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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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Jan 02, 2013 02:51 AM
3,550 Posts
Joined Nov 2010
wickedsgrl23Jan 02, 2013 02:51 AM
3,550 Posts
Quote from implode :
Address change at post office would help a lot with wins by regular mail, system works well. However, its limitations are with secondary providers such as Fed Ex, UPS, DHL, etc etc--those curriers may not catch on and as of me writing this I don't know what they have in place to do rerouting. When it comes down to faith in others, you just can't trust people to be honest with you.

UPS delievered a Micro Chanielle Robe I won one day. I was all psyched up, at it was a $75 prize. Tracking said delivered. Check my porch. Nothing! Check neighbor across the street and porches of nearbye houses--nothing. Turns out neighbor on other side of the street with same street # had gotten it. They signed for the package, even though it was under my name. Took me knocking on the door and asking for them to return it to me. The box was already opened, and it was correctly addressed to me. Creepy mother you know what was gonna steal it had I not knocked on his door. So if someone is willing to steal an item I know is going to be delivered, how would someone feel about taking something I (you) don't know about?

I don't think I would stop entering if I was you...I would however adjust my expectations to maybe not receiving the item. Remember 1) Most big prizes, they will need to verify your info. 2) Most decent prizes have tracking info (sometimes indirectly through myUPS). 3) The person moving in will likely be awesome and nice. I guess what I'm saying is don't spend your life worrying about 'what if'.

Thanks, Implode, for the response. Definitely helped. I will keep entering! nod
Jan 02, 2013 12:44 PM
3,843 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
katieryszJan 02, 2013 12:44 PM
3,843 Posts
Hi everybody! I got a package notification from UPS that's delivering something tomorrow from GANNON GRAPHICS. Anyone know what that might be? I don't want to wait around all day on my day off if it's nothing big.
Jan 02, 2013 02:16 PM
208 Posts
Joined May 2009
empyreanJan 02, 2013 02:16 PM
208 Posts
Quote from katierysz :
Hi everybody! I got a package notification from UPS that's delivering something tomorrow from GANNON GRAPHICS. Anyone know what that might be? I don't want to wait around all day on my day off if it's nothing big.
Just searched the winner's thread and someone said that a Gannon Graphics package they received came from "Bright Smiles Bright Futures (Colgate)"? Did you enter anything like that? If so, it may be that...? Confused
Jan 02, 2013 02:39 PM
3,843 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
katieryszJan 02, 2013 02:39 PM
3,843 Posts
Yup, that sounds about right! Thank you, empyrean! Smilie
Jan 02, 2013 07:36 PM
561 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
maxximilianJan 02, 2013 07:36 PM
561 Posts
Haven't seen any Slickdeals giveaways for awhile. Is the party over?
Jan 02, 2013 07:46 PM
350 Posts
Joined Feb 2010
flmom08Jan 02, 2013 07:46 PM
350 Posts
did anyone see the preview for a show on the OWN network tonight at 10pm about extreme sweepers? one lady spends 12 hours a day entering!!
Jan 02, 2013 07:50 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJan 02, 2013 07:50 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from maxximilian :
Haven't seen any Slickdeals giveaways for awhile. Is the party over?
I really wonder whats going on, think they make SD more enjoyable...wonder if this was a byproduct of some of the xmas/thanks giving time giveaways where they had one every hour.

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Jan 02, 2013 08:53 PM
6,323 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
KMAJan 02, 2013 08:53 PM
6,323 Posts
Quote from flmom08 :
did anyone see the preview for a show on the OWN network tonight at 10pm about extreme sweepers? one lady spends 12 hours a day entering!!
I did not authorize them to use my info! Stick Out Tongue

Seriously, I do more than that, but it's because my computer is slow (new one is ready whenever I can go get it). I load tabs (not many at a time) then do chores, etc., so it's not 12+ hours sitting - probably 4 hours sitting (I'll know once I get my new pc). laugh out loud
Jan 02, 2013 09:28 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJan 02, 2013 09:28 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from KMA :
I did not authorize them to use my info! Stick Out Tongue

Seriously, I do more than that, but it's because my computer is slow (new one is ready whenever I can go get it). I load tabs (not many at a time) then do chores, etc., so it's not 12+ hours sitting - probably 4 hours sitting (I'll know once I get my new pc). laugh out loud
So happy for new year...went from 18 pages (with ignored threads entirely used) of dailies down to 12. At the end of the year it was taking me 3.5 hours. Think I've cut an hour off that time. End of the year is always a relief in the extra time I get back.

Really not sure how anyone can enter 12 hours a day...you are organized and selective that shouldn't be the case.
Jan 03, 2013 01:26 AM
560 Posts
Joined Sep 2012
stevemzJan 03, 2013 01:26 AM
560 Posts
I won a big prize, sent in the affidavit which they received last Wednesday and I still haven't heard back. What is the normal turnaround time on something like this?
Jan 03, 2013 01:57 AM
1,025 Posts
Joined Mar 2007
doglover1Jan 03, 2013 01:57 AM
1,025 Posts
Quote from flmom08 :
did anyone see the preview for a show on the OWN network tonight at 10pm about extreme sweepers? one lady spends 12 hours a day entering!!
Yes, I'll be watching this tonight.
Jan 03, 2013 04:49 AM
1,149 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
bhaines23Jan 03, 2013 04:49 AM
1,149 Posts
I won this trip here last year and took the trip around May. The ARV on the rules form is stated at $4999.

Today, I recieved a 1099 in the mail regarding this trip and they have the value at $11000!?!? OMG

I'm going to contact the sweepstakes person that I have to see what they can do about it. Is there anything else I should do? I really don't want to pay more than twice as much in taxes than I was expecting.
Jan 03, 2013 05:01 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJan 03, 2013 05:01 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from bhaines23 :
I won this trip here last year and took the trip around May. The ARV on the rules form is stated at $4999.

Today, I recieved a 1099 in the mail regarding this trip and they have the value at $11000!?!? OMG

I'm going to contact the sweepstakes person that I have to see what they can do about it. Is there anything else I should do? I really don't want to pay more than twice as much in taxes than I was expecting.
I hope its a mistake...you should start getting the totals together to dispute it if necessary.
Jan 03, 2013 07:40 AM
6,323 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
KMAJan 03, 2013 07:40 AM
6,323 Posts
I posted this in Contest & Sweepstakes Forum Guide thread, but since it doesn't have much activity I wanted to post that link here http://slickdeals.net/forums/newreply.php?do=postreply&t=519687 Please take a look and give me your opinions. Thanks.

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Jan 03, 2013 04:16 PM
1,149 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
bhaines23Jan 03, 2013 04:16 PM
1,149 Posts
Quote from implode :
I hope its a mistake...you should start getting the totals together to dispute it if necessary.
I contacted the company and they are sending out a corrected 1099. Thankfully it was a mistake.

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