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forum thread Posted by serra | Staff • May 19, 2007
forum thread Posted by serra | Staff • May 19, 2007

Contest & Sweepstakes Forum Guide - Please Read

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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!

Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
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!

Community Voting

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Good Deal
See Deal

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122 Comments

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Dec 2, 2014
1,328 Posts
Joined Dec 2003
Dec 2, 2014
coolbleu
Dec 2, 2014
1,328 Posts
Did the current Slickdeals Holiday giveaway change from hourly to daily?
Dec 2, 2014
117,876 Posts
Joined May 2006
Dec 2, 2014
implode
Dec 2, 2014
117,876 Posts
Quote from coolbleu :
Did the current Slickdeals Holiday giveaway change from hourly to daily?
Yes (see the rules).
Dec 2, 2014
1,328 Posts
Joined Dec 2003
Dec 2, 2014
coolbleu
Dec 2, 2014
1,328 Posts
Thanks implode..my bad.
Dec 14, 2014
228 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
Dec 14, 2014
WVfrugalCHICK
Dec 14, 2014
228 Posts
I have a question about posting a new thread. When I posted a new sweepstakes, I used category & tags: Other - sweepstakes - Deal Type > Giveaway. But when I click Submit... its listed under Hot Deals. What am I doing wrong? Thank you
Dec 14, 2014
4,442 Posts
Joined Jun 2007
Dec 14, 2014
dgleeson
Dec 14, 2014
4,442 Posts
Quote from WVfrugalCHICK :
I have a question about posting a new thread. When I posted a new sweepstakes, I used category & tags: Other - sweepstakes - Deal Type > Giveaway. But when I click Submit... its listed under Hot Deals. What am I doing wrong? Thank you
Just posted it to that thread, but here it is again:

The main reason is because its posted to the wrong forum. You need to go here to post to Contests & Sweepstakes

http://slickdeals.net/forums/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=25

Or use the "New Thread" button (next to Filtering Options at the top left of the thread listing), NOT the Blue/White "Post a Deal" in the upper right.
Sep 1, 2015
117,876 Posts
Joined May 2006
Sep 1, 2015
implode
Sep 1, 2015
117,876 Posts
Anyone having issues with Steamy Kitchen (well despite not winning), keep getting page freezes and scripting errors. Have to stop the script, after waiting 2 mins and it freezing horribly.
Nov 5, 2015
569 Posts
Joined Feb 2007
Nov 5, 2015
jjaazz
Nov 5, 2015
569 Posts
In first post, it says:

A personal blog-run contest is not "personal contest" and should not be promoted

Should that be

A personal blog-run contest is a "personal contest" and should not be promoted

?

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Dec 21, 2015
117,876 Posts
Joined May 2006
Dec 21, 2015
implode
Dec 21, 2015
117,876 Posts
Thought I'd won something until I did 30 mins research...
FULFILLMENT CENTER WALTON, KY, US

Apparently that is warehouse for MLB, and not a box of prizes.
Original Poster
Pro
Deal Hunter
Feb 5, 2016
89,780 Posts
Joined Jul 2004
Feb 5, 2016
serra
Feb 5, 2016
Original Poster
Pro
Deal Hunter
89,780 Posts
please note that the rules for contest & sweepstakes forum have been updated today.

thread titles should include the following information:
  • sponsor name - newly added
  • sweeps name
  • end date
  • special requirements/restrictions
  • age criteria
  • limited states eligibility
  • social media such as facebook, twitter, instagram - newly added
Feb 5, 2016
26,018 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
Feb 5, 2016
User1144648
Feb 5, 2016
26,018 Posts
Quote from serra :
please note that the rules for contest & sweepstakes forum have been updated today.

thread titles should include the following information:
  • sponsor name - newly added
  • sweeps name
  • end date
  • special requirements/restrictions
  • age criteria
  • limited states eligibility
  • social media such as facebook, twitter, instagram - newly added
Thank you!
Feb 5, 2016
3,884 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
Feb 5, 2016
sweepstaker
Feb 5, 2016
3,884 Posts
Quote from serra :
please note that the rules for contest & sweepstakes forum have been updated today.

thread titles should include the following information:
  • sponsor name - newly added
  • sweeps name
  • end date
  • special requirements/restrictions
  • age criteria
  • limited states eligibility
  • social media such as facebook, twitter, instagram - newly added
Thanks from me too!
Feb 6, 2016
70,217 Posts
Joined Dec 2004
Feb 6, 2016
Schooby
Feb 6, 2016
70,217 Posts
Quote from MLx3 :
Thank you!
Quote from sweepstaker :
Thanks from me too!
Hi,

We do like to help improve all forums for the members so we're always happy to listen to suggestions.

