OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
1. To Enter. To enter, go to www.amtrak.com/the39clues and click “enter” to be directed to the official entry form at http://www.scholastic.com/kids/39clues/amtrak/. No mechanically reproduced entries will be accepted. All entries must be received between 12:00 AM (EST) on July 1, 2009 and 11:59 PM on August 31, 2009. Limit one entry per person and per e-mail address per day. Sponsor will not verify receipt of entries. In case of dispute, entries will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet Access Provider, on-line service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Automated entries are prohibited, and any use of such automated devices will cause disqualification. Sponsor and its advertising and promotions agencies are not responsible for lost, late, illegible, misdirected or stolen entries or transmissions, or problems of any kind whether mechanical, human or electronic. Sweepstakes entries are the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. Proof of online submission does not constitute proof of delivery or receipt.
FOR ENTRANTS UNDER 13:
Entrants under the age of 13 at time of entry will be asked to provide an email address for a parent or legal guardian. This address will be used to:
2. Eligibility. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Employees of Sponsor, Amtrak, their respective affiliates, and their immediate families in the same household are not eligible. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. This promotion is intended for viewing in the United States only and shall only be construed and evaluated according to United States law. By entering these Sweepstakes, entrants affirm that they have read and accepted these Official Rules and agree that all decisions of Sponsor related to this Sweepstakes are final.
3. Prize Details. Grand Prize: One (1) grand prize winner will be randomly selected from the pool of entries and will receive Four (4) coach-class round-trip Amtrak tickets to anywhere Amtrak travels between the Amtrak station closest to the winner’s residence and any other Amtrak station in the forty-six states where Amtrak travels (the “Grand Prize”). For more information on where Amtrak travels, visit www.Amtrak.com. The approximate retail value (“ARV”) of the Grand Prize is $2000. Note: Actual value of the Grand Prize will vary based on the cities or origination and destination and the market conditions at the time of the reservations. If Grand Prize winner is a resident of a jurisdiction that deems him/her to be a minor, he/she must be accompanied by his/her parent/legal guardian, and such person must pay his/her own expenses unless deemed to be the one of the allotted companions. The Grand Prize winner and his or her travel companion must travel together on the same itinerary and possess all required travel documents, including visas and valid passports, if and as applicable. Grand Prize winner and companions must book their travel at the same time. The dates of departure and return are subject to availability and/or change at Sponsor and/or Amtrak’s sole discretion. Amtrak tickets are non-refundable/non-transferable and are not valid for upgrades or Amtrak Guest Rewards programs. Other travel restrictions and blackout dates will apply, determined by Sponsor and/or Amtrak in their sole discretion. The Grand Prize winner will not receive cash or any other form of compensation if actual travel costs are less than the estimate made in these Official Rules. The winner is responsible for transportation to and from station of departure/arrival. The winner is solely responsible for all costs, incidentals, and expenses not specifically mentioned as being included, including but not limited to, unspecified ground transportation, lodging, meals, gratuities, and incidentals incurred during travel. Grand Prize winner will receive an IRS Tax Form 1099 for the total ARV of the prize (stated herein) that he/she won for the calendar year in which he/she is awarded the prize. In the event the Grand Prize winner and/or his or her travel companion engage in behavior that (as determined by Sponsor and/or Amtrak, in their sole discretion) is obnoxious or threatening, illegal or that is intended to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person, Sponsor and Amtrak reserve the right to terminate the trip early, in whole or in part, and send the Grand Prize winner and/or his or her travel companions home with no further compensation. The Grand Prize must be redeemed and travel must be completed by December 15, 2010 or the Grand Prize will be forfeited in its entirety. The rail transportation must be booked at least forty-five (45) days prior to travel commencement. The Grand Prize is subject to seat availability, as well as Amtrak’s terms and conditions generally applicable thereto. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply and are subject to change. The Amtrak blackout dates are as follows: September 4, 2009; September 7, 2009; November 24 & 25, 2009; November 28 – 30, 2009; December 17 – 23, 2009; December 26 – 30, 2009; January 3 & 4, 2010; February 12, 2010; February 15, 2010; April 2, 2010; April 4 & 5, 2010, November 23 & 24, 2010; and November 27 – 29, 2010.
