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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

Sears
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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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9,752 Comments

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Oct 13, 2010
3,733 Posts
Joined Jan 2006
Oct 13, 2010
Pineapplicious
Oct 13, 2010
3,733 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 agree with Mama, it's not fair to all of us who are honest and abide by the rules. I would like to help also in any way possible
Oct 13, 2010
3,733 Posts
Joined Jan 2006
Oct 13, 2010
Pineapplicious
Oct 13, 2010
3,733 Posts
Does anyone else have problems with entering into the Hand Out Hostess Halloween IWG? For some reason it keeps asking me for a username and password
Oct 13, 2010
1,701 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
Oct 13, 2010
Cindaddy
Oct 13, 2010
1,701 Posts
Quote from Pineapplicious :
Does anyone else have problems with entering into the Hand Out Hostess Halloween IWG? For some reason it keeps asking me for a username and password

Just checked. Same problem.
Oct 14, 2010
685 Posts
Joined Feb 2007
Oct 14, 2010
ben8484
Oct 14, 2010
685 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!
This is good to know. And makes me feel much better.
Oct 14, 2010
685 Posts
Joined Feb 2007
Oct 14, 2010
ben8484
Oct 14, 2010
685 Posts
I have a question: Certain other sweepstakes sites a free sweepstakes section and for pay "premium member only" sweepstakes section, which is supposed to have all the good sweepstakes.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it worth it?
Oct 14, 2010
1,401 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
Oct 14, 2010
mj025
Oct 14, 2010
1,401 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!
That gmail period trick has me insanely curious, I have to confess. Not knowing what it is. I know by asking it makes me look like a cheater, but if you look up at my post on how I do things, I don't even gamble with 24 hour contests, and take only half the entries. No sense in cheating in my opinion, it'll come back to haunt you. But I am curious.

-MJ
Oct 14, 2010
685 Posts
Joined Feb 2007
Oct 14, 2010
ben8484
Oct 14, 2010
685 Posts
Quote from mj025 :
That gmail period trick has me insanely curious, I have to confess. Not knowing what it is. I know by asking it makes me look like a cheater, but if you look up at my post on how I do things, I don't even gamble with 24 hour contests, and take only half the entries. No sense in cheating in my opinion, it'll come back to haunt you. But I am curious.

-MJ
The trick is pretty simple. If your email address is [email protected], then your.name@gmail (and [email protected] and [email protected], etc) also become your email address. But many sweepstake websites recognize those variations as different email addresses and will let you submit all variations.

Basically it's like having multiple email addresses without the hassle. It's also very easy to check winners (eg if [email protected] wins, check for other similar variations)

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Oct 14, 2010
1,401 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
Oct 14, 2010
mj025
Oct 14, 2010
1,401 Posts
Quote from ben8484 :
The trick is pretty simple. If your email address is [email protected], then your.name@gmail (and [email protected] and [email protected], etc) also become your email address. But many sweepstake websites recognize those variations as different email addresses and will let you submit all variations.

Basically it's like having multiple email addresses without the hassle. It's also very easy to check winners (eg if [email protected] wins, check for other similar variations)
Heh, didn't know that but figured that might be what was meant. I keep my gmail account spam free anyway, I use my yahoo account for sweepstakes.

It is a good way to get yourself DQ'd, and depending on where you are at, possibly an act of fraud. Glad they catch it.

Thanks for the info, not something I'd accidentally do though.

Anyone know if you can get DQ'd on contests if you put different info day to day on a daily? I made a mistake now and again when entering, I know a Sears one I put the wrong zip in and saw it after I hit enter. I'm sure that entry would probably be bad, but would it ruin my other 100 entries into the contest? Also, I've been known to put Other or IT or such on job info, but I'm not working at present so I've gone back and forth at times.

-MJ

Hey, one more question if people don't mind. What about giveaways that require a mobile phone #, but aren't txt'ing you. Seems to be an increasing trend but I don't have a cellular at the moment. Think I could substitute my home phone or am I just out of luck?

-MJ
Last edited by mj025 October 14, 2010 at 11:06 AM.
Oct 14, 2010
227 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Oct 14, 2010
mc77340
Oct 14, 2010
227 Posts
Quote from ben8484 :
The trick is pretty simple. If your email address is [email protected], then your.name@gmail (and [email protected] and [email protected], etc) also become your email address. But many sweepstake websites recognize those variations as different email addresses and will let you submit all variations.

Basically it's like having multiple email addresses without the hassle. It's also very easy to check winners (eg if [email protected] wins, check for other similar variations)
Thanks for handling this - I wasn't comfortable spreading it around. Unfortunately too many people are now going to try it. But DQs are good for those of us who are not cheating so, in the long run, it is probably fine.
Oct 14, 2010
117,907 Posts
Joined May 2006
Oct 14, 2010
implode
Oct 14, 2010
117,907 Posts
Quote from mc77340 :
Thanks for handling this - I wasn't comfortable spreading it around. Unfortunately too many people are now going to try it. But DQs are good for those of us who are not cheating so, in the long run, it is probably fine.
FWIW, think it was pretty widely known.
Oct 15, 2010
285 Posts
Joined Dec 2006
Oct 15, 2010
WMnKM
Oct 15, 2010
285 Posts
I have a couple of questions for winners. I've really only won a couple of things. Most Emails come with CONGRATULATIONS in the subject line. However I won facebook Eight O'Clock coffee...and that email did not say that.

