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forum threadFreebiesRGreat posted Jun 03, 2008 02:50 AM
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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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Feb 10, 2013 01:54 AM
5,164 Posts
Joined Sep 2012
robonero954Feb 10, 2013 01:54 AM
5,164 Posts
I have a problem. I won a Google Nexus 7. The sponsor wants me to send them a photo of me holding the Nexus, so they can post on Facebook. I DON'T WANT my photo on the internet. Although I understand the sponsor point of view. What to do?
Feb 10, 2013 02:13 AM
1,844 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
JangFeb 10, 2013 02:13 AM
1,844 Posts
Quote from robonero954 :
I have a problem. I won a Google Nexus 7. The sponsor wants me to send them a photo of me holding the Nexus, so they can post on Facebook. I DON'T WANT my photo on the internet. Although I understand the sponsor point of view. What to do?

Check the rules. If they're a decent organization, they probably had something in the rules saying they'd be able to use your name and/or likeness for promotional things.

It doesn't hurt to ask but you might have to give up the prize if that's a condition they have put forth.
Feb 10, 2013 02:57 AM
5,152 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
SweepaholicFeb 10, 2013 02:57 AM
5,152 Posts
Quote from robonero954 :
I have a problem. I won a Google Nexus 7. The sponsor wants me to send them a photo of me holding the Nexus, so they can post on Facebook. I DON'T WANT my photo on the internet. Although I understand the sponsor point of view. What to do?
When that happened to me before I asked them if we could skip the photo and they agreed to just post my name and state on facebook.
Feb 10, 2013 03:39 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeFeb 10, 2013 03:39 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from robonero954 :
I have a problem. I won a Google Nexus 7. The sponsor wants me to send them a photo of me holding the Nexus, so they can post on Facebook. I DON'T WANT my photo on the internet. Although I understand the sponsor point of view. What to do?
Post a photo of you without your face...or make use of a blur tool...or wearing a mask. I could be an albino midget for all you know. Fooled a ton f people with my avatar.
Feb 10, 2013 06:01 AM
485 Posts
Joined Oct 2012
erueo139Feb 10, 2013 06:01 AM
485 Posts
Quote from implode :
Post a photo of you without your face...or make use of a blur tool...or wearing a mask. I could be an albino midget for all you know. Fooled a ton f people with my avatar.

Hmm, I've always thought your avatar was a picture of Rob Dyrdek, is it not?!
Feb 10, 2013 08:04 AM
1,216 Posts
Joined Jul 2010
halah2272Feb 10, 2013 08:04 AM
1,216 Posts
Quote from robonero954 :
I have a problem. I won a Google Nexus 7. The sponsor wants me to send them a photo of me holding the Nexus, so they can post on Facebook. I DON'T WANT my photo on the internet. Although I understand the sponsor point of view. What to do?
Unless you're a practicing Mayan Indian take your prescribed dosage of on Thorazine (and/or get out of the Tea Party post-haste)
Feb 10, 2013 02:46 PM
717 Posts
Joined Jan 2007
gocartromanceFeb 10, 2013 02:46 PM
717 Posts
Quote from robonero954 :
I have a problem. I won a Google Nexus 7. The sponsor wants me to send them a photo of me holding the Nexus, so they can post on Facebook. I DON'T WANT my photo on the internet. Although I understand the sponsor point of view. What to do?
Can you hold it in front of you so the Nexus is covering most of your face behind it? Similar to this: http://www.fotolia.com/id/30659221 Or you can hold it out closer to the camera vertically with you directly behind it and have it cover everything except your eyes above it? Give a thumbs up next to it with your other hand to further show, yup, there's a person back here.

Or, if the sponsor allows it and you have one, take it with your pet in the picture instead of you. Ex: if you have a cat, take a picture of it watching cat videos or LOLcats on it.
Last edited by gocartromance February 10, 2013 at 06:54 AM.

