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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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9,749 Comments

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Oct 1, 2010
706 Posts
Joined Mar 2009
Oct 1, 2010
sandyalip
Oct 1, 2010
706 Posts
With most of my big wins, I've gotten e-mails. I have also gotten calls.
Oct 1, 2010
706 Posts
Joined Mar 2009
Oct 1, 2010
sandyalip
Oct 1, 2010
706 Posts
I've been having trouble entering the OK mag sweeps. It keeps saying my captcha is wrong. I redo it several times and it still says it's wrong. Is anyone else having this problem?
Oct 1, 2010
117,780 Posts
Joined May 2006
Oct 1, 2010
implode
Oct 1, 2010
117,780 Posts
Quote from sandyalip :
I've been having trouble entering the OK mag sweeps. It keeps saying my captcha is wrong. I redo it several times and it still says it's wrong. Is anyone else having this problem?
They have been hard to enter for a while--some of the characters extend below the image box.

so y/v for example are indistinguishable? Really annoying...
Oct 2, 2010
3,733 Posts
Joined Jan 2006
Oct 2, 2010
Pineapplicious
Oct 2, 2010
3,733 Posts
Quote from implode :
They have been hard to enter for a while--some of the characters extend below the image box.

so y/v for example are indistinguishable? Really annoying...
I agree. Why don't think fix that? Captchas annoy me in general.
Oct 4, 2010
253 Posts
Joined Sep 2009
Oct 4, 2010
takeylarose
Oct 4, 2010
253 Posts
Got this in my email today and won't use it..

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Please use the promotional code provided below at checkout on NFLShop.com.

Your promotional code is:

TROYSHAIR
Oct 9, 2010
1,397 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
Oct 9, 2010
mj025
Oct 9, 2010
1,397 Posts
When I started entering contests I decided I didn't care for the 'monthly folder' idea for bookmarking the sites. I've come up with a system that I think works a lot better (for me) and is faster and more informative.

My system has 3 primary groups, single entry or an 'Entered' folder, dailies (which doesn't matter if it is IWG or sweepstakes or both) and lastly Monthly, Weekly and others. This seems more complicated than it is, and once a bookmark is added, the few seconds extra it takes is over with and you can fly thru the contests.

NOTE: I do this using Opera, Firefox has similar fields in its bookmarks that should work, you may need to change things around for other browsers.

Create a couple folders;

I create one main folder called Contests and put the following folders in that;

-Daily
-Difficult
-Entered
-Entered-CHECK
-Entered-WON
-Possible

My Monthly/Weekly/Other bookmarks go into the main Contests folder.

When you find a new contest you are going to enter, decide which of those three types the contest falls into.

If it is single entry, bookmark the main entry page of the contest into 'Entered' so you don't enter it again.

If it is daily, add a bookmark but add the end date of the contest to the front of the name. For instance;

2011-02-28 - Farmland Better with Bacon Contest " Farmland Foods

Use the date format as listed, as it'll sort much easier. Year-Month-Day (with a 0 in front for single digits) and " - " to make it neat.

If the contest requires a special code or login information, store that in the bookmarks description. As long as it isn't a sensitive site, like Amazon where your account can be used to spend your money, the security risk is minimal if anyone gets a hold of it so I think this is an OK method, but you have to decide that for yourself.

If there are specific notes you need to remind yourself of, like making certain to say no for a subscription or where you need to look on the page add it in capital letters after the end date;

2011-01-31 - NO THANKS - Travel + Leisure - Dream Come True Sweepstakes
ONGOING - CLICK ON RIGHT - Purchase Steaks, Lobster and Gourmet Food Gifts Online | Omaha Steaks

When you have all your daily bookmarks together, if you sort by name is should list them in the order in which they run out. Whatever is at the top should be ending soonest, and you'll see the date and can just move the finished contests over to the 'Entered' folder.

The Weekly/Monthly/Other takes a little longer to setup, but again, very fast once you do.