1) Can you tell me about what percentage of winning emails come with CONGRATS in the subject line. For the emails that don't say that, how do you usually tell that it might be an email you want to read (I get way too many to open them all). I have tried if it looks like it's a person's email rather than a generic email - then I open it. But I really don't want to miss any - any other advice on this?

The other question I have is. My husband works in MD (we live in FL) - this is because of the economy here - he's in construction. So we see him 3-5 days a month. Since he
has an address up there, I enter (when I have time) contests in his name, too - Different email - different address - different phone. (same last name and coming from same computer).

Do you think I will get DQ'd from any contests for doing this?

Other than entering some contests for both my husband and me, I don't cheat in any way. It says one a day, I do one a day - no alternate identities, etc.. I bypass all contests that offer trips (unless it's for 4 people and within the US). If the contest is
specifically for a certain group, I don't enter. Like for dog/cat owners (as we don't
own either).

I haven't won anything big (been entering daily since about July) but I've done okay, enough to keep me entering! My big win was a twitter win of an IPAD. Other than that everything else is $100 or less. One day, maybe.

If anyone can provide insight to the 2 questions I have, it would be appreciated.
Oct 15, 2010
331 Posts
Joined May 2006
Oct 15, 2010
RedSnoopy1977
Oct 15, 2010
331 Posts
I won an autographed CD from Slash that I won from this contest:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=111790&t=2142778

the case was partially broken but i dont care i LOVE Slash and I am totally excited i won this!
Oct 15, 2010
20,464 Posts
Joined Jul 2009
Oct 15, 2010
scotthey
Oct 15, 2010
20,464 Posts
Quote from WMnKM :
I have a couple of questions for winners. I've really only won a couple of things. Most Emails come with CONGRATULATIONS in the subject line. However I won facebook Eight O'Clock coffee...and that email did not say that.

1) Can you tell me about what percentage of winning emails come with CONGRATS in the subject line. For the emails that don't say that, how do you usually tell that it might be an email you want to read (I get way too many to open them all). I have tried if it looks like it's a person's email rather than a generic email - then I open it. But I really don't want to miss any - any other advice on this?

The other question I have is. My husband works in MD (we live in FL) - this is because of the economy here - he's in construction. So we see him 3-5 days a month. Since he
has an address up there, I enter (when I have time) contests in his name, too - Different email - different address - different phone. (same last name and coming from same computer).

Do you think I will get DQ'd from any contests for doing this?

Other than entering some contests for both my husband and me, I don't cheat in any way. It says one a day, I do one a day - no alternate identities, etc.. I bypass all contests that offer trips (unless it's for 4 people and within the US). If the contest is
specifically for a certain group, I don't enter. Like for dog/cat owners (as we don't
own either).

I haven't won anything big (been entering daily since about July) but I've done okay, enough to keep me entering! My big win was a twitter win of an IPAD. Other than that everything else is $100 or less. One day, maybe.

If anyone can provide insight to the 2 questions I have, it would be appreciated.
First off this would be better asked in the questions thread.

Quote :
Can you tell me about what percentage of winning emails come with CONGRATS in the subject line.
I don't have an actual percentage but I've gotten them with "Congrats" and "RE: insert contest here." I'm sure they come in all shapes and sizes, just carefully read all the subject lines in emails you receive.
Quote :
Do you think I will get DQ'd from any contests for doing this?
You probably won't get DQ'd but officially....you could.

I've been at this for over a year myself and I'd consider an Ipad a huge win! Congrats!!
Oct 15, 2010
117,907 Posts
Joined May 2006
Oct 15, 2010
implode
Oct 15, 2010
117,907 Posts
Quote :
The other question I have is. My husband works in MD (we live in FL) - this is because of the economy here - he's in construction. So we see him 3-5 days a month. Since he
has an address up there, I enter (when I have time) contests in his name, too - Different email - different address - different phone. (same last name and coming from same computer).

Do you think I will get DQ'd from any contests for doing this?
I think you run a very real risk of a DQ from doing this. I have had the opportunity to ask some Judging Agencies about contests. I was told in several instances they DQ people based on cookies and IP address for what you are doing. Again it varies from contest to contest, however given that knowledge I would say you are wasting your time in some instances, and in the worst setting up both addresses for being blacklisted. To me its not worth the risk. YMMV.

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Original Poster
Oct 15, 2010
58,150 Posts
Joined Mar 2006
Oct 15, 2010
FreebiesRGreat
Original Poster
Oct 15, 2010
58,150 Posts
Quote from WMnKM :
The other question I have is. My husband works in MD (we live in FL) - this is because of the economy here - he's in construction. So we see him 3-5 days a month. Since he
has an address up there, I enter (when I have time) contests in his name, too - Different email - different address - different phone. (same last name and coming from same computer).

Do you think I will get DQ'd from any contests for doing this?

Other than entering some contests for both my husband and me, I don't cheat in any way. It says one a day, I do one a day - no alternate identities, etc.. I bypass all contests that offer trips (unless it's for 4 people and within the US). If the contest is
specifically for a certain group, I don't enter. Like for dog/cat owners (as we don't
own either). .

Honestly, as long as you're adhering to the rules (1 per person per day, or 1 per household), you're ok. I'd pick one to use on 1x per household though, just to be safe. They could be verifying that by IP, but you never know. If it says once per IP address, only enter you OR hubby.

Hang in there! The wins will come. (just wait till the unannounced, surprise wins start rolling in!)

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