% Always read the fine print %
http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-84843441/ Casino gambler floored by car giveaway's fine-print details Jerry Davich, Post-Tribune October 27, 2015 [images / JERRY DAVICH / POST-TRIBUNE http://www.trbimg.com/img-1445997194/turbine/ct-ct-ptb-davich-casino-car-winner--jpg-20151027/750 Jacob Ehrhardt of Lake Station stands next to his casino prize, a 2015 Tesla Model S electric car, valued at $92,000. ] Jacob Ehrhardt heard his name announced on the loudspeaker while playing a slot machine inside Four Winds Casino Resort. He had only five minutes to get to the proper desk to identify himself as the winner of a 2015 Tesla Model S electric car, valued at $92,000. The shiny black vehicle had been on display for weeks inside the lobby at the New Buffalo casino, where Ehrhardt is a regular player. He never dreamed he would be the car's new owner. For the casino's Oktoberfest celebration, W Club members such as Ehrhardt earned entries into the car giveaway promotion by playing slots and table games. The Tesla features dual-motor all-wheel drive, a glass panoramic roof, black leather seats and a subzero weather package. Just like Ehrhardt, I saw it close up, and it's one snazzy-looking car. The 33-year-old millworker from Lake Station jumped from his seat at the one-armed bandit and rushed to the nearest Four Winds employee, who guided him to the right desk to claim his prize. He got there with only 45 seconds to spare on a recent Saturday night. "I couldn't believe it," he told me. Soon after, he said, he also couldn't believe the prize's fine-print details. "Before the casino will even let me have it, I had to get approved for a $4,200 a year insurance policy, which would cost me $350 a month pro-rated," he said. "On top of the insurance, I have paperwork that has to be signed and notarized, and taxes for it would be more than $30,000." "It would kick me to a higher tax bracket, which means I'll pay about $38,000 come March at tax season," he said with a shrug while standing next to the car. Although the car is listed for $92,000, he is being taxed for $98,540, the cost of the car including taxes billed to the casino, he was told. "Just to pay the taxes, I'll have to sell the car," he said. That statement sounds like a car-giveaway conundrum, but that's exactly what Ehrhardt did. As soon as he picked up his four-wheel prize Tuesday morning, he started shopping it around in person. Since last week, he's been contacting car dealerships across Northwest Indiana and beyond. It turned into a nationwide search to get this hot-potato prize off his lucky hands. "The car's own company won't buy it back from me, and other dealerships say it's now a used vehicle, even though I have owned it for only an hour," he said. "I'm afraid to drive it in case anything happens along the way. Plus, my insurance policy has a $1,000 deductible." I wasn't surprised when Ehrhardt drove the car very cautiously around a corner when we met Tuesday morning on his way to a Lake County car dealership. The highest bidder for the car offered "only $60,000," Ehrhardt told me, though "only" is a relative term in this case. "I'd keep the car if I could afford to, but I can't," he said while showing off its whistles and bells. "After I pay roughly $38,000 in taxes, I'll make out with only $25,000 from a $92,000 vehicle." "It's upsetting that the average American worker can't even afford to win a car like this," he said, "plus, the hidden fees the casino never tells you about until after you win it." I contacted Four Winds for insights into the financial figures behind these promotions, but the casino declined. Not sure why, though. Ehrhardt is still a winner, and I'm guessing he'll still be a frequent flier at that Michigan casino. Then again, it's a disappointing jackpot compared to that exhilarating moment when he first heard his name called on the loudspeaker. Even big winners have to keep in mind that every time they walk into a casino, it's truly a gamble. That's the fine-print reality that often gets buried under the bright lights, glitzy atmosphere, hand-delivered drinks and, in this case, car giveaway promotions. Silver lining from subscribers "Jerry, are you aware of all the problems we're having just to get our daily paper delivered to our house?" asked longtime Post-Tribune subscriber Wallace H. of Crown Point. "Please tell me you know about this issue so hopefully it gets remedied soon. I'm reading your columns online or on Facebook but it's just not the same." Yes, Wallace, I'm well aware of the newspaper delivery problems that many subscribers are dealing with the past couple weeks. Dozens of readers have already contacted me, mostly out of desperation. I've done my best to connect them with the correct person or department here, and many are again getting their daily newspapers. "Jerry, I don't know what you did, but we've gotten our paper on time two days in a row," said Leslie Thomas of Hobart. "Newspapers are having a hard enough time in this digital age and I don't want to them disappear." Leslie, I didn't do anything but connect you with the right person here. But I appreciate your feedback and also your interest in the print newspaper industry as a whole. If there's a silver lining regarding these dark-cloud delivery problems, it's that print newspapers are still valued by readers. They, we, still want to open a newspaper each day, get ink on our hands and ruffle through page after page of stories, columns, ads, opinions, comics, puzzles, Quickly comments and more. "Otherwise, it's like something important is missing each morning," said Fran K. of Michigan City. Fran, I feel the same way, especially because I read four print-copy newspapers each day. Trust me, I understand. We understand. And we care about your loyal readership. To all you understandably disgruntled yet wonderfully dedicated readers, thanks for your patience. More importantly, thanks for continuing to make the Post-Tribune a part of your daily orbit. It not only says a lot about the newspaper world, it says a lot about your world. And that we're still very much a part of it. Again, thank you. 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