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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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For some reason I have about 45 sweeps that I open up on one of my bookmarked folders, and once I open up all in tabs, my computer literally freezes. I cannot figure out which dam sweepstakes it is that is causing this...! After firefox crashes and I click the Restart Firefox button on the error page then all of the sweepstakes open up perfectly after that? I'm so confused! lol
Previously it was randomly adding multi category tags to the monthly range.
When are mods/developers going to fix these problems....new version of this site is fricking horrible.
1) Library probably tracks what you do.
2) Hackers try to install malware/spyware on public computers pretty often.
So odds you are being spied on is high.
(Also, I wish I could get switched over to the new format just to get it over with. I see so many complaints and it is frustrating to have no idea what they're talking about)
(Also, I wish I could get switched over to the new format just to get it over with. I see so many complaints and it is frustrating to have no idea what they're talking about)
And don't wish you had the new format!! It is horrid! I wish I still had the old one.
This allows me to access my list from anywhere.
I just don't know how to handle the weeklies.
This allows me to access my list from anywhere.
I just don't know how to handle the weeklies.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Previously it was randomly adding multi category tags to the monthly range.
When are mods/developers going to fix these problems....new version of this site is fricking horrible.
I've tried posting in the suggestion/feedback thread...
I've tried posting my own thread in that subforum...
Nothing I say is getting listened to. It is beyond frustrating. They don't take into account anything I have to say. It all falls on deaf ears, and they make excuses about why they can't fix these and other issues. The feedback they ask for means nothing to them. I am beyond frustrated with this site at times.
I think if more people complain who are going through similar issues maybe it might not fall on deaf ears. Maybe someone more connected to this site or more important then me complains...
"Thank you for contacting us regarding this promotion. We do not have the ability to change your email address after registration. Your email address is the unique identifier when entering a promotion.
You also cannot enter the promotion with a different email address. According to the Official Rules: "Any attempt by any participant to obtain more than the stated number of plays by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods will void that participant's plays and that participant may be disqualified."
Should you need any additional clarification, or have any other questions regarding this promotion, please do not hesitate to contact us directly."
So not only can I not receive a winning e-mail, I DQ'd myself by starting to use my new email. I wasn't using each one once each day, I am just using one.
Wow!
"Thank you for contacting us regarding this promotion. We do not have the ability to change your email address after registration. Your email address is the unique identifier when entering a promotion.
You also cannot enter the promotion with a different email address. According to the Official Rules: "Any attempt by any participant to obtain more than the stated number of plays by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods will void that participant's plays and that participant may be disqualified."
Should you need any additional clarification, or have any other questions regarding this promotion, please do not hesitate to contact us directly."
So not only can I not receive a winning e-mail, I DQ'd myself by starting to use my new email. I wasn't using each one once each day, I am just using one.
Wow!
and yes it appears eprize isn't being fair.
However, if its the current WWE promo (I posted) its mainly giving away a ton of shirts. Kinda small dollar thing to lose sleep over. If I win one I will give it to you, all you have to do is give me a prepaid mailer to send it to you. Hope your luck changes...
"Thank you for contacting us regarding this promotion. We do not have the ability to change your email address after registration. Your email address is the unique identifier when entering a promotion.
You also cannot enter the promotion with a different email address. According to the Official Rules: "Any attempt by any participant to obtain more than the stated number of plays by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods will void that participant's plays and that participant may be disqualified."
Should you need any additional clarification, or have any other questions regarding this promotion, please do not hesitate to contact us directly."
So not only can I not receive a winning e-mail, I DQ'd myself by starting to use my new email. I wasn't using each one once each day, I am just using one.
Wow!
" If an entrant who is an eBay member changes his/her telephone number, email address, and/or street address after he/she enters the Sweepstakes, it is his/her sole responsibility to notify the Sweepstakes Administrator by (postal) mailing notice to the Administrator's address (listed below) to be received by the end of the Promotion Period."
This is the type of thing I was referring to. Now please excuse me as I hear the slice of banana cream pie I brought home from my Easter dinner calling me. Ah, the siren sound of sweets.
"Thank you for contacting us regarding this promotion. We do not have the ability to change your email address after registration. Your email address is the unique identifier when entering a promotion.
You also cannot enter the promotion with a different email address. According to the Official Rules: "Any attempt by any participant to obtain more than the stated number of plays by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods will void that participant's plays and that participant may be disqualified."
Should you need any additional clarification, or have any other questions regarding this promotion, please do not hesitate to contact us directly."
So not only can I not receive a winning e-mail, I DQ'd myself by starting to use my new email. I wasn't using each one once each day, I am just using one.
Wow!
"2. ENTRY: During the period beginning at 12:01 A.M., April 22nd, 2014, and ending at 11:59:59 P.M., April 30th, 2014 ("Entry Period"), you may enter this Sweepstakes in one way. For purposes of these Official Rules ("Rules"), all times and days are Eastern Daylight Time. (Online Entry: You may enter via the Internet by visiting our contest page ("Website") and completing and submitting all information requested on the online sign-up/entry form, ("Online Entry"). Normal Internet access and usage charges imposed by your online service will apply. It is your sole responsibility to notify the Sponsor in writing if you change your email address ("Address"). "Entry": shall mean and refer to each Online Entry."
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