Okay I run a tech blog which will be moving. Once things settle down I was wondering about giving away stuff. So let's say I wanted to give away an iPod. Would I contact Apple and tell them about the contest, (assuming my blog has enough readership) and let's say the agree. Would I give them the winner's info or have the winner send Apple their info and Apple would give send them the iPod or would Apple give me the iPod and I would pass it to the winner? Skinny
Be very careful with stock you have to ship. I've seen sites advertise similar things and then it's "Only to US Residents" and you instantly think "I'm not the target for this site, I won't be back" However to ship worldwide can be costly.
Don't see what it has to do with Apple? I think you would just buy the Ipod from ebay, apple or wherever, and then ship it out to the competition winner? You could also send it directly to the competition winner from Apple and save a bit on packaging.
Skinny wants Apple to come in and discount or donate the iPod, I guess. However an iPod doesn't need the exposure so they may be hard to sell on the idea. An up and coming brand may be a better bet
You can just purchase a few and then sell them - you dont need to make any agreements with manufacturers.
It depends on how you agree with your sponsor. Sometimes sponsors ship directly, sometimes through you, etc.
Why go through Apple? Just buy the Ipod yourself, don't open it, and once you have a winner shp it to their address. I had a art contest on my art site last year and one of the prizes I gave away was a MP3 player. I mailed to this woman in Australia. I bet she was really surprised to get it. I've also mailed webmasters books and stuff for work they've done for me. Its really cool. I sent a book to a guy in Bangladesh once.
I really doubt Apple would send one *For Free* unless you had one of the most popular Tech sites on the Net or one pretty close to it.. It's extremely hard to even become and Affiliate of Apples to sell their stuff online... It's not to hard to become an iTunes affiliate tho... Apple is very *Picky* about things...
If Apple is too hard to reach, you can always try to find sponsor which is interested in giving you other prizes. Even if it is not manufacturer, you can talk to retailer, etc. Also it could be that you can get not iPod, but let's say some merchandise: t-shirts, statues, logos, stickers, etc.