Instead of putting the end date first, you'll be putting the next entry day, as well as a list of future dates following the pattern of the contest. For a weekly, pick a day of the week you'd like to enter them, and go thru a calendar for a couple months (or as far as you'd like to, ahead) and make a cheat sheet. We'll say you enter on Wednesdays, starting Oct. 6th, 2010. If you enter all the dates till the end of the contest, and an "- END -" after the final date, if you don't feel like entering till the very end, or is it ongoing, add a "- CONTINUE -" between the last one you enter and the end date or "- ONGOING - " to tell you to add more dates when you've reached it. An example follows;

2010-10-06 - 2010-10-13 - 2010-10-20 - 2010-10-27 - 2010-11-03 - 2010-11-10 - 2010-11-17 - 2010-11-24 - 2010-12-01 - 2010-12-08 - 2010-12-15 - 2010-12-22 - 2010-12-29 - 2011-01-05 - 2011-01-12 - CONTINUE - 2012-01-31 - Joe's Beef and Sausage Bonanza Giveaway

Remember, while that looks confusing and long you will only see a short snipit of it in your bookmarks and you'll only need to pay attention to the date and if you've hit the end. Each week you'll only have to clip the first date out of the bookmark as you enter it, we are talking less than 10 seconds of work but you know you've entered and know exactly when the next day you have to enter is. You can use the exact same method for Monthly contests and contests with entry 'periods' such as every other week or so. To enter one every month on the 7th do as follows;

2010-10-07 - 2010-11-07 - 2010-12-07 - 2011-01-07 - 2011-02-07 - 2011-03-07 - 2011-04-07 - 2011-05-07 - 2011-06-07 - 2011-07-07 - 2011-08-07 - 2011-09-07 - 2011-10-07 2011-11-07 - 2011-12-07 - END - Joe's Magazine Giveaway

In your list of bookmarks you'll just see the contests listed with the closest dates at the top, and either enter the ones on the given day, or if they have ended, move to the "Entered" folder. If you've run out of dates and are at CONTINUE take the time to add more. Since it is easy to set it up for months or a year at a time, this shouldn't come up often. Just remember to cut out today's date when entering.

I use this system for contests that are VERY strict on disqualifying multiple entries in a certain timeframe. Instead of entering once daily on contests that disqualify multiple entries in 24 hours, I just enter once every other day. I figure half the entries are better than none.

For contests you enter multiple times a day, I just put them in with the Monthly/Weekly/Other and mark them as *{End-date} - Instructions. The asterisk in front will sort those contests before the contests without an asterisk. If you can enter 5 times a day and the contest ends Dec. 31, 2011 I would list it as follows;

*2011-12-31 - 5 TIMES DAILY - Joe's Jazzy Jeans Giveaway

As I said, I use Opera, and I keep the bookmark's panel open on the right hand side of my screen while I browse, I keep the bookmarks split so I can have the folder (such as Daily) open in the bottom half and the list of folders in the top half, makes it easier to move finished ones to the "Entered" directory. I'm sure other browsers have similar ways to handle this, if you have questions or need help or have a suggestion please feel free to reply.

You can also add directories for Difficult (Time consuming contests like games which you might enter or not during a day) and Possible which are contests you see but aren't sure if you want to join yet, perhaps it requires info you don't want to give, or requires setting up a Facebook or Twitter account and you don't have one yet.

There are ways using the Fill function in Microsoft Excel to make a list of dates that skips a day, or two weeks or a month at a time. If anyone needs to know, PM me.

The "Entered - CHECK" directory is for contests that don't notify you if you win but expect you to check their site. I believe Trendmicro is like this. I've seen a few blog contests like that as well.

I'm attaching two images, one shows how my Daily folder looks, along with a sample bookmark properties and the other image is of the Monthly/Weekly/Other.
Last edited by mj025 October 9, 2010 at 12:52 PM.
Oct 9, 2010
285 Posts
Joined Dec 2006
Oct 9, 2010
WMnKM
Oct 9, 2010
285 Posts
Question: To those who have been doing this a while....

I've noticed (don't know if it's coincidence or not) that let's say there are
5 entries a day (take Wendy's) - it seems if you are going to win it will
be on the first code entered. That seems to be what I've seen - now I
haven't been doing this too long.

The reason I want to know if it is TIME-Stamped when you log-on (for example) for
winning or not...is because then for the Wendy's games you would log-on and
then re-log-on for each of the 5 codes.

What do you think? Not trying to cheat at anything, just trying to understand
so I can maximize the chance of winning.

Kathy

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Oct 10, 2010
1,699 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
Oct 10, 2010
Cindaddy
Oct 10, 2010
1,699 Posts
Quote from WMnKM :
Question: To those who have been doing this a while....

I've noticed (don't know if it's coincidence or not) that let's say there are
5 entries a day (take Wendy's) - it seems if you are going to win it will
be on the first code entered. That seems to be what I've seen - now I
haven't been doing this too long.

