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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
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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.
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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




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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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 Nov 2007
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chuckecheez
11-07-2012 at 10:53 PM.
11-07-2012 at 10:53 PM.
Quote from implode :
Anyone else win priority rewards points from eprize:
https://slickdeals.net/f/5011750-Holiday-Inn-Celebrate-Your-Firsts-With-Us-Sweepstakes-8-31-12-FB-Priority-Club-Rewards-member?v=1

I filled out my info, including a secondary email asking for rewards #...never got them deposited.

Is this the correct website for the rewards points?
http://www.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/home
I won and got the same email request a few weeks ago; nothing since. From what I've read on several sweeps sites, nobody has gotten those points credited yet. Hopefully they are coming soon.
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dustdiva
11-07-2012 at 11:38 PM.
11-07-2012 at 11:38 PM.
Quote from implode :
Anyone else win priority rewards points from eprize:
https://slickdeals.net/f/5011750-Holiday-Inn-Celebrate-Your-Firsts-With-Us-Sweepstakes-8-31-12-FB-Priority-Club-Rewards-member?v=1

I filled out my info, including a secondary email asking for rewards #...never got them deposited.

Is this the correct website for the rewards points?
http://www.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/home
I contacted them a few days ago and I received this response:
Thanks for reaching out to us. Per the Official Rules, prizes will be fulfilled approximately 8-10 weeks following the promotion conclusion, which was October 1, 2012. We appreciate your patience!

Sincerely,
Liz
ePrize Customer Service

That means we could still be waiting another month+
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whocares13
11-08-2012 at 02:21 AM.
11-08-2012 at 02:21 AM.
I won a vacation but could not travel on the given dates, so they gave me 2 open air tickets and no hotel or other tickets of that prize.

So, when do I need to file tax for this? This year or next year (planning to use it next year)??
Also since this was a part of the prize, how do I know the ARV or FMV of my prize? Do I ask sponsors or search online airfare as of today's date??
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dspringfield
11-08-2012 at 05:57 AM.
11-08-2012 at 05:57 AM.
Quote from splattered :
Did SD just change the sweeps type icons? I'm assuming "Entry" is now single entry contests?
That's right. I'm not liking the new icons.
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Joined May 2006
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implode
11-08-2012 at 07:09 AM.
11-08-2012 at 07:09 AM.
Quote from dspringfield :
That's right. I'm not liking the new icons.
please place category icon complains in this thread:
https://slickdeals.net/f/5453916-Why-are-category-icons-messed-up?v=1

Seems staff here isn't aware of how much they affect this forum.
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Joined Oct 2011
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carriec1132
11-08-2012 at 08:37 PM.
11-08-2012 at 08:37 PM.
My sweeps facebook acct was froze today because im supposedly spamming. I only have 2 friends-hubby and my regular fb acct. the msg said it would be frozen for 30 days. Will this really take 30 days? How do i prevent it from happening again? Should i just make a new acct?
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implode
11-08-2012 at 08:47 PM.
11-08-2012 at 08:47 PM.
Quote from carriec1132 :
My sweeps facebook acct was froze today because im supposedly spamming. I only have 2 friends-hubby and my regular fb acct. the msg said it would be frozen for 30 days. Will this really take 30 days? How do i prevent it from happening again? Should i just make a new acct?
1) Are you sure your acct is truly frozen? NOT of scams say that to try and get you to click on links with viruses. Always go directly to Facebook site to make sure that is really the case.

2) Creating multiple facebook accounts is a good way to get banned. Think rules state one per person. I wouldn't do so.
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Joined Mar 2006
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Deegeedeegee
11-08-2012 at 08:56 PM.
11-08-2012 at 08:56 PM.
Quote from carriec1132 :
My sweeps facebook acct was froze today because im supposedly spamming. I only have 2 friends-hubby and my regular fb acct. the msg said it would be frozen for 30 days. Will this really take 30 days? How do i prevent it from happening again? Should i just make a new acct?

