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Sears Discounts, Deals and Coupon Codes

Contests & Sweepstakes Tips, Advice, and Questions

58,150 56,135 June 2, 2008 at 07:50 PM in Other (6) Get Sears coupons Coupons
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Last Edited by BostonGirl March 8, 2015 at 07:18 AM
+89 Deal Score
2,129,293 Views
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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Community Wiki

Last Edited by JD123 November 1, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Before we had this thread, limpstar posted this site for info on sweeps & taxes in the I Won Thread:
All About Sweepstakes Taxes
http://contests.about.com/od/taxe...gtaxes.htm

Also consider talking to your tax preparer and/or researching further into your tax responsibility.


I have found this page helpful in understanding some of sweep's law - a sweeps law co.'s site:
The Lustigman Firm; Attorneys at Law
http://www.sweepstakeslaw.com/
The Lustigman Firm provides experienced legal counsel that helps protect the business interests
of its advertising and promotional clients around the United States and Canada

What does " age of majority in your state or province " mean?

(sometimes abbreviated as AoM+ )

it's the legal age of that state or province...

The Age of majority is the threshold of adulthood as it is conceptualized in law. It is the chronological moment when children legally assume majority control over their persons and their actions and decisions, thereby terminating the legal control and legal responsibilities of their parents over and for them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_majority

there's a list by country and by US State there....

For most purposes, the age of majority in the U.S. is 18,
except for 2 states with the age of 19 (Nebraska,Alabama)
and one state with the age of 21 (Mississippi)
and two (American Samoa and Puerto Rico) that retain 14 as the age of majority.
Occasionally PA is listed under the 19+ or 21+

~javaFlower

Regarding missing prizes
If you were expecting a prize you've never received you can complain 1st to the sweepstakes administrator, then to the sweepstakes sponsor and finally to USPS Postal Inspectors

https://postalinspectors.uspis.go...laint.aspx

-Kotik


ePrize Contacts
[email protected] - Bob Marsh, Senior Vice President, Midwest Region, Phone: 248.543.7522
[email protected] - Darlene Morris, Business Manager, Phone: 248.543.7403
[email protected] - Alesya Opelt, Vice President, Marketing, Phone: 248.543.7440


Occasionally a....less than ethical sweep will get posted.
You might end up finding unauthorized charges on your phone bill. Unauthorized charges on the phone bill are what's called "Cramming". Once you contact the company that's charging you, and you have requested your phone company remove the charge, if you so choose, you can file a complaint with the FCC.

FCC Online complaint form: esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

You can also file your complaint with the FCC's Consumer Center by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY

You can fax your complaint to 1-866-418-0232

Or by snail mail:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554.

I also recommend a 3rd party block on your line to prohibit this from happening. 3rd party blocks don't affect your phone in any way, except by not allowing some company outside of your local phone company from adding charges to your bill.


Slickdealers on Twitter
(I don't really know where is best to start this list, but I decided to just start it here. If anyone thinks we should move it somewhere else, please do so.)

SD name Twitter name
kdka421 k8fenner
Starbelly Lunachique
dodgers77449 michael0902
sanaperv @slicksweepberry
blueeyeleo  
Slickdealers on Facebook
(Hopefully, it is allowed to post this here. If anyone thinks this link should be deleted, please do so.)
You can find the facebook slickdeals sweepers in this group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/310504039006252/

Track incoming packages
UPS
http://www.ups.com/mychoice/
FedEx https://www.fedex.com/login/web/j...n.jsp?TYPE
USPS https://www.usps.com/manage/manage-your-mail.htm




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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.

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Joined Dec 2009
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DamianMom
12-03-2012 at 08:12 AM.
12-03-2012 at 08:12 AM.
Quote from vettedrvr55mph :
check out the tomtom facebook page
go to market, go all the way to the bottom, click to go to it, tips there
I found the facebook page, but I don't see market. Can you help? Thnx!
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Joined Sep 2006
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KMA
12-03-2012 at 08:15 AM.
12-03-2012 at 08:15 AM.
Quote from DamianMom :
I found the facebook page, but I don't see market. Can you help? Thnx!
https://www.facebook.com/TomTomUS...5448867947
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jazzcs
12-03-2012 at 10:57 AM.
12-03-2012 at 10:57 AM.
Quote from implode :
Anyone else win Holiday Inn priority rewards contest twice, and not get your second reward deposit....
Yes, I am in the same boat. As of yet, only one of my two wins has been deposited.

Though, I guess I was never certain the second winning e-mail wasn't a mistake.
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implode
12-03-2012 at 10:59 AM.
12-03-2012 at 10:59 AM.
Quote from jazzcs :
Yes, I am in the same boat. As of yet, only one of my two wins has been deposited.

Though, I guess I was never certain the second winning e-mail wasn't a mistake.
Well for me they emailed me once on both wins (can tell because different serial # on each win) asking for info...then again asking for my prirority acct #, on both wins. So I'm dumbfounded both didn't get added to my acct by now.
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Joined May 2006
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implode
12-03-2012 at 12:11 PM.
12-03-2012 at 12:11 PM.
I got a weird email from USA Promotional cards...

Quote :
,
The 788 batch are three per household stated both on card and on website. Our pin does say one. Cardholders are inquiring about there cards being denied for 1phv. Please advise.