The reason I want to know if it is TIME-Stamped when you log-on (for example) for
winning or not...is because then for the Wendy's games you would log-on and
then re-log-on for each of the 5 codes.

What do you think? Not trying to cheat at anything, just trying to understand
so I can maximize the chance of winning.

Kathy
In most cases it's based on the time you play, not when you logged in. I won the Wendy's sweepstakes on my 3rd code.
Oct 11, 2010
21 Posts
Joined Aug 2006
Oct 11, 2010
BiggNife
Oct 11, 2010
21 Posts
Hey, does anyone here have experience with @UGOsweeps twitter contests? I won Halo Reach from them about a month ago, and I still don't have it, and I'm wondering if there was a shipping problem somewhere. I sent UGO a dm and all I got was "All Halo Reach copies have been sent out!," which isn't really helpful (and also kinda rude) because I have no idea when they sent it or if they've had any shipping problems.

If I don't get the game by next week, I guess my only course of action is to keep bugging them?
Oct 12, 2010
3,733 Posts
Joined Jan 2006
Oct 12, 2010
Pineapplicious
Oct 12, 2010
3,733 Posts
Quote from BiggNife :
Hey, does anyone here have experience with @UGOsweeps twitter contests? I won Halo Reach from them about a month ago, and I still don't have it, and I'm wondering if there was a shipping problem somewhere. I sent UGO a dm and all I got was "All Halo Reach copies have been sent out!," which isn't really helpful (and also kinda rude) because I have no idea when they sent it or if they've had any shipping problems.

If I don't get the game by next week, I guess my only course of action is to keep bugging them?
I was supposed to win the comic books they had up a while ago but then they said that they didn't mean to put the code up (makes no sense whatsoever) and instead sent me a Clash of the Titans game for Xbox 360

Anyway, I won my game on a Wednesday and received it the following Monday. Have you tried direct messaging @UGOdotcom? They are the ones who contacted me in regards to my mailing address and contact info.
Oct 12, 2010
1,699 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
Oct 12, 2010
Cindaddy
Oct 12, 2010
1,699 Posts
Quote from BiggNife :
Hey, does anyone here have experience with @UGOsweeps twitter contests? I won Halo Reach from them about a month ago, and I still don't have it, and I'm wondering if there was a shipping problem somewhere. I sent UGO a dm and all I got was "All Halo Reach copies have been sent out!," which isn't really helpful (and also kinda rude) because I have no idea when they sent it or if they've had any shipping problems.

If I don't get the game by next week, I guess my only course of action is to keep bugging them?
I've won from them a few times. It really depends. Some items take a while. My understanding was that the Halo:Reach stuff went out right away. I would DM them again and say that you didn't get it. I agree that response wasn't what I would hope for. They have always been kind when I contacted them.
Oct 12, 2010
1,699 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
Oct 12, 2010
Cindaddy
Oct 12, 2010
1,699 Posts
Nevermind
Last edited by Cindaddy October 12, 2010 at 10:36 AM.
Oct 13, 2010
2,804 Posts
Joined Jun 2006
Oct 13, 2010
PayItForward
Oct 13, 2010
2,804 Posts
Removed
Last edited by PayItForward November 1, 2010 at 04:49 PM.
Oct 13, 2010
204 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Oct 13, 2010
mc77340
Oct 13, 2010
204 Posts
FYI I had a long talk with my friend at the ad agency and she informed me that they are taking a hard line on cheaters. They are fully aware of the gmail period trick and they are looking at the "p.smith", "paul smith", "paula smith" or "Main Street", Main St.", "Main St" entries, as well.

To be perfectly honest, I am glad. Mama always said "cheaters never prosper" and I am glad to see they won't.

GL All you honest Sweepers!

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Oct 13, 2010
117,780 Posts
Joined May 2006
Oct 13, 2010
implode
Oct 13, 2010
117,780 Posts
Quote from mc77340 :
FYI I had a long talk with my friend at the ad agency and she informed me that they are taking a hard line on cheaters. They are fully aware of the gmail period trick and they are looking at the "p.smith", "paul smith", "paula smith" or "Main Street", Main St.", "Main St" entries, as well.

To be perfectly honest, I am glad. Mama always said "cheaters never prosper" and I am glad to see they won't.

GL All you honest Sweepers!
I hope more judging agencies do so, its a huge problem. If she needs any more advice on how to stop cheaters give me her email, I want to be part of the solution.

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