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Feb 10, 2013 04:15 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeFeb 10, 2013 04:15 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from maimaimai :
Hmm, I've always thought your avatar was a picture of Rob Dyrdek, is it not?!
Why would Rob be a Cardinals fan with the World Series Trophy?LMAO Seriously, that is me with the World Series Trophy in 2006. I kind of hate posting pics on facebook of me with prizes--but do what I must. I probably have a lot less facebook fans then most.
Feb 10, 2013 05:20 PM
1,430 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
mj025Feb 10, 2013 05:20 PM
1,430 Posts
Quote from implode :
Why would Rob be a Cardinals fan with the World Series Trophy?LMAO Seriously, that is me with the World Series Trophy in 2006. I kind of hate posting pics on facebook of me with prizes--but do what I must. I probably have a lot less facebook fans then most.
Did you win the World Series? Wink

I have about 21, 22 friends on FB... Even if I wasn't spamming sweeps, I don't see the point of having 2k "friends" who I don't even know nor ever chat with... And my pic on FB is artwork, I hate putting up my ugly mug... Sometimes I wonder if certain sweeps DQ's me because of that... :shrug:

-MJ
Feb 10, 2013 05:28 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeFeb 10, 2013 05:28 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from mj025 :
Did you win the World Series? Wink

I have about 21, 22 friends on FB... Even if I wasn't spamming sweeps, I don't see the point of having 2k "friends" who I don't even know nor ever chat with... And my pic on FB is artwork, I hate putting up my ugly mug... Sometimes I wonder if certain sweeps DQ's me because of that... :shrug:

-MJ
I would say any time the Cardinals win the WS it is me winning it...a job in the front office would be a dream job for me, but maybe that is over thinking things. NOT sure what something like that pays.

My only fear about posting my pic is Gender bias among some contests. Seems like a lot more female sweepers then males. I might enter a mommy blog with a prize I love, and not get a fair shake. Probably over thinking that, and that occurs a lot more rarely then I think.
Feb 10, 2013 05:50 PM
485 Posts
Joined Oct 2012
erueo139Feb 10, 2013 05:50 PM
485 Posts
Quote from implode :
Why would Rob be a Cardinals fan with the World Series Trophy?LMAO Seriously, that is me with the World Series Trophy in 2006. I kind of hate posting pics on facebook of me with prizes--but do what I must. I probably have a lot less facebook fans then most.

Maybe you ARE Rob!
Feb 10, 2013 06:30 PM
1,430 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
mj025Feb 10, 2013 06:30 PM
1,430 Posts
Quote from implode :
I would say any time the Cardinals win the WS it is me winning it...a job in the front office would be a dream job for me, but maybe that is over thinking things. NOT sure what something like that pays.

My only fear about posting my pic is Gender bias among some contests. Seems like a lot more female sweepers then males. I might enter a mommy blog with a prize I love, and not get a fair shake. Probably over thinking that, and that occurs a lot more rarely then I think.
Is your name unisexual? Or do you just use an initial? I've worried about the same thing with stuff like women's magazines, twitter parties where they are welcoming all us "ladies", etc...

-MJ
Feb 10, 2013 06:42 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeFeb 10, 2013 06:42 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from mj025 :
Is your name unisexual? Or do you just use an initial? I've worried about the same thing with stuff like women's magazines, twitter parties where they are welcoming all us "ladies", etc...

-MJ
My name is decidedly Male and I don't make any effort to hide that. If they discriminate really nothing I can do about it. I have won from woman's mags previously.
Feb 12, 2013 01:47 AM
119 Posts
Joined Oct 2012
melie1113Feb 12, 2013 01:47 AM
119 Posts
I sent in an affidavit on my first big win ever about 2 weeks ago but never heard back after. Should I contact the company or is this just usually how it goes?

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Feb 12, 2013 02:02 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeFeb 12, 2013 02:02 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from melie1113 :
I sent in an affidavit on my first big win ever about 2 weeks ago but never heard back after. Should I contact the company or is this just usually how it goes?
Use the tracking number and see when it was accepted...then follow up with said data by phone.

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