Microsoft has an Employee Purchase Program (EPP) set up with a number of companies, including Dell. As I was perusing Dell?s website to order a new computer for the misses, I happened across a non-descript banner ad labeled ?Dads and Grads ? Spin to Win?. What the hell, I thought, I?ll give it a shot. Once I entered the obligatory personal information, I was presented with what looked to be a Flash application resembling a slot machine. The rules are, match 3 items and win ? naturally. I clicked on the ?Spin? button and watched lady luck spin away. Slot 1: TV, Slot 2: TV, Slot 3: TV. Woohoo! I won? but what did I win?

At first I thought, ?Oh how cute, I probably won a Dell branded 128mb memory stick or something?, but I was wrong. As the next screened informed me? ?Congratulations! You are the grand prize winner and have one a 23? LCD Dell TV!?? My reaction was, ?Wha? Huh?.. Yeah, right!? Suddenly, I had visions of several airlines websites selling round trip tickets for $1. Surely, something was wrong. I read over the rules which clearly stated that if an error has been determined to occur, Dell is not responsible for awarding the prize for such an error. (Bingo!) That?s probably what happened. Next, I saw were I should be expecting an email from Dell immediately, verifying my prize. So I waited?and waited?and waited. After an hour or so, no email. Damn!

On a hunch, I decided to check my Junk Mail folder, and lo and behold there was an email from Dell. I anxiously opened it and read that ?Yes, Dave! You pessimistic bastard? you won a Dell 23? LCD TV!!!? (I?m para-phrasing, of course) Attached to the email was an affidavit instructing that if I want my prize, I must sign my life away. For a TV?!? You betcha! I even had to get the affidavit notorized, so it must be real.

Well? we?ll see. Seeing is believing. I had to send the affidavit back to Dell?s prize department within 10 days. No fax allowed. It must be mailed. The chances are higher that the snail mail won?t make it in time. Further increasing the chances of not claiming the prize I suppose. Anyhow, I won?t truly rejoice until I receive a special shipment from Dell within 8?10 weeks.

Update: The nicelady in the brown truck and brown polyester shirt and shorts delivered the TV on Aug. 23rd. People really do win on the web!