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THE MICROSOFT “PARNTER SALES EXCELLENCE” SWEEPSTAKES

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECCESARY.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

PLEASE NOTE:  It is your sole responsibility to review and understand your employer’s policies regarding your eligibility to participate in trade promotions.  If you are participating in violation of your employer’s policies, you may be disqualified from entering or receiving prizes.  Microsoft disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for disputes arising between an employee and their employer related to this matter, and prizes will only be awarded in compliance with the employer’s policies.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES: Microsoft is committed to complying with government gift and ethics rules and therefore government employees are not eligible for this offer.

COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE RULES:

These are the official rules that govern how the Microsoft Partner Sales Excellence promotion will operate.  This promotion will be simply referred to as the “Sweepstakes” throughout the rest of these rules. 

In these rules, “we” “our” and “us” refer to Microsoft Corporation, the sponsor of the Sweepstakes. “You,” “yourself,” “I,” “me,” and “my” refers to an eligible Sweepstakes entrant.  

1.         WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES? 

This Sweepstakes starts at 12:01 AM Pacific Time (PT) on November 2, 2012 and ends at 11:59 PM PT on December 31, 2012 (“Entry Period”).

2.         CAN I ENTER?

You are eligible to enter this Sweepstakes if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:

  • You are actively enrolled as a Microsoft Sales Specialist or Pre-Sales Technical Specialist who is a legal resident of the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia) 18 years of age or older; and
  • You are NOT an employee of Microsoft Corporation or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary; and
  • You are NOT involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Sweepstakes; and
  • You are NOT an immediate family (parent, sibling, spouse, child) or household member of a Microsoft employee, an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Sweepstakes.

This Sweepstakes is void outside the geographic area described above and wherever else prohibited by law.

3.         HOW DO I ENTER?

You can enter online by

  1.       Completing any of the assessment preparation courses listed at www.microsoftsalesspecialist.com. Limit one (1) entry per course completed; up to twenty (20) entries per person.
  2.       Passing any Microsoft Sales Specialist or Pre-Sales Technical Specialist accreditation assessments listed at www.microsoftsalesspecialist.com.  Limit one (1) entry per assessment passed; up to nineteen (19) entries per person (one (1) per accreditation).

 

Sales Specialist accreditation assessments include:

 

  •      Business Intelligence
  •      Communications -Lync
  •      Customer Relationship Management
  •      Data Platform
  •      Desktop SMB
  •      Desktop Enterprise
  •      Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
  •      Identity and Security
  •      Messaging
  •      Microsoft Learning
  •      Private Cloud / Management and Virtualization
  •      Server Platform
  •      Small Business
  •      Windows Intune Desktop

 Pre-Sales Technical accreditation assessments include:

 

  •      Business Intelligence
  •      Communications
  •      Customer Relationship Management
  •      Enterprise Resource Planning
  •      Private Cloud / Management and Virtualization

 

No responsibility is assumed by Microsoft for lost, late, or misdirected entries or any computer, online telephone or technical malfunctions that may occur.

We will automatically disqualify:

  • Any incomplete or illegible entry; and
  • Any entries that we receive from you that are in excess of the entry limit described above.

 

4.         WINNER SELECTION AND PRIZES

Around the close of the prize period, we will randomly select forty-two (42) winners from among all eligible entries received to win one of the prizes listed below.

Two (2) Grand Prizes: Hyatt Grand Aspen Trip (Approximate Retail Value (ARV) $8,750.00)

  • Roundtrip economy-class airfare for two*
  • Four nights’ accommodations for two persons at the Hyatt Grand Aspen
  • Five day mid-size car rental
  • $600.00 in American Express Gift Cards
  • Room taxes
  • Complimentary continental breakfast daily

* Travel must be completed by December 15, 2013, and is subject to hotel and airline availability. Total roundtrip airfare charges are up to $600 per ticket ($1,200 for 2 roundtrip tickets); winner is responsible for any additional airfare charges over $600 per ticket.

