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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
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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.
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




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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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Joined Jun 2007
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drag_racer
09-26-2016 at 10:58 AM.
09-26-2016 at 10:58 AM.
Quote from mike34 :
Uncheck 'Automatically parse links in text' in the miscellaneous options section at the bottom of the submission page.This will still add a Slickdeals referral link which sometimes causes links to not work for some sites. If that's the case, don't create the link, just have it as plain text and instruct people to copy and paste the URL into their browser's address bar..
Thanks! I was pulling my hair out on this one!
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IViv
09-30-2016 at 09:17 AM.
09-30-2016 at 09:17 AM.
Nathan's Hotdog Sweepstakes... My mom is distraught. She has entered this every day since the May 1, 2016 . The contest runs from May 1, 2016 through September 30, 2016. She had earned some 700+ entries by entering hotdog package upc's and playing the online game. Then one day about one week ago her account showed she had 0 entries. She contacted support and they said that they were having technical difficulties and they would soon have the entries returned to her account. She checked several times a day and account still shows 0. She contacted support and Nathan's hotdogs and kept getting the run around . They even insinuated that she had cheated by using several email accounts. My mom only has one email. Shame on them for accusing her of that . And shame on them for wasting my moms time and effort... every day for five months and destroying her hopes of winning the sweepstakes. I can say this, I will never buy another Nathan's hotdog branded product ever again.
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implode
09-30-2016 at 09:53 AM.
09-30-2016 at 09:53 AM.
Quote from IViv :
Nathan's Hotdog Sweepstakes... My mom is distraught. She has entered this every day since the May 1, 2016 . The contest runs from May 1, 2016 through September 30, 2016. She had earned some 700+ entries by entering hotdog package upc's and playing the online game. Then one day about one week ago her account showed she had 0 entries. She contacted support and they said that they were having technical difficulties and they would soon have the entries returned to her account. She checked several times a day and account still shows 0. She contacted support and Nathan's hotdogs and kept getting the run around . They even insinuated that she had cheated by using several email accounts. My mom only has one email. Shame on them for accusing her of that . And shame on them for wasting my moms time and effort... every day for five months and destroying her hopes of winning the sweepstakes. I can say this, I will never buy another Nathan's hotdog branded product ever again.
Right or wrong---I'm guessing her banking so many packaging codes wasn't what the company intended. They didn't intend for people to share codes, as was done on many sites. That being said, that is on the company for not making the codes single use and writing rules that specifically indicated how the sweepstakes was to be run.

However, don't rush to assume the worst. Could be a technical issue and she still has the entries, despite dealing with an unhelpful CSR. Maybe CSR was having a bad day from dealing with people who legitimately were cheaters. CSRs deal with a lot of rude people and spend their days putting out fires. NOT an easy job.
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RabidPanda
09-30-2016 at 11:12 AM.
09-30-2016 at 11:12 AM.
Quote from IViv :
Nathan's Hotdog Sweepstakes... My mom is distraught. She has entered this every day since the May 1, 2016 . The contest runs from May 1, 2016 through September 30, 2016. She had earned some 700+ entries by entering hotdog package upc's and playing the online game. Then one day about one week ago her account showed she had 0 entries. She contacted support and they said that they were having technical difficulties and they would soon have the entries returned to her account. She checked several times a day and account still shows 0. She contacted support and Nathan's hotdogs and kept getting the run around . They even insinuated that she had cheated by using several email accounts. My mom only has one email. Shame on them for accusing her of that . And shame on them for wasting my moms time and effort... every day for five months and destroying her hopes of winning the sweepstakes. I can say this, I will never buy another Nathan's hotdog branded product ever again.
maybe it is a tech issue, I just checked my account and it shows 0 entries for the sweeps I entered even though I got confirmation emails for each entry. I only played the online games for codes.
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Vicvac
09-30-2016 at 12:08 PM.
09-30-2016 at 12:08 PM.
I think it's a tech issue as well. I've been experiencing it off and on throughout the entire promotion.
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allison1887
10-01-2016 at 07:13 PM.
10-01-2016 at 07:13 PM.
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Diamonique
10-01-2016 at 08:17 PM.
10-01-2016 at 08:17 PM.
Quote from allison1887 :
D.L. Blair has closed.
http://www.enterprisepub.com/news...68f98.html
Wow. I had no idea they had been around since the 50's. When I used to do the contests by mail in method back in the day their name was associated with a lot of them. I use to love getting new issues of Contest Newsletter. After Googling I see Sweepsheet is still around. I can't remember if Contest Newsletter changed names or ceased publication. I'm trying to get into sweeping again since I have time to enter more then a couple every so often.
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Joined Apr 2012
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sghotra
10-02-2016 at 03:54 PM.
10-02-2016 at 03:54 PM.
Quote from allison1887 :
D.L. Blair has closed.
http://www.enterprisepub.com/news...68f98.html
Such a shame, they were so helpful. They did the Snickers promotions as well as quite a few others, I won the SNICKERS® Brand NFL 2015 Game & Sweepstakes early this year and since there wasn't an NFL team in my area at the time they were able to arrange the cash alternative. They are actually listed in the current promotion's rules, wonder who will take over...
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User1144648
10-09-2016 at 09:23 AM.
10-09-2016 at 09:23 AM.
****** REMINDER ******

