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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 11, 2012 01:19 PM
1,258 Posts
Joined Aug 2009
madgejrJun 11, 2012 01:19 PM
1,258 Posts
This question is for Implode or anyone else, I had mentioned that I won the up to $3000 round trip ticket to anywhere and the taxes will be high, but couldn't I easily sent the IRS the ARV of the ticket that I end up using? This was from Bravo, Around the world in 80 plates contest.
Jun 11, 2012 03:46 PM
248 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
theviper21Jun 11, 2012 03:46 PM
248 Posts
So I was playing the TicTac IWG today and got this:

[IMG]http://i48.tinypic.com/ehhrvt.jpg[/IMG]

I thought 4 matching = win? Needless to say, I was a little disappointed.
Jun 11, 2012 04:04 PM
4,441 Posts
Joined Jun 2007
dgleesonJun 11, 2012 04:04 PM
4,441 Posts
Quote from theviper21 :
So I was playing the TicTac IWG today and got this:

[IMG]http://i48.tinypic.com/ehhrvt.jpg[/IMG]

I thought 4 matching = win? Needless to say, I was a little disappointed.
Nope, you need 1 of each flavor for the win. Realized that when i went back and looked after i had 4 reds a few weeks ago.
Jun 11, 2012 04:42 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJun 11, 2012 04:42 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from madgejr :
This question is for Implode or anyone else, I had mentioned that I won the up to $3000 round trip ticket to anywhere and the taxes will be high, but couldn't I easily sent the IRS the ARV of the ticket that I end up using? This was from Bravo, Around the world in 80 plates contest.
You can file paperwork to adjust the amount to fair market value (the actual value). However, filing the paperwork can be a pain depending on your tax situation. Also you need to consider that these types of adjustments can be a red flag in some situations triggering an audit. If you don't use the voucher in the year you won--then you will have to pay taxes on the full amount and adjust them at a later date making it even more complicated.

But lets not get ahead of ourselves here, Bravo may just submit (at your request) the 1099 MISC form for the lesser value if you use it before the end of the year.
Jun 11, 2012 04:44 PM
1,258 Posts
Joined Aug 2009
madgejrJun 11, 2012 04:44 PM
1,258 Posts
Quote from implode :
You can file paperwork to adjust the amount to fair market value (the actual value). However, filing the paperwork can be a pain depending on your tax situation. Also you need to consider that these types of adjustments can be a red flag in some situations triggering an audit. If you don't use the voucher in the year you won--then you will have to pay taxes on the full amount and adjust them at a later date making it even more complicated.

But lets not get ahead of ourselves here, Bravo may just submit (at your request) the 1099 MISC form for the lesser value if you use it before the end of the year.
Okay, Thanks so much, I knew you would have the answer!
Jun 11, 2012 05:10 PM
248 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
theviper21Jun 11, 2012 05:10 PM
248 Posts
Quote from dgleeson :
Nope, you need 1 of each flavor for the win. Realized that when i went back and looked after i had 4 reds a few weeks ago.
Ha, thanks! Makes sense, but seems counter to what most games do.
Jun 12, 2012 12:30 AM
1,258 Posts
Joined Aug 2009
madgejrJun 12, 2012 12:30 AM
1,258 Posts
The contest Administrator from Bravo fill a jet just gave me the official answer "You will be taxed on the actual value which you will need to let me know once you book your tickets so I can adjust your tax forms." Thanks again Implode, this is like what you said.

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Jun 14, 2012 02:32 AM
710 Posts
Joined Mar 2009
sandyalipJun 14, 2012 02:32 AM
710 Posts
Does anyone know if the Good Housekeeping sweeps in July actually mean to give their prizes to the first entrants and not by random drawing? Or is that a mistake?
Jun 14, 2012 03:01 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJun 14, 2012 03:01 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from sandyalip :
Does anyone know if the Good Housekeeping sweeps in July actually mean to give their prizes to the first entrants and not by random drawing? Or is that a mistake?
Pretty sure GH are always a random drawing...
Jun 14, 2012 03:15 AM
1,844 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
JangJun 14, 2012 03:15 AM
1,844 Posts
Quote from implode :
Pretty sure GH are always a random drawing...
I hope so. I saw the "first 100" thing on some of the sweeps as well.
Jun 14, 2012 04:24 AM
95 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
mikemjrJun 14, 2012 04:24 AM
95 Posts
http://slickdeals.net/f/3803848-Starts-2-1-Miller-Lite-Hoops-2012-Sweepstakes-21-4-2-12?
yet?

Never mind, I see the posts on original contest posting
Last edited by mikemjr June 13, 2012 at 09:31 PM.
Jun 14, 2012 06:11 PM
192 Posts
Joined Mar 2009
Cheez01Jun 14, 2012 06:11 PM
192 Posts
How do you stay motivated when just starting out? I can never seem to keep at it for the months it takes for the first wins to roll in. I get discouraged after a few weeks and end up giving up. Rinse and repeat a few months later.
Jun 14, 2012 06:26 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJun 14, 2012 06:26 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from Cheez01 :
How do you stay motivated when just starting out? I can never seem to keep at it for the months it takes for the first wins to roll in. I get discouraged after a few weeks and end up giving up. Rinse and repeat a few months later.
Though its a game of total entries, limit yourself...don't change your normal life to accommodate sweeping. Stay within a set plan. If you are bored, do it while watching TV or something so its somewhat brainless. Its not for everyone.
Jun 14, 2012 06:41 PM
1,844 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
JangJun 14, 2012 06:41 PM
1,844 Posts
Quote from Cheez01 :
How do you stay motivated when just starting out? I can never seem to keep at it for the months it takes for the first wins to roll in. I get discouraged after a few weeks and end up giving up. Rinse and repeat a few months later.
I'd start out with single entry sweepstakes. It takes far less time and it's much easier starting off. If you want to do dailies and instant wins, limit yourself to just a few that you really want or that have a large number of prizes. Even small wins like pens will keep you motivated.

I listen to Youtube stuff in the background...music, reviews, and my favorite, To Catch a Predator. Stick Out Tongue


Edit: Oh yea, I've found it way easier to enter on a laptop or some type portable device. I mostly enter when I'm relaxing in bed, eating, or doing something where I don't have to sit straight up at a desk.
Last edited by Jang June 14, 2012 at 11:43 AM.

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Jun 14, 2012 06:48 PM
248 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
theviper21Jun 14, 2012 06:48 PM
248 Posts
Quote from Cheez01 :
How do you stay motivated when just starting out? I can never seem to keep at it for the months it takes for the first wins to roll in. I get discouraged after a few weeks and end up giving up. Rinse and repeat a few months later.
Strong resolve Smilie. It can be tough at times, but I find the best thing to do is to just enter and forget it. Do the daily IWGs when you get the chance for small instant wins here and there (I sometimes go for weeks without winning anything on these too). Entering contests that have a lot of prizes is usually a good idea because you're more apt to come away with something that contests that have one big prize.

I haven't really won anything +$200 yet and my last win over $50 was a month and 1/2 ago, but entering contests with a lot of prizes and getting small wins can help keep you going.

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