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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
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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 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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Joined Dec 2008
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melan26
02-16-2013 at 02:07 AM.
02-16-2013 at 02:07 AM.
Quote from whocares13 :
I have a concern and hopefully someone could answer it. Last year, around Dec 25 I won a $1000 gift card. I submitted affidavit and received an email on Jan 2, 2013 telling me that they have received my documents and I am a confirmed winner. Now, I have neither received prize nor 1099 form by now. I don't know when to file tax for this prize. What should I do?
The tax year that you'll file is the year you receive your prize. Since you haven't received it yet, it will not be for the year 2012. Congrats!
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halah2272
02-16-2013 at 03:39 AM.
02-16-2013 at 03:39 AM.
Quote from a3005 :
Hi, newbie here. I would like to know which is the best place to look for blog giveaways. Are they listed heron SD? I see a lot of ppl speaking about small blog giveaways and higher chances of winning, unable to figure out where.
I enter some blog giveaways you can follow me on Twitter if you like ..a lot of my tweets are links to current blog contests (you get additional entries for tweeting them) @happyenchilada2
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caitybates
02-16-2013 at 06:38 AM.
02-16-2013 at 06:38 AM.
Quote from whocares13 :
I have a concern and hopefully someone could answer it. Last year, around Dec 25 I won a $1000 gift card. I submitted affidavit and received an email on Jan 2, 2013 telling me that they have received my documents and I am a confirmed winner. Now, I have neither received prize nor 1099 form by now. I don't know when to file tax for this prize. What should I do?
Sometimes it just takes a while to get your prize. I JUST got a prize a couple of days ago that I won in October. Don't worry about the 1099 until you actually receive it.
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Joined Oct 2008
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Sweepaholic
02-16-2013 at 08:26 AM.
02-16-2013 at 08:26 AM.
Quote from whocares13 :
I have a concern and hopefully someone could answer it. Last year, around Dec 25 I won a $1000 gift card. I submitted affidavit and received an email on Jan 2, 2013 telling me that they have received my documents and I am a confirmed winner. Now, I have neither received prize nor 1099 form by now. I don't know when to file tax for this prize. What should I do?
I do not file a prize on my taxes until I have received it!
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whocares13
02-16-2013 at 12:22 PM.
02-16-2013 at 12:22 PM.
Quote from Sweepaholic :
I do not file a prize on my taxes until I have received it!
Quote from caitybates :
Sometimes it just takes a while to get your prize. I JUST got a prize a couple of days ago that I won in October. Don't worry about the 1099 until you actually receive it.
Quote from melan26 :
The tax year that you'll file is the year you receive your prize. Since you haven't received it yet, it will not be for the year 2012. Congrats!
So I don't have to file tax this year even if I receive my prize within next few weeks. Right? Is there any chance they have informed IRS? How do I know if they have or haven't informed IRS?
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princess101
02-16-2013 at 05:11 PM.
02-16-2013 at 05:11 PM.
The trip I won, I take in April 2013. Today I received a 1099 form from eprize. Can I demand a corrected 1099 form from them? Since I should get a 1099 form next year
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caitybates
02-16-2013 at 07:10 PM.
02-16-2013 at 07:10 PM.
Quote from whocares13 :
So I don't have to file tax this year even if I receive my prize within next few weeks. Right? Is there any chance they have informed IRS? How do I know if they have or haven't informed IRS?
Correct as it is income for the year 2013 and not income for the year 2012. I would assume that since you haven't received a 1099, then it means that they haven't informed the IRS, but I could be wrong.

Quote from princess101 :
The trip I won, I take in April 2013. Today I received a 1099 form from eprize. Can I demand a corrected 1099 form from them? Since I should get a 1099 form next year
You should for sure send them an e-mail. I say this because, what if, for some reason you happen to not take that trip. That's taxes paid on something that you haven't received. They're usually really responsive about things like this.
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Last edited by caitybates February 16, 2013 at 07:12 PM.

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melan26
02-16-2013 at 08:36 PM.
02-16-2013 at 08:36 PM.
Quote from princess101 :
The trip I won, I take in April 2013. Today I received a 1099 form from eprize. Can I demand a corrected 1099 form from them? Since I should get a 1099 form next year
Quote from caitybates :
Correct as it is income for the year 2013 and not income for the year 2012. I would assume that since you haven't received a 1099, then it means that they haven't informed the IRS, but I could be wrong.


You should for sure send them an e-mail. I say this because, what if, for some reason you happen to not take that trip. That's taxes paid on something that you haven't received. They're usually really responsive about things like this.
Hmmm... this is interesting. I find it quite odd that they would issue a 1099 even though the prize has not been fulfilled, unless they consider it fulfilled when arrangements, i.e. flights booked, hotel, car rental, etc. have been made prior to this year. I would also think that everything from the prize package you received prior to this year? I think that you should ask how much the flights, hotels, etc. really cost them. Make sure you ask for receipts for everything. You only have to pay taxes on the ARV, not the one listed on the rules.

This absolutely conflicts with the above answers we've given earlier to whocares13.
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princess101
02-16-2013 at 11:00 PM.
02-16-2013 at 11:00 PM.
I haven't received anything from my prize package. Only 2 emails from travel agent telling me dates of travel, hotel name and asking me my nearest airport and then which flight I prefer. I hate eprize
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melan26
02-17-2013 at 09:02 PM.
02-17-2013 at 09:02 PM.
Quote from princess101 :
I haven't received anything from my prize package. Only 2 emails from travel agent telling me dates of travel, hotel name and asking me my nearest airport and then which flight I prefer. I hate eprize
Definitely contact them about this. Explain to them if they'll issue you a corrected 1099 after your trip (what if it cost less than the 1099 you have now, what then?). It's going to be messy if you're filing your tax now when nothing is really clear at the moment. Good luck.
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princess101
02-17-2013 at 10:25 PM.
02-17-2013 at 10:25 PM.
I should have gotten 1099 in 2014 not 2013. I have a funny feeling that I am gonna have trouble with eprize and probably the IRS. Eprize usually gives you the run around
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melan26
02-18-2013 at 12:49 AM.
02-18-2013 at 12:49 AM.
Quote from princess101 :
I should have gotten 1099 in 2014 not 2013. I have a funny feeling that I am gonna have trouble with eprize and probably the IRS. Eprize usually gives you the run around
Just make sure you've got everything documented and saved elsewhere just in case. IRS would be a pain, if anything. I suggest you consult with a tax professional and seek their advice on this matter. Press your issue on Eprize and ask to speak to someone higher up, you don't want to get audited, that's for sure.
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Joined Dec 2006
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suncat77
02-18-2013 at 09:17 AM.
02-18-2013 at 09:17 AM.
I'm having a couple of FB instant wins error out on me today. The new Tony's bowling one, and the Visa Prepaid one. Anyone else? I'm using Chrome.
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ChrisB65
02-18-2013 at 09:25 AM.
02-18-2013 at 09:25 AM.
Quote from suncat77 :
I'm having a couple of FB instant wins error out on me today. The new Tony's bowling one, and the Visa Prepaid one. Anyone else? I'm using Chrome.
I had the same problem with both of them with Firefox.
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Joined Sep 2006
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Amantria
02-18-2013 at 10:14 AM.
02-18-2013 at 10:14 AM.
I haven't been able to get that bowling one to work for a couple days now. Chrome also.
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