My was froze/blocked the other day, said it could take up to 3 days and it was unfrozen in about 30 minutes. Ive had mine frozen 1 other time (not for sweeping) and it took 2 days.
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Joined Oct 2012
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MOSCHUNO
11-08-2012 at 10:37 PM.
11-08-2012 at 10:37 PM.
Does anyone know if someone from my household is allowed to enter the same contests that I enter? My MIL is a sweeper and is moving into our mother-daughter apartment but will be using our exact address. Just don't want to DQ eachother from contests if she enters the same ones that I do, and vice versa.
Thanks for your help!
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User1144648
11-09-2012 at 01:15 AM.
11-09-2012 at 01:15 AM.
Quote from MOSCHUNO :
Does anyone know if someone from my household is allowed to enter the same contests that I enter? My MIL is a sweeper and is moving into our mother-daughter apartment but will be using our exact address. Just don't want to DQ eachother from contests if she enters the same ones that I do, and vice versa.
Thanks for your help!
I depends on the entry limit stated in the rules for each individual sweeps/contest. If the rules limit entry to 1 per household, then, no, you & your MIL won't be able to enter the same ones. If the rules limit entry to 1 per person, or 1 per email address, then you will be able to enter the same ones. Just be very careful & read the rules.
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Joined Apr 2008
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theviper21
11-09-2012 at 08:14 AM.
11-09-2012 at 08:14 AM.
Quote from carriec1132 :
My sweeps facebook acct was froze today because im supposedly spamming. I only have 2 friends-hubby and my regular fb acct. the msg said it would be frozen for 30 days. Will this really take 30 days? How do i prevent it from happening again? Should i just make a new acct?
I have one for sweeping and just logged in today to find out that mine was frozen for 30 days too. I can still log in and use the apps I've already approved, but it won't let me like any new pages. Really annoying, don't know what the deal is with this. Guess I could make a new one too? Hate to miss out on a month's worth of FB sweeps (although I think I've only won one FB sweep in the past six months...).
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MOSCHUNO
11-09-2012 at 09:21 AM.
11-09-2012 at 09:21 AM.
Quote from MLx3 :
I depends on the entry limit stated in the rules for each individual sweeps/contest. If the rules limit entry to 1 per household, then, no, you & your MIL won't be able to enter the same ones. If the rules limit entry to 1 per person, or 1 per email address, then you will be able to enter the same ones. Just be very careful & read the rules.
Thank you for your help!
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tunetokyo
11-09-2012 at 06:49 PM.
11-09-2012 at 06:49 PM.
Got en email that the subject is "Twizzlers and Amazing Spiderman winning email for Marvel Comics" and the sender is from "/"

I can't open the email so I can't even see what I won (assuming digital comics)?

Anyone get the same email?
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Keeper of the Trophy
> bubble2 116,734 Posts
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implode
11-09-2012 at 08:34 PM.
11-09-2012 at 08:34 PM.
Quote from tunetokyo :
Got en email that the subject is "Twizzlers and Amazing Spiderman winning email for Marvel Comics" and the sender is from "/"

I can't open the email so I can't even see what I won (assuming digital comics)?

Anyone get the same email?
I got the same email, with a code for a digital comic...assumed it was legit since from twizzlers and I recall the contest. Gave it to my brother.
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Joined Jan 2012
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dustdiva
11-10-2012 at 11:12 AM.
11-10-2012 at 11:12 AM.
Quote from implode :
I got the same email, with a code for a digital comic...assumed it was legit since from twizzlers and I recall the contest. Gave it to my brother.
I got the same email:
Dear XXXXXXXX,

Congratulations, you have won a one-month subscription to Unlimited Marvel Comics in the TWIZZLERS Candy - The Amazing Spider-Man's Twisted Web of Amazing Prizes Promotion.

Your Promo code is: HRS6VENBNSQ

To receive your prize, go to http://marvel.com/digital_comics/unlimited and follow these instructions:
* Under Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited in the dropdown, select 1 month: US $9.99 and click "Subscribe Now"
* In the first box, put in your winning promo code provided above and click "Apply"
* Fill out the remaining required information and click the "Start Your Subscription" button at the bottom.
* Code will expire on 12/31/12.

Thank you for playing!

TWIZZLERS

WTH???? This ended in July. I am guessing no one used the codes, so they are reissuing. Someone that wants it can have this code.
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