Great opportunity, or cynical marketing move? Closes 14 Nov!

I've got my cynical hat on right now about a competition run by Boost Juice and Austereo with what I think are unachievable conditions of entry.

I love Boost Juice. My favorite would be the All Berry Bang. I don't buy one very often because they are expensive and I try, half-heartedly, to keep my middle-aged waist from expanding more than it wants to.

The last time I bought Boost Juices I was given two entry cards for the 'Boost Your Life Competition' that is being run by Boost Juice and Austereo Pty Ltd. On first glance it's a pretty cool prize for the winner: travel to Los Angeles, 6 weeks hotel accommodation in LA, keys to a 'hot convertible', participation in red carpet events and parties, cash for a new wardrobe, and seeing one of the 'world's hottest acts LIVE in New York and more'.

Wow! Sign me up! But when I read the conditions of entry and went to their website I started wondering if it was more of a cynical ploy by Austereo and Boost Juice to build their database for marketing purposes. Why would I say that? Because I can't think of many people who could actually meet all the conditions of entry. Let's look at them:

1) Entrants must be 21 years or over - okay no problem there, in most US states you can get married, enter legal contracts, die in the military defending the country all at age 18, but you can't drink until you are 21.
2) The winner must have a full Australian or International Drivers License for the car hire - that's reasonable. But as I didn't see it mentioned to the contrary in the T&Cs then I assume that the winner has to pay for petrol used in the car during the month long hire.
3) The winners must have valid Australian passports valid for 6 months beyond the proposed dates of travel - humh, what if I have Australian permanent residency but on a different country's passport, guess that rules me out.
4) Entrants have to complete the electronic visa system for entry to the United States - no problem there but a later condition does say you can't have a criminal record (not that I do!) but some entrants, well, might find this a challenge. However that's a US government condition of entry that one probably can't have a criminal record and enter the US legally.
5) The winners have to fund their own pocket money and living expenses in the US and their pay for their airport transfers - so does 'living expenses' include little things like, eating, during the 6 weeks in the US? Feeding oneself for 6 weeks in Los Angeles while staying in hotels is going to cost heaps unless the winner develops a persistent appetite for Taco Bell.
6) The winners are responsible for any tax payable on the prize, which includes airport departure and government taxes - is this like, 'the airline ticket costs nothing but taxes and charges add $653.47?
7) You need to sign-up to accept 'further information from Boost Juice Bars' - I guess I could put-up with that if I won the prize.
8) And you have to do the trip between January and March 2011 - ooh. but I might be busy then.

I was going to enter the competition but won't as I can't meet the entry requirements. You'll have to guess which one(s) though.

Actually, I'm not sure that anyone can meet the requirements. Let's look at it:

First of all, you have to be over 21 years old, so you are probably working or studying at Uni. If the former then getting 6 weeks off from your job may be a challenge. If the latter then I guess you've got the flexibility to go.

And probably more importantly, how are  you going to fund the taxes, your out-of-pocket expenses, and living expenses like food, for 6 weeks while in LA? Have you been saving for just an opportunity like this? If you can take 6 weeks off to enjoy this prize because you are a student then how are you going to afford the expenses that aren't covered by the prize?

I don't know, am I being cynical thinking that this is really just a game to build a database, rather than providing a prize that can actually be accepted. Maybe the Terms and Conditions were written in a hurry without appropriate care. Maybe there were genuine good intentions used in developing the prize. If so, the execution is lacking. Maybe in looking critically at this I'm being unfair.

But I'm hoping that I'm wrong and that someone does have a great time. Promise me that you'll write if you do!

And if you hurry I'll give you the Unique Codes for the two cards. Just ask me!

'Have a nice day!'

P.S. Ooh, I just thought of something! Perhaps the promoters of this competition are really after the names and addresses for their marketing databases of Boost Juice loving, 2DAY FM listening, retirees. Because who else would have the time free and money available to do this?