Ten (10) First Prizes: $200 Columbia gift cards (Approximate Retail Value (ARV) $200.00)

Thirty (30) Second Prizes: $50 Columbia gift cards (Approximate Retail Value (ARV) $50.00).

The total Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of ALL prizes combined: $21,000.00

Limit one (1) prize per person per prize period, regardless of the number of courses you complete or assessments you pass. If you have been selected as a winner more than once, your entry will be discarded and we will randomly select an alternate winner. If for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value as permitted.

 

If you are selected as a potential winner of this Sweepstakes:

 

  • You may not exchange your prize for cash or any other merchandise or services; and

 

  • You may not designate someone else as the winner.  If you are unable or unwilling to accept your prize, we will award it to an alternate potential winner; and

 

  • If you accept a prize, you will be solely responsible for all applicable taxes related to accepting the prize; and

 

  • If you are a minor in your place of residence, we may award the prize to your parent/legal guardian on your behalf; and

 

  • Unless otherwise noted, all prizes are subject to their manufacturer’s warranty and / or terms and conditions. 

If you are a potential winner, we will notify you by sending a message to the e-mail address, the phone number, or mailing address (if any) listed on your entry within seven (7) days following the random drawing with further instructions on how you will receive your prize.  If the notification that we send is returned as undeliverable, or you are otherwise unreachable for any reason, we may award the prize to an alternate randomly selected winner.   You should allow 6-8 weeks from monthly selection to receive your prize.

If there is a dispute as to who is the potential winner, we will consider the potential winner to be the authorized account holder of the e-mail address used to enter the Sweepstakes, or the person residing at the mailing address listed on your entry.

If you are a potential winner, we may require you to sign an affidavit of eligibility, liability/publicity release and W-9 tax form.  If you are a potential winner and you are a minor in your place of legal residence, we may require your parent or legal guardian to sign all required forms on your behalf.  If you do not complete the required forms as instructed and/or return the required forms within the time period listed on the winner notification message, we may disqualify you and select an alternate winner.

6.         WHAT ARE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING?

Your odds of winning this Sweepstakes depend on the number of eligible entries we receive.

7.          WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS ARE YOU ARE AGREEING TO BY ENTERING THIS SWEEPSTAKES?

By entering this Sweepstakes you agree: 

  • To abide by these Official Rules; and

 

  • To release and hold harmless Microsoft, their  respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees and agents from any and all liability or any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this Sweepstakes or any prize won; and

 

  • That Microsoft’s decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this Sweepstakes; and

 

  • That by accepting a prize, Microsoft may use your proper name and state of residence online and in print, or in any other media, in connection with this Sweepstakes, without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law.

8.         WHAT LAWS GOVERN THE WAY THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS EXECUTED AND ADMINISTRATED?

This Sweepstakes will be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of Washington for any disputes arising out of this Sweepstakes.  

9.         WHAT IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS AND THE SWEEPSTAKES CAN’T RUN AS PLANNED?

 

If cheating, a virus, bug, catastrophic event, or any other unforeseen or unexpected event that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled, (also referred to as force majeure) affects the fairness and / or integrity of this Sweepstakes, we reserve the right to cancel, change or suspend this Sweepstakes.  This right is reserved whether the event is due to human or technical error. If a solution cannot be found to restore the integrity of the Sweepstakes, we reserve the right to select winners from among all eligible entries received before we had to cancel, change or suspend the Sweepstakes.

 

If you attempt to compromise the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Sweepstakes by hacking or by cheating or committing fraud in ANY way, we may seek damages from you to the fullest extent permitted by law.  Further, we may ban you from participating in any of our future Sweepstakes, so please play fairly.

 

10.       HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT WHO WON?

 

For a list of winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Microsoft Corporation, Attn: Microsoft Partner Sales Excellence – Lincoln Square 24109, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052. Requests received more than sixty (60) days following the drawing date will not be fulfilled. 

 

11.       WHO IS SPONSORING THIS SWEEPSTAKES?

 

Microsoft Corporation

One Microsoft Way

Redmond, WA 98052