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Contest & Sweepstakes Forum Guide - Please Read

85,370 32,173 May 19, 2007 at 03:39 PM
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Last Edited by serra | Staff February 5, 2016 at 11:21 AM
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The Official SlickDeals Rules

Quote from Registration Process :
"By agreeing to these rules, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws."


COPY & PASTE is our FRIEND
Thanks, javaflower
  • start with searches of key words in the new sweeps name to be sure the sweeps/contest isn't already posted
  • THREAD TITLE: enter sponsor, sweep's official name as the thread title, then the age requirement (examples 6-16 YOs or 18+ ) followed by end date (this makes searches more efficient and the end date allows us to see when bumping of the thread is most likely about the offer because it is still active or about the prizing because the sweeps has ended)
  • include in the title if there is some extra requirement like a photo, essay, limited age range, limited states and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)...this allows us to not even have to open the thread if it won't pertain to us
  • in the MESSAGE include:
    1. link to entry page
    2. link to Official Rules (this has saved me many times when after the sweeps is over the entry page takes away the rules link - we still have it posted here for reference) many Official Rules are in pop-ups - to find a pop-ps URL, right click on it and then scroll down to "view page info" copy and paste page URL listed in the page info box
    3. beginning and end dates and times
    4. eligibility requirements: age, country, states, and for contests: essays, photos, social media such as Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, etc too - again this allows us to see at a glance if I am old enough to enter, live in a country that is allowed to enter etc.)
    5. Limit to entries from the original rules - (even though the new flags show us this info in a basic form - some sweeps only allow one entry per household, etc...it helps to have that info in the basic info page)
    6. PRIZES and limitation to how many can be won, if that applies (IWGs especially)
    7. any other information that may be helpful to know
  • if after submitting, the alert shows up that this may be a repost, please, check it out to be sure it is NOT a repost, before hitting post it anyway.

THANK YOU for considering this when posting new sweeps/contests!

Referrals/Self Promotion

Referrals are not allowed. This includes posting of referral links, asking for a referral, PMing referrals, having a referral link in your signature, or linking to any & all sites that contain referrals.
If you think it's a referral, get a Mods OK first!

Reposts
A repost is a duplicate post of an offer that has already be posted here within the last 6 months!
* if the same poster reposts the same exact with in or to the day of 6 months, the Moderators can merge those posts together!
* if the Moderators notice a post has been edited the same day/time that a similar post was made in order to still be the OP, the Moderators will not merge the offers!

There are 3 different ways to make sure that your post/offer hasn't been mentioned before:
1) The Global Search.
This search function searches the entire site.

2) The Contest & Sweepstakes Search button.

3) The URL Checker.
Mr. SlickDeals was nice enough to make a program that checks the URL of each link in a new post, before it's posted.
-The URL checker works in Freebies, Magazines, and Contests & Sweepstakes.
- It will not work if the original post (OP) has more than 1 link in the post!
A message will appear when the URL checker has detected the same link in another post:
It is possible that this freebie/deal is a repost. The URL in your post has already been posted in the following Insert Thread Title Here abroad thread. Please verify that your deal is not a repost. If it is not, please submit again.

If you see that warning, please DO NOT ignore it! It's there for a reason.

Personal Contests
A personal contest in our definition is a contest where you are giving away an item that you have in your possession at the time of the post. A personal blog-run contest is not "personal contest" and should not be promoted via SlickDeals.net.
Please make sure any contest that you plan to run has been OK'ed by the Moderators, and mention the approval in the post. Any contests that have not be OK'ed by a Contest & Sweepstakes Mod will be deleted.

-Contests requiring any monetary transactions what so ever (charity, paypal, referral, etc.) is not allowed!
-Contests requiring rep points and/or certain number of posts is also not allowed. If post count is a restriction, then screen at your own discretion. No not do it publicly.

Cross Posting

Cross posting a offer between 2 forums is allowed here. If there is a Freebie that has a separate Contest/Sweepstakes, it can be posted in both forums. If the free sample requires an entry into a Contest/Sweepstakes, it should be posted in the Contest & Sweepstakes forum

Thank you,
The Moderating Team

Mod Alerting Reposts
  1. Find the original post
  2. Go back to the repost and click on the "Mod Alert" icon
  3. In the text box, please write something to the effect of "Repost� followed by a copy of the original thread URL
  4. Submit the report and move to the next post
Do not Reply to the thread:
"REPOST" or posting the link to the original post.
That doesn't help the Mods, and it makes you look very lazy.

Providing Answers
Do not promote lying in order to enter for a contest. That includes, but not limited to, posting answers, coaching others on how to answer, admitting to giving false information, etc. This is a violation of Slickdeals.net TOS as well as the TOS for the contests. If you are found promoting or providing information to falsify a survey, you will be warned. Consider this your first friendly warning!

Good Deal?

