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forum threadFreebiesRGreat posted Jun 03, 2008 02:50 AM
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forum threadFreebiesRGreat posted Jun 03, 2008 02:50 AM

Contests & Sweepstakes Tips, Advice, and Questions

Sears
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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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Nov 08, 2012 10:21 AM
9,879 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
whocares13Nov 08, 2012 10:21 AM
9,879 Posts
I won a vacation but could not travel on the given dates, so they gave me 2 open air tickets and no hotel or other tickets of that prize.

So, when do I need to file tax for this? This year or next year (planning to use it next year)??
Also since this was a part of the prize, how do I know the ARV or FMV of my prize? Do I ask sponsors or search online airfare as of today's date??
Nov 08, 2012 01:57 PM
271 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
dspringfieldNov 08, 2012 01:57 PM
271 Posts
Quote from splattered :
Did SD just change the sweeps type icons? I'm assuming "Entry" is now single entry contests?
That's right. I'm not liking the new icons.
Nov 08, 2012 03:09 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeNov 08, 2012 03:09 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from dspringfield :
That's right. I'm not liking the new icons.
please place category icon complains in this thread:
http://slickdeals.net/f/5453916-Why-are-category-icons-messed-up?v=1

Seems staff here isn't aware of how much they affect this forum.
Nov 09, 2012 04:37 AM
1,018 Posts
Joined Oct 2011
carriec1132Nov 09, 2012 04:37 AM
1,018 Posts
My sweeps facebook acct was froze today because im supposedly spamming. I only have 2 friends-hubby and my regular fb acct. the msg said it would be frozen for 30 days. Will this really take 30 days? How do i prevent it from happening again? Should i just make a new acct?
Nov 09, 2012 04:47 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeNov 09, 2012 04:47 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from carriec1132 :
My sweeps facebook acct was froze today because im supposedly spamming. I only have 2 friends-hubby and my regular fb acct. the msg said it would be frozen for 30 days. Will this really take 30 days? How do i prevent it from happening again? Should i just make a new acct?
1) Are you sure your acct is truly frozen? NOT of scams say that to try and get you to click on links with viruses. Always go directly to Facebook site to make sure that is really the case.

2) Creating multiple facebook accounts is a good way to get banned. Think rules state one per person. I wouldn't do so.
Nov 09, 2012 04:56 AM
43,372 Posts
Joined Mar 2006
DeegeedeegeeNov 09, 2012 04:56 AM
43,372 Posts
Quote from carriec1132 :
My sweeps facebook acct was froze today because im supposedly spamming. I only have 2 friends-hubby and my regular fb acct. the msg said it would be frozen for 30 days. Will this really take 30 days? How do i prevent it from happening again? Should i just make a new acct?

My was froze/blocked the other day, said it could take up to 3 days and it was unfrozen in about 30 minutes. Ive had mine frozen 1 other time (not for sweeping) and it took 2 days.
Nov 09, 2012 06:37 AM
105 Posts
Joined Oct 2012
MOSCHUNONov 09, 2012 06:37 AM
105 Posts
Does anyone know if someone from my household is allowed to enter the same contests that I enter? My MIL is a sweeper and is moving into our mother-daughter apartment but will be using our exact address. Just don't want to DQ eachother from contests if she enters the same ones that I do, and vice versa.
Thanks for your help!

