it or leave it. So I took it. :mad2: I know the boat had more hours on it from what they told the dealer to begin with, but proving that is one thing and they could claim they ran it to test it or to get it in shape for me etc. You get the drift. Because the ones running the contest had the boat at their shop and were supposed to put it in top shape for when it was delivered, but the only thing they did was change a bit of carpet making it look idiotic, because you could tell the difference in color-it all should have been changed it was so bad. They didn't even use the boat cover, leaving it covered in filth, a lot of it permanent stains. I also had trouble believing that people in the contest using the boat would be that rough on it as they would be serious boaters and tend to be more respectful of equipment. Like I say though, their big out is that it was supposed to be a used (even though very slightly) boat, though not previously titled.

[Kasey]

:cheer7: :cheer7: C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S :cheer7: :cheer7:
Wish it would of turned out better for you
sorry :frown3:

[bulldglit]

Most contests must meet state laws. In Florida, the attorney general's office would certainly go after them. You might want to check with your state government to see if you have any recourse. You also might want to check with a lawyer. It seems to me that it is income tax fraud to claim a tax deduction for a prize that is certainly not worth the amount they are claiming it was.

:smile9: