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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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Feb 15, 2013 09:06 PM
5,164 Posts
Joined Sep 2012
robonero954Feb 15, 2013 09:06 PM
5,164 Posts
I won the Embassy Suites 366 more sweep. How does this work exactly?
Feb 15, 2013 09:10 PM
962 Posts
Joined Jan 2010
GoogleMeBihFeb 15, 2013 09:10 PM
962 Posts
Quote from Sweepaholic :
I never recieved a 1099 from one of my Disney trips but I made sure to add it on my taxes anyways.

I also did not receive a 1099 for a november trip win... none of the costs associated are even known to me so what do I do? Actually, the people never even got signed or notarized paperwork from me either or even made me fill out a taxable prize form before going or even until now? what should I do? I keep trying to ask the prize company but they dont know and anheuser busch apparently has not been in touch with them on it.
Feb 15, 2013 11:38 PM
5,164 Posts
Joined Sep 2012
robonero954Feb 15, 2013 11:38 PM
5,164 Posts
Help! After entering this(Embassy Suites 366 more sweep ) for a year I finally won. But it does not allow me to claim in any browser
Feb 15, 2013 11:58 PM
5,152 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
SweepaholicFeb 15, 2013 11:58 PM
5,152 Posts
Quote from robonero954 :
Help! After entering this(Embassy Suites 366 more sweep ) for a year I finally won. But it does not allow me to claim in any browser
take a screen shot before you close your browser
Feb 16, 2013 12:08 AM
5,164 Posts
Joined Sep 2012
robonero954Feb 16, 2013 12:08 AM
5,164 Posts
Quote from Sweepaholic :
take a screen shot before you close your browser
well I got and e-mail. It has a button to claim now (valid for 2 weeks). In chrome I get a blank page, in Firefox it says it is an untrusted connection, in IE9 it says it has to be opened in a new window and then "error"Frown
Feb 16, 2013 12:10 AM
5,152 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
SweepaholicFeb 16, 2013 12:10 AM
5,152 Posts
Quote from robonero954 :
well I got and e-mail. It has a button to claim now (valid for 2 weeks). In chrome I get a blank page, in Firefox it says it is an untrusted connection, in IE9 it says it has to be opened in a new window and then "error"Frown
Guess you have to contact the administrators of the sweep and let them know?
Feb 16, 2013 12:11 AM
5,164 Posts
Joined Sep 2012
robonero954Feb 16, 2013 12:11 AM
5,164 Posts
Quote from Sweepaholic :
Guess you have to contact the administrators of the sweep and let them know?
Do you have their e-mail address? I sent them a tweet via twitter but they haven't replied.

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Feb 16, 2013 12:15 AM
5,152 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
SweepaholicFeb 16, 2013 12:15 AM
5,152 Posts
No I dont but someone just posted on facebook they are having the same problem as you so its not an isolated incident.
They said they called customer service and they told them to post on their facebook page and someone would help them. So..post on their facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/EmbassySuitesHotels
Feb 16, 2013 02:33 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeFeb 16, 2013 02:33 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from ImaRudeBoy :
I also did not receive a 1099 for a november trip win... none of the costs associated are even known to me so what do I do? Actually, the people never even got signed or notarized paperwork from me either or even made me fill out a taxable prize form before going or even until now? what should I do? I keep trying to ask the prize company but they dont know and anheuser busch apparently has not been in touch with them on it.
You file 1099 msc form with an itemized entry for the rules value of the prize...then file an adjusted return later, if you get paperwork saying the value is different. Keep in mind if underpay, you can expect penalties--much better to be honest about this.
Feb 16, 2013 03:16 AM
962 Posts
Joined Jan 2010
GoogleMeBihFeb 16, 2013 03:16 AM
962 Posts
Quote from implode :
You file 1099 msc form with an itemized entry for the rules value of the prize...then file an adjusted return later, if you get paperwork saying the value is different. Keep in mind if underpay, you can expect penalties--much better to be honest about this.
Here is the problem... The contest I won was through text.. i had no idea what the grand prize was.. not in the least. it was an in store display and I dont know the name of the promo and was never able to find details of the promo when I was declared winner 6 months later.. Now the prize company has begun ignoring me because ive pushed about getting an arv on the trip..
----------------------------------------------------
Subject: RE: Fwd: tax help

I will check with Anheuser-Busch. Any tax information should come from them.

