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forum threadFreebiesRGreat posted Jun 03, 2008 02:50 AM
forum threadFreebiesRGreat posted Jun 03, 2008 02:50 AM

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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Jun 23, 2010 10:41 PM
25,256 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
javaFlowerJun 23, 2010 10:41 PM
25,256 Posts
Quote from stubbyk86 :
Where are you guys finding 70+ instant wins to play each day? I've found maybe 3 max today... LOL
click on the "instant" flag to the left of an instant game thread
or at the bottom of the page on the left "Filter by Category" and it will show you all the instants.
Jun 23, 2010 10:57 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJun 23, 2010 10:57 PM
118,455 Posts
Anyone ever have a contest tell them you would have to go into local office to pick up a prize (because they won't ship it directly to you)? I'm beginning to have a weird feeling about a win of mine, that maybe its just a sales come on or something. I know for a fact that is how those laser hair removal scams begin. I've also had a bad experience with a contest by treck bikes, where they told you to go into a retailer, then the retailer had no idea about it and wouldn't let me redeem prize coupons. Anyone else have exp with something like this?
Jun 23, 2010 10:58 PM
448 Posts
Joined Jun 2010
User975440Jun 23, 2010 10:58 PM
448 Posts
Quote from javaFlower :
click on the "instant" flag to the left of an instant game thread
or at the bottom of the page on the left "Filter by Category" and it will show you all the instants.
Thank you Wink
Jun 24, 2010 09:17 PM
498 Posts
Joined Oct 2007
IzyannaJun 24, 2010 09:17 PM
498 Posts
Quote from implode :
Anyone ever have a contest tell them you would have to go into local office to pick up a prize (because they won't ship it directly to you)? I'm beginning to have a weird feeling about a win of mine, that maybe its just a sales come on or something. I know for a fact that is how those laser hair removal scams begin. I've also had a bad experience with a contest by treck bikes, where they told you to go into a retailer, then the retailer had no idea about it and wouldn't let me redeem prize coupons. Anyone else have exp with something like this?
In my experience most Radio Stations you have to go in and collect the prize yourself...
Jun 27, 2010 06:45 AM
670 Posts
Joined Dec 2008
evanesceJun 27, 2010 06:45 AM
670 Posts
I'm not going to do anymore blogger giveaways. They have way too many requirements just to have a fair shot at winning it. Uh-uh, not worth my time.
Jun 27, 2010 07:11 AM
244 Posts
Joined May 2009
purplelover04Jun 27, 2010 07:11 AM
244 Posts
Quote from evanesce :
I'm not going to do anymore blogger giveaways. They have way too many requirements just to have a fair shot at winning it. Uh-uh, not worth my time.
I have won every big prizes I own from blogs this month I won a freezer, a flip camera slide,roku box, trimmer for the yard and some other really nice prizes got some tips if want on blogs send me dm if like and good luck stick with blog u have much better odds then any other contest.
Jun 27, 2010 02:28 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJun 27, 2010 02:28 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from evanesce :
I'm not going to do anymore blogger giveaways. They have way too many requirements just to have a fair shot at winning it. Uh-uh, not worth my time.
I agree. Also a lot of blogs are run by well meaning people and not companies. This means less to lose if they don't fulfill a prize. I think their is a higher chance you might not get a prize from these types of contest. I think time to enter is a very valid reason for ignoring contests.

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Jun 30, 2010 12:41 PM
208 Posts
Joined May 2009
empyreanJun 30, 2010 12:41 PM
208 Posts
Quote from purplelover04 :
I have won every big prizes I own from blogs this month I won a freezer, a flip camera slide,roku box, trimmer for the yard and some other really nice prizes got some tips if want on blogs send me dm if like and good luck stick with blog u have much better odds then any other contest.
Wow! Care to sprinkle some good luck around? Big Grin I've entered a ton of blogs and never won anything like that ever. I do prefer blogs to twitter though - I don't notice the same winners over and over and the rules are clearer.
Jun 30, 2010 05:16 PM
2,432 Posts
Joined May 2006
TBotzonJun 30, 2010 05:16 PM
2,432 Posts
Quote from empyrean :
Wow! Care to sprinkle some good luck around? Big Grin I've entered a ton of blogs and never won anything like that ever. I do prefer blogs to twitter though - I don't notice the same winners over and over and the rules are clearer.
Yes fill us in! It would be nice to have a tab under contests for blogs.
Jul 02, 2010 09:31 PM
842 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
JobDDTJul 02, 2010 09:31 PM
842 Posts
How does one go about finding Twitter giveaways and sweepstakes? Is there a section of Slickdeals that has those contests? (I tried searching...)
Jul 08, 2010 02:57 AM
592 Posts
Joined Jul 2009
andphaM33Jul 08, 2010 02:57 AM
592 Posts
what is the best way to win an instant game[ making your chances greater]
Jul 08, 2010 03:43 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJul 08, 2010 03:43 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from andphaM33 :
what is the best way to win an instant game[ making your chances greater]
Play when you have time to do so, assuming they are honest and truly random you have equal chances to anyone else. When you start altering your daily life then you have taken things too far.
Jul 08, 2010 03:58 AM
566 Posts
Joined Nov 2009
ddao123Jul 08, 2010 03:58 AM
566 Posts
whats the best way to organize 1 entry contests that you've already entered? is the ignore thread the best way?
Jul 08, 2010 04:55 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJul 08, 2010 04:55 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from ddao123 :
whats the best way to organize 1 entry contests that you've already entered? is the ignore thread the best way?
Unlike dailies (where marking threads is pointless), I recommend you type 'thanks'--that way when your logged in a bulb will appear next to the post indicating you have written something in it. That way you quickly and accurately know which ones you have entered.

For dailies doing the same thing will just confuse (you) and annoy people. I would set up a series of bookmarks in your browser sorted by end date. You can then remove expiring contests and rotate in new ones easily. Or alternatively you could just do them 1 by 1 and go through them page by page (though a bit harder).

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Jul 08, 2010 07:48 AM
566 Posts
Joined Nov 2009
ddao123Jul 08, 2010 07:48 AM
566 Posts
Quote from implode :
Unlike dailies (where marking threads is pointless), I recommend you type 'thanks'--that way when your logged in a bulb will appear next to the post indicating you have written something in it. That way you quickly and accurately know which ones you have entered.

For dailies doing the same thing will just confuse (you) and annoy people. I would set up a series of bookmarks in your browser sorted by end date. You can then remove expiring contests and rotate in new ones easily. Or alternatively you could just do them 1 by 1 and go through them page by page (though a bit harder).
oh cool. didnt know about the bulb thing. thanks for the tip implode. gl to everyone

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