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forum threadFreebiesRGreat posted Jun 03, 2008 02:50 AM
forum threadFreebiesRGreat posted Jun 03, 2008 02:50 AM

Contests & Sweepstakes Tips, Advice, and Questions

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The intent of this thread is for users, both new and not-so-new, to ask questions, and help with tips/advice. This is not by any means the "gospel". Please feel free to add your words of wisdom, and if you have questions, just ask! If you have a tip that will make sweeping easier for folks, please feel free to share. This is a community effort. We all will benefit in some way.


The Basic Advice/Tips for the new-to-sweeping folks.
Enter for the items you want/need. If you have no interest in trips, avoid the sweeps where the only prize is a trip. If you know you can't afford the tax on a new vehicle, avoid entering for those.

Set up folders in your bookmark/favorites. Create a separate one for each month, and file any sweeps you are interested in into the folder corresponding with when it ends. Then, if you have a day where you're pressed for time, enter at least the ones ending that day.

Play the instant win games.

Follow the rules! If a sweep is restricted to only females, a certain age group, certain states, etc, make sure you fit the criteria! If you don't, move on to another sweep that you do qualify for. Do not create a bunch of email addresses so you can enter something more than once, or so you can play an Instant win game more. The Sponsors can tell, and will DQ you. You're better off playing by the rules than cheating and getting disqualified and having NO entries.

Don't immediately dismiss essay required sweeps (or recipes, photos, etc)....well, unless you know you don't want to write something. A lot of people pass on them, so you might have a better shot at winning something.

Don't expect this to be lucrative enough to become a job. Yes, a lot of us win, and often, but not nearly enough to quit a job!

Expect things to go slow at first. It takes a while for the wins to roll in. But once they do...look out!

Expect to occasionally hit a dry spell. It happens to ALL of us.

DEFINITELY USE YOUR REAL INFO! If you use a fake phone number, and a sponsor is calling to notify people of wins, you'll never know what you missed out on. I, and many others, have been doing this for a long time, and we have no problems with sales calls. Also, use your real name. If your name is Robert or Catherine, using Bob or Cathy is ok, as they are known acceptable shorter versions of that name. if your name is Matilda, and you go by Fluffy, don't use Fluffy. Looking at your ID to get an affy notarized, they may reject it because the names don't match. The sponsor may also say "Fluffy won, not Matilda". So stick with using your real name, or something close to it.

Most of all, HAVE FUN! And don't be afraid to ask questions. We were all new to this at one time. Any one of us would be happy to answer questions.


For easy form filling, check out Roboform [roboform.com]. Google Tool bar and the autofill feature on IE also work well.

For Mac users, the best form filler is 1Password: http://agilewebsolutions.com/products/1Password (thanks javaFlower!)

FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/...ll&cat=all

To set up the autofill feature in IE: Click on Tools, then internet options, then choose 'content'. When that pops up, click on "Autocomplete", and make sure to check the boxes for forms and passwords on forms. This is not a good idea if you are on a shared/public computer!

February 17, 2009, 3:10 am: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

July 12, 2010, 3:23 pm: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
The intent of this thread is for users, both new and not-so-new, to ask questions, and help with tips/advice. This is not by any means the "gospel". Please feel free to add your words of wisdom, and if you have questions, just ask! If you have a tip that will make sweeping easier for folks, please feel free to share. This is a community effort. We all will benefit in some way.


The Basic Advice/Tips for the new-to-sweeping folks.
Enter for the items you want/need. If you have no interest in trips, avoid the sweeps where the only prize is a trip. If you know you can't afford the tax on a new vehicle, avoid entering for those.

Set up folders in your bookmark/favorites. Create a separate one for each month, and file any sweeps you are interested in into the folder corresponding with when it ends. Then, if you have a day where you're pressed for time, enter at least the ones ending that day.

Play the instant win games.

Follow the rules! If a sweep is restricted to only females, a certain age group, certain states, etc, make sure you fit the criteria! If you don't, move on to another sweep that you do qualify for. Do not create a bunch of email addresses so you can enter something more than once, or so you can play an Instant win game more. The Sponsors can tell, and will DQ you. You're better off playing by the rules than cheating and getting disqualified and having NO entries.

Don't immediately dismiss essay required sweeps (or recipes, photos, etc)....well, unless you know you don't want to write something. A lot of people pass on them, so you might have a better shot at winning something.

Don't expect this to be lucrative enough to become a job. Yes, a lot of us win, and often, but not nearly enough to quit a job!