Did they request a W9 from you? If you haven't filled one out, please go ahead and do so (attached), just in case, and date it for the trip. 11/27/12, or so.

-----------------------------------------------------
I have not heard from Anheuser-Busch.

Was the value of your prize listed on any of the items you received? I would imagine it would have been on your tickets/giftcard/itinerary, but I cannot advise on tax matters.
--------------------------------
Since then never another response.
Feb 16, 2013 04:26 AM
5,152 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
SweepaholicFeb 16, 2013 04:26 AM
5,152 Posts
Quote from ImaRudeBoy :
I also did not receive a 1099 for a november trip win... none of the costs associated are even known to me so what do I do? Actually, the people never even got signed or notarized paperwork from me either or even made me fill out a taxable prize form before going or even until now? what should I do? I keep trying to ask the prize company but they dont know and anheuser busch apparently has not been in touch with them on it.
What an unorganized unprofessional bunch they are!
Feb 16, 2013 04:40 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeFeb 16, 2013 04:40 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from ImaRudeBoy :
Here is the problem... The contest I won was through text.. i had no idea what the grand prize was.. not in the least. it was an in store display and I dont know the name of the promo and was never able to find details of the promo when I was declared winner 6 months later.. Now the prize company has begun ignoring me because ive pushed about getting an arv on the trip..
----------------------------------------------------
Subject: RE: Fwd: tax help

I will check with Anheuser-Busch. Any tax information should come from them.

Did they request a W9 from you? If you haven't filled one out, please go ahead and do so (attached), just in case, and date it for the trip. 11/27/12, or so.

-----------------------------------------------------
I have not heard from Anheuser-Busch.

Was the value of your prize listed on any of the items you received? I would imagine it would have been on your tickets/giftcard/itinerary, but I cannot advise on tax matters.
--------------------------------
Since then never another response.
Maybe contact http://www.fpmglobal.com/, they run much of Budweiser promotions...I was in contact with them when I needed more info on a trip I won.
Feb 16, 2013 09:10 AM
9,879 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
whocares13Feb 16, 2013 09:10 AM
9,879 Posts
I have a concern and hopefully someone could answer it. Last year, around Dec 25 I won a $1000 gift card. I submitted affidavit and received an email on Jan 2, 2013 telling me that they have received my documents and I am a confirmed winner. Now, I have neither received prize nor 1099 form by now. I don't know when to file tax for this prize. What should I do?
Feb 16, 2013 10:07 AM
1,268 Posts
Joined Dec 2008
melan26Feb 16, 2013 10:07 AM
1,268 Posts
Quote from whocares13 :
I have a concern and hopefully someone could answer it. Last year, around Dec 25 I won a $1000 gift card. I submitted affidavit and received an email on Jan 2, 2013 telling me that they have received my documents and I am a confirmed winner. Now, I have neither received prize nor 1099 form by now. I don't know when to file tax for this prize. What should I do?
The tax year that you'll file is the year you receive your prize. Since you haven't received it yet, it will not be for the year 2012. Congrats!

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Feb 16, 2013 11:39 AM
1,216 Posts
Joined Jul 2010
halah2272Feb 16, 2013 11:39 AM
1,216 Posts
Quote from a3005 :
Hi, newbie here. I would like to know which is the best place to look for blog giveaways. Are they listed heron SD? I see a lot of ppl speaking about small blog giveaways and higher chances of winning, unable to figure out where.
I enter some blog giveaways you can follow me on Twitter if you like ..a lot of my tweets are links to current blog contests (you get additional entries for tweeting them) @happyenchilada2

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