Thank You,
Sonya
Seems to be from the correct email address from the company...but unsure what the message means. Is someone phishing for acct info from the Miller Hoops promo? Quite odd.
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Joined Nov 2007
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chuckecheez
12-03-2012 at 12:14 PM.
12-03-2012 at 12:14 PM.
Quote from implode :
Well for me they emailed me once on both wins (can tell because different serial # on each win) asking for info...then again asking for my prirority acct #, on both wins. So I'm dumbfounded both didn't get added to my acct by now.
As I recall, the rules stated 1 win per person, so my guess is they did a bad job selecting winners by not filtering out the previous wins, but then caught it during the fulfillment phase. Would be nice of them to at least send an explanation, but considering how long it took to even get the 1st set of points credited, I wouldn't have the most faith in that particular sweeps. Guess you can contact them and see, but in a case like this, I would probably just wait it out and hope for the best.
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melan26
12-03-2012 at 02:06 PM.
12-03-2012 at 02:06 PM.
Quote from chaunceygirl :
Great info! Thank you so much, are you able to create the folders on slickdeals?
No, I bookmark them; saved on my chosen browser.
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Joined Dec 2009
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roma2009
12-04-2012 at 12:32 PM.
12-04-2012 at 12:32 PM.
Quote from melan26 :
One more thing about Ebay, if you want to block off bidders from certain countries or only want to ship to US, you can.
1. Click on "My Ebay" on top of page,
2. under your user name there's "Account" and the drop down will come up, select "Site Preferences,"
3. click "Show" that is across "Shipping Preferences,"
4. click "edit" across "Exclude shipping locations from your listings,"
5. Tick the countries/state you want excluded
6. And apply!
Look at the "Site Preference" to fine tune your account and elsewhere.

That's precaution only; that doesn't mean you're clear. Just be on the lookout, there will always be ways for them to get around into tricking you. Happy selling or bidding, lol.

Also once in a while, Ebay may send an email about listing one or a few items that doesn't have an insertion fee or a final value fee, take advantage of that because that will save you a ton of money, less the shipping as well as having to pay a shipping fee, I know they're ridiculous. You will still pay the Paypal fee, but better considering they take 15% or so from you. This is using their mobile app though.
This is great advice! Get rid of most overseas scammers. I will have to try out Ebay with a small item just to get the hang of it. Thank you all for your awesome tips Big Grin!
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Joined Nov 2009
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Rach24
12-04-2012 at 08:25 PM.
12-04-2012 at 08:25 PM.
Do you all seem to have better luck at certain type of contest? I only do IWG & feel I may need to start entering other types too...I log in, click Instant & play everything listed on the first 3 pages...which do you all find to be the best (Daily, Instant, etc)?
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Joined Jun 2009
It's fun to do bad things
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Jang
12-04-2012 at 08:38 PM.
12-04-2012 at 08:38 PM.
Quote from rach420 :
Do you all seem to have better luck at certain type of contest? I only do IWG & feel I may need to start entering other types too...I log in, click Instant & play everything listed on the first 3 pages...which do you all find to be the best (Daily, Instant, etc)?

Single entry for casual sweepers. You can enter and not have to worry about it again. I've found dailies to be much better in terms of odds. Depending on the sweepstakes or contest of course. Instants are good for instant gratification but they can also have a disappointing effect and turn you off if you keep getting too many "Sorry, you didn't win this time." messages.
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Joined May 2006
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implode
12-04-2012 at 08:57 PM.
12-04-2012 at 08:57 PM.
Quote from Jang :
Single entry for casual sweepers. You can enter and not have to worry about it again. I've found dailies to be much better in terms of odds. Depending on the sweepstakes or contest of course. Instants are good for instant gratification but they can also have a disappointing effect and turn you off if you keep getting too many "Sorry, you didn't win this time." messages.
Think about dailies, they are only as good as ability to eneter them repeatedly...if you don't have the time, your odds go way down vs single entry.
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Rach24
12-04-2012 at 09:22 PM.
12-04-2012 at 09:22 PM.
I have the time at night to enter whatever but I do like the instant gratification, but Jang you are right...just not having any wins for close to a week is making me sad Frown
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Joined May 2006
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implode
12-04-2012 at 09:35 PM.
12-04-2012 at 09:35 PM.
Quote from rach420 :
I have the time at night to enter whatever but I do like the instant gratification, but Jang you are right...just not having any wins for close to a week is making me sad Frown
I entered 500 sweeps a day for 9 weeks without winning anything...up until a few days ago. Do the math thats likely over 31,000 entries. Really, entering is a game of long term odds vs short term.
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Joined Sep 2012
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stevemz
12-05-2012 at 04:50 AM.
12-05-2012 at 04:50 AM.
I've got a question on facebook contests. I don't actually have a facebook, don't want one, so I use my wife's facebook. Should I have her enter these with her info since it's her page? What kind of verification do they do, especially when they require a like to enter?
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Joined May 2006
Keeper of the Trophy
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implode
12-05-2012 at 07:14 AM.
12-05-2012 at 07:14 AM.
Quote from stevemz :
I've got a question on facebook contests. I don't actually have a facebook, don't want one, so I use my wife's facebook. Should I have her enter these with her info since it's her page? What kind of verification do they do, especially when they require a like to enter?
I assume at the VERY least they have access to basic account data...so yeah, info not matching on submission would probably raise a red flag.
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