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Sears Discounts, Deals and Coupon Codes

Contests & Sweepstakes Tips, Advice, and Questions

58,150 56,135 June 2, 2008 at 07:50 PM in Other (6) Get Sears coupons Coupons
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Last Edited by BostonGirl March 8, 2015 at 07:18 AM
+89 Deal Score
2,132,221 Views
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.
Good Deal?

Community Wiki

Last Edited by JD123 November 1, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Before we had this thread, limpstar posted this site for info on sweeps & taxes in the I Won Thread:
All About Sweepstakes Taxes
http://contests.about.com/od/taxe...gtaxes.htm

Also consider talking to your tax preparer and/or researching further into your tax responsibility.


I have found this page helpful in understanding some of sweep's law - a sweeps law co.'s site:
The Lustigman Firm; Attorneys at Law
http://www.sweepstakeslaw.com/
The Lustigman Firm provides experienced legal counsel that helps protect the business interests
of its advertising and promotional clients around the United States and Canada

What does " age of majority in your state or province " mean?

(sometimes abbreviated as AoM+ )

it's the legal age of that state or province...

The Age of majority is the threshold of adulthood as it is conceptualized in law. It is the chronological moment when children legally assume majority control over their persons and their actions and decisions, thereby terminating the legal control and legal responsibilities of their parents over and for them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_majority

there's a list by country and by US State there....

For most purposes, the age of majority in the U.S. is 18,
except for 2 states with the age of 19 (Nebraska,Alabama)
and one state with the age of 21 (Mississippi)
and two (American Samoa and Puerto Rico) that retain 14 as the age of majority.
Occasionally PA is listed under the 19+ or 21+

~javaFlower

Regarding missing prizes
If you were expecting a prize you've never received you can complain 1st to the sweepstakes administrator, then to the sweepstakes sponsor and finally to USPS Postal Inspectors

https://postalinspectors.uspis.go...laint.aspx

-Kotik


ePrize Contacts
[email protected] - Bob Marsh, Senior Vice President, Midwest Region, Phone: 248.543.7522
[email protected] - Darlene Morris, Business Manager, Phone: 248.543.7403
[email protected] - Alesya Opelt, Vice President, Marketing, Phone: 248.543.7440


Occasionally a....less than ethical sweep will get posted.
You might end up finding unauthorized charges on your phone bill. Unauthorized charges on the phone bill are what's called "Cramming". Once you contact the company that's charging you, and you have requested your phone company remove the charge, if you so choose, you can file a complaint with the FCC.

FCC Online complaint form: esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

You can also file your complaint with the FCC's Consumer Center by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY

You can fax your complaint to 1-866-418-0232

Or by snail mail:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554.

I also recommend a 3rd party block on your line to prohibit this from happening. 3rd party blocks don't affect your phone in any way, except by not allowing some company outside of your local phone company from adding charges to your bill.


Slickdealers on Twitter
(I don't really know where is best to start this list, but I decided to just start it here. If anyone thinks we should move it somewhere else, please do so.)

SD name Twitter name
kdka421 k8fenner
Starbelly Lunachique
dodgers77449 michael0902
sanaperv @slicksweepberry
blueeyeleo  
Slickdealers on Facebook
(Hopefully, it is allowed to post this here. If anyone thinks this link should be deleted, please do so.)
You can find the facebook slickdeals sweepers in this group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/310504039006252/

Track incoming packages
UPS
http://www.ups.com/mychoice/
FedEx https://www.fedex.com/login/web/j...n.jsp?TYPE
USPS https://www.usps.com/manage/manage-your-mail.htm




This post can be edited by most users to provide up-to-date information about developments of this thread based on user responses, and user findings. Feel free to add, change or remove information shown here as it becomes available. This includes new coupons, rebates, ideas, thread summary, and similar items.

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This post can be edited by most users to provide up-to-date information about developments of this thread based on user responses, and user findings. Feel free to add, change or remove information shown here as it becomes available. This includes new coupons, rebates, ideas, thread summary, and similar items.

Once a Thread Wiki is added to a thread, "Create Wiki" button will disappear. If you would like to learn more about Thread Wiki feature, click here.

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credmond
05-11-2013 at 08:39 AM.
05-11-2013 at 08:39 AM.
Quote from countyline :
Did you try the live help? I was having problems registering and got live help to get it done.
Please link me! I was looking for that option on the u.s. site and I can't find it.
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halah2272
05-11-2013 at 12:19 PM.
05-11-2013 at 12:19 PM.
Quote from MLx3 :
MYSTERY SOLVED! My FedEx envelope just arrived...3 days early.

Home Depot
Congratulations! You're a winner in our Ultimate Career Assist contest!

A $25 Home Depot gift card was enclosed with the letter.

Congratulations to us all!
Ditto!
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SpaceCallahan | Staff
05-11-2013 at 04:09 PM.
05-11-2013 at 04:09 PM.
Quote from countyline :
Did you try the live help? I was having problems registering and got live help to get it done.

