forum thread Posted by FreebiesRGreat • Jun 3, 2008
Jun 3, 2008 2:50 AM
forum thread Posted by FreebiesRGreat • Jun 3, 2008
Jun 3, 2008 2:50 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://agilewebsolutio
FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.
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.
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://agilewebsolutio
FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.
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://agilewebsolutio
FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.
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.
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://agilewebsolutio
FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.
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
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
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.
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!!
Yes, I also think an IPAD is a big win, I was talking that I have never had to fill out an affadavit (that kind of BIG WIN). Rep'd all who answered - THANK YOU!
I recently won the VH1 Wake Up and Win sweepstakes via Twitter but @VH1 won't respond to my messages in regards to my email address which they asked for in a DM. I would DM them but they aren't following me
Some believe that if they don't get the paperwork required by law for wins over $600 that you don't have to pay taxes on those smaller wins, but that is not true, by law.
Here is a site with some information on sweeps wins & taxes:
http://contests.about.
You may want to talk to your tax professional, as well.
http://www.ezwingame.c
Is everybody (or anybody?) here entering these?
Kinda reminds of that safe game (play 10 times a day - 4 combinations, etc)
...I emailed and asked who was funding their
prizes, what they were getting out of it, etc. Only got a very vague email
back, stating they had financial backers. So I decided I didn't want to enter
that one anymore.
Just curious on comments of the ezwingame.com website...
Thanks, Kathy
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
http://www.ezwingame.c
Is everybody (or anybody?) here entering these?
Kinda reminds of that safe game (play 10 times a day - 4 combinations, etc)
...I emailed and asked who was funding their
prizes, what they were getting out of it, etc. Only got a very vague email
back, stating they had financial backers. So I decided I didn't want to enter
that one anymore.
Just curious on comments of the ezwingame.com website...
Thanks, Kathy
http://www.ezwingame.c
Is everybody (or anybody?) here entering these?
Kinda reminds of that safe game (play 10 times a day - 4 combinations, etc)
...I emailed and asked who was funding their
prizes, what they were getting out of it, etc. Only got a very vague email
back, stating they had financial backers. So I decided I didn't want to enter
that one anymore.
Just curious on comments of the ezwingame.com website...
Thanks, Kathy
is there a way to forward prizes that I may win? I mean of course, I changed my address with USPS and hopefully that will work out a lot of things. but I mean prizes that come via UPS or Fed Ex and are surprise wins? I hate that I might miss out prizes. for example, a lot of ppl are winning the Kellog prize for $250. UPS is just showing up with checks. I know I entered with my old address. Do you guys have any advice or am I short?
I was able to contact companies of prizes I knowingly won and have had them forwarded to my new address.
Thanks In Advance.
is there a way to forward prizes that I may win? I mean of course, I changed my address with USPS and hopefully that will work out a lot of things. but I mean prizes that come via UPS or Fed Ex and are surprise wins? I hate that I might miss out prizes. for example, a lot of ppl are winning the Kellog prize for $250. UPS is just showing up with checks. I know I entered with my old address. Do you guys have any advice or am I short?
I was able to contact companies of prizes I knowingly won and have had them forwarded to my new address.
Thanks In Advance.
is there a way to forward prizes that I may win? I mean of course, I changed my address with USPS and hopefully that will work out a lot of things. but I mean prizes that come via UPS or Fed Ex and are surprise wins? I hate that I might miss out prizes. for example, a lot of ppl are winning the Kellog prize for $250. UPS is just showing up with checks. I know I entered with my old address. Do you guys have any advice or am I short?
I was able to contact companies of prizes I knowingly won and have had them forwarded to my new address.
Thanks In Advance.
I hope you don't miss out on anything!
When I entered, it wasn't required to enter your mailing address. I got an email saying I was selected as a potential Grand Prize winner, but in order to receive my prize I have to sign the affidavit. It says to email back with my mailing address and they will send it out. I found the official rules, and they state:
"The winner ... will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and liability release within 7 days of notification or prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to another winner..."
Do you think they mean within 7 days of them mailing the affidavit to me? They said they'll send it via UPS, so I'm just wondering if 7 days is the total amount of time for it to get to me, and for me to send it back.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
When I entered, it wasn't required to enter your mailing address. I got an email saying I was selected as a potential Grand Prize winner, but in order to receive my prize I have to sign the affidavit. It says to email back with my mailing address and they will send it out. I found the official rules, and they state:
"The winner ... will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and liability release within 7 days of notification or prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to another winner..."
Do you think they mean within 7 days of them mailing the affidavit to me? They said they'll send it via UPS, so I'm just wondering if 7 days is the total amount of time for it to get to me, and for me to send it back.