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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
2,120,871 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.
Good Deal?

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.

Once a Thread Wiki is added to a thread, "Create Wiki" button will disappear. If you would like to learn more about Thread Wiki feature, click here.

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Joined Aug 2008
Small Business Owner
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jamminsport16
06-06-2013 at 02:52 PM.
06-06-2013 at 02:52 PM.
Thanks guys!
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Joined Sep 2012
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robonero954
06-06-2013 at 03:48 PM.
06-06-2013 at 03:48 PM.
Looks like Microsoft hates us. I prefer to use Chrome, but many sweeps now not working in Chrome, So then I switch over to Firefox, same problem, then I go to IE, and wow it works. This is so annoying. I find IE so SLOW and no autofill
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Joined Sep 2006
L10: Grand Master
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KMA
06-06-2013 at 04:06 PM.
06-06-2013 at 04:06 PM.
For the "Bad Request" messages in Chrome, I go to incognito and it works. To open an incognito window, look to the top right of your screen - right below the red X (on mine its 3 horizontal lines). Click that and select, "New Incognito Window," or you can use the shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + N (hold down all three keys). I keep this open, so that I don't have to constantly re-open a new incognito window; I simply toggle between regular Chrome and incognito Chrome, when I need (in Windows 8 I hover over the Chrome button in the toolbar and I can quickly switch between those two windows). Hope that makes sense.
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Joined Nov 2005
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Uppy
06-06-2013 at 08:54 PM.
06-06-2013 at 08:54 PM.
Quote from rmckee04 :
(312) 252-3502

Seems like a generic number for eprize

Edit:

Support dept was no help so if they call me back, which i doubt, it will be the only way to get in contact.
I got a call from the same area code and answered. It was to confirm my contact information to claim a wine inspired basket ($86) from California Pizza Kitchen.
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Joined May 2009
L-1: Habitual SD Addict
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rmckee04
06-06-2013 at 09:31 PM.
06-06-2013 at 09:31 PM.
Quote from Uppy :
I got a call from the same area code and answered. It was to confirm my contact information to claim a wine inspired basket ($86) from California Pizza Kitchen.
Thanks Uppy. I knew I won that but the call I got for that one was a 212 area code. Contest is through promotions.com which eprize bought out. Apparently they kept the previous numbers and added them into their phone system.
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Last edited by rmckee04 June 6, 2013 at 09:43 PM.
Joined May 2006
Keeper of the Trophy
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implode
06-09-2013 at 08:16 AM.
06-09-2013 at 08:16 AM.
Mystery package from 'Source Marketing'...I know they ran the Oreo promo (IWG).. The question though, is with reports of prizes being awarded in April, is it for the same promo? half pound could be anything--IPOD, Itunes GC....dare I say it, even paper work the grand prize of $100,000. Nice to dream about things. Let me know if you have any other ideas about promos run by them.

Edit:
Or maybe gerber promo...that has nice cash prizes.
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Last edited by implode June 9, 2013 at 08:19 AM.
Joined Apr 2012
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sghotra
06-09-2013 at 09:06 AM.
06-09-2013 at 09:06 AM.
Anyone have any luck getting a 1099 changed? I won Pacific Sunwear's Party in Palm Springs Sweepstakes which included airfare/transportation for 4 people, 2 hotel rooms, etc. I did not need the airfare or transportation, so thought I'd only get a 1099 for $1000 or so, but this week received one for over $5000. I contacted them, but haven't heard back. How does one work with the IRS if they contact me?
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Joined Mar 2013
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SweepsterCoach
06-09-2013 at 09:59 AM.
06-09-2013 at 09:59 AM.
Quote from sghotra :
Anyone have any luck getting a 1099 changed? I won Pacific Sunwear's Party in Palm Springs Sweepstakes which included airfare/transportation for 4 people, 2 hotel rooms, etc. I did not need the airfare or transportation, so thought I'd only get a 1099 for $1000 or so, but this week received one for over $5000. I contacted them, but haven't heard back. How does one work with the IRS if they contact me?
I had this problem with a trip to Thailand that I won two years ago. The company sent me a 1099 for $27k, when the actual cost (based on my research) was closer to $14k. I contacted them, but they refused to adjust the 1099, so when I filed my taxes I included the amount I had calculated as Other Income, not the amount on the 1099. About a month ago (approx. 1 year after I filed my taxes), I received a computer-generated notice from the IRS that I owed the tax on that additional cost ($27-$14k), but allowing me to dispute the amount. I sent in all my documentation regarding the actual cost of the trip, and am still waiting to hear back. It is really kind of a hassle, but worth it for thousands of dollars. Hopefully the company you are dealing with will change the 1099 to the actual amount spent...I would definitely push them on that, particularly since you didn't receive a portion of the prize.
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Joined Jul 2012
L3: Novice
> bubble2 189 Posts
Football008
06-10-2013 at 05:32 AM.
06-10-2013 at 05:32 AM.
UPS delivery alert from:

