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forum thread Posted by FreebiesRGreat • Jun 3, 2008
forum thread Posted by FreebiesRGreat • Jun 3, 2008

Contests & Sweepstakes Tips, Advice, and Questions

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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 Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
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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9,736 Comments

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Jun 10, 2010
25,256 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
Jun 10, 2010
javaFlower
Jun 10, 2010
25,256 Posts
A sweeps can ask for your SSN as part of identifying you as a US citizen, too, which more & more sweeps are doing. They also sometimes ask in an effort to prevent one person winning multiple prizes under fake identities. It is most commonly collected for their tax purposes, though. Tax law requires sweeps to do a form for prizes given with a value over $600. but you can be sure that companies claim all prizing as expenses and keep track in order to prove them as legitimate expenses.

You (and your parents) need to decide if the company is legitimate and if the prize is worth risking giving your SSN to.
(Teen Vogue is published by a what is considered a reputable company, I would think.)
Last edited by javaFlower June 9, 2010 at 05:45 PM.
Jun 10, 2010
121 Posts
Joined Jan 2010
Jun 10, 2010
Kthanksbai
Jun 10, 2010
121 Posts
Yeah, okay. I'm nervous too because i only have 4 days to reply to the email and only 7 days to send out the affidavit. And since i emailed the address in a non-reply i hope they don't get confused or anything.
Jun 10, 2010
3,768 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Jun 10, 2010
snowgirl2242
Jun 10, 2010
3,768 Posts
Quote from Kthanksbai :
Yeah, okay. I'm nervous too because i only have 4 days to reply to the email and only 7 days to send out the affidavit. And since i emailed the address in a non-reply i hope they don't get confused or anything.
It's Teen Vogue, a well known magazine. I personally would have no problem giving them my SSN.
Jun 10, 2010
5,557 Posts
Joined Aug 2007
Jun 10, 2010
hockeymom18
Jun 10, 2010
5,557 Posts
Can anyone post a guide for entering contests on Twitter? I found some last night, but I'm not sure I am doing it right.
Jun 10, 2010
25,256 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
Jun 10, 2010
javaFlower
Jun 10, 2010
25,256 Posts
Quote from hockeymom18 :
Can anyone post a guide for entering contests on Twitter? I found some last night, but I'm not sure I am doing it right.
try searching this thread with the word -twitter-
I seem to recall that some guidance has been posted in this thread already.
Jun 11, 2010
3,018 Posts
Joined Apr 2010
Jun 11, 2010
madmoney1
Jun 11, 2010
3,018 Posts
I've found the easiest way to win prizes is to be in those twitter parties, but it seems like they're all for women only. It's hard for me to crash those parties and try and pretend I'm a chick
Jun 11, 2010
3,018 Posts
Joined Apr 2010
Jun 11, 2010
madmoney1
Jun 11, 2010
3,018 Posts
I've found the easiest way to win prizes is to be in those twitter parties, but it seems like they're all for women only. It's hard for me to crash those parties and try and pretend I'm a chick LOL
Last edited by madmoney1 June 10, 2010 at 07:29 PM.

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Jun 11, 2010
5,557 Posts
Joined Aug 2007
Jun 11, 2010
hockeymom18
Jun 11, 2010
5,557 Posts
Quote from javaFlower :
try searching this thread with the word -twitter-
I seem to recall that some guidance has been posted in this thread already.
I looked last night, but I was up late cause I couldn't sleep so maybe it just didn't make sense to my tired brain. I will look again. Thanks
Jun 11, 2010
493 Posts
Joined Sep 2007
Jun 11, 2010
pohto9
Jun 11, 2010
493 Posts
Just a few quick questions for anyone who doesn't mind answering.

I started into the sweepstakes/instant win game thing a few weeks ago. I probably do about 200-300 contests a day in my spare time around work and the kids. I know it will be several months or even more before I see a big one (if I even see one at all.)

