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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

Sears
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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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Global Mod
May 21, 2013 08:30 PM
4,817 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
SpaceCallahan
Global Mod
May 21, 2013 08:30 PM
4,817 Posts
Quote from KMA :
I'm a potential winner from Mike's Hard Lemonade (seat cushion), but when I click the link and enter my email address, it says, "Sorry, we were unable to find your email address.
Please check the address and try again." Any suggestions?
yeah same thing here i replied to their email hope that works
May 21, 2013 09:52 PM
3,884 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
sweepstakerMay 21, 2013 09:52 PM
3,884 Posts
Quote from miggy82 :
Looks like the mods caught the thumbs down bandit. I woke up, put my mouse and keyboard on usb 3.0 slots, and began my mission to find the bandit only to find a few thumbs down on yesterdays threads. I guess I should have stayed up.
40 threads posted today up until 1 pm. Of those, 38 received negative or 'x' votes. 1 received all positive votes and 1 received no votes. The Mutant is still busy.

For the record, SD admin sides with the Mutants. Free speech and all that. Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)
May 21, 2013 10:09 PM
6,323 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
KMAMay 21, 2013 10:09 PM
6,323 Posts
Quote from sweepstaker :
40 threads posted today up until 1 pm. Of those, 38 received negative or 'x' votes. 1 received all positive votes and 1 received no votes. The Mutant is still busy.

For the record, SD admin sides with the Mutants. Free speech and all that. Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)
I haven't been entering sweeps (taking care of a cat with a liver condition is too stressful to do much else), but when I do enter, I try to give a thumbs-up to the ones I enter. If I see one that has a thumbs down and is posted properly, even if I don't enter it I will give it a thumbs up. We can regulate this problem on our own, if members are pro-active and make the effort to override the jackass(es).
May 21, 2013 10:18 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeMay 21, 2013 10:18 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from KMA :
I haven't been entering sweeps (taking care of a cat with a liver condition is too stressful to do much else), but when I do enter, I try to give a thumbs-up to the ones I enter. If I see one that has a thumbs down and is posted properly, even if I don't enter it I will give it a thumbs up. We can regulate this problem on our own, if members are pro-active and make the effort to override the jackass(es).
lol, you are making me feel guilty--I don't thumbs up or rep nearly enough. My goal is to blast through a dozen pages and maybe get some work done sometime during my day.
May 21, 2013 10:24 PM
6,323 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
KMAMay 21, 2013 10:24 PM
6,323 Posts
Quote from implode :
lol, you are making me feel guilty--I don't thumbs up or rep nearly enough. My goal is to blast through a dozen pages and maybe get some work done sometime during my day.
Well you should, because I sometimes thumbs-up your Missouri only sweeps and I'm nowhere near Missouri. EEK! Coverlaugh

I don't know if others experience this, but after a certain number of days/weeks, SD's system shows previously read threads as never been read. So, if I'm relying on them to keep tabs of which ones I've read (and entered), they're failing me in that respect and I could end up re-entering ones I'd already entered. Giving a thumbs-up serves as a marker for me.
May 21, 2013 11:08 PM
976 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
miggy82May 21, 2013 11:08 PM
976 Posts
.....
Last edited by miggy82 February 17, 2016 at 09:01 PM.
May 21, 2013 11:44 PM
81 Posts
Joined Nov 2010
LordMalakiteMay 21, 2013 11:44 PM
81 Posts
Quote from implode :
Got a $20 survey invitation from Grizzly...so I spent some time filling it out, only to find out after 10 mins I didn't qualify. What a rip off. If you get the invitation don't waste your time. They are or someone else imitating them are running some kind rip off. They should be up front if their is some chance they won't award the money promised.
I got the same survey. After I was done filling it out it asked me for my address to send out the $20 check and thanked me for my time.