Expect things to go slow at first. It takes a while for the wins to roll in. But once they do...look out!

Expect to occasionally hit a dry spell. It happens to ALL of us.

DEFINITELY USE YOUR REAL INFO! If you use a fake phone number, and a sponsor is calling to notify people of wins, you'll never know what you missed out on. I, and many others, have been doing this for a long time, and we have no problems with sales calls. Also, use your real name. If your name is Robert or Catherine, using Bob or Cathy is ok, as they are known acceptable shorter versions of that name. if your name is Matilda, and you go by Fluffy, don't use Fluffy. Looking at your ID to get an affy notarized, they may reject it because the names don't match. The sponsor may also say "Fluffy won, not Matilda". So stick with using your real name, or something close to it.

Most of all, HAVE FUN! And don't be afraid to ask questions. We were all new to this at one time. Any one of us would be happy to answer questions.


For easy form filling, check out Roboform [roboform.com]. Google Tool bar and the autofill feature on IE also work well.

For Mac users, the best form filler is 1Password: http://agilewebsolutions.com/products/1Password (thanks javaFlower!)

FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/...ll&cat=all

To set up the autofill feature in IE: Click on Tools, then internet options, then choose 'content'. When that pops up, click on "Autocomplete", and make sure to check the boxes for forms and passwords on forms. This is not a good idea if you are on a shared/public computer!

February 17, 2009, 3:10 am: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

July 12, 2010, 3:23 pm: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

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Jan 03, 2013 04:17 PM
2,380 Posts
Joined Nov 2011
lovesgoodpricesJan 03, 2013 04:17 PM
2,380 Posts
Quote from implode :
I hope its a mistake...you should start getting the totals together to dispute it if necessary.
I have noticed you are very involved in contests. I was wondering if you know about any tax changes for 2013 for prizes? Or if anybody else has heard/read anything please let me know. Thanks in advance for your time.
Jan 03, 2013 04:20 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJan 03, 2013 04:20 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from lovesgoodprices :
I have noticed you are very involved in contests. I was wondering if you know about any tax changes for 2013 for prizes? Or if anybody else has heard/read anything please let me know. Thanks in advance for your time.
NOT so good with the taxes aspect...AFAIK, tax law isn't changing. Required reporting threshold for for judging agencies is greater then $599. You are taxed at your current bracket. As far as your bracket changing that is largely dependent on your current income streams, entering sweepstakes being one of of those streams.
Jan 03, 2013 04:28 PM
2,380 Posts
Joined Nov 2011
lovesgoodpricesJan 03, 2013 04:28 PM
2,380 Posts
Quote from implode :
NOT so good with the taxes aspect...AFAIK, tax law isn't changing. Required reporting threshold for for judging agencies is greater then $599. You are taxed at your current bracket. As far as your bracket changing that is largely dependent on your current income streams, entering sweepstakes being one of of those streams.
Thank you very much for your quick response and info.
Jan 04, 2013 07:35 PM
318 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
bittripfanJan 04, 2013 07:35 PM
318 Posts
I got subscribed to rolling stones magazine through a sweep by mistake from teen freeway. Any way to get this canceled? I emailed them but haven't heard back. I don't want that getting delivered.
Jan 04, 2013 08:27 PM
465 Posts
Joined Jun 2004
elloryJan 04, 2013 08:27 PM
465 Posts
Quote from bittripfan :
I got subscribed to rolling stones magazine through a sweep by mistake from teen freeway. Any way to get this canceled? I emailed them but haven't heard back. I don't want that getting delivered.
Go to their customer service website. You can usually find your subscription (after a few days) with just your email and zip code
Jan 05, 2013 12:07 AM
1,268 Posts
Joined Dec 2008
melan26Jan 05, 2013 12:07 AM
1,268 Posts
Tax time is right around the corner, when looking for a Fair Market Value (FMV) of a particular item, can we use any site, online or brick and mortar for the price so long as it's listed? I've read we can use eBay and if so, can we just look for the lowest price or it has to be the exact date of when we took possession of the prize itself? Thanks.
Jan 05, 2013 12:24 AM
465 Posts
Joined Jun 2004
elloryJan 05, 2013 12:24 AM
465 Posts
Quote from melan26 :
Tax time is right around the corner, when looking for a Fair Market Value (FMV) of a particular item, can we use any site, online or brick and mortar for the price so long as it's listed? I've read we can use eBay and if so, can we just look for the lowest price or it has to be the exact date of when we took possession of the prize itself? Thanks.
Yes, you can do that. But, since prices change, you should do it on the day you receive the prize, not the time you file your taxes

