Why did I make the blog candy so complicated?

Or maybe it isn't really. I have 14 comments (though one or two don't look like they are entering the candy - Deanne did you mean to enter?). I have 9 prizes, so far.

I asked people to tell me which thing they most wanted to win, and I said followers get preference.
So I put the names on a spreadsheet with the prizes across the top then filled out who wanted what (or if they didn't say which strictly speaking should disqualify you but I may be kind on that one), if they were a follower and if they had linked (will have to trust some on the last one as I have left it long past the closing date to go look).

Now how I think I have to do this is filter all the names who want a particular thing, then if there are followers in that list draw from them for that thing, if only one person was a follower they get that prize. Then the rest of the things that weren't desired can be drawn among the remaining people who weren't followers and missed out of previous drawings, and those who didn't specify some of which are followers.
Now should I do more than one draw with the same name, so if they are in the first draw and maybe win, should they also be allowed to compete for the second thing they wanted?

Or should I say if you won you don't go in again? (In which case the next draw may have only one follower who will get it by default).

Are you confused yet?

Ok. Suggestion. Why not put all the followers who left a comment in a hat and pull out a name. If that follower expressed a preference then that is what they've won. Keep going until either you run out of follwers or the prizes are getting low, at which point you then throw all the names of the people who left a comment in and share out the remaining prizes amongst them? Would that work??

If everyone is happy with that I can do it. Sounds sensible to me. But what if the ones who did as asked and gave a preference don't get drawn out until the other things are left? Oh dear, and then I said Followers got first pick so should I draw out followers then others for alternate things, or some other combo?

I have got the other method ready to go, if I do go for that as originally planned but I am so tired right now I don't think I can stay awake to do anything much.

Well I'm exhausted trying to work it out!!!! LOL
All I can say is Good Luck with it............... I'm sure no-one will really mind what they receive just to know they've won should be good enough. If they do mind, then tough!!!!!!

At the end of the day Cazzy, it's your blog candy so just do what you feel comfortable with. It's always pot luck as to whether you win something or nothing when you enter for blog candy anyway so as mum said I'm sure anyone who wins something will just be happy that they have won something even if it isn't what they specified. So I wouldn't worry about it too much Carol.

bless you honey as Fe already said pick a number out of hat and people will be thrilled if they win something i think next time (if you do of course) offer blog candy, offer a amount as one lot and then do a random number generator and hey presto one winner, much less stress for you xxx

I am going to do it today Deanne, but the whole point was that I did a poll some time ago and asked people if they would rather have small lots of candy that lots could win or lots spread out that one person could eventually win or one big lot that one person could win and 15 voted for small lots that lots of people could win 2 voted one to win it all.

So I have gone with the vote but up until now I have only offered one thing, or one for followers and one for others and didn't get a great deal of interest. This one has attracted the most comments so far, but I think I should have done one thing a day and got people to comment then did a drawing each day!

bless ya, we live and learn though eh xx

Admin wrote:bless ya, we live and learn though eh xx

Hun I am deliighted to have won - thank you so very much - I dont care what I win - it is just so nice of you to do this at all and I am sure everyone else will feel the same - you are a top banana - thank you

Its a pleasure, I have to pack it all up to send now, as well as something I need to send back for exchange. I might get started tonight now I have all the addresses.