Good morning C&S peeps!

A quick reminder: When you see something in an OP that needs to be fixed/corrected (non-working link, end date in title, entry limit tag/label, etc.), please quote the OP (or send them a PM) and ask them to edit their post. Or, post in the wiki or thread.

PLEASE do not MA the thread and ask the mods to handle something the OP can and should fix themselves. The mods are quite busy in ALL the forums on SD, and, particularly heading into Black Friday season, we don't have the time to fix things for OPs.

Thank you!
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implode
10-09-2016 at 12:09 PM.
10-09-2016 at 12:09 PM.
Quote from MLx3 :
****** REMINDER ******

Good morning C&S peeps!

A quick reminder: When you see something in an OP that needs to be fixed/corrected (non-working link, end date in title, entry limit tag/label, etc.), please quote the OP (or send them a PM) and ask them to edit their post. Or, post in the wiki or thread.

PLEASE do not MA the thread and ask the mods to handle something the OP can and should fix themselves. The mods are quite busy in ALL the forums on SD, and, particularly heading into Black Friday season, we don't have the time to fix things for OPs.

Thank you!
As someone who has blocked PMing on this site, surely you understand NOT everyone is reachable on this site. Nor does everyone take PM's very well or appreciate them. Good to see you making a public post, your presence around here is missed. Hope you are having a good day!
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Liz2968
10-09-2016 at 01:26 PM.
10-09-2016 at 01:26 PM.
Quote from implode :
As someone who has blocked PMing on this site, surely you understand NOT everyone is reachable on this site. Nor does everyone take PM's very well or appreciate them.
It seemed that MLx3 was primarily recommending that we should quote the OP in a response and ask them to make the change. I think this is great advice and a great reminder to the community.

Every time I've seen an error/issue with a title and quoted the OP in a response, the OP has taken the suggestion with kindness and grace. Good manners and positive intentions can go a long way in building a positive and productive community. Smilie
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starsstripes00
10-20-2016 at 05:58 PM.
10-20-2016 at 05:58 PM.
sleep number chat is going on gives away a free bed
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starsstripes00
10-20-2016 at 06:05 PM.
10-20-2016 at 06:05 PM.
Quote from starsstripes00 :
sleep number chat is going on gives away a free bed

twitter starts 9 pm EST
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User1144648
10-21-2016 at 08:29 AM.
10-21-2016 at 08:29 AM.
Quote from starsstripes00 :
twitter starts 9 pm EST
Hi,

Wanted to let you know I moved your posts here (from Contest & Sweepstakes Forum Guide - Please Read) as this is the appropriate forum for them to be in. Thanks!​
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Joined Jun 2007
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dgleeson
10-23-2016 at 01:23 PM.
10-23-2016 at 01:23 PM.
Be aware, it appears A LOT of threads (including non expired and ongoing sweeps) have been moved to

> Deal Discussion > Archived Deals

https://slickdeals.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=71&daysprune=-1

These threads ARE NOT appearing in search!

More... and add your comments to this post in SIS:

https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=90547915&postcount=5
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