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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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Jun 05, 2012 05:30 PM
200 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
wc0904Jun 05, 2012 05:30 PM
200 Posts
Got a UPS My Choice notice for a 4lb package from Phoenix Lithographic. I'm out of town so I had to hold it for will call. Any ideas as to what it is? As far as I know it isn't fulfillment for a prize I already know about but who knows.
Jun 05, 2012 08:50 PM
1,704 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
CindaddyJun 05, 2012 08:50 PM
1,704 Posts
Quote from mynameskatie :
Got a UPS My Choice notice for a 4lb package from Phoenix Lithographic. I'm out of town so I had to hold it for will call. Any ideas as to what it is? As far as I know it isn't fulfillment for a prize I already know about but who knows.

Hmm...There is a current sweeps with them. They were drawing for Apple devices, but they weren't supposed to draw until the 15th. Might have done it early since the entry period closed May 31st. Or it could be unrelated. Good Luck!
Jun 05, 2012 08:51 PM
1,835 Posts
Joined Nov 2004
Vig2000Jun 05, 2012 08:51 PM
1,835 Posts
Does anyone have any infomation or experience using prizepeople.com's robot to fill out contests/sweepstakes? According to their FAQs:

Quote :
Will I be disqualified for using auto-entry?
No. PrizePeople's "human touch" sweepstakes robot places your entries in the human way. It is impossible for the sponsors to know that the entry has been made by a robot. Therefore publishers will not know that entries are made by PrizePeople. All sweepstakes are entered according to the listed rules.
Or so they claim. Can anyone verify if this is true or not?
Last edited by Vig2000 June 5, 2012 at 01:53 PM.
Jun 05, 2012 08:53 PM
200 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
wc0904Jun 05, 2012 08:53 PM
200 Posts
Quote from Cindaddy :
Hmm...There is a current sweeps with them. They were drawing for Apple devices, but they weren't supposed to draw until the 15th. Might have done it early since the entry period closed May 31st. Or it could be unrelated. Good Luck!
Oooh...I won't get my hopes up but that would be pretty fantastic.
Jun 05, 2012 09:01 PM
1,704 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
CindaddyJun 05, 2012 09:01 PM
1,704 Posts
Quote from Vig2000 :
Does anyone have any infomation or experience using prizepeople.com's robot to fill out contests/sweepstakes? According to their FAQs:



Or so they claim. Can anyone verify if this is true or not?
No way to know without knowing more about their methods. They can probably fill out the forms, but there are othe issues like IP addresses. In addition, they are definitely violating the sweeps rules in most cases.
Jun 05, 2012 09:04 PM
1,835 Posts
Joined Nov 2004
Vig2000Jun 05, 2012 09:04 PM
1,835 Posts
Quote from Cindaddy :
No way to know without knowing more about their methods. They can probably fill out the forms, but there are othe issues like IP addresses. In addition, they are definitely violating the sweeps rules in most cases.
Hmm, that's true. I think I'll stay away then.
Jun 05, 2012 09:13 PM
1,704 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
CindaddyJun 05, 2012 09:13 PM
1,704 Posts
Quote from Vig2000 :
Hmm, that's true. I think I'll stay away then.
Stay far away. Read the reviews here: http://www.webutation.net/go/revi...eople.com#

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Jun 05, 2012 09:17 PM
1,835 Posts
Joined Nov 2004
Vig2000Jun 05, 2012 09:17 PM
1,835 Posts
Quote from Cindaddy :
Stay far away. Read the reviews here: http://www.webutation.net/go/revi...eople.com#
Thanks. A cliche, but cliches are often true: If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Jun 05, 2012 11:10 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJun 05, 2012 11:10 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from Vig2000 :
Does anyone have any infomation or experience using prizepeople.com's robot to fill out contests/sweepstakes? According to their FAQs:

Or so they claim. Can anyone verify if this is true or not?
I would assume several detection methods would render you blacklisted without you even knowing...
Jun 06, 2012 02:05 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJun 06, 2012 02:05 PM
118,455 Posts
Use your gift cards you win ASAP, I just had a miserable experience. Tried to place an order at spencers with $100 GC I won. Try it, website keeps not allowing it. Learn the gift card expired when calling hotline 60 days of receiving it they reversed the credit. Person I talked to on customer service line was unapologetic, when I explained under Missouri law gift cards can't expire. But she would contact the social media team.

I don't know how this is going to end, but it is disturbing no where in the rules was that mentioned.
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QA
Jun 06, 2012 02:25 PM
3,567 Posts
Joined Feb 2009
rachaelm
Pro
QA
Jun 06, 2012 02:25 PM
3,567 Posts
Quote from implode :
Use your gift cards you win ASAP, I just had a miserable experience. Tried to place an order at spencers with $100 GC I won. Try it, website keeps not allowing it. Learn the gift card expired when calling hotline 60 days of receiving it they reversed the credit. Person I talked to on customer service line was unapologetic, when I explained under Missouri law gift cards can't expire. But she would contact the social media team.

I don't know how this is going to end, but it is disturbing no where in the rules was that mentioned.
Wow, 60 days is not long. I hope they make it right for you.

I know how frustrating it is though, I let a camel gift card expire. I didn't realize it expired so quickly. Still makes me mad. Mad
Jun 06, 2012 02:32 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJun 06, 2012 02:32 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from rachaelm :
Wow, 60 days is not long. I hope they make it right for you.

I know how frustrating it is though, I let a camel gift card expire. I didn't realize it expired so quickly. Still makes me mad. Mad
Follow up: Got a call back (within 30 mins of my email--FAST!!!). They will be reissuing the card. The new card however will have the 60 day limit on it.
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QA
Jun 06, 2012 02:34 PM
3,567 Posts
Joined Feb 2009
rachaelm
Pro
QA
Jun 06, 2012 02:34 PM
3,567 Posts
Quote from implode :
Follow up: Got a call back (within 30 mins of my email--FAST!!!). They will be reissuing the card. The new card however will have the 60 day limit on it.
Yay for actual customer service. Now quick, spend it LMAO
Jun 06, 2012 02:37 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJun 06, 2012 02:37 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from rachaelm :
Yay for actual customer service. Now quick, spend it LMAO
I will get a vib...erm massager, tapout shirt, nipple ring, and cookie monster hat. laugh out loud EEK! NO, not really. The possibilities are endless. nod

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Jun 06, 2012 07:56 PM
15 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
purplekittyJun 06, 2012 07:56 PM
15 Posts
Quote from mynameskatie :
Got a UPS My Choice notice for a 4lb package from Phoenix Lithographic. I'm out of town so I had to hold it for will call. Any ideas as to what it is? As far as I know it isn't fulfillment for a prize I already know about but who knows.
Are you a member of Crowdtap? I just received a 4lb package today from Phoenix Lithographic for the America's Next Top Wooliteer from Crowdtap.

Party Kit Items

1 Woolite® Swag Bag packed with:
-1 America's Next Top Wooliteer Sampling Party Booklet
-3 dry erase boards
-Dry erase markers
-1 set of Woolite® Great Denim Survey trivia cards
-10 Woolite® Extra Dark samples for you and your guests

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