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Nov 09, 2012 09:15 AM
26,018 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
User1144648Nov 09, 2012 09:15 AM
26,018 Posts
Quote from MOSCHUNO :
Does anyone know if someone from my household is allowed to enter the same contests that I enter? My MIL is a sweeper and is moving into our mother-daughter apartment but will be using our exact address. Just don't want to DQ eachother from contests if she enters the same ones that I do, and vice versa.
Thanks for your help!
I depends on the entry limit stated in the rules for each individual sweeps/contest. If the rules limit entry to 1 per household, then, no, you & your MIL won't be able to enter the same ones. If the rules limit entry to 1 per person, or 1 per email address, then you will be able to enter the same ones. Just be very careful & read the rules.
Nov 09, 2012 04:14 PM
248 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
theviper21Nov 09, 2012 04:14 PM
248 Posts
Quote from carriec1132 :
My sweeps facebook acct was froze today because im supposedly spamming. I only have 2 friends-hubby and my regular fb acct. the msg said it would be frozen for 30 days. Will this really take 30 days? How do i prevent it from happening again? Should i just make a new acct?
I have one for sweeping and just logged in today to find out that mine was frozen for 30 days too. I can still log in and use the apps I've already approved, but it won't let me like any new pages. Really annoying, don't know what the deal is with this. Guess I could make a new one too? Hate to miss out on a month's worth of FB sweeps (although I think I've only won one FB sweep in the past six months...).
Nov 09, 2012 05:21 PM
105 Posts
Joined Oct 2012
MOSCHUNONov 09, 2012 05:21 PM
105 Posts
Quote from MLx3 :
I depends on the entry limit stated in the rules for each individual sweeps/contest. If the rules limit entry to 1 per household, then, no, you & your MIL won't be able to enter the same ones. If the rules limit entry to 1 per person, or 1 per email address, then you will be able to enter the same ones. Just be very careful & read the rules.
Thank you for your help!
Nov 10, 2012 02:49 AM
720 Posts
Joined Sep 2008
tunetokyoNov 10, 2012 02:49 AM
720 Posts
Got en email that the subject is "Twizzlers and Amazing Spiderman winning email for Marvel Comics" and the sender is from "/"

I can't open the email so I can't even see what I won (assuming digital comics)?

Anyone get the same email?
Nov 10, 2012 04:34 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeNov 10, 2012 04:34 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from tunetokyo :
Got en email that the subject is "Twizzlers and Amazing Spiderman winning email for Marvel Comics" and the sender is from "/"

I can't open the email so I can't even see what I won (assuming digital comics)?

Anyone get the same email?
I got the same email, with a code for a digital comic...assumed it was legit since from twizzlers and I recall the contest. Gave it to my brother.
Nov 10, 2012 07:12 PM
87 Posts
Joined Jan 2012
dustdivaNov 10, 2012 07:12 PM
87 Posts
Quote from implode :
I got the same email, with a code for a digital comic...assumed it was legit since from twizzlers and I recall the contest. Gave it to my brother.
I got the same email:
Dear XXXXXXXX,

Congratulations, you have won a one-month subscription to Unlimited Marvel Comics in the TWIZZLERS Candy - The Amazing Spider-Man's Twisted Web of Amazing Prizes Promotion.

Your Promo code is: HRS6VENBNSQ

To receive your prize, go to http://marvel.com/digital_comics/unlimited and follow these instructions:
* Under Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited in the dropdown, select 1 month: US $9.99 and click "Subscribe Now"
* In the first box, put in your winning promo code provided above and click "Apply"
* Fill out the remaining required information and click the "Start Your Subscription" button at the bottom.
* Code will expire on 12/31/12.

Thank you for playing!

TWIZZLERS

WTH???? This ended in July. I am guessing no one used the codes, so they are reissuing. Someone that wants it can have this code.
Nov 12, 2012 11:17 PM
1,430 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
mj025Nov 12, 2012 11:17 PM
1,430 Posts
Ok, got a question. I won a Samsung Galaxy Note II, but I can't use it right now. Didn't want to win that prize, so I'm going to have to sell it I guess. I have a choice of which carrier model to pick and was wondering if there was one that would make it easier to resell? Like, Verizon over AT&T, etc? Thanks.

Funny how I win something everyone else wants, but I'd be much more happy with a tv, or camera... Please let me win a camera! lol, that is one thing I really could use...

-MJ

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Nov 13, 2012 03:32 AM
1,122 Posts
Joined Apr 2011
SlickPickSlimNov 13, 2012 03:32 AM
1,122 Posts
Quote from mj025 :
Ok, got a question. I won a Samsung Galaxy Note II, but I can't use it right now. Didn't want to win that prize, so I'm going to have to sell it I guess. I have a choice of which carrier model to pick and was wondering if there was one that would make it easier to resell? Like, Verizon over AT&T, etc? Thanks.

Funny how I win something everyone else wants, but I'd be much more happy with a tv, or camera... Please let me win a camera! lol, that is one thing I really could use...

-MJ
Congrats! I'd go Verizon available 11/27 (AT&T's already available). Thanks for your bookmark system, btw. I've set it up exactly the same way, but for weeklys I begin it with "*Weekly mon", "*Weekly tues", etc so it sorts perfectly though date details following that differ.

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