I might get banned from HB. But has anyone else noticed the one post just joined winners??? One was removed from the winners list, but now we have another??? Is the contest legit???

It is absolutely 100% legit. No question about it.

That said, yeah it does suck that people can win with one post. Happened last year, too.

Are you referring to people who have never posted before? I guess lurkers are just as welcome as the more frequent contributors. If you read my posts you might wish I was a lurker!

I certainly understand the frustration, however, the same thing could almost be said about me. I have been coming to this site since mid-summer but only joined in October. Before the contest started I only had five posts, but I have been coming here multiple times per day for months, I check out all of the new posts on the front page, and read many of them. I even feel like I have gotten to know many of the regular posters; at least in that weird way of knowing someone online. I don't contribute a lot, but I do feel like part of the community.

That said, I can certainly understand the frustration when someone happens upon the site, sees that there is a contest to enter, and wins one of the best prizes. Such is life. Though I could really have used the Macap to replace my whirly-blade grinder (I am still new to espresso and being a full-time college student and stay-at-home dad with no job doesn't lend itself to being able to buy expensive equipment). Oh well, the Mazzer is still out there!

Everything offered, whether it's free shipping or an expensive grinder, is greatly appreciated and the sponsors don't need to do any of this - not thanking them is really surprising to me. I guess you just have to be abnormally lucky to win a big prize with your very first try. I wish I had luck like that lol.

I'm a new member and long-time member of CoffeeGeek, but fell away from the coffee scene for a while before getting back involved. I lurked around HB for a while before joining, and just happened to see the contest. I didn't realize what a flourishing community there was here.

Oh, and I posted in the contest just because I happened to see it. I think it's a great idea. Some will come and go, but I would wager that a lot more stay and provide valuable contribution.

Please accept my apology.
Last night I posted something on this site that I am deeply sorry for. I questioned the legitimacy of the current contest when I had no right to. HB, your sponsor's and members, please accept my sincere apology.
Brad

Well, the chances of a "One Post" entrant winning SHOULD be just as good as someone with the number of posts as Dan (over 7200 posts at this time) assuming Mr HB used a decent 'pseudo-random number generator' (which I'm SURE a software developer of Dan's caliber did! ). I'll admit, I've not been very active on this forum recently (been spending ALL my time in on-line meetings, sometimes trying to stay awake! ) and I've been a bit disappointed that I keep getting the "Sorry, no gift this time [449]" message, but, hey, that's the way of a contest! I'll keep hitting it every 4 hours (as I can) and we'll see how it goes!

Dan, once again, thanks for organizing this and a BIG THANK YOU to all the sponsors!

HB wrote:That said, I ran the idea by a lawyer friend to see if it passed muster. Weary of my requests for free legal advice, he told me he charges $325/hour and requires a retainer before offering an opinion.

You need to go at that dude the Randy Glass way, with a pound of fresh roasted coffee under your arm. ^^

BTW, I get some weird things from the quote button, when I click it on a post which contains two or more quotes, it only quotes the text below the last quote in the message... Bug or feature? ^^

And also a big thanks to Dan for all the work you've put into this site. Personally I must say that it's one of the best forums I've ever visited, and it's much more user friendly than another quite popular coffee site (*cough* begins with a c )!

Hey, as a newbie to home espresso and a relatively new member of this community, I think the contest provides a legitimate way to increase the number of my posts . Actually, I suspect many folks are like me, too green to offer much good advice, able to find answers to their burning questions from previous threads, and therefore do not post very often.

Many thanks to Dan and all the great sponsors!

Dave

I second Dave M. Almost all of the discussions I see are way above my skill level. There is little I can add.

On the other hand I do appreciate the frustration of the 'regulars'. Perhaps an advantage for them is in order, I wouldn't take offense. I'm happy just to have any chance to win one these great prizes. For the record, I have been visiting this site 'incognito' for about a year.

And while I'm here, a big public Thank You to HB, without whose help I couldn't even post correctly. Thanks from at least one appreciative newbie.....I'm sure there are many more.

Win or not, Happy Holidays to all HB'ers, I do appreciate that it is your involvement that makes this site work.

