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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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Aug 21, 2011 09:09 PM
1,844 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
JangAug 21, 2011 09:09 PM
1,844 Posts
Quote from implode :
Hard to say...some grand prizes are smaller prizes like coupons. Some other contests don't even have a grand prize (matter of semantics argument) because they call it something else--first prize, or prizes have no designation.

Think a more meaningful question(s)
How often do you receive a prize over $100? $1,000? $10,000? etc etc

Over 5 years time...over $100 probably 3 dozen times, over $1,000 guessing maybe 10, $10,000 or over 2 times. These are my best guess estimates. Please note, the estimate includes my $10,000+ win in all three categories.

Thanks.Smilie
Aug 21, 2011 10:17 PM
2,176 Posts
Joined Aug 2009
TippsterAug 21, 2011 10:17 PM
2,176 Posts
Quote from Jang :
I have a question just out of curiosity.

For those of you who enter several hundred a day, how often have you won a grand prize?
I don't enter but maybe a hundred a day and it took me 2 years to win a grand prize.
Aug 21, 2011 11:55 PM
1,430 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
mj025Aug 21, 2011 11:55 PM
1,430 Posts
Anyone that wants to watch that High Stakes Sweepers show, it is rerunning on the 3rd and 4th, just came up on my schedule today...

-MJ
Aug 22, 2011 02:45 AM
198 Posts
Joined Jan 2007
matthewf01Aug 22, 2011 02:45 AM
198 Posts
So, I just recently discovered the 'Sweepstakes' subforum and I've been trying for about 2 weeks hoping I see even a hint of the luck you guys seem to be enjoying.

So out of curiosity... for those who have had many wins over their history of entering ONLINE sweepstakes, how many do you enter each day?
Aug 22, 2011 03:03 AM
1,844 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
JangAug 22, 2011 03:03 AM
1,844 Posts
Grats everyone!


Quote from matthewf01 :
So, I just recently discovered the 'Sweepstakes' subforum and I've been trying for about 2 weeks hoping I see even a hint of the luck you guys seem to be enjoying.

So out of curiosity... for those who have had many wins over their history of entering ONLINE sweepstakes, how many do you enter each day?
Welcome!

I enter more than 200 per day right now but that depends mainly on how many daily and instant win contests are active (any given day one can expire and a new one can start). There are those that have much more experience than I do that enter several times as many as I do.

When I stuck to only entering "1 entry" contests, the number was much, much lower. Somewhere in the several dozen range per day.
Aug 22, 2011 03:36 AM
4,935 Posts
Joined May 2006
blueeyeleoAug 22, 2011 03:36 AM
4,935 Posts
Quote from matthewf01 :
So, I just recently discovered the 'Sweepstakes' subforum and I've been trying for about 2 weeks hoping I see even a hint of the luck you guys seem to be enjoying.

So out of curiosity... for those who have had many wins over their history of entering ONLINE sweepstakes, how many do you enter each day?
400 to 500 and a bit more then that on Mondays since I do my weekly sweeps that day
Aug 22, 2011 04:04 AM
4,935 Posts
Joined May 2006
blueeyeleoAug 22, 2011 04:04 AM
4,935 Posts
Quote from mj025 :
Do you really find that many legit ones not covered on SD? Ma foi! Many days I'm swamped as it is...

-MJ
Couldnt really say now but back when I first started using the site yes there was ones that only paid members could see and were never posted here but I mainly use it to save time so I can enter faster and they keep everything organized for me so I dont have to do the favorites on my computer they have them all in separated But since its been so long I dont know now but I use slickdeals for my instant wins. And of course the people here are great also.

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Aug 22, 2011 06:30 AM
720 Posts
Joined Sep 2008
tunetokyoAug 22, 2011 06:30 AM
720 Posts
Quote from mj025 :
Anyone that wants to watch that High Stakes Sweepers show, it is rerunning on the 3rd and 4th, just came up on my schedule today...

-MJ

Ok thanks, anyone see it? Weird that they aren't playing it at least once a day/multiple times a day like most cable channels do when they actually have a new show out.....
Aug 22, 2011 03:06 PM
118,456 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeAug 22, 2011 03:06 PM
118,456 Posts
Quote from tunetokyo :
Ok thanks, anyone see it? Weird that they aren't playing it at least once a day/multiple times a day like most cable channels do when they actually have a new show out.....
I watched, though it was a lot better then if could have been (could have made us out to be hoarders or worse, my expectations going in were that it would be a freak show). Though the show was horribly irresponsible. They filmed over a couple days according to production blog, yet had phone calls and afidavids show up for wins. Numerous wins in the same day. Large prizes show up without any previous notice.

I'm sorry your not gonna wish for a car, then win one. Let alone win 3rd car in a small window. Your not gonna receive multiple prizes in the same day. Odds are you won't get a phone call or affy in that window. Leading me to believe a lot of the show was stages. They reenacted packages, phone calls, affy's. $1,000 checks don't show up without tax work. Also people don't buy products at the store just because they have game pieces. All that somewhat bothered me.

I guess its hard to make such a boring hobby out to be exciting. NOT that high of a win isn't great.
Aug 22, 2011 05:17 PM
720 Posts
Joined Sep 2008
tunetokyoAug 22, 2011 05:17 PM
720 Posts
I'd be happy with ONE car, mine is 16 years old! And I think I do as many as you a day implode for the last 3 years EVERYDAY, and have never won any cash prizes for $10,000+..closest was a trip/spree with an ARV of $9000 and an entertainment center for $5000 ARV...never just straight up cash for more than $1000....$5000-$10000 cash would really help me out getting a new(er) car..welp good luck everyone!
Aug 22, 2011 05:37 PM
1,430 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
mj025Aug 22, 2011 05:37 PM
1,430 Posts
Quote from implode :
For roboform...you have to save the data to create a passcard for the page...on return you
1) Mouseover your name
2) Select Fill or Fill and submit or Edit the passcard.
Am I reading things right, the new Roboform free version would only allow me to have 10 passcards?

I also love how they say, only the lower toolbar is available for Opera but the screenshot shows it up top... Install, and whoops, it is on the bottom... I thought maybe they meant you couldn't stick it above the tabs or something, not that it was going to be at the bottom and covering the default toolbar down there...

-MJ
Aug 22, 2011 10:05 PM
57 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
JMPyahyouknowmeAug 22, 2011 10:05 PM
57 Posts
Whats the best thing you have ever won in a contest?
Aug 22, 2011 10:38 PM
1,158 Posts
Joined Sep 2008
M0nay08Aug 22, 2011 10:38 PM
1,158 Posts
Quote from JMPyahyouknowme :
Whats the best thing you have ever won in a contest?
A VIP trip to Chicago's Lollapalooza earlier this month, two digital cameras,laptop,ipods,etc...
Aug 23, 2011 02:45 AM
1,369 Posts
Joined Sep 2009
pennyroseAug 23, 2011 02:45 AM
1,369 Posts
I used to be able to able to find contests and sweeps that ended on a certain date by going to the search box, but now nothing comes up. Is anyone else having this problem or what to do to find these contests and sweeps? Thanks for any help.

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Aug 23, 2011 10:57 AM
1,485 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
angie2844Aug 23, 2011 10:57 AM
1,485 Posts
Quote from JMPyahyouknowme :
Whats the best thing you have ever won in a contest?
$3000 Cash from Reader's Digest about 3 Years agoYahoo!

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