I would like to point out a couple of things about the guidelines/rules.

The new ones are only for threads moving forward (unless the OPs of the current ones want to update to make it easier for all). So please do not MA old threads for the new info.

Secondly, as we are a community and all here to help each other, I will ask that even moving forward if you see a thread missing the info..please quote them and let them know of the new guidelines and ask them to update their own title. Mods are quite busy and it helps to have members help each other.
Plus, by pointing it out and asking the OP to add the info helps people remember to do so as opposed to thinking mods will come in and fix them all.

Thanks!
Feb 6, 2016
3,884 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
Feb 6, 2016
sweepstaker
Feb 6, 2016
3,884 Posts
Quote from Schooby :
"...pointing it out and asking the OP to add the info helps people remember to do so as opposed to thinking mods will come in and fix them all."
Does this mean that minimalist thread titles (by OPs who know the rules but refuse to abide by any them) will remain screwed up forever now?

(Please excuse the first version of this post. The two threads that I thought were unchanged by the mod had been fixed.)
Last edited by sweepstaker February 6, 2016 at 08:28 AM.
Feb 6, 2016
117,876 Posts
Joined May 2006
Feb 6, 2016
implode
Feb 6, 2016
117,876 Posts
Quote from sweepstaker :
Um, among the threads I MAed last night (all new), 2 were for incorrect info under the old rules (sweep's official name) and the mod closed the MAs without fixing the titles. Are mods now going to ignore old rules too? If so, which ones?


Does this mean that minimalist thread titles (by OPs who know the rules but refuse to abide by any them) will remain screwed up forever now?

This may be just me, but I find the whole mod alerting thing--is better then asking certain posters. Some people get extremely upset when you ask them to modify a post they worked hard on. Some will even flat out refuse to makes changes they are so miffed. These users take it better when it comes from a mod asking or intervening.

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Feb 7, 2016
3,884 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
Feb 7, 2016
sweepstaker
Feb 7, 2016
3,884 Posts
Quote from Schooby :
Hi,

We do like to help improve all forums for the members so we're always happy to listen to suggestions.

I would like to point out a couple of things about the guidelines/rules.

The new ones are only for threads moving forward (unless the OPs of the current ones want to update to make it easier for all). So please do not MA old threads for the new info.

Secondly, as we are a community and all here to help each other, I will ask that even moving forward if you see a thread missing the info..please quote them and let them know of the new guidelines and ask them to update their own title. Mods are quite busy and it helps to have members help each other.
Plus, by pointing it out and asking the OP to add the info helps people remember to do so as opposed to thinking mods will come in and fix them all.

Thanks!
There have been occasions over the last few weeks where mods have balked at making fixes under the old rules, let alone the new. In one instance, the mod refused to touch a thread title that was missing both the sweepstakes name and any mention of it being open to United Kingdom & European Union residents only! EEK! So before any of us waste any more of our precious time trying to figure out how to move forward in this topsy-turvy world of C&S, I'd like to ask for clarification.

If we regular members "help" another member who didn't follow the rules but they ignore/refuse that help, should we then alert the mods about the problem? Or should we "help" multiple times? How long should we allow for the offending member to correct their error before moving to the next step, whatever that step might be? Could you please explain the proper protocol for handling the following situations?

Reposts
Referral Links
Self-promotion
Scammy Websites
Thread Title Problems
  • Sponsor
  • Official Contest or Sweepstakes Name
  • Age Requirements
  • End Date
  • Extra Requirements (photo, essay, limited age range, limited states, social media, etc.)

TIA for taking time out from your busy schedule to provide clarification.

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