It's kind of hard to complain when we all have an opportunity to win. It's a great contest. It's fun and easy, and it really is great advertising for the sponsors. Last year I kept hoping for one of those nice, new grinders. I never won one, but after the contest, I did end up upgrading from a hand grinder to a Rancilio Rocky! ...not quite a Mazzer but a definite improvement!

I have always felt that the level of technical knowledge is impressively high over here on H-B. I more often post on CoffeeGeek than here, because my technical know-how wanes in comparison (true, a good number of CG members are technically beyond me too). I know more about what textures and flavors I am seeking in my espresso, and the "feel" of a good pour, rather than the technical details of my equipment. But I like all the information over here. Gallt's studies, in particular, have really helped me understand what is going on with my PID Silvia. I don't yet have a Scace to post cool graphs myself, but I'm seriously considering one. =-)

But I read H-B every day and I find the information here just as important to follow as anywhere else. Mostly this post is to thank Stefano for the Le'lit grinder, and I'll be calling him today too. This is overly generous and I've never won anything in my life other than the front row seat on a hay ride in 4th grade. So, thanks Stefano. And, Dan, thank you very much for running this contest. I feel a bit humbled by this.

Would very much like to contribute here more....for a while, I might be contributing more questions than answers.

John, as someone who's had a Le'Lit for about a year now, All I can say is ENJOY! Nice little grinder, not as "neat" as I'd like (and as my wife keeps insisting I NEED! ) but works GREAT and very easy to dial in a new bag-o-beans! When I got mine, my Gaggia Factory was off being repaired/replaced so it's first use was with my Starbucks Barista. Gotta say, I had the FIRST really decent espresso from the barista that I'd EVER had! Can't say often enough.... GET A GOOD GRINDER, Get a REAL Espresso Grinder, THEN start worrying about your other equipment!

My guess about the frustration with 1 post winners (of which I share similar feelings) is that the contest is sort of set up to be a reward to members that contribute to the community. I had my fare share of lurking before joining, but if the contest is for members, a person with 1 post isn't really a member, right? I did have a previous account that went dormant too as I left the habit for a few months, but as it works out, I'm in it for the long haul.

On another hand, maybe making those threads invisible to anyone that's not a signed-in member would help. That way they'd at least have to read some of the posts to see there's something they might want to sign up for. Then after the contest is done, they can be visitor viewed so search engines can index them for hits (which is what I assume the business target is).

My .02 of course (with my measly post count too )

I happen to have recently joined the forum, and haven't posted anything, as I can't really contribute at this point. I have been reading lots though, and hopefully i'll be able to contribute more as I appreciate espresso more (I'm currently at the "starbucks sucks stage" and i'm often disappointed by the shots at relatively high quality cafes) and start to learn how to make it myself properly. (thanks to reading these forums!) and as much as it's nice to win something (first time i've won something in a random contest) and as incredible as it would be to win the Ascaso, i understand how it must be annoying for long-time members and posters to see people show up for only for the prizes, and win them all! so: thanks for the organizers and the sponsors! pretty incredible list of prizes, but seeing the quality of the site and forums, i'm not surprised!

I stand humbly in awe of most of you who are regular contributors. If I had more useful things to say, I would, but my equipment is modest and even though I have years of "experience" with coffee and espresso, I'm only scratching the surface when it comes to the quest for the perfect shot.

So, I don't post much, but you'll notice that I joined last year around 27 Nov. The big prizes were so generous, I could hardly believe it, but you can bet that I played every chance I could and got to be pretty familiar with the sponsors' websites as a result.

I think the contest works and that's why the sponsors do it. Yes, it's generous of them and if I were to win a "Gift" I'd be very thankful. But to grouse about "One Post Winners" is missing the point. From a different point of view, when a guy has been in the hobby for years and already has a full suite of prosumer kit, what does he need another Mazzer Mini for?

Sure, I suppose the contest could attract its share of ebay scalpers, but is that really worth shutting it down for?

Whatever.

It's a game of chance that helps the sponsors, H-B, and the players, and I love it no matter who wins.