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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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Jul 15, 2010 11:55 PM
1,447 Posts
Joined May 2010
superhippie2000Jul 15, 2010 11:55 PM
1,447 Posts
Quote from Buckeye23 :
Can you win this more than once?

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=754245&t=2122604
i dont know but to be safe i would say no. seeing how its 30 bucks they may not allow more then one win.
Jul 15, 2010 11:58 PM
1,447 Posts
Joined May 2010
superhippie2000Jul 15, 2010 11:58 PM
1,447 Posts
Quote from sandyalip :
I lost the SoBe IWG once. I'm probalby the only one who did. The guy ran around with his pants down LOL
LOL wow people still lose on this? only time i have lost is on the first day when the game was extremely glitchy. but i say keep on playing you never know. play at a different time of day then normal. just never choose the coach dude cause he likes sniffing dirty underwear lol
Jul 16, 2010 12:03 AM
24 Posts
Joined Oct 2009
Buckeye23Jul 16, 2010 12:03 AM
24 Posts
Quote from superhippie2000 :
LOL wow people still lose on this? only time i have lost is on the first day when the game was extremely glitchy. but i say keep on playing you never know. play at a different time of day then normal. just never choose the coach dude cause he likes sniffing dirty underwear lol
Ive never lost, lowest ive gotten is a BOGO. So far ive gotten 6 free product q's and a t-shirt.
Jul 16, 2010 01:02 AM
1,447 Posts
Joined May 2010
superhippie2000Jul 16, 2010 01:02 AM
1,447 Posts
Quote from Buckeye23 :
Ive never lost, lowest ive gotten is a BOGO. So far ive gotten 6 free product q's and a t-shirt.
im still waiting on the shirt win lol. ive gotten like 15/16 free ones itunes gift card and flip flops. but i get like a gazillion bogos. oh well its more free drinks and more chances to win.
Jul 16, 2010 07:22 AM
2,188 Posts
Joined Aug 2008
XanderBsbJul 16, 2010 07:22 AM
2,188 Posts
I won 2 round trip Delta Airlines tickets from My Coke Rewards. The given ARV is $2,400.

I want to use them on a flight from San Francisco, Ca to Winnipeg, Canada which according to the airlines website is between $1,100-$1,300. I want to know what I need to ask/request in order to prove the flight isn't the full ARV of $2,400 so that I can pay taxes on the $1,100-$1,300 value.

Thanks in advance Smilie
Jul 16, 2010 01:21 PM
1,447 Posts
Joined May 2010
superhippie2000Jul 16, 2010 01:21 PM
1,447 Posts
does MCR give you a check or do they set up the flight for you? if they give you a check you can do what you want i guess but if they set up the flight or if its an airline voucher or something then you probably cant get the left over money.
Jul 19, 2010 07:11 AM
592 Posts
Joined Jul 2009
andphaM33Jul 19, 2010 07:11 AM
592 Posts
do we get an email confirmation if we won the ipod nano from the sobe instant win game?

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Jul 19, 2010 11:11 AM
1,447 Posts
Joined May 2010
superhippie2000Jul 19, 2010 11:11 AM
1,447 Posts
Quote from andphaM33 :
do we get an email confirmation if we won the ipod nano from the sobe instant win game?
think the only time you get anything is if you win the mac book. but heard you need to wait a while till they send you info for that.
Jul 19, 2010 07:28 PM
2,305 Posts
Joined Dec 2008
AddieUSCJul 19, 2010 07:28 PM
2,305 Posts
LMAO

I think I got a win - see screen image - but I haven't received an email and at the bottom it says there are errors with the page.

I clicked on it (the error tab at the bottom left side of the screen) and the pop up says prize code is null.

I'm guessing that means it can't process the screen or something; however, what do I do at this point?
Jul 19, 2010 07:35 PM
1,447 Posts
Joined May 2010
superhippie2000Jul 19, 2010 07:35 PM
1,447 Posts
Quote from AddieUSC :
LMAO

I think I got a win - see screen image - but I haven't received an email and at the bottom it says there are errors with the page.

I clicked on it (the error tab at the bottom left side of the screen) and the pop up says prize code is null.

I'm guessing that means it can't process the screen or something; however, what do I do at this point?
while screen captures dont matter when it comes to saying you won a prize i would email them the screen cap anyway and the time you played and check and see if it was a real win or if the game just froze.
Jul 19, 2010 08:44 PM
220 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
brenda21Jul 19, 2010 08:44 PM
220 Posts
How long is too long to wait for a prize? I was notified of a prize win the first week in June, and had the affidavit notarized and back to them within a week. I followed up a couple weeks ago and the person who notified me said they're waiting on one portion of the prize. I e-mailed again today and haven't heard back so far...it's just getting really frustrating that it's been over 6 weeks and I still have no idea when it will be sent out.

ETA: The contest was from a very well-known magazine, so I'm 100% sure it isn't a scam or anything.
Jul 19, 2010 09:22 PM
25,256 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
javaFlowerJul 19, 2010 09:22 PM
25,256 Posts
Quote from brenda21 :
How long is too long to wait for a prize? I was notified of a prize win the first week in June, and had the affidavit notarized and back to them within a week. I followed up a couple weeks ago and the person who notified me said they're waiting on one portion of the prize. I e-mailed again today and haven't heard back so far...it's just getting really frustrating that it's been over 6 weeks and I still have no idea when it will be sent out.

ETA: The contest was from a very well-known magazine, so I'm 100% sure it isn't a scam or anything.
Since they have already let you know they are waiting for part of the prize, I, personally, would have waited until about 8-12 weeks before contacting them again.

It really is not that unusual for prizing to take 8-12 weeks.

That said, I had a reputable mag win take a little over a year and was emailing them every 3 months. It finally was sent out when I emailed the company of the prize offered and some of the mags' big-wigs.

It seems like you are in the acceptable range of delivery yet -
good luck to you
Jul 20, 2010 12:37 AM
220 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
brenda21Jul 20, 2010 12:37 AM
220 Posts
Thanks, Java. I guess I'm just a little concerned because the person I've mostly been corresponding with is an intern so it's very possible she won't be around in 8-12 weeks. Also, the contest was summer-themed, so I'd like to be able to use the prize before summer's over! Hopefully I'll have good news soon!
Jul 20, 2010 01:33 AM
3,085 Posts
Joined Apr 2010
madmoney1Jul 20, 2010 01:33 AM
3,085 Posts
Quote from AddieUSC :
LMAO

I think I got a win - see screen image - but I haven't received an email and at the bottom it says there are errors with the page.

I clicked on it (the error tab at the bottom left side of the screen) and the pop up says prize code is null.

I'm guessing that means it can't process the screen or something; however, what do I do at this point?
that's not a win. I've gotten that many times. It means the game is stuck. You click on refresh and it'll spin again

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Jul 21, 2010 12:30 AM
710 Posts
Joined Mar 2009
sandyalipJul 21, 2010 12:30 AM
710 Posts
Sometimes on a facebook sweeps, the screen starts jumping. Does anyone know why?

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