Ripley’s invites the public to send them the strangest items they can think of – without using any packaging!
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 13, 2014) – The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! second annual Strange Mail Contest is so simple that people can just mail it in when it comes to entering. In fact, that’s the whole point.
For the Strange Mail Contest, Ripley’s wants to see what weird objects the public can mail to its corporate headquarters in Orlando. The catch is – no packaging of any kind is allowed. That means no boxes, envelopes or wrapping of any kind – the postage and address must go directly on the item.
Ripley’s first Strange Mail Contest produced 89 entries from 16 states, plus items sent from Russia and Ireland. Entries included a toilet seat, an inflatable monkey, a zucchini, a rubber skeleton, a bar of soap, a bowling ball and the contest winner – a meal from McDonalds taped to a plastic plate.
“This contest is all about creativity and having some fun,” said Edward Meyer, Ripley’s VP of Exhibits and Archives.
“We even want the postal carriers to have some fun with this contest.”
Ripley’s has a long legacy of receiving unusual items through the mail. Robert Ripley once received more than a million letters in a single year, including letters written on wood, glass, rocks, bones and even a grain of rice.
When it comes to prizes, everyone’s a winner in Ripley’s Strange Mail Contest. Every person who sends in an entry will receive a copy of Dear Mr. Ripley: A Compendium of Curioddities from the Believe It or Not! Archives. One weekly winner will receive a copy of the upcoming Ripley’s annual, Reality Shock. The grand prize winner (chosen from the weekly winners) will receive a set of all ten previous Ripley’s annuals. Some of the best entries will end up on display at Ripley’s Odditoriums.
The contest runs through September 5th. For the mailing address, contest rules and other details, entrants should first visit: http://www.ripleys.com/mail/.