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Contests & Sweepstakes Tips, Advice, and Questions
June 2, 2008 at
07:50 PM
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Last Edited by BostonGirl March 8, 2015 at 07:18 AM
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://agilewebsolutio
FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.
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.
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://agilewebsolutio
FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.
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.
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.sweepstakes
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.or
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://postalinspector
-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.)
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.co
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.
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.
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.
All About Sweepstakes Taxes
http://contests.about.
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.sweepstakes
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.or
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://postalinspector
-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 |
(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.co
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.
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.
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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I found that thus far I am only lucky with the sweeps with multiple small wins (such as roadtrip.mars.com, vote4twix.mars.com, CoronaUSA.com), but don't want to accidentally miss out on any of these....
How do you guys efficiently sift through the long list of contests/sweeps for those with highest odds of winning? thanks in advance for your tips.
In the end, I just read thru all the sweeps and determine which ones to enter. How long have you been entering sweeps? What kinds of sweeps are you entering? (Large national sweeps only? Twitter sweeps? Pinterest Sweeps? Instagram Sweeps? Facebook Sweeps? Local Sweeps? Well advertised sweeps?......I ask because it does make a difference....every segment seems to have very different odds of winning simply because of how well they're advertised, how long the sweeps are open, etc. It doesn't all depend on how many prizes they're giving away.)
To Enter: Individuals who are currently renting and residing in an apartment that is in the 50
United States or the District of Columbia may enter by submitting a review of that apartment on
Apartments.com. Entrants must provide their name, e-mail address and current address, rate
their apartment and provide a written review. Individuals must be a tenant of record for the
apartment in order to be eligible. Entrant's review must comply with the Apartments.com
Ratings and Reviews Terms of Use. Eligible entrants who share the promotion with their friends
or followers on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or by email will receive an additional entry.
Reviews submitted by individuals who are not renting an apartment in the 50 United States or the
District of Columbia, who are not the tenants of record, or who submit reviews that violate the
Apartments.com Ratings and Reviews Terms of Use are not be eligible for the Promotion.
Limit one (1) entry per person per apartment in which such person resides and rents during the
Promotion Period.
Winner Selection:
Rent for a Year Winner Selection
On every Monday excluding the first Monday of the Promotion Period there will be a drawing
and one (1) Rent for a Year winner will be randomly selected by an authorized representative of
Sponsor from all eligible entries made prior to the commencement of that particular drawing.
The drawings will be held on: July 27, August 3, August 10, August 17, August 24, August 31,
September 7, September 14, September 21, September 28, October 5, October 12. Entries that
are not selected as a winner remain eligible for all subsequent drawings. There will be a total of
twelve (12) Rent for a Year Winners. Entrants can only win once, so once an entry is selected as
a winner it is not eligible for any subsequent drawings. Odds of winning are dependent upon the
number of Rent for a Year eligible entries received at the time of the drawing. Winners need not
be present at the drawing to win.
Rent for Life Winner Selection
Entrants whose review submissions are designated by another user other than entrant as
"helpful" during the Promotion Period are automatically eligible to win the Rent for Life prize.
No other entrants will be eligible to win the Rent for Life prize. Entrants cannot solicit or
request others to designate their review as "helpful." At the conclusion of the Promotion Period,
one (1) Rent For Life Winner will be randomly selected by an authorized representative of
Sponsor from all entrants eligible for the Rent for Life prize. Odds of winning are dependent
upon the number of Rent for Life eligible entries. Winners need not be present at the drawing to
win.
Prizes: The twelve (12) Rent for a Year winners will each receive a $20,340 cash prize
(approximate retail value of Rent for Year prizes: $244,080). The one (1) Rent for Life winner
will receive their choice of: (i) an annuity for winner's lifetime based on their current monthly
rent as of the date of winner selection, not to exceed $1,700/month without any future adjustment
to amount or value, or (ii) a one-time lump sum payment of $545,000. Rent for Life winner may
select either option but selection of annuity is subject to the policy's terms and conditions.
(approximate retail value of Rent for Life Prize based on present day value: $545,000). Total
approximate retail value of all prizes: $789,080.
Entry link:
http://www.apartments.
