Originally Posted by
njkayaker
??? He didn't put $15k into anything.
If it's such a problem winning the thing, why even take a chance?
Clearly, a $15k cash prize is more valuable but that wasn't the prize (so, it's irrelevant).
Giving a $15k bike away didn't cost Specialized $15k.
It the prize isn't what you want, don't enter the contest. You already know it's not your "dream bike".
No, not necessarily. Given that it's a free car (outside of taxes), many people might just keep it. Keeping what you win only if it's exactly what you want isn't the only option.
Cars are a different thing away since there is a well-established market for second hand ones.
Why would you NOT enter a free, no obligation contest to win something of considerable value? I've entered all sorts of freebie competitions similar to this with no intention of keeping the prize. Of course he won't get the full $15k for it, but it's not exactly worthless. As you said he put nothing into it, but that doesn't make any difference whatsoever to his opportunity cost i.e. halo bike vs large pile of cash.