Solved in under a day. What now?

[Cambler]

I got the ramisis for Hanukkah last night. I spent about two hours with it last night, went to bed and got up this morning with a good idea of the inner workings. Another 30 minutes or so and I have the key.

I went back tot he web site, entered the number and... Now what?

My wife tells me that the salesperson at Marbles sold her this puzzle on the promise that one could win cash prizes and that there was a real world search component. All I'm finding is a forum, which I'm sure is nice (and I will send in my picture tomorrow), and a nebulous membership scheme where I have to pay another $50?

What do I get for that money?

And if I have to pay in order to win, I have to question that in the strongest of terms. I don't know about the UK, but here in the United States, that is considered a lottery and it is not legal.

The representations from the salesperson do not seem to match the realities of this product, so surely this is my fault and I am simply misunderstanding or missing the obvious. For the price paid (yes, it was a gift, but the price is clear online), one must question just a couple hours to solve what was a dead-easy puzzle and then nothing more.

Hopefully someone can clarify things for me. Thanks in advance!

[matt_p_dales]

Let me see what I can do for you.

Firstly the Ramisis was changed, I have an original Ramisis and I recommend you trying to get your hands on one!! Very few people have actually managed to complete the Extra Challenge on the G1 it took me forever and a day to actually get it!!!

The Gentleman that sold your wife the Ramisis is correct, I have found coins and won money and other prize's :

So what do you have to do now. So the Isis Adventure membership consists of the following:
If you own an ISIS puzzle it allows you access to the Pyramid maps, you say you are in the States there are a number of live real pyramids and virtual ones. Each Real pyramid has 1 Gold coin worth £500.00 and 10 Silvers I think the Silvers are worth £50....... I cant remember long time ago since I claimed any Coins. I think all but one of the Pyramids in the Sates have Gold coins in.. The one in San Fran was solved about 2 months ago! But it still must have a number of silvers in it I believe. The riddles are VERY hard but possible like I said one was solved very recently.

OK the Raimisis you get access to the Sphinx Map! There are 2 riddles there to try and solve each won worth again I believe £500 and a Gold coin.

The Copernisis You get access to the star map. I believe 3 of the 5 have been solved but they are cash prizes varying in amounts depending on how difficult the map you are trying to solve is. Again solve one you get the prize and a Coin

Then once you have solved the Tessarisis there is the Grid Map game.... I have know Idea how you do it or how it works... someone will get it though. Not sure what the prize is... Guess what yes you get a Coin!!!

Inside some of the Tessarisis I believe the ones from Marbles do have a Tarka inside of the puzzle...... please check this I may be mistaken. Once you have managed to solve the Tarka you get access to the Disk game.. this is Brand new I have not looked at it yet.. my understanding is that you get the code from inside your ISIS puzzle... its all connected!!

Lastly.... The platinum Pyramid.... Where to start with this... There are 3 parts to it. To take part you must own the 1st two puzzles in the series. You can have as many guesses as you like at this hammer as many guess' as you can. There is a counter on the ISIS Adventure home page. I believe its about 4 years since it started. Jazz managed to solve the 1st clue a matter of weeks ago. Now he is working on the second. He also has a Gold Coin and a Silver if my mind serves me correctly!! If you solve the 3 riddles find the pyramid the you win £10,000. Good luck with that

Any other questions I will try and help.


Matt

[Cambler]

You mention many other things I could buy. I don't have those. I have this one pyramid. Can we stick to just that, please? I don't want to be told I have to buy more things at this point.

Second, I don't live in San Francisco. I live in Seattle. To go to San Francisco would be expensive and require time off work.

So can we stick to things I can do now, here, with what has been already purchased?

I see that there is a lot going on, but I didn't get any of that. I got a ramisis as a gift and solved it. What can I do now, without taking days off for expensive travel, buying memberships that I had no indication were required, or buying more products that are now coming as quite a surprise?

[Cambler]

So yes, I just went to look at the sphinx information, as you mentioned, and it told me that I had to pay extra to play for prizes or even look.

Unless I am mistaken, and I do not believe I am, requiring payment to win a prize is not legal in the United States. This puzzle was bought upon the representation by the salesman at Marbles that these extra puzzles and additional content were included as part of the purchase.

Apparently it is not.

To say that I am disappointed and upset would be an understatement.

So I sincerely hope I am simply misunderstanding. Otherwise, it appears that this gift cost my wife hundreds of dollars for just under three hours of enjoyment and now it is over.

Please tell me that this is simply my inability to understand.

[evilkeen]

I am sorry that you have been disappointed to solve the Ramisis puzzle so quickly, but I hope you would agree that it is nevertheless an excellent and beautiful piece of engineering, and a joy to own.

Matt has given you an excellent synopsis of the Adventure that lies ahead, and there is plenty on the forum to give you a more detailed flavour of that. I would just take issue with your comments about the legality of having to pay more money - we are not talking about a lottery (where actually you would pay money to gain the chance to win prizes at random) - here we are talking about the opportunity to solve riddles/find pyramids/solve online games etc etc using skill - nothing random here! Yes, you do need to spend money on some of these things, just as you would do in pursuing most hobbies (I wouldn't expect to win a golf tournament after buying just one golf club!).

If the salesperson did actually tell your wife that all of this was included in the price of the puzzle, then that is clearly misrepresentation, and perhaps could be taken up with Marbles, but it sounds to me that he was actually just giving an indication of where the adventure could lead...

[Cambler]

No, it was misrepresentation. It was made clear that it was all included, and no mention of any extra charges or the need to buy more than one puzzle was ever made. There was no mention of membership, paid or otherwise.

The puzzle is, I agree, quite elegant. But for the price, elegance isn't the issue. A puzzle is purchased for a purpose as a functional item. If elegance were the only aspect under consideration, perhaps I would have a different opinion.

The bottom line is that the purchase was an expensive piece of hardware and nothing more. Granted, it is nice, but now it will sit on the shelf, having been solved in hours.

As for legalities, I would ask that you familiarize yourself with the definition of lottery as used here in the US. Even in games of skill, necessitating a purchase to participate falls under laws to that purpose. There are different rules for games of chance and games of skill, but they are legislated similarly. And failure to disclose rules ahead of purchase may, additionally, create what is known as a contract of adhesion. I'm certain that your legal counsel can help you with this.

[matt_p_dales]

Love the fact u r so sure of yourself if it was illegal do u not think after 8 years the US authorities may have for something about it!!!

If u don't like it here then u know where to go!!! We are a fun bunch here and don't believe in getting something for nothing!!!

We don't want people like u around!!! You didn't even have the decency to say thanks for the information I provided!!

May I recommend before u start moaning and complaining about everything sort out your attitude first!!!

I won't reply nor read anything that u reply because to be honest your attitude disgusts me and I have better things to do!!!!

[Cambler]

Thank you for the mature reply. I'm sorry my criticism threatens you for some reason, but since you choose to not discuss the issues, I will refrain from further comment.

I will be visiting Marbles next week and will discuss the issue with their management directly.