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May 22, 2013 12:01 AM
2,355 Posts
Joined Oct 2006
kerriMay 22, 2013 12:01 AM
2,355 Posts
I waited until the prize arrived to post this win, but a few weeks ago I found out I was 1 of 10 winners in the Heineken Basket of Green Sweepstakes, I got $1000 in Visa cards today!
http://slickdeals.net/f/5884222-Heineken-basket-of-green-1000-sweepstakes-21-4-30-13

Thanks miggy82 for posting it! haven't had a big win in quite a while.
May 22, 2013 12:44 AM
3,884 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
sweepstakerMay 22, 2013 12:44 AM
3,884 Posts
Quote from miggy82 :
For some reason I can't see the thumbs down. I click on voting feedback and I don't see the red bad contest thing. I'm listing the sweeps by thread started. The only one I see with negative rating is the one that somebody incorrectly labeled iwg.
That's because this Mutant Ninja is hooked on the 'x' button, which gives a zero vote. Rather than showing up in Voting Feedback, 'x' votes only show in the Voting Score. Hover over the thumbs icon to see the score. For instance, your Amazon.com and DEWALT Father's Day Garage Giveaway currently shows 3 votes with a score of 2. If a sweeps has only received an 'x' vote and no thumbs, there will be an x icon which you can hover over to see the number of votes with a zero score.
May 22, 2013 12:54 AM
976 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
miggy82May 22, 2013 12:54 AM
976 Posts
.....
Last edited by miggy82 February 17, 2016 at 09:01 PM.
May 22, 2013 12:55 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeMay 22, 2013 12:55 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from kerri :
I waited until the prize arrived to post this win, but a few weeks ago I found out I was 1 of 10 winners in the Heineken Basket of Green Sweepstakes, I got $1000 in Visa cards today!
http://slickdeals.net/f/5884222-Heineken-basket-of-green-1000-sweepstakes-21-4-30-13

Thanks miggy82 for posting it! haven't had a big win in quite a while.
Congratz Kerri, when is the party? bounce
May 22, 2013 01:37 AM
3,884 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
sweepstakerMay 22, 2013 01:37 AM
3,884 Posts
Quote from miggy82 :
So this person is more of the Neutral vote bandit? I didn't even know you could vote neutral. The neutral vote doesn't lower your thumbs or score though right? It's the same as not voting except that it shows they voted. I'm guessing maybe this person is using the neutral vote to keep track of what they entered. This neutral vote is new to me. How does it effect a post's rating?
Many people don't even open a thread to look at Voting Feedback. They just see the thumbs and scores on the main page. And that's where 'x' voting throws a monkey wrench into the works.

I'm no expert on 'x' voting. I only discovered it the last time we had a true TDer and noticed some of the thread's votes and scores weren't adding up to full TDs.
May 22, 2013 01:49 AM
976 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
miggy82May 22, 2013 01:49 AM
976 Posts
.....
Last edited by miggy82 February 17, 2016 at 09:00 PM.
May 22, 2013 06:54 AM
3,884 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
sweepstakerMay 22, 2013 06:54 AM
3,884 Posts
Quote from miggy82 :
I know what your saying like some people search for only 3 thumbs up or higher or other options through filter. Or some people will select to browse by thumbs up when they want to enter the best sweeps and don't have much time. I might be mistaken but from what I'm looking at it looks like a neutral vote doesn't lower the score or the thumbs up. I might be wrong. Like 1 thumbs up is a half shade thumb up and +1 score. Two thumbs up is a full yellow thumb up and a +2 score. If a neutral is added it's still the same color thumb and score just with 3 votes.
Some people see a score less than the number of votes and automatically think thumbs down. But it doesn't really matter. The C&S forum is so low on the SD totem pole, users don't even have to justify a TD with a reason, like in Hot Deals or Freebies. As SD admin once said, "People can vote, and they have a right to vote however they want, right or wrong." shake head

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May 22, 2013 04:27 PM
22,126 Posts
Joined Nov 2010
BoydSchidttMay 22, 2013 04:27 PM
22,126 Posts
Quote from sweepstaker :
Some people see a score less than the number of votes and automatically think thumbs down. But it doesn't really matter. The C&S forum is so low on the SD totem pole, users don't even have to justify a TD with a reason, like in Hot Deals or Freebies. As SD admin once said, "People can vote, and they have a right to vote however they want, right or wrong." shake head
I Thumbup all entries I enter and it does serve as a marker for me so I know that I've entered it!
Quote from implode :
lol, you are making me feel guilty--I don't thumbs up or rep nearly enough. My goal is to blast through a dozen pages and maybe get some work done sometime during my day.
Whistling
Quote from sweepstaker :
Thumbed and dangerous!

[ATTACH]2001562[/ATTACH]

Be on the lookout.

Brought to you by Sheriff sweepstaker and Deputy MLx3.
I've seen him! LMAO
Quote from MLx3 :
Time to round up a posse, boss!
[ATTACH]2001572[/ATTACH]
laugh out loud

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