My main question is about IWG's. When do most of you play them? I have heard that you should play at like 2-3 AM if you want any chance of winning, but that is just not something I can do everyday. Is it possible to win at other times of the day and if so what times are second best?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. I know this must be an annoying question and I apologize.
Jun 11, 2010
1,447 Posts
Joined May 2010
Jun 11, 2010
superhippie2000
Jun 11, 2010
1,447 Posts
i always play IWG first thing in the morning when i wake up 7-9 . and i do decent when it comes to winning. some wins i got maybe noon to 1. 2-3 is only most likely to win since not many people are up and if its an hourly IW or they give away a lot of prizes per day. other times its timing. you can probably spread out your games during the day and see what times you usually win something and play around then.

i havent won anything majorly huge. biggest win was probably 500 bucks and second biggest was a portable dvd player but i have won a lot of stuff between 50 and 150. sometimes i like the cheaper prizes then the more expensive ones lol.
Jun 11, 2010
121 Posts
Joined Jan 2010
Jun 11, 2010
Kthanksbai
Jun 11, 2010
121 Posts
OH. Apparently, they only need my SSN if i want to send PICTURES of myself wearing it to them...
I just needed to reply to the email with my contact info to claim my prize. Here's how they put it in the winner's notification email/the first one:

"We'll need you to reply and confirm your receipt of this e-mail and also provide us with your full name, mailing address, phone number, and size (XS, S, M, L) so we can send you your prize. We would also like to ask you to please send us a photo of yourself wearing your new Collection B jacket – we would love to show how great it looks on you on the Collection B website! Please send photos to [email protected].
In addition, attached is an Affidavit that we will need you to sign and mail back. We must receive the original copy of the Affidavit before we send you your prize and please note, it must include your social security number and it must be notarized. "

I think that was pretty poorly put. But i'm happy i'll be getting it.
Jun 12, 2010
4,252 Posts
Joined Mar 2008
Jun 12, 2010
riyah
Jun 12, 2010
4,252 Posts
Quote from hockeymom18 :
Can anyone post a guide for entering contests on Twitter? I found some last night, but I'm not sure I am doing it right.
Posted this a while back, posting again:

http://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=836076&u2=http://contests.about.com/od/sweepstakes101/a/twittercontests.htm << basics of what you need to know.

Twitter Tips:
- Read the rules
- Look for the ORIGINAL tweet on the sponsors page to make sure you're tweeting the right thing. (I don't recommend just copying someone else's tweet because they might be Tweeting a contest that already ended. It happens a lot. Better to keep track yourself.)
- Hitting "ReTweet" on someone's tweet (who's not the sponsor) does NOT show up in the sponsors mention feed, unless they're using a program like TweetDeck, etc. (if that's how they're choosing winners). you're 'forwarding' that persons tweet per se to all your followers. (Referring to the NEW style ReTweet)
- Use lists to keep company twitters/regular ppl organized.
- Use your favorites list to keep track of contests.
- You can tell when sponsors pick winners randomly or based on creativity. They'll usually tell you so pay attention
- DON'T spam a contest (post them numerous times, consecutively).. you'll risk getting blocked, filtered, or suspended.

P.S.
I'd also recommend not copying every single post someone makes or hitting ReTweet on all their Tweets. You may get blocked
Jun 13, 2010
808 Posts
Joined Apr 2009
Jun 13, 2010
tutz
Jun 13, 2010
808 Posts
Quote from Kthanksbai :
Alright, that's the second person who has told me it's for prizes over 600 dollars. Thanks.

I also emailed CondeNast so hopefully they will verify this.
i won a prize from aCondeNast contest ( from the defunct domino magazine)
CondeNast used to have a sweepstakes accounting team in Chicago, who are the recipients of the affidavit and will send out tax the tax info to the IRS. not sure if they still
have these folks on board....

the IRS requires that the sponsor of the sweepstakes report any win over $600 becuase the win is considered income and therefore taxable. I was concerned about the paper work as well. my affidavit had to be notarized so i could prove that i was indeed the winner.

I had to call 3 or 4 times to get my prize... hope you have better luck than i did
Jun 16, 2010
643 Posts
Joined Apr 2010
Jun 16, 2010
watershine7694
Jun 16, 2010
643 Posts
I have a question about twitter, I completely new to it, how do you show a sponsor you tweeted?
I see people giving links like this- http://twitter.com/username/status/00000000000

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Jun 17, 2010
3,018 Posts
Joined Apr 2010
Jun 17, 2010
madmoney1
Jun 17, 2010
3,018 Posts
Quote from funeral_phantom :
I have a question about twitter, I completely new to it, how do you show a sponsor you tweeted?
I see people giving links like this- http://twitter.com/username/status/00000000000
below your message you click on where it say "..minute ago". Then you just copy and paste in the URL

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