T.COM MESTX HEBRON FC 1 DS
HEBRON, KY, US

10lbs

any ideas? I have no clue!

just double checked my email and it's actually 2 shipments from this place. the other shipment weighs 17.90 lbs. what the heck? still have no idea.

after some quick googling i think it may be from Target? but i can't recall the last sweeps i entered from them.
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Last edited by Football008 June 10, 2013 at 06:31 AM.
Joined May 2006
Keeper of the Trophy
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implode
06-10-2013 at 10:56 AM.
06-10-2013 at 10:56 AM.
anyone having issues with eprize sites....they are hanging for me and not loading.
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Joined Jan 2013
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deepbluesea64
06-10-2013 at 02:12 PM.
06-10-2013 at 02:12 PM.
Fed Ex delivery alert - Anyone else get something like this? Have no idea what it is, being that small hoping for a gift card?

Karen Gavender
McFadden/Gavender Advertising
Tucson, AZ
US
Service type: FedEx Express Saver
Packaging type: FedEx Envelope
Number of pieces: 1
Weight: 0.50 lb.


**never mind, sorry..just did some more googling and found out that this company works for sweet leaf, so it must be the bottle of sweet leaf drops I won a few weeks ago.
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Last edited by deepbluesea64 June 10, 2013 at 02:15 PM.
Joined May 2006
Keeper of the Trophy
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implode
06-10-2013 at 05:41 PM.
06-10-2013 at 05:41 PM.
I just got mystery shipping notice on 17lb package, supposed to arrive tomorrow...but tried to track it and no tracking data. Really piques my interest, cause it sounds like I may have won enough bricks to build a decent sized shed. Big Grin

OK more info...guessing the location it was shipped from is probably 240 mile radius of St Louis, and shipping location was either North or East of their. Since its only shipping scan was in Earth City, MO. So we are talking maybe Memphis, Chicago, Knoxville (or St Louis Area itself) major city wise....maybe I'm totally off.
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Last edited by implode June 10, 2013 at 08:39 PM.
Joined Jun 2012
L1: Learner
> bubble2 8 Posts
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parkerml
06-11-2013 at 10:28 AM.
06-11-2013 at 10:28 AM.
Quote from MLx3 :
Thanks for sharing. You should post sweepstakes in the C&S forum: https://slickdeals.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25
Thanks! I just posted it Smilie
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Joined Mar 2013
We Love Your Enthusiasm!
> bubble2 639 Posts
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credmond
06-11-2013 at 10:51 AM.
06-11-2013 at 10:51 AM.
a prize i won was scheduled to be delivered today by fed ex (go figure!) apparently got damaged right before it was to go out on the truck this morning so they're sending it back to the shipper. Wonder if they'll send a replacement. Was 5 jars of salsa lol.
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Joined Feb 2012
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> bubble2 167 Posts
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MsDenise
06-12-2013 at 06:57 AM.
06-12-2013 at 06:57 AM.
What happened to the winners post?
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