If you did not do that, see if you can look at closed deals history on ebay

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Jan 05, 2013 12:35 AM
1,268 Posts
Joined Dec 2008
melan26Jan 05, 2013 12:35 AM
1,268 Posts
Quote from ellory :
Yes, you can do that. But, since prices change, you should do it on the day you receive the prize, not the time you file your taxes

If you did not do that, see if you can look at closed deals history on ebay
Thanks! When contacting the company to adjust the price, do I include the eBay site from where I found the lower price for that day? Do I also include the date when UPS delivered it to me in case they may question the eBay listing?
Jan 05, 2013 01:15 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJan 05, 2013 01:15 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from melan26 :
Thanks! When contacting the company to adjust the price, do I include the eBay site from where I found the lower price for that day? Do I also include the date when UPS delivered it to me in case they may question the eBay listing?
eBay is probably a poor choice, as its not really a actual set price,,,
Jan 05, 2013 03:05 AM
465 Posts
Joined Jun 2004
elloryJan 05, 2013 03:05 AM
465 Posts
Quote from implode :
eBay is probably a poor choice, as its not really a actual set price,,,
enay closed deals. And you can look at closed deals by historical date so you can get the price at the time that you won/received the prize if you neglected to do it

For current prices, ebay buy it now prices often yield the lowest prices
Jan 05, 2013 03:45 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJan 05, 2013 03:45 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from ellory :
enay closed deals. And you can look at closed deals by historical date so you can get the price at the time that you won/received the prize if you neglected to do it

For current prices, ebay buy it now prices often yield the lowest prices
I'm pretty sure auctions are a red flag area for IRS, it not an acceptable data point for fair market value...though you may get judging agency to change it. Still if the change is later audited you would probably be talking penalties.
Last edited by implode January 4, 2013 at 08:04 PM.
Jan 06, 2013 12:53 AM
1,018 Posts
Joined Oct 2011
carriec1132Jan 06, 2013 12:53 AM
1,018 Posts
Ive never done a mail in amoe before. If it requests a 3x5 card w your info does it really have to be a postcard? Can i use a regilar sheet of paper put inside an envelope? If it helps im looking to enter the pepsi/dollar general sweeps thats giving out over 1000prizes.
Jan 06, 2013 01:47 AM
732 Posts
Joined Nov 2008
elangomattJan 06, 2013 01:47 AM
732 Posts
Quote from carriec1132 :
Ive never done a mail in amoe before. If it requests a 3x5 card w your info does it really have to be a postcard? Can i use a regilar sheet of paper put inside an envelope? If it helps im looking to enter the pepsi/dollar general sweeps thats giving out over 1000prizes.
I've only ever used actual notecards before. The way I see it a pack of 150+ notecards costs probably a dollar or two. Why bother risking them not accepting a piece of paper when you're already going to spend 45 cents on a stamp. The worst part is you'll probably never even know if they reject it since they would probably just pitch your 3x5 piece of paper in the trash instead of notifying you that it was unacceptable.
Jan 06, 2013 01:57 AM
1,018 Posts
Joined Oct 2011
carriec1132Jan 06, 2013 01:57 AM
1,018 Posts
Quote from elangomatt :
I've only ever used actual notecards before. The way I see it a pack of 150+ notecards costs probably a dollar or two. Why bother risking them not accepting a piece of paper when you're already going to spend 45 cents on a stamp. The worst part is you'll probably never even know if they reject it since they would probably just pitch your 3x5 piece of paper in the trash instead of notifying you that it was unacceptable.
Thanks. Guess ill get the postacrds and some postcard stamps.

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Jan 06, 2013 07:33 AM
1,365 Posts
Joined Oct 2010
shesaysJan 06, 2013 07:33 AM
1,365 Posts
I've always hated when contests shipped prizes FedEx because (1) I had no idea what date it would be delivered and (2) if they left a notice that they would come back the next day, they never told you if it would be morning or afternoon. UPS, of course, notifies you by email a day or two in advance which I love.

Well, I ordered something (yes, I actually paid money for an item) and when I went to the website, they had a tracking button which brought me to FedEx (they always shipped UPS in the past so I was quite upset). After I entered my tracking number, there was a form asking if I wanted to get notified of status updates. I entered my email address and I can only hope the system works.

I don't think I've ever had that happen before. Do you suppose they're going to get a system like UPS? That would be sooooo fine.

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