Online Retail Sweepstakes: Struggling U.S. Retailers Give Away Free Cars, Cash, and Hannah Montana in December

You would think since the retail industry is practically giving away their merchandise this holiday season, that they wouldn't have much of a budget for genuinely free stuff in the form of sweepstakes prizes. Yes, Consumer, there is still a Santa Claus. And this holiday season he's got a sack full of cars, Hannah Montana guitars, iPods, HDTVs, a trip to Hawaii, $1 million cash and $50 million of office supplies from retailers who want your attention, and, by the way, your e-mail address.

If the power of all your lucky charms could make you the grand prize winner of every one of the 40 plus retail-sponsored sweepstakes that end in December, 2008, the Big Three would be sitting on your sofa asking for a personal favor. Well, not quite, but President Obama would certainly be appreciative for your prize tax contributions to the Global Whatta Mess Fund.

It was reported this week that Portland-based Adidas is canceling its holiday parties this year in order to save itself $6.3 million. (That's some eggnog budget!) Ironically, Adidas will be probably be using $10,000 of that saved office party money to fund its "Win Your Own House Party Sweepstakes" which ends on December 28th. At least somebody will be partying Adidas style in 2008.

On Wednesday, HSN Inc. was the biggest loser on NASDAQ. On Friday it announced that it was eliminating 237 jobs. On that same day, it selected three more winners in its $125,000 sweepstakes. I guess the good news for the HSN employees who were laid off less than three weeks before Christmas is that they are now eligible to win a prize in their former employer's sweepstakes before it ends on December 20th.

Bassett Furniture announced on Monday that it will be putting its Elkin, VA plant in mothballs while it waits and hopes that furniture buying, and particularly furniture financing, resume in the U.S. Its Galax, VA location will still manufacture and deliver the 106 custom sofas that it is giving away in its "106th Anniverary Custom Sofa Giveaway." Will the $318,000 worth of sofas lead to an increased demand for recliners, tables and lamps? If nothing else, Bassett will have bought goodwill with 106 people who will eventually be buying furniture again.

The prize for the e-commerce retailer with the most relevant sweepstakes goes to Overstock.com for their "Family Bailout Contest." Launched three days before Thanksgiving, and running until three days before Christmas, this online retailer that can't turn a profit will pay off $50,000 of debt for one lucky grand prize winner. The timeliness of the promotion should yield plenty of good publicity and website traffic for the retailer of surplus stock. Hopefully Overstock.com won't be seeking a bailout of its own after it revises five years' worth of financials due to some "oops" accounting practices.

And speaking of bailouts, all of the major U.S. automakers will be giving away one or more vehicles before the month ends. I guess our tax dollars will be paying for those too.

Many of the retail sweepstakes that are ending in December had pre-meltdown launches in early 2008. So, if you’re feeling lucky, make sure you put your name in before the retail industry runs out of hats.