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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 20, 2013 02:10 AM
1,420 Posts
Joined Jun 2008
jmolea01Jun 20, 2013 02:10 AM
1,420 Posts
Quote from implode :
No email from them, but tried registering it again...what do you know, it worked. 2 hours of hounding Camel I will never get back. But perhaps the coupons they are sending me will make up for it Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)

Edit: As typing this up they sent me the email.

Hearing your stories makes me feel better... I got the $50 camel win on Monday night (yay!) and then I got the same error/expired code message as you and crazeecee (boo!) I emailed them as soon as it happened so I'm hoping my case will get resolved too... thanks for updating! :-)
Jun 20, 2013 04:43 AM
218 Posts
Joined Feb 2013
rich_65Jun 20, 2013 04:43 AM
218 Posts
Quote from implode :
Was unaware of just how much effort was involved in Chkdsk mode...someone suggested that. So far over an hour in...it's checking 80 files at a time,out of 1.33m files. Projected to complete step 4 at 11:00pm. Not sure how lengthy step 5 is...feel lie I'm being plunked, but I guess it's only way to know what's going on with HD acting like its failing, hello infinite boredom.
It doesn't sound like your drive is going bad and it's probably nothing too serious.

svchost at 100% cpu sounds like malware or a background service is having problems.

It's a fairly common problem so you'll find plenty of info, just google your OS followed by "svchost 100% cpu"
Pro
QA
Jun 20, 2013 01:49 PM
3,567 Posts
Joined Feb 2009
rachaelm
Pro
QA
Jun 20, 2013 01:49 PM
3,567 Posts
Quote from SweepsterCoach :
Anyone have any favorite places to win books? I have used Goodreads and Read It Forward, but am wondering if there are any others out there that offer frequent sweeps?
I've won books from Tor.com as well as Simon & Schuster. I'm a member of ALL of the book websites laugh out loud

I love free books!
Jun 22, 2013 05:47 PM
1,430 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
mj025Jun 22, 2013 05:47 PM
1,430 Posts
I'm sure this has been covered before, but not sure what to search for exactly. Why aren't giveaways that require cable subscriptions and other subscriptions subject to the gambling laws? They seem to be just about the only ones that don't require a no purchase clause.

-MJ
Jun 23, 2013 11:53 PM
6,323 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
KMAJun 23, 2013 11:53 PM
6,323 Posts
I'm unable to scratch off on the Toys R Us IWG; is there a trick when using Windows 8? I've held down the CTRL key, as well as the Shift key, while I scratched with the mouse, but it didn't help.
Jun 24, 2013 12:07 AM
1,844 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
JangJun 24, 2013 12:07 AM
1,844 Posts
Quote from KMA :
I'm unable to scratch off on the Toys R Us IWG; is there a trick when using Windows 8? I've held down the CTRL key, as well as the Shift key, while I scratched with the mouse, but it didn't help.
I'd just try another browser. I already entered today so I can't test it yet but is there a button that scratches it off for you or do you have to do it yourself? Sorry if that's a stupid question. I can't remember how I did it.
Jun 24, 2013 12:33 AM
6,323 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
KMAJun 24, 2013 12:33 AM
6,323 Posts
Quote from Jang :
I'd just try another browser. I already entered today so I can't test it yet but is there a button that scratches it off for you or do you have to do it yourself? Sorry if that's a stupid question. I can't remember how I did it.
You have to scratch while holding down the mouse. My computer doesn't like Firefox, so I was using Chrome. I'll try it with Firefox on the other computer, but I'd really like a fix for this one.

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Jun 24, 2013 12:44 AM
1,844 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
JangJun 24, 2013 12:44 AM
1,844 Posts
Quote from KMA :
You have to scratch while holding down the mouse. My computer doesn't like Firefox, so I was using Chrome. I'll try it with Firefox on the other computer, but I'd really like a fix for this one.
Has this particular sweepstakes worked for you before? If it has, it might be a cookie issue.
Jun 24, 2013 01:03 AM
6,323 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
KMAJun 24, 2013 01:03 AM
6,323 Posts
Quote from Jang :
Has this particular sweepstakes worked for you before? If it has, it might be a cookie issue.
This was my first time entering.
Jun 25, 2013 09:15 AM
1 Posts
Joined Jun 2013
dadeethemesJun 25, 2013 09:15 AM
1 Posts
These contests usually go one month- so they have been up for a month and you can enter them once per hour. They usually add one or two contests every weekday.
Jun 25, 2013 01:34 PM
6,323 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
KMAJun 25, 2013 01:34 PM
6,323 Posts
Quote from KMA :
I'm unable to scratch off on the Toys R Us IWG; is there a trick when using Windows 8? I've held down the CTRL key, as well as the Shift key, while I scratched with the mouse, but it didn't help.
Follow up to my post: I was able to get it to work (yesterday) on the other computer. I'd still love to know how to do it on this computer (Windows 8 with Chrome).
Jun 25, 2013 07:51 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeJun 25, 2013 07:51 PM
118,455 Posts
Anyone know how to revert to last version of Firefox, it auto updated and I lost roboform tool bar. HELP!!!

Edit found it:
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/...of-firefox

Might want to disable latest FF update for now...
Last edited by implode June 25, 2013 at 12:59 PM.
Jun 26, 2013 07:18 AM
6,889 Posts
Joined Sep 2006
SwampStomperJun 26, 2013 07:18 AM
6,889 Posts
Anybody having trouble redeeming your virtual E-card from Camel? I have my card number and CVV # I tried to buy Amazon GC and when that didn't work I tried WalMart. I can look at the up2u website and it does not show any activity on the card. In the past it has shown "decline". I have also bought both Amazon and WalMart in the past but for some reason it will not work this time.
Jun 26, 2013 07:48 AM
26,018 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
User1144648Jun 26, 2013 07:48 AM
26,018 Posts
Quote from riverrat317 :
Anybody having trouble redeeming your virtual E-card from Camel? I have my card number and CVV # I tried to buy Amazon GC and when that didn't work I tried WalMart. I can look at the up2u website and it does not show any activity on the card. In the past it has shown "decline". I have also bought both Amazon and WalMart in the past but for some reason it will not work this time.
Yep, same thing happened to me. I finally ended up buying a Chili's gift card through Walmart. For some reason the virtual e-card wouldn't work when trying to purchase a Walmart gift card, but it was accepted to buy another gift card through their site. Weird. I sure hope Camel dumps up2u before the next promotion - nothing but problems all around with their site/system.

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Jun 26, 2013 01:44 PM
36,031 Posts
Joined Feb 2007
R4629Jun 26, 2013 01:44 PM
36,031 Posts
I have an account with mypoints, so when I win on camels I go to their site and buy gift card. They have a lot of different cards available.

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