Community Wiki

Last Edited by YARDEE October 8, 2018 at 12:10 PM
*this content moved*

This post can be edited by most users to provide up-to-date information about developments of this thread based on user responses, and user findings. Feel free to add, change or remove information shown here as it becomes available. This includes new coupons, rebates, ideas, thread summary, and similar items.

Once a Thread Wiki is added to a thread, "Create Wiki" button will disappear. If you would like to learn more about Thread Wiki feature, click here.


The C&S Forum Guide is long past due for an important rule clarification.

For years, most experienced OPs in the forum have been including the name of the sponsor as the first item in each thread title, even though this is not specifically mentioned in the forum rules. There are a couple of very important reasons for doing this other than just reader convenience.

Personal Information
Some people are only comfortable entering promotions sponsored by well known companies. If the thread title reads "Huge Amazon $1,000 Gift Card Giveaway" users might click through to the entry form on the assumption they will be giving their personal info to Amazon. But what if those people knew that the full sweeps title with sponsor was "Joe Blow's Huge Amazon $1,000 Gift Card Giveaway." They might not be comfortable giving their info to Joe Blow.

Avoiding Reposts
Think back to the holiday season when every sponsor and his brother had a "Thanksgiving Giveaway" or a "12 Days of _____ Sweepstakes" going on. Without the sponsors in thread titles, OPs would've had a helluva time figuring out if a specific sweeps was already posted.

Real Examples
Here are 14 actual sweepstakes that have been posted over the last 3 days. I've dropped the sponsor names, leaving just the official giveaway titles, as per the existing forum rules. Chaos!

2016 Valentine's Day Sweepstakes
Valentine's Day Sweepstakes
Valentine's Day Sweepstakes
Valentine's Day Giveaway
A Valentine's Surprise
February 2016 Drawing
Promotion
Giveaway
Sweepstakes
Sweepstakes
Sweepstakes
Kitchen Sweepstakes
Bakery Sweepstakes
The Sweepstakes

In conclusion, I suggest updating the Thread Title rule from the current "Enter sweep's official name as the thread title..." to "Enter sponsor's name, followed by sweep's official name..."



*REMINDER: Sweeps posts on SD (or any other sweeps listing sites) are a basic recap of the rules. It is the responsibility of each individual to READ THE RULES on every sweeps they enter.

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Joined Jun 2004
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> bubble2 463 Posts
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ellory
01-03-2012 at 07:07 AM.
01-03-2012 at 07:07 AM.
Quote from Gourmetfoodie :
Hello,

I wanted to post an update to a contest, (I know where the contest link is) and I understand the format it needs to be in, but I can't find where to click to do the actual update. Please help! Confused

Am I supposed to post contests here? I read the rules for posting and it jumps from "check search box" to "put the title of your contest/sweepstakes in the threadbox". I don't know how to get to the threadbox unless the title box on this page is it!
This is the forum guide thread, so you do not want to be here.
If you are trying to create a new contest thread, go to the forum home page and click "New Thread"

If you are looking to update an existing contest, open that thread,and then reply
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Gourmetfoodie
01-03-2012 at 09:36 AM.
01-03-2012 at 09:36 AM.
thanks
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Joined Feb 2012
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> bubble2 139 Posts
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Akyzza
02-16-2012 at 06:39 PM.
02-16-2012 at 06:39 PM.
Thank you. I followed all guide lines!
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Joined Jun 2009
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> bubble2 57 Posts
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iwant2win
02-27-2012 at 11:37 AM.
02-27-2012 at 11:37 AM.
Hey everyone ,

I found this entry for Cost Plus World Market's Titanic Sweepstakes check it out:

Enter World Market's Titanic Sweepstakes by April 7th, 2012 for your chance to win a trip for two to London, England to see the Titanic 3D premiere and a $1,000 World Market Gift Card!! The trip includes standard hotel accommodations for five (5) nights in one (1) room, double occupancy, ground transportation and two (2) tickets to the premiere!! The Grand Prize is valued at $9,000. First prize (3 first prize winners total) wins a $500 World Market Gift Card, and a private movie screening of Titanic 3D for winner and up to 99 friends! To enter, visit www.facebook.com/worldmarket and become a fan of the page, click on the promotion tab and complete the online entry form or visit www.worldmarketsweepstakes.com and follow the provided instructions. Valid entry dates are: 2/25/12– 4/7/12.
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> bubble2 26,018 Posts
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User1144648
02-27-2012 at 11:46 AM.
02-27-2012 at 11:46 AM.
Quote from iwant2win :
Hey everyone ,

I found this entry for Cost Plus World Market's Titanic Sweepstakes check it out:

