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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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May 06, 2012 02:30 AM
710 Posts
Joined Mar 2009
sandyalipMay 06, 2012 02:30 AM
710 Posts
Quote from implode :
what the heck facebook, my account is temporary unavailable?
Did you get your facebook account working again? A few weeks ago I couldn't use mine. I think because I had 2. So I deleted one. And after going back and forth with facebook, I was able to use my account again.
May 06, 2012 03:07 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeMay 06, 2012 03:07 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from sandyalip :
Did you get your facebook account working again? A few weeks ago I couldn't use mine. I think because I had 2. So I deleted one. And after going back and forth with facebook, I was able to use my account again.
Was like a 15 min FB outage. annoying but nothing major.
May 08, 2012 11:58 PM
1,018 Posts
Joined Oct 2011
carriec1132May 08, 2012 11:58 PM
1,018 Posts
Quote from maxximilian :
Thanks for the help. Smilie
Sorry a lil late but you can put it on a serve card if you have it. serve is by american express. that way you can use it anywhere. plus they dont charge you a fee to transfer. this is how i did it for myself and my.husband.
May 09, 2012 12:27 AM
8,863 Posts
Joined Aug 2010
crazeeceeMay 09, 2012 12:27 AM
8,863 Posts
Quote from carriec1132 :
Sorry a lil late but you can put it on a serve card if you have it. serve is by american express. that way you can use it anywhere. plus they dont charge you a fee to transfer. this is how i did it for myself and my.husband.
hmmm... that's an interesting idea... i did sign up for serve for all those bonuses... but since then, i just forgot abt it...

Edit: So, I guess gift cards are loaded as credit cards??? (I see that serve has waived load fee for credit cards till June 1, 2012)
May 09, 2012 02:39 AM
1,018 Posts
Joined Oct 2011
carriec1132May 09, 2012 02:39 AM
1,018 Posts
Quote from crazee_an :
hmmm... that's an interesting idea... i did sign up for serve for all those bonuses... but since then, i just forgot abt it...

Edit: So, I guess gift cards are loaded as credit cards??? (I see that serve has waived load fee for credit cards till June 1, 2012)
it depends. the camel cards are considered debit cards. i usually try debit first w prepaid cards and itll tell you if its credit to use the credit field. once you enter all the info the money is available immediately.

edit-also i have never had to pay a fee from original card or transferring (theres a pop up box telling you your bank may impose a fee).
Last edited by carriec1132 May 8, 2012 at 07:43 PM.
May 09, 2012 03:16 AM
561 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
maxximilianMay 09, 2012 03:16 AM
561 Posts
Quote from carriec1132 :
Sorry a lil late but you can put it on a serve card if you have it. serve is by american express. that way you can use it anywhere. plus they dont charge you a fee to transfer. this is how i did it for myself and my.husband.
Thanks....but for only $25, I will keep it simple and just go over to Amazon and buy cat food or something. Something to keep in mind if I win a larger prize in that same vein, though.
May 09, 2012 03:36 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeMay 09, 2012 03:36 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from maxximilian :
Thanks....but for only $25, I will keep it simple and just go over to Amazon and buy cat food or something. Something to keep in mind if I win a larger prize in that same vein, though.
Amazon GC, send it to yourself and have a nice reserve balance for future purchases...thats what I always to to get last .32 or whatever balance off stubborn prepaid cards.

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May 09, 2012 04:04 AM
561 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
maxximilianMay 09, 2012 04:04 AM
561 Posts
Quote from implode :
Amazon GC, send it to yourself and have a nice reserve balance for future purchases...thats what I always to to get last .32 or whatever balance off stubborn prepaid cards.
Neat trick....thanks....
May 09, 2012 02:22 PM
480 Posts
Joined Aug 2009
soccerdude21490May 09, 2012 02:22 PM
480 Posts
Are there any sweepstakes that are active to enter My Coke Reward points? I know people say they stockpile them and enter them at certain times, but I can't find any sweepstakes when its best to enter just plain coke codes, I saw some for Coke Zero or Cherry Coke, but no regular coke...
May 09, 2012 02:35 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeMay 09, 2012 02:35 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from soccerdude21490 :
Are there any sweepstakes that are active to enter My Coke Reward points? I know people say they stockpile them and enter them at certain times, but I can't find any sweepstakes when its best to enter just plain coke codes, I saw some for Coke Zero or Cherry Coke, but no regular coke...
To be honest, I only enter by free play method (AMOE). I much prefer tangible rewards My theory is this--why pay to play? Many other contests on web have similarly bad odds and are FREE to enter.
May 09, 2012 05:42 PM
190 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
salion3May 09, 2012 05:42 PM
190 Posts
Quote from implode :
Amazon GC, send it to yourself and have a nice reserve balance for future purchases...thats what I always to to get last .32 or whatever balance off stubborn prepaid cards.
Thanks implode! Very useful advice. I have close to $3 left on one I've been needing to use.
May 09, 2012 07:39 PM
135 Posts
Joined Apr 2012
ReloadedMay 09, 2012 07:39 PM
135 Posts
Quote from implode :
Amazon GC, send it to yourself and have a nice reserve balance for future purchases...thats what I always to to get last .32 or whatever balance off stubborn prepaid cards.
Yeah, thanks for the tip Implode on the Amazon gc! I can finally get rid of the last few bucks left on my Visa gc. Can't rep you yet though.
May 09, 2012 08:24 PM
284 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
casinobirdMay 09, 2012 08:24 PM
284 Posts
I am new to Twitter but an old pro for winning radio contests..any group or forum here to exchange tipsnod
May 09, 2012 08:51 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeMay 09, 2012 08:51 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from casinobird :
I am new to Twitter but an old pro for winning radio contests..any group or forum here to exchange tipsnod
You can use the top search categories (above a thread to search by that domain)...including twitter. Though sub forums don't exist amongst contest pages.

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May 10, 2012 05:46 AM
4,218 Posts
Joined Aug 2009
figarotiggerMay 10, 2012 05:46 AM
4,218 Posts
I just received a MyChoice alert from UPS for a package from HELGESON ENTERPRISES. I searched them and see that they are a Sweepstakes fulfillment company (among other business'). Has anyone else received anything from them?
Thank-you and

Good Luck to all!

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