First Prizes: Twenty (20) first prize winners will be randomly selected from the pool of entries and will receive: one (1) The 39 Clues calendar (ARV $7.99), one (1) The 39 Clues puzzle (ARV $7.95), one (1) The 39 Clues bookmark (ARV $3.49), a set of The 39 Clues books (#1-5) (ARV $64.95) and The 39 Clues Card Pack #1 and #2 (ARV $13.98). ARV for each first prize: $98.36.
Second Prizes: Ten (10) second prize winners will receive a set of The 39 Clues books (#1-5) (ARV $64.95) and The 39 Clues Card Pack #1 and #2 (ARV $13.98). Approximate total retail value (“ARV”) $78.93 each.
ARV for all prizes: $4,756.50
All prizes claimed will be awarded. Prize cannot be transferred, substituted or redeemed for cash except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Prize is not transferable. Federal, state and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize with a prize of equal or greater value. Only one prize household. If winner is deemed a minor in his/her state of residence, prize will be awarded in the name of a parent or legal guardian.
4. Drawing and Awarding of Prizes. Potential winners will be determined in a random drawing from all entries received. Drawing will be held on or about September 7, 2009 by Sponsor. Odds of winning are determined upon the number of eligible entries received. Potential winners of the Sweepstakes will be notified by email on or about September 21, 2009. Winners (and, if applicable, their parent/legal guardian) will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within 14 days after notification is sent, or prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. If a potential winner does not respond within fourteen (14) days of first notification attempt, or if any prize notification is returned as undeliverable, or if the potential winner does not meet eligibility criteria, or in the event of noncompliance with these Official Rules, an alternate winner will be selected from all remaining eligible entries. Travel companions (and, if applicable, their parent/legal guardian) will be required to sign and return a liability release prior to traveling.
5. Limitation of Liability. Winners agree that (except where prohibited) Sponsor may use winner's name, picture, portrait, likeness, biographical information and any statements made by winner regarding the Sweepstakes or Sponsor for advertising and promotional purposes without notice or further compensation. In addition, one or more winners may also be asked to attend and participate in media and/or public relations events (the “Media Events”) designated by Sponsor and/or requested by various media outlets. Upon Sponsor’s request, and subject to winner’s availability, each winner agrees to participate in such Media Events without any further compensation. Sponsor shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to choose the winners it wishes to participate in such Media Events. By accepting the prize, all winners, whether or not chosen to participate in such Media Events, agree to release Sponsor, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and their affiliates, subsidiaries, distributors and agencies, and hold each of them harmless, from any claims relating to their selection, non-selection, participation or non-participation in any Media Events. By participating, all entrants and winners further agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), their advertising and promotion agencies, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in Sweepstakes, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Sweepstakes-related activity and claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy and merchandise delivery. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend part or all of this Sweepstakes should virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes beyond the control of sponsor corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Sweepstakes. In such event, Sponsor may award prizes in a random drawing from all eligible entries received up to the date of cancellation or suspension. Sponsor and its promotion and advertising agencies are not responsible for technical, hardware, software or telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, fraud, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions, whether caused by the sponsor, users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the promotion or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions which may damage a user's system or limit a participant's ability to participate in the promotion. Sponsor may prohibit an entrant from participating in the Sweepstakes or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants or Sponsor representatives. Sponsor is not responsible if any prize cannot be awarded or enjoyed due to travel cancellations, delays or interruptions due to acts of war, natural disasters, weather, acts of terrorism or similar causes.
6. Winners List/Rules. For a winners’ list or a copy of the Official Rules, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope for receipt, to Sponsor, Scholastic Inc., The 39 Clues ‘Ride the Rails’ Sweepstakes, 568 Broadway, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10012. Please specify rules or winner information. VT residents may omit return postage. Requests must be received before March 1, 2010. Winners’ lists will be available after the completion of the Sweepstakes but no earlier than December 1, 2009. You may also review the rules at www.scholastic.com/39clues/amtrakrules
7. Sponsored by: Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.