yes could i get a link as well i cant find it ..
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Last edited by SpaceCallahan | Staff May 11, 2013 at 04:12 PM.
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countyline
05-11-2013 at 05:41 PM.
05-11-2013 at 05:41 PM.
Quote from credmond :
Please link me! I was looking for that option on the u.s. site and I can't find it.
Quote from spooerman :
yes could i get a link as well i cant find it ..
Sorry I can't find it now either. Must only be up weekdays during business hours.
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Last edited by countyline May 11, 2013 at 05:42 PM.
Joined May 2006
Keeper of the Trophy
> bubble2 116,798 Posts
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implode
05-11-2013 at 09:49 PM.
05-11-2013 at 09:49 PM.
is eprize down right now for anyone...having issues redeeming a prize I won from ID.
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dgleeson
05-12-2013 at 09:56 AM.
05-12-2013 at 09:56 AM.
Has MCR changed the IWG's AMOE's recently? Used to be able to get 5 for each game, now seems to be 5 across all (or at least the 2i tried - Mc D's and Powerade)
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Joined May 2006
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implode
05-12-2013 at 12:49 PM.
05-12-2013 at 12:49 PM.
Was wondering what people think of 'Spotify' as a judging agency. I've won a ton of prizes from them, but sadly all 70 prizes are virtual things and not really tangible prizes. Discount codes, virtual coupons, avatars, mp3. etc etc. To me such prizes are simply very frustrating and not useful. Its like an insult to me to award a junk prize. I was wondering if anyone finds virtual prizes or small discounts useful?
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miggy82
05-12-2013 at 01:33 PM.
05-12-2013 at 01:33 PM.
I'm having a problem with some of the Facebook sweeps. I click on submit and then it will show submitting and then it just freezes. If I refresh the page it will show a server error page. Anybody run into that problem and find a way to fix it?
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Joined Sep 2006
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KMA
05-12-2013 at 02:02 PM.
05-12-2013 at 02:02 PM.
Quote from miggy82 :
I'm having a problem with some of the Facebook sweeps. I click on submit and then it will show submitting and then it just freezes. If I refresh the page it will show a server error page. Anybody run into that problem and find a way to fix it?
When that happens I use incognito in Chrome. Works fine.
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Joined Mar 2013
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SweepsterCoach
05-13-2013 at 08:44 AM.
05-13-2013 at 08:44 AM.
Quote from implode :
Was wondering what people think of 'Spotify' as a judging agency. I've won a ton of prizes from them, but sadly all 70 prizes are virtual things and not really tangible prizes. Discount codes, virtual coupons, avatars, mp3. etc etc. To me such prizes are simply very frustrating and not useful. Its like an insult to me to award a junk prize. I was wondering if anyone finds virtual prizes or small discounts useful?
I agree that the virtual prizes are a waste of time - I never redeem them - but I did win a trip to the Grammy nominations concert from a Spotify sweep, so I still enter them!
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rachaelm | Staff
05-13-2013 at 02:17 PM.
05-13-2013 at 02:17 PM.
Quote from MLx3 :
MYSTERY SOLVED! My FedEx envelope just arrived...3 days early.

Home Depot
Congratulations! You're a winner in our Ultimate Career Assist contest!

A $25 Home Depot gift card was enclosed with the letter.

Congratulations to us all!
Yep, got mine Friday too, $25 Home Depot gift card. woot
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Joined Mar 2013
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credmond
05-14-2013 at 09:46 AM.
05-14-2013 at 09:46 AM.
I just want to vent for a sec. So when that dewalt iwg originally started it let everyone win everytime so I figured they'd take it down and the wins would never count. They did indeed take the game down within minutes and to my surprise they're honoring all the wins. Today, I received an email from them asking for my name and address. The person forgot how to use BCC so all 187 people who won have their email addresses exposed. That doesn't really bother me, but it's going to bother me if all people hit reply all! So far only 1 person has, now 187 have her name, address and email address. If any of you won just make sure to not hit Reply all. Wink
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Joined Sep 2006
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KMA
05-14-2013 at 10:07 AM.
05-14-2013 at 10:07 AM.
Quote from credmond :
I just want to vent for a sec. So when that dewalt iwg originally started it let everyone win everytime so I figured they'd take it down and the wins would never count. They did indeed take the game down within minutes and to my surprise they're honoring all the wins. Today, I received an email from them asking for my name and address. The person forgot how to use BCC so all 187 people who won have their email addresses exposed. That doesn't really bother me, but it's going to bother me if all people hit reply all! So far only 1 person has, now 187 have her name, address and email address. If any of you won just make sure to not hit Reply all. Wink
Congrats on the win! I hate that some people refuse to use the BCC option - it drives me NUTS. I see it mostly with old people (my dad) and stupid people (my cousin's wife). The cousin's wife sent out a crazy political email to people, including me. She'd NEVER asked for my address, but when my dad included me in mass emails, everyone on his list got my address. Anywho, some angry recipient decided to curse out my cousin's wife and naturally she hit reply to all. I immediately emailed the cousin's wife, explaining how to use BCC. Not only did she NOT reply, she apparently didn't learn, because she did it again. And yes, the same pissed off recipient hit "reply to all" once more. UGH I considered posting on a public forum, her nasty reply with her signature (she worked at a public school), but it was just a thought.
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Joined May 2006
Keeper of the Trophy
> bubble2 116,798 Posts
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implode
05-14-2013 at 06:15 PM.
05-14-2013 at 06:15 PM.
Anyone else win Guess 14 days of Sexy here:
https://slickdeals.net/f/5835422-GUESS-14-Days-of-Sexy-Sweepstakes-16-2-14-13?v=1

I tried to redeem my $50 GC online as part of a mothers day gift today and it didn't work. I couldn't order her a nice shirt. Needless to say I was left looking kind of bad. VERY frustrating. I tried my code as both a GC and a coupon code and it didn't work. Back of card says 'shopping card is a coupon'??? It also says it expires in DEC of 2013. I'm totally stumped. Wondering if any other winners had issues.
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Joined Jul 2007
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> bubble2 1,998 Posts
fruitdog69
05-15-2013 at 03:55 PM.
05-15-2013 at 03:55 PM.
Quote from implode :
I tried to redeem my $50 GC online as part of a mothers day gift today and it didn't work.
Dollars to donuts it's a $50 off purchase of $100 or more code.
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