Rules link:
http://www.apartments.
edit: It apparently is only in Chrome as I was able to get it to pull up in Firefox. I also attached a screenshot of what it's doing.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Recently, I was contacted by Prizelogic about winning a trip. It is pricey enough that they need affidavit, ss#, license scan etc... (Yes, I entered to win this one.) My concern is the publicity release. It is one paragraph but says they (and other companies they work with) can use my name, likeness, biographical info, pictures and statements pretty much anywhere with no limitation ever. There's no dates attached to it or limitations in relation to just this sweepstakes. I've asked that they change this wording and am waiting to hear back. They have no pictures or statements from me other than my license photo.
Would you guys be weirded out by this? Am I the only one that reads the fine print. This just seems outrageous to me. I'm tempted to forfeit the prize if they won't budge.
Recently, I was contacted by Prizelogic about winning a trip. It is pricey enough that they need affidavit, ss#, license scan etc... (Yes, I entered to win this one.) My concern is the publicity release. It is one paragraph but says they (and other companies they work with) can use my name, likeness, biographical info, pictures and statements pretty much anywhere with no limitation ever. There's no dates attached to it or limitations in relation to just this sweepstakes. I've asked that they change this wording and am waiting to hear back. They have no pictures or statements from me other than my license photo.
Would you guys be weirded out by this? Am I the only one that reads the fine print. This just seems outrageous to me. I'm tempted to forfeit the prize if they won't budge.
Recently, I was contacted by Prizelogic about winning a trip. It is pricey enough that they need affidavit, ss#, license scan etc... (Yes, I entered to win this one.) My concern is the publicity release. It is one paragraph but says they (and other companies they work with) can use my name, likeness, biographical info, pictures and statements pretty much anywhere with no limitation ever. There's no dates attached to it or limitations in relation to just this sweepstakes. I've asked that they change this wording and am waiting to hear back. They have no pictures or statements from me other than my license photo.
Would you guys be weirded out by this? Am I the only one that reads the fine print. This just seems outrageous to me. I'm tempted to forfeit the prize if they won't budge.
Hypothetically, what if one of the prize winners got famous in a few years. They're a musician, actor, athlete, politician etc... Technically those companies can advertise using their name photo etc... and there's signed contract they can't do anything about it.
I"m not planning to become famous, but I guess it is just a principal thing for me. No expiration date means forever.
Hypothetically, what if one of the prize winners got famous in a few years. They're a musician, actor, athlete, politician etc... Technically those companies advertise using their name photo etc... and there's signed contract they can't do anything about.
I"m not planning to become famous, but I guess it is just a principal thing for me. No expiration date means forever.
"In consideration of my receipt of the Prize, I hereby grant to Sponsor and its designated agents and representatives the right, without limitation, to use my name, biographical information, photos and/or likeness, entry, and statements for promotion, trade, commercial, advertising, and publicity purposes, at any time or times, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, world-wide, including, but not limited to, on the World Wide Web and Internet, without notice and without additional compensation except where prohibited by law. I also agree that such use can be made without my inspection, review, or approval of any materials used in connection with it."
It clearly says they can use all your info forever, no limitations for promotion, trade, commercial, advertising and publicity. I don't see how you could sue if you signed it.
"In consideration of my receipt of the Prize, I hereby grant to Sponsor and its designated agents and representatives the right, without limitation, to use my name, biographical information, photos and/or likeness, entry, and statements for promotion, trade, commercial, advertising, and publicity purposes, at any time or times, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, world-wide, including, but not limited to, on the World Wide Web and Internet, without notice and without additional compensation except where prohibited by law. I also agree that such use can be made without my inspection, review, or approval of any materials used in connection with it."
It clearly says they can use all your info forever, no limitations for promotion, trade, commercial, advertising and publicity. I don't see how you could sue if you signed it.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Maybe he tweeted a photo holding a box of his beloved pops. Why can't they use that for advertising. As long as he didn't copyright it, he's signed it away. The more I think about this the more it creeps me out.
I'd love to hear from someone who does have a law background as maybe I'm reading to much into how far this reaches. Slickdeals prolly isn't a hangout for lawyers though.