Enter World Market's Titanic Sweepstakes by April 7th, 2012 for your chance to win a trip for two to London, England to see the Titanic 3D premiere and a $1,000 World Market Gift Card!! The trip includes standard hotel accommodations for five (5) nights in one (1) room, double occupancy, ground transportation and two (2) tickets to the premiere!! The Grand Prize is valued at $9,000. First prize (3 first prize winners total) wins a $500 World Market Gift Card, and a private movie screening of Titanic 3D for winner and up to 99 friends! To enter, visit www.facebook.com/worldmarket and become a fan of the page, click on the promotion tab and complete the online entry form or visit www.worldmarketsweepstakes.com and follow the provided instructions. Valid entry dates are: 2/25/12– 4/7/12.
Just an FYI, this is the Forum Guide. If you want to post a contest, go to the C&S Forum https://slickdeals.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25, search to make sure it hasn't already been posted, and, if not, click the New Thread button & post it.
This particular sweeps has already been posted: https://slickdeals.net/f/3992504-World-Market-s-Titanic-Sweepstakes-4-7-12?v=1
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Joined Jun 2009
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iwant2win
02-28-2012 at 01:07 PM.
02-28-2012 at 01:07 PM.
thanks sorry about that
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> bubble2 108 Posts
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H_Holden
03-02-2012 at 05:15 PM.
03-02-2012 at 05:15 PM.
Sorry, not sure if this is the right place, but how do I rep somebody? Is there someplace where that is posted?

Addendum:
FORGET IT, got it now--guess I needed 20 rep points
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Last edited by H_Holden March 3, 2012 at 05:17 AM.

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Joined Apr 2012
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princessann
04-25-2012 at 10:41 AM.
04-25-2012 at 10:41 AM.
I have read the rules and am informed now!
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implode
04-25-2012 at 10:53 AM.
04-25-2012 at 10:53 AM.
Quote from princessann :
I have read the rules and am informed now!
I highly recommend you read some if not all of the tips/advice thread. You can learn even more from reading that.
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princessann
04-25-2012 at 10:56 AM.
04-25-2012 at 10:56 AM.
Quote from implode :
I highly recommend you read some if not all of the tips/advice thread. You can learn even more from reading that.
Am on some tips/advice threads now. Thanks
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Joined Jul 2005
The end is nigh...
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trippitytroppity
12-14-2012 at 01:53 AM.
12-14-2012 at 01:53 AM.
Hi all, I have a question about Facebook promotions. Let's say a family member has a business page & wants users to "Like" their page as an entry to their product giveaway. Would this be valid to post here?

Any support with this matter would be greatly appreciated. I get nothing from this promotion. Just want to help out.

Looking forward to a response! =) Thank you!
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Joined May 2006
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implode
12-14-2012 at 09:53 AM.
12-14-2012 at 09:53 AM.
Quote from djl3e :
Hi all, I have a question about Facebook promotions. Let's say a family member has a business page & wants users to "Like" their page as an entry to their product giveaway. Would this be valid to post here?

Any support with this matter would be greatly appreciated. I get nothing from this promotion. Just want to help out.

Looking forward to a response! =) Thank you!
No, self promotion is strictly against the rules here.
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countyline
12-14-2012 at 10:00 AM.
12-14-2012 at 10:00 AM.
Quote from implode :
No, self promotion is strictly against the rules here.
If there is no personal gain I don't see where it's any different than any other facebook sweeps posted here or others that post up their own sweepstakes. It's just another sweepstakes, right?
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implode
12-14-2012 at 10:08 AM.
12-14-2012 at 10:08 AM.
Quote from countyline :
If there is no personal gain I don't see where it's any different than any other facebook sweeps posted here or others that post up their own sweepstakes. It's just another sweepstakes, right?
How do you separate people from saying a personal business is a family business? This is a slippery slope. Its best to separate this site from issues of personal interest. People have had such posts removed in the past, hence my answer.
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Joined Jul 2005
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trippitytroppity
12-14-2012 at 04:24 PM.
12-14-2012 at 04:24 PM.
Okay, thank you for the responses! I was just curious because I had read this, "Personal Contests
A personal contest in our definition is a contest where you are giving away an item that you have in your possession at the time of the post. A personal blog-run contest is not "personal contest" and should not be promoted via SlickDeals.net.
Please make sure any contest that you plan to run has been OK'ed by the Moderators, and mention the approval in the post. Any contests that have not be OK'ed by a Contest & Sweepstakes Mod will be deleted.

-Contests requiring any monetary transactions what so ever (charity, paypal, referral, etc.) is not allowed!
-Contests requiring rep points and/or certain number of posts is also not allowed. If post count is a restriction, then screen at your own discretion. No not do it publicly."

..but was not sure if it falls in the same category. The business does have the prizes in-hand currently. It does not require any purchasing & no one is getting paid for the "Likes" on FB.

Other Facebook businesses are doing sweepstakes as well, only difference is this is not a sweepstakes because we don't have people giving up their personal information. *shrugs*

